It is 3 o'clock in the afternoon, Ruthie runs into the kitchen quickly followed by Mary and Simon. Annie is making dinner in the kitchen.
"Hey mommy, guess what!" Ruthie says.
"What Ruthie?" Annie asks.
"She just had a really good day at school Mom." Simon says.
"No, that's not what I was saying." Ruthie replies.
"Yes it was." Mary responds picking Ruthie up from behind and carries her upstairs.
"Put me down!" Ruthie hollers. Mary and Simon carry her into her bedroom.
"Ruthie, remember we agreed not to tell mom and dad about Matt's ticket." Mary says.
"Why not?" Ruthie asks.
"Because Matt needs to tell them." Mary responds.
"When will he tell them?" Ruthie questions. Mary pushes her hair back out of her face.
"I don't know Ruthie." Mary replies.
"Hey you guys." Eric says walking into Ruthie's room.
"Hi… Hi dad." Simon says startled.
"Hey dad." Mary says turning around.
"What are you doing here? Why aren't you at the church?" Simon asks.
"I left early today since Thanksgiving is coming up." Eric replies. "What are you all doing in here?"
"We're-" Mary starts.
"putting Ruthie down for a nap." Simon interrupts. Mary looks at Simon confused, and then the light bulb goes off.
"Yes, we are putting Ruthie down for a nap." Mary replies.
"She doesn't look like she's taking a nap." Eric says looking from Ruthie, to Mary, to Simon.
"I am daddy." Ruthie replies.
"Okay." Eric exits. Ruthie crosses her arms.
"I haven't taken naps in years SIMON." Ruthie exclaims.
"Please Ruthie. Just for a little bit." Simon begs.
"I guess. As long as I can take a nap in your bed." Ruthie states.
"But dad thinks you're in here." Simon says.
"Either your bed or no nap." Ruthie responds.
"Okay." Simon replies reluctantly. Mary laughs. Ruthie climbs on Mary's back and they go to Simon's room. Mary sits down and Ruthie gets down. Simon and Mary get her into the bed.
Eric goes down the stairs to the kitchen.
"What's going on with Ruthie, Simon and Mary?" Eric asks.
"I don't know, they were acting awful strange when they got home. I asked Matt, but he said he didn't know anything was different." Annie replies.
"Something is going on, I just I know it." Eric responds.
"You just don't know what it is?" Annie finishes and Eric nods.
"Where's Lucy?" Eric asks.
"She never came in, but there is a new family moving in next door." Annie replies. Eric kisses Annie.
"I'll be back." Eric walks outside. He sees his middle daughter standing on a step stool looking over the fence. Eric coughs loudly. Lucy looks at him and falls off the step stool.
"Hi dad." Lucy says standing up.
"How is the new family?" Eric asks.
"They have a gorgeous son!" Lucy exclaims.
"Your mom and I figured there was a boy involved." Eric says.
"What?" Lucy asks.
"When I asked your mom where you were she said you were out here." Eric says.
"Oh." Lucy responds and then runs up to the house. When she gets inside, she closes the door and runs up the stairs. She looks in Ruthie's bedroom and doesn't see anyone in there. When she opens Simon's door she sees Ruthie sleeping in Simon's bed. Lucy shakes her head and closes the door. She walks to Matt's room and opens the door. She finds Matt, Mary and Simon on the bed.
"Hi guys. Simon, what is Ruthie doing sleeping on your bed?" Lucy asks.
"She wouldn't take a nap until I let her sleep in my room." Simon exasperates. Lucy laughs then gets on the bed next to Simon.
"What are you going to tell mom and dad?" Lucy asks Matt.
"I don't know yet. My main concern is paying that ticket. I don't have the money. I won't get my check until next week." Matt says.
"How much was it?" Simon asks.
"$175." Mary replies.
"175 dollars!" Lucy exclaims.
"No, 175 pounds." Simon smarts off rolling his eyes. Lucy hits him with one of Matt's pillows.
"Come on guys. We need to think of a way to come up with the money." Mary says.
"I have $30 of baby-sitting money, but I had another plans for-" Lucy just stops.
"Don't say it if you aren't giving it." Mary says with a smile.
"What about you Mary?" Matt asks.
"I don't have any, but I can give basketball lessons to get some." Mary says.
"Okay." Matt replies and looks at Simon.
"Oh no. It's your ticket, you pay it." Simon says.
"Come on Simon. How much do you have?" Mary asks.
"$180." Simon replies reluctantly.
"Let's go pay that ticket." Mary says and starts to stand up.
"Hold it." Eric's voice comes from behind them. Mary sits back down.
"Oh boy." Lucy and Simon say in unison. Eric walks in and stands at the foot of the bed.
"Your mother and I thought you kids were up to something. Mary, Lucy, Simon. Go into your rooms. I will deal with you in a minute." Eric says. Simon and Lucy jump off the bed and run out of Matt's bedroom. Mary slowly stands up.
"Go easy on him, dad." Mary says.
"Get out of here." Eric replies sternly. Mary walks out and closes the door behind her.
"How much was the ticket Matt?" Eric asks.
"$175." Matt says looking at the bed.
"What were you doing to get a ticket?" Eric questions.
"I pulled out in front of the school security officer." Matt responds.
"I take it you weren't paying attention." Eric states.
"I just didn't see him there." Matt replies.
"You had your brother and sisters in the car Matt! When you're driving the car you have to be aware of everybody around you." Eric exclaims.
"Just tell me my punishment." Matt says.
"You are grounded for a month. Your mother will take you back and forth to school until you can prove that you are capable of driving a car again." Eric says.
"Is that it?" Matt asks.
"Yes, that's it, besides the fact that you have completely lost the trust of your mother and I." Eric exasperates.
"Yes dad." Matt replies. Eric looks at Matt, opens the door and slams it closed. He walks over to Lucy and Mary's door and knocks on it.
"Come in." Lucy and Mary say in unison. Eric walks in.
"Luce, I'll talk to you first. When we were outside, why didn't you mention Matt's ticket?" Eric asks.
"We were talking about the new neighbors. I just didn't figure that it would fit in." Lucy replies.
"Understood, but you are still grounded." Eric says. Lucy's jaw drops.
"What?" Lucy asks.
"You knew about it and didn't tell me or your mother, so you are grounded." Eric states.
"But… but… What about-" Lucy starts.
"You're grounded Luce. That's it." Eric says. Then he looks at Mary. "Now you are going to have a more severe punishment." Eric pauses. "When you and Simon rushed Ruthie upstairs it was to keep her from telling me and mom wasn't it?" Eric asks.
"Yes sir." Mary says.
"Then you lied to me about Ruthie taking a nap, right?" Eric questions.
"Yeah." Mary replies. "But Ruthie really did take a nap."
"After you forced her," Eric states. "Lying, scheming; Mary, how are you supposed to be a good role model for your brother and sisters?" Eric asks.
"I don't know." Mary responds.
"You aren't. You are grounded for a month, just as Matt is." Eric states.
"What about me?" Lucy asks.
"Two weeks." Eric replies and walks out of the room. Lucy scoffs.
"Two weeks?" Lucy asks.
"Quit whining Lucy." Mary replies.
Eric walks into Simon's room.
"Hi dad." Simon says.
"Simon." Eric states.
"Hi daddy." Ruthie waves from the bottom bunk of Simon's bed.
"Hi Ruthie. Why don't you go downstairs and help mommy with dinner?" Eric asks.
"Okay." Ruthie jumps off the bed and runs out of the room.
"Have you already talked to Mary and Lucy?" Simon asks and Eric nods.
"But we are talking about you. I know you lied to your mother and me when you rushed Ruthie up here to take a nap. I assume she's in here because she didn't want to nap in her bed?" Eric asks.
"Yes sir." Simon says.
"I will give you the same deal I gave Mary." Eric states.
"Deal?" Simon questions.
"One month of solitary grounding. You go to school and afterward come to this room. Meals take place in here, everything." Eric says.
"Okay. What about Matt and Lucy?" Simon asks.
"Lucy has two weeks grounding to the house. Matt has a month as you do." Eric replies.
"Okay." Simon responds. Eric walks out of Simon's room and heads down the stairs. When he makes it to the kitchen he is stopped by Annie.
"Did you know Matt got a ticket?" Annie asks.
"Yeah, I've already taken care of the issue." Eric replies.