"There it is, Clyde! Total Turbo XXIII! The newest installment in one of the best franchises EVER!"
Lincoln and Clyde looked through the store window at the new video game.
"Look, the mall is NOT my first choice to go to on a Saturday," Lincoln said to no one in particular. "But Lori is driving the car. And when Lori is driving, you go where she wants before going anywhere else. And today, I guess that means the mall. No problem, though! Until we get to the Comic Book Store, we get to look through the Gamestop window!"
"Uh, Lincoln, I don't mean to burst your bubble or anything, but have you taken a look at the price yet?"
He quickly glanced at the price tag, immediately wishing that he hadn't.
"120 dollars?! For just a video game?!"
"Well, no. They have new controllers you need to buy, too."
"Ugh, Clyde, this is awful! I've been wanting this game for so long now, and it costs a small fortune! Wait, how much money do you have right now?"
"Uh, a couple of dimes and a bolt. I don't think that'll be enough, though."
"Well, I have 3 dollars. So we need some money, and we need it quick!"
"Uhh, why quick?"
"Clyde! This game is already a bestseller! If we don't buy it, then someone's bound to take it before us!"
"I think you may be going a little overboard with this idea, Lincoln. I mean, don't you think that- Huh, huh, HI, LORI!" Clyde said, his nose beginning to bleed as Lincolns oldest sister walked up to them. Pretty soon, he was on the ground, passed out.
"Ok, that is LITERALLY the grossest thing ever. Are you ready to leave yet, Lincoln?"
"Yeah, yeah, in a minute. Lori, you don't happen to have 120 dollars on you, do you?"
"Lincoln, even if I did, it here is literally no way that I would fork it over to YOU for some stupid video game."
"Oh, come on! This is the greatest game ever invented! And how did you even know I wanted a video game?"
"First off, Lincoln, I'm not an idiot. Ive seen you looking at that video game all day. And second, if you want money, why don't you just go out and earn it?"
"Hmm..." he thought. Earn it? He had never thought of that.
"Lori, that's actually a great idea! But how would I earn it, in the first-Wait, what are you drinking?"
"Uh, Lemonade? There's a stand right over there. Anyway, come on. I have to take you to the Comic Store now."
"Now? Why?"
"Uh, because my date with Bobby is tonight?"
"Lori, it's 10 A.M..."
"Lincoln, do you want me to look hideous tonight? I need to prepare for this."
"Good point. Actually, I think you can take us home now," he said, an idea forming in his head.
"Really? You want to go home?" She asked, slightly miffed that she had driven all that way for nothing.
"Yeah, that's it. I have a lot of work to do..."
"Yeah, well, wake up Clyde before you leave. I'll be in the car,"she said as she went and walked out of the mall.
Lincoln shook Clyde awake, telling him his plan.
"Clyde, forget the comic book store. We're going to be making money!"
"What? Where's Lori?" Clyde asked faintly as his eyes opened.
"We have to get home, Clyde! We're getting a lemonade stand!"
The Loud House...
"Ugh, how hard is it to make a stupid lemonade stand?" Clyde asked as he unsuccessfully tries to nail two pieces of wood together.
"Focus, Clyde! We have to get this ready to use as a business by the end of the day!"
"Uh, why exactly the end of the day, Linc?"
"Uh, because of the fair on the town square tomorrow? There's gotta be some money to be out there! And besides, we can use the extra profits from the stand to get some funnel cake afterwards!"
Hmmm... I do like funnel cake... OK, I'm still in! I'm just saying, though, I feel like we could've just gotten a table to put our stuf- OW! SPLINTER!"
"-sigh- this is gonna take a long time..."
"HEY!"
The two kids turned their heads to see a rather young police officer walking down the sidewalk.
"Oh, um, hello, officer. How are you?" Lincoln said, trying not to look nervous.
"What are you two doing?" The officer asked as his eyes narrowed.
"Oh, uh, we were just building a lemonade stand. Not really anythi-"
"Lemonade stand, you say? Can I see your vendors permit, then?"
"Our what?"
"Yep, just like I thought. Kids, Michigan state law requires all street sellers to have a license."
"Wait. If you don't mind me asking, who exactly are you? I've never seen my our by the police station..."
"Names Officer Edgar Santana. I just got out of college, and this is my day job. Not bad for a first assignment, either. I already have a noise complaint for you two!"
"What? Who would do tha-"
"Oh, thank goodness you're here, officer!" Lincoln second oldest sister Leni said as she came out the door. "This noise Is too loud for anyone to- oh, hey Linc! Hey, Clyde!"
"Leni? Why did you complain to the cops?!"
"Uh, because I couldn't get my beauty sleep? Seriously, you guys need to stop hammering so much..." she said as she walked back into the house.
"Uh, ma'am? You need to stay out here for a min... oh, screw it. Noise complaint dismissed. But you two still need a vendors license and all."
"Ok. How much do they cost?"
"Oh, only about 80 dollars, I think? Not that ba-uh, is he ok?" Officer Gomez asked as Clyde fainted again.
"Yeah, he's fine. But 80 dollars? We don't have that money!"
"Well, kid, if you don't have the money, then I can't let you run the stand. Sorry, it's just my job."
"There has to be a way around this..." Lincoln said as he began to pace back and forth in front of the policeman.
"You know, kid, I like you. I'm gonna cut you a deal here."
"Wait, really?"
"Oh, yeah! You're going to the fair tomorrow, right?"
"Yep! That's the stands first test run, in fact!"
"Wonderful! Ok, so here's the deal. If you get 80 dollars, then I'll give you the vending license. The rest is yours, but the first 80 is mine, got it?"
"Uh, I think so..."
"Awesome sauce, dude! And, uh, can you maybe put in a good word for me with that pretty lady friend of yours?"
"Who, Leni? Yeah, I guess so I can."
"Alright, then it's settled! First 80 is mine! Wait, I have a call..." he said as he pulled the walkie talkie from his belt.
"Officer Santana here...yes...no...what? The brick oven pizzeria is on fire?! No! That was where I ate my first Hawaiian Pizza! I'll be right there! Sorry, kid. I gotta go. See you tommorow," he said as he began to run off. From a distance, Lincoln heard him yell, "Pineapple and Ham, I'll avenge you!"
"Uh...ok. So, we need to earn, uhh... oh, wow. 200 DOLLARS. This will NOT be easy."
"Huh, what?" Clyde asked as he finally stirred from his brief nap.
"Clyde, go home. We'll use a folding table tommorow. But right now, we need to get all the rest we can get!"
"Oh, uh, Ok. See ya tommorow then," he asked is he walked back to his house.
For the rest of the night, Lincoln stressed over the coming day.
"I need to come up with 200 dollars... but how do I do that?" He thought as he ate dinner. "I've never even earned money before, really. Just my allowance. What if this fails? And no one buys? If the lemons are rotten?! Or the sugar is actually table salt?! Or the water is actually alcoholic-"
"Lincoln!"
"What, What?" He asked startled as he looked up to his parents. He could feel his face getting red as his 10 sisters began to laugh at him.
"Have you even touched your dinner yet?"
"Oh, um, no, not yet..."
"Well, eat it, then. We're all already halfway done, son. Catch up."
"Sorry, dad," he mumbled as he vagan to eat, thoughts still clouding his head.
That Night...
Lincoln laid his head down on his pillow, ready to fall asleep. It had been an uneventful evening, which was an honest surprise to him. Usually in a house with 11 kids, no day is normal. But today was tame by most standards. In fact, the only thing noteworthy was a news report that evening...
-FLASHBACK-
"And in other news, President Trump has announced the temporary shutdown of immigration from several high risk countries, citing rising reports of violence among-"
"Ridiculous!" Mr. Loud said. "He can't do that, can he?"
"Oh, I'm sure he's found a loophole in the law or something like that. Kids, when you're older, do us a favor and NEVER think like Donald Trump."
"Oh, come on, mom! So when I have a job interview, I can't play my Trump Card now? Ha ha ha! Get it?"
"Ha! Good one, sweetie!"
-END OF FLASHBACK-
"Boy, I really need some advice right now..." he thought as he began to doze off.
"Just...just a little...little help..." he said softly as he fell asleep.
