A/N: Well I'm going to post whenever I can... And that's either early but rearly late... idk.
"When it comes to two subjects, Leni and food mix together, it always ends in a complete disaster" Lincoln explains. Creating a conversation to pass the time and forget the event. Most of his friends raised a brow in confusion, but with Clyde, he knew how and what she was capable of the day of the road trip midway when she packed up egg sandwiches weeks early and forgetting how decomposition work.
"How so?" Liam asked.
"Look, she is not so bright which is obvious, in fancy restaurants, fast food restaurant, or in Burpin' Burgers. Two months ago I was supposed to watch over Leni when she orders food in case she ends up getting confused, but I left for the bathroom thinking she knew how this all works now" recalling the day in the restaurant where he was in the responsibility to ensure his sisters from making any mistake to over cost the budget. "Boy was I wrong, she stood on top of the counter for some reason and read the menu closely because I think the employee asked to 'move up to order from the menu' and at the same time she still doesn't understand that the menus are vertical columns, so she read straight across, "I want a 'burp burger fried chicken salad banana split milkshake'" he explained, all while his friends burst into laughter, even Lincoln did the same, no commas were involved to phrase Leni's order. Seconds pass until the group was able to compose themselves.
"What was she thinking?"
"I don't know, as I said, she is not that bright" Lincoln explained, trying to focus while he maintains his laughter. "Plus, I tried to get her down from the counter because the manager threatens to call the cops on Leni, because she refuses to get down when the employee said he couldn't make the order, I guess when we taught her about standing up for herself she literally "stood up" for herself"
"Did you get her down?"
"Pff no, Lori drag her down and ended with an argument between Lori and Leni so I had to intervene, but "out of the way Lincoln, its time for a protocol to take over," said Lana herself when she shoved me out of the way"
"Protocol?" Liam question being unaware of the whole protocol that Lincoln's sisters, yet Clyde knew full well he had a therapy section with him.
Clyde offers to explain the whole ordeal how its made and not in favor of his friend. "its a system his sisters invented to solve their arguments from two parties or individuals... although it is flawed since its meant for sisters and not including him, so he had to bud out"
Lincoln rolled his eyes in annoyance and the rest notice how he felt of the system, this proved Clyde his explanation verified.
"I see" Liam added
"Anyway, the dumb part was the employee actually made the monstrosity food out of sympathy and she didn't have enough to pay for a made up price. All my sisters pointed fingers at me for "you didn't watch over her and it's your fault" so I later pay the whole thing"
"How much, was it cheap?" Zach asked as he imagined the food more clearly and his appetite poked his habit.
"No, the idiot charges me thirty-six dollars for a stupid order that Leni didn't eat, she wasted and tossed the order to the trash because of she too upset to eat and my money went down the drain for nothing. Never again am i leaving her to order" he explained "there was another time when Leni made me lunch for school, it was two sandwiches, I took one bite on the first sandwich...and I woke up the next morning on the couch" his friends had their eyes jolted with the sudden confusion, he could tell they are now expecting for an answer.
"Somehow whatever Leni put in the sandwich was unhealthy and food fatigue hit hard, all I could remember is taking one bite and I woke up on the couch with empty pockets, my face was covered in makeup because Lola could not resist with her ambition" revealing his face on the bathroom mirror along with laughing sisters. Upset to know who was the makeup artist, but came to his sense that Lola will never change as long as he tries to be mindful of his space and watching over who the food was made. "I will never forget what Lola said before and after she laughed"
"What?" Clyde asked
""Never sleep down when the makeup artist is around", but anyway, Leni and food together always ends in disaster"
"I see your point, do you have time after school?" Clyde asked
"Yeah, why?"
"We might need to go to the library to check some books about our assignment," he said when Lincoln forgot most of the teaching when he's been fixated on the history book.
"Oh right, I forgot for all about it, we have to write an essay about... William boss tweed, correct?" recalling the assignment for each partner was given, of course, Lincoln and Clyde pared up to write an essay and write down the sources as well, no words to "describe" are involved to complete the writing, only facts from books or online sources. Not wanting to stay at home to use the laptop while to be reminded of his current event, and Clyde's parents are not key on technology but reading, yet they don't have any certain books about history.
"so Lincoln, is it true the binder is actually your sister's plans of... oooohhhh no" Rusty wanted to ask the binder he been talking about and showed as well, but his words came to a halt when a horrible feeling came from his belly.
Lincoln notice Rusty appearing suddenly… ill, if not unwell. "Are feeling alright?"
"Nope, I don't think the bacon is good to eat" clenching his waist as a sign of stomach ache, if not a near diarrhea symptom. Food poisoning. "Take me to the nurse, please" he requests after his face turned green and his head fell on top of his finished tray. Lincoln knew that look and the feeling even Liam since he had his fair share of food poisoning from sick animals he butchered, but not his friends and they were a concern.
"Oh, oh no!" Zach shouted since he didn't know what to do in this situation. "Is he…?"
"Relax" Liam in reassurance as he pulled one of his arms up and around his shoulders, helping him up. "The bad bacon gave him food poisoning" he marked "Lincoln, could you grab the other hand and help me here?"
"Oh sure" he did as he was told and rushed Rusty out of the lunchroom followed by Clyde and Liam behind. Going through the halls and the sound of small drums in his sick friend's belly they grew more concern. Rusty felt like his body started in all cannon war against his digestion and the awful substance and the enemy is leaving pain all over the battlefield.
"I preferred your homemade bacon than this" Rusty weakly winced.
"I'm flattered and I would prefer the same" Liam said
"I think we need to pick up the pace because he might puke on the floor and us" Lincoln gestured his hand to motion Rusty's face like he took a pure sour candy. After making their way to the nurse's office they were in disbelief. Apparently, most of the students who ate early than his friend also had food poisoning and the room was filled with around ten or thirteen students either sitting on the regular chairs or floor since they're all occupied. Each was given trash cans and another shaped bowl container to keep the fluids from spilling. The nurse attended one by one and handed water and some unknown tables to take.
Unfortunately, Depending on the symptoms and health, a doctor may need to conduct diagnostic tests, such as a blood test, stool culture which Lisa would be please taking it herself, or examination for parasites to identify the cause and confirm the diagnosis to pinpoint what treatment is needed. A few tablets show various results that might be beneficial or unfortunate. The nurse notices the group come in and she gave a frown knowing there was another sick student, but worse is when she recently ran out of tablets and had to explain the new incomers. "Sorry, kids, but I'm out of aspirin tablets, but I've called the emergencies about the unknown epidemic in school, you all have to wait until an emergency comes over to help, why don't you-"
The group immediately leave since they were in disbelief and had no chance to ease Rusty's uncomfortable pain, but as they left, Liam suggested to speed run to the restroom since there's nothing here to help. The halls were filled with more incoming students who were in the same situation as Rusty, but they were heading the nurse's office, they knew they would be rejected like his friend was. Most of them either puked in the lockers or outside the window from inside classrooms. Lincoln thought this day would be another day with a hint of perfect bacon Monday, but instead, the world gave him apocalypse.
Lincoln felt the weight of his friend getting heavier and the running speed slowing down, even after being nearly ten feet away from the boy's restroom. "Why are we slowing down?" Lincoln asked being confused.
"I think I'm getting sick as well" Liam wheezed as he clenched his stomach in pain, but kept on moving since he rather spills fluids on the bathroom than the floor. "Nope… I can-"
"I'm feeling it too, man" Zach who followed also slowed down and nearly fell on the floor. Lucky for them they all made their way in.
"Alright, we're here and-" Clyde noticed the stalls were occupied along with a sickening sound. They panicked. "What do we do?" he asked
Lincoln tried to think quickly and noticed the sinks were all alone with no person in front.
He lifted rusty up to the sink and assisted the rest of his friend to the others. "Ok, hang… oh that's not normal" his ears were filled with horrid sounds, even Clyde react the same. Rusty ate more than others after taking lincoln's share of bacon. Clyde did not eat since he feared any illness that came in unusual food and his father's being strict on what came in un well-cooked meals.
"Gezz, did Leni volunteer to be our lunch teacher?"
School ended early as the outbreak of upset stomach was more serious to continue classes, most students stayed to be treated by outside nurses while others were driven away by ambulances. The other students who were healthy get to leave early but not after calling parents to inform the situation. The rest took different option such as heading to the mall or the park, etc. While the duo friends are now heading to their destination to find the rich history of a political corrupt leader of the Tammany Hall political machine to fill in the essay, the library. After all, they had nothing else to do and the new upcoming Ace savvy comic isn't out until Friday and playing games would just make them delay their work. "Don't tell this to Rusty but I'm grateful you dodge the bullet form the cafeteria food poison problem, with health inspectors taking over."
"sure thing" Lincoln made zipper motion to his lip like his secret would not be told.
Lincoln then sparked his eyes "Actually, I kinda dodge two bullets, if I were sick my sisters would bug me with my health and I don't intend to be covered in a bandage like a mummy" he explains. Exiting out of the building where he leads his friend to his bike where it's locked to a pole "Hop on my bike" he said, Clyde was curious about his transport being a bike instead of the van in the first place. He slowly pointed at the bike in a near question.
"...uh… why,"
"I'm still committed to the protocol, remember. plus I didn't want to be with my sisters in the van... let's just leave it at that" he said while taking the chain lock, letting the bike lose from the pole.
"Oh, then to the library" he said while his friend hopped on the bike and Clyde on the back, leaving the school property. On the way, cars pass by and the wind hit their faces as the breeze fascinated them with the right temperature. Time passed and the long road still kept on going, with boredom the duo Clyde thought of another way of passing the time. "Got any memories to pass the time, like something funny?"
"Well not that I can remember one, I had partly little to eat and its hard to think with a near empty stomach" he explained when he couldn't concentrate
"oh... since I'm behind you and we have a long road to go to, may I see the binder on your backpack?" he said seeing the destiny of the school and the town's library is only five minutes in the drive, but in a bike is rather twenty or thirty.
"Sure, I didn't get to show the whole pages at the time but I suppose this is the right time" he gladly permitted his friend to see the binder. Clyde unzipped his bag and found the large yellow binder placed between the spiral notebooks and colored folders. taking the binder out the bag and zipping back the bag but now it's a hard time when he held the binder with two hands and staying balanced on two feet on the frame and the whole seat since Lincoln only need to paddle and steer so he was king to give him his seat.
"Hmm... It's hard to..." the wind from the ride turned the pages wildly until he was able to place both thumbs on each corner to clamp the sheets. "there we go" set on a particular page where it detailed a map of building with multiple rooms. the top page read 'Buttz Motel'. "hey, this page talks about a motel ambush with a renegade... she calls it the Fun House Prank Paradise."
"Ugh, that I was a complete mess, I couldn't believe my dad backstabs all of us. sure we all made amends... but now it bothers me to see him unpunished by his deeds..." he was willing to forgive and move on from his ungrateful deeds for the rest of his days but during the prank from yesterday where he first pointed at his stuffed bunny. When he betrayed again. "He backstabbed me again and he thinks he could get away with after just like last time" giving an irritation tone when he had enough of getting the same result that never changes.
"that's harsh" Clyde sympathize Lincoln's experience "I'm really sorry you had to go through that" he shut the binder and patted his friend's shoulder.
"thanks" he smiled when he has someone who understood him more than from his sisters. well, that's what he opinionated. "I have dealt with consequences of my action many times and they were able to get away some if not, most of their wrong deeds and action" he found it unfair when his blood boiled slowly high but his friend noticed and tried to dim his temper.
"ok easy there, Lincoln, you're getting very a temp up." he tried to lower his friend's mood and it seemed to be effective.
"right, sorry"
"I haven't seen you like this since you were mad at Lori sitting on your game by accident... when you tolled Lori how she is a bad sister with those awful words"
"well... I got what was coming to me. she sold the game and a-"
"black eye" Clyde added when he remembered the whole event. "yeah I remembered"
"Yeah...right now I'm just not myself for obvious reasons and it's hard to realize they just don't understand that I have limits too, I may have thick skin but that doesn't mean I can stand up to yellings or disrespects. To them, I'm just a pushover who can't talk back from letting them intrude my room, take my goods and stashed snacks but if I have something to say it's a whole lot of argument. feeling as though I'm not important"
"your sisters aren't that mean, but I don't think they always see you as a pushover. We know they wouldn't just be unreasonable most of the time" Clyde reassured.
"There action speaks the truth"
The rest of the ride stood silent when their memory of the event was not something for a child to see when the detail is graphic. nothing to say after the past experience. Lincoln kept riding and Clyde read more on the binder.
The binder not only held all the information on pranks, tactics, and family info randomly. it's organized, it held sixteen plastic dividers with different colors, each had tabs with names. fourteen identified loud family and the other two are labeled "others" and "plans" and that section held the mass amount of pages than the rest. looking at the blue stained divider with Lori's name... he was intrigued to see what laid in the info, yet he was taking a second opinion when it's the same as an invasion of privacy. he came to a decision and opened the section but to his surprise... "hmm... phone lock code is 'Bobby 4 ever xoxo'... soon not anymore"
"you're reading Lori's info are you?" Lincoln smirked.
"yep, couldn't help myself" he admit and Lincoln just shrugged off in response since he had no care in the subject. flipping through pages and knew more of her with fear of being in the basement alone in the dark, revealing why she placed shoe under her bed, but he accidentally flipped far where he landed on Lynn's section. there was a drawing of mirrors around her bed and another drawing of a hammer tied to a rope. 'Fear of misfortune' it read on the top. "hey Lincoln, there's a trap about Lynn that involved mirrors being broken, what's all this about"
"Ah, Lynn is very afraid of bad luck so that is one thing we know about her"
"hm, good to know" he looked deeper and some things are best left unread. "Ok... I'm surprised Luan would write this" he flipped to the next section and landed on "others" and a page where it said his name "wow there's a page about me!" he felt both surprised and curious at the same time. He read and along with the pages he began to blush, even more as went along the reading.
"how did she know the rest of my allergies?"
"Hey, Clyde, we're here" he stopped his trail when the wheel bumped on the library's bike rack. Clyde hopped off and Lincoln tried to set his cycle properly on the rack. his friend paid not much attention but when he flipped the next page there was more. "gluten allergy... she planned to replace my free gluten food with real gluten" he felt disbelief thinking she was capable of harming someone's health.
Lincoln finished placing the lock and noticed what he said. "well, she trapped Lana in rhubarb pie hole which she is allergic to rhubarb, I wouldn't be surprised she's willing to make traps that are hazardous in allergies" he explains his thoughts and both entered the building.
Clyde shut the binder since it's best to get back on track on the assignment and not something they were very intrigued that would steer the writing away. making there way up the front counter where they see Mrs. Wetta using a date stamp on each book that was stacked by her right counter. she noticed the boys and halted her task to help any eager readers, and she notices one she recalled.
"Hello children, you must be Lincoln, I assume?" she recalls the young boy, recognizing the name when he checked out books for the contest.
"Yep, that's me, we're here to write an essay about a political corrupt leader, William Boss Tweed, know any books that would help?" he asked with a smile, being polite. Mrs. Wetta goes through the library computer to search any that might contain the name within the books.
"Hmm...there's the Tammany Hall Case, Us National History, The Corrupt Pol, and New York Times: the fellowship of rings, would any of this help?" she offered. They thought it's best to take as many to support and strengthen the writing, it might be difficult to remember the names of the books to go out for a search.
"yes, that would be great, can you write this on a piece of paper?" Clyde asked. Wetta going back to the computer and adding them to a document paper.
"And their location?"
"Please," he said. Clicking print and the sound of the printer by her side started to spit out the list. She took the paper and handed it the to the duo. "Thanks"
"Anytime" she smiled. Watching the boys head further in the center of the building to explore the information. Lincoln and Clyde began to look over the left side of the building where shelves and the number on the side showed the rightful section, right where they needed to be. the side of the shelve read 'World History'. With a variety of sight, they spotted specific numbers on the edges of the books to identify the titles. One book stood too high from reach where they needed a ladder to reach over, and they spotted one right next to them.
"Here, use this" Lincoln grabbed the ladder for his friend. Clyde gave back the binder to Lincoln. He grabbed the ladder and climbed up to reach over a book called Us National History, but after grabbing hold it was wedged tight between the stack of books to the point where he took one pull and the rest of the shelf section dropped books down the floor. Clyde fell and landed on top of his friend, the duo was covered by the stack of written or printed work. "Well that's unfortunate…" he said. The duo emerged from the mess with a shook on the head, but something caught Lincoln's attention when something shined through his eyes from the pile of books. "hey, what's this?" he asked his friend after picking up a purple book from the pile with the title 'The People's History' The image of globe of the earth. The image seemed to be in reflective gold color, the color that reflected the light.
"Not sure, but it looks like another history book... why wasn't this in the list," Clyde asked when looking over the list which the name is not on ink.
"I guess William is not in this book, and we are in the "World History" section so it wouldn't be a surprise to see another" he did ask for any books that involved in that name and history and this book might have none.
"it seems interesting to read when the letters are detailed in gold color, what does the description say?" Clyde asked as Lincoln open to the very end of the book to read the description.
"the description is very long" Lincoln wasn't sure of the book, but when reading part of the text that reads " Whenever you read a book, you learn a new information that otherwise would not have known" whether it be the interest of the subject or the taste he suits himself in reading, yet he was obsessed about the dream he had. "Hmm"
"I have all the books, do you want to check them out before we get caught with all this mess?" Clyde said while he held the books they need, catching the attention of his friend.
"Oh, sure," he said, both looking intensely nervous. Speed walking their way out the section of the bookshelves, but they later came to impact with another duo, falling to the ground as Lincoln and Clyde fall on their behinds and the other two fall on their backs. "Oh I'm sorry, we didn't...oh you" Lincoln was not surprised to see who it was. Lisa with a Texan costume, and cowboy hat, fake mustache, and leather boots. Even Darcy had the same costume, even though she didn't need the disguise as she didn't have anything to hide from Wetta, but she apparently likes to fellow her friends "dress-up". Guess she had to leave early as well but not think that she could have waited at school for her mother to come and pick up. Even goes for Darcy too.
"Oh, forgive me, I didn't realize you were here" she said, acting calm, while her brother just rolled his eyes in boredom. He didn't seem to be agitated but rather bothered a bit. she knew Lucy was right.
"Hrmm"
"Hi, we're playing dress-up" Darcy greeted the duo and Lincoln and Clyde smiled.
"Cool, it's nice seeing you, Darcy" Lincoln said as he and his friend began to leave. Leaving the four-year-olds to themselves in the library, but Lisa noticed something stuck out from his bag, something yellow but she didn't pay much attention. Upon reaching the counter where Wetta is waiting for the next person to check out. She notices the boys who asked for help moments ago and she was pleased to see fine readers.
"Are you two ready to check out?"
"Yes ma'am," the duo said in a union as Clyde placed the books on the counter. Wetta notices a book Lincoln has in his had.
"Are you going to check that out too?" she asked. Lincoln had forgotten he was holding on the book and he was in a slight fence whether he wanted to read it or not, but Wetta recognizes the book very well.
"Oh, are you sure you want to check that book out? it doesn't contain any information you're looking for, but we did purchase that book yesterday since it's a best seller from a wise historian" she comments the book. Now the fence flipped over to the point of handing the book to be checked out. But he was still unsure though.
"When you put it that way, it wouldn't hurt to read another book, you learn new information that otherwise would not have been known. " he took the quote from the book as his own thought. she likes how Lincoln thinks of reading, even Clyde was surprised since he was more of a comic reader, but it would make sense since he was driven to learn more on his dream and started with his distraction in class.
she later scans each book and later handed the books back with Clyde holding half and the half for Lincoln to even out the weight. Before they could leave, they heard a loud ring sound from the computer which ticked off Wetta.
"Oh great, another notification of Lisa loud and her fines, another monthly interest… ugh, she now owes me 75,000 dollars…!" she said in frustration, but later she composed herself when she didn't want to show her frustration in front of the boys. "I'm sorry you have to see me upset, but-"
"You're looking for Lisa?" he asked "she's right there" he later pointed right where she took a book from the shelf with Darcy holding a children's book. Wetta wasn't sure if that's Lisa considering the costume, but he assured it was her.
"The one with the fines" she muttered as she got off her seat and marched her way to the young genius, leaving the duo walking out. Clyde grew concern of his betrayal, sure he's probably still upset but this is no way to act.
"Don't you think that's harsh?" he said as they walked out the doors to see the outdoors. Lincoln didn't seem to agree with his friend.
"Please, she's done this for the last three times, I'm sure she could get out of this situation no problem," he said out of bothered tone. Thinking she could use another round of exercise in running and chasing game. He was inspired by the old protocol and his own action to create another rule of the protocol "Rule number two: when they push or provoke me to my limits, they will be faced with their 'liability' to deal with and the solution from either two ways: by run and hide from it for who knows how long until it worsens or dims, if not get caught depending the situation, or two, face the problems and accept the consequences."
Clyde was now concern about his response. "Lincoln, said that revenge only worsen-"
He cut off his friend's words to correct his statement and what he did was not revenge. "This is not revenge, I'm not getting even... I'm only returning the favor. She placed a mic on my door which I don't appreciate and now I thought I'd give her something in return. Tranquility was given to me and now liability was given in return. I've been through many of my mistakes and I was dealt with consequences multiple time where I'm used to it, I want to see if they could do the same"
"You are just going to leave your sister with her fee problem?
"As I said, she can run fast than the librarian with her short legs, she'll be fine if not...that's her problem."
"Well...not make you upset, but the problem you caused"
"I'm not the one who has to pay the overdue fees for college books and doesn't take responsibility now am I?" he marked. "Feel bad Darcy had to get involved, but I dough Wetta would have any problems with her"
"Ok...but I don't like where this is going"
"its different than you think, in their protocol its always take things from me. my room, my bed sheets, basically take away. This new protocol is to give back" he explained and somehow Clyde understood a bit, but not clearly enough. "don't worry, only if they push or provoke me"
"ok, but how long will you have this protocol and all this would be over?"
"well I'm willing to last this till the end of this day, so tomorrow I'm willing to hear what they had to say and everything will as they are"
"Oh, good..." he said when Lincoln unlocked the bike and hopped on to go off their mary way. they think it's best to do the assignment in Clyde's residence for know reasons. "glad it's just today"
"well... if they do provoke or push on purpose, not only I give their liability and consequence back, I will also add another day in the protocol"
"oh..." Clyde wasn't sure if he wanted to approve Lincoln's intention action. He was glad he wasn't going to get involved in this situation but worries that he could start or end up with problems. Sure he tags along with him with mischief and scheme but something that intentionally hurts or make anyone angry.
After reviewing over the lesson in the English subject packet given by her mother felt her reading was improving more so even after the day of the library contest, but she felt more knowledgeable with other dictionary words and meaning absorbed in her ongoing develop brain.
Today is different when the next packet is given on the subject of math on the dining table she quickly glances above the packet and her eyes caught her mother in a tangled mess of hair and bags under her eyes. She cringed a little since she could not bear witness of the sight and place her own shoes in her mother's lack of beauty.
"Wow… you look terrible mom" Lola said with a hint of worried but tried her best not to cringe.
"Oh, this?" Rita pointed her face with a nervous smile. "it's just lack of sleep, I've been-" the home phone rang and quickly startled the loud mother to the point of scream and body jump. Lola was startled by her sudden reaction by a simple ring sound of a phone. Rita quickly realized her behavior and looked to her daughter with a hint of a nervous smile. "Heh heh, silly me" she said and walked over to the living room to pick up the home phone all while maintaining a calm voice.
"Hello?"
"Hello, this is Huggins from the elementary school calling and sending this recorded message to all former parents and guardians of your child or children, I regret to inform you there has been an incident over the time of lunch where food poisoning had occurred at that time. We request your presence over the school's gym to go over the list of names that have sent over the hospital for immediate treatment."
Rita was stunned to hear the news while hearing the recorded message. Huggins sounded very uneasy and tense in his words. "Food poisoning?"
"If the name of your child or children is on the list it is possible they may have been sent to the emergencies if not, they're outside waiting for the front entrance to be picked up. Thank you and have a nice day… to repeat this message press one, or-" Rita hanged up the phone and speed walked her way to the door.
"I'll be right back, Lola, there's something important at school I have to attend," she said after shutting the door before Lola could respond.
"Which one?" she question, unsure which school she meant but noticed the mother left without hearing. "Oh well" going over the packet and looked over the images of clocks with each having different hours and minutes of each hand. This was no problem for the little princess since she was well aware of the rules of the big hand and the little hand when she looks over the clocks to get on the pageant on time most of her pageant season. She muttered the answers after filling in the correct time underneath each clock.
"Nine-fifteen… ten thirty… eleven forty-five… one… and two fifteen" she finished and noticed the very bottom where another summary is laid and an empty blank box.
"B. The clocks above are time differently from each other in a pattern, go over the clocks/answered timed to find the pattern"
Lola rolled her eyes like she was insulted by a piece of paper that questioned her intelligence. Similar to Lisa: she was fully aware as well. "Pfff, it's one hour and fifteen minutes apart," she wrote the answer on the empty box. Flipping over to the next page and there was a summary that told any simple children story that had to do with math in the first graded.
The story told: "there was a Zookeeper named Jerry that maintained all the animals in each of their proper cages. Cage number one held two giraffes, cage number two held three elephants, cage number three held one lion, cage number four held five hyenas, cage number five held three bunnies. Jerry had to feed each animal with a certain number of the food supply.
Before she could look over the question. The word 'bunnies' used in the summary instantly pictured Bun-bun in her head since the incident was still fresh in her head from yesterday. It made her feel low and distracted from her assignment. All she could think how mad her brother was and blamed all his family including herself for the choice they made and taking his sacrifice for granted. She wanted to tell him how sorry she really was and how seeing him angry made her regret her choice. Sure there was a time when she made him irritated and mad but he always try not to lash out or hurt her feeling, or Lola hurting him emotionally yet physical is another story.
Her thoughts only distracted her focus on her progress. She needed a break after finishing three subjects without having to stop or even use the restroom, she was too focused on her work to distract or cloud her mind from her guilt and self-judgment. Now she needed the stretch her legs for a bit, but before she could step foot on the ground from her seat her father came around the corner from the kitchen and gave an enthusiastic howl startling Lola easily. "PAZAZZ!" he shouted in joy and shake his arm rapidly.
"DAD!" Lola screamed but noticed something on his face. Lincoln's VR headset. Lynn was startled by a sudden scream and took off the headset. Looked around but noticed Lola below with a strict look. There was a time when Lana's pen animals would sometimes startle her in her of tea party when hops hoped on to her teacup while it is full or the time when Diablo woke her up when he was feeling peckish and confused one of Lola's stuffed animal pillows with actual rodents.
Lynn felt like he was the child having to explain his behavior to a well-matured person. "Oh, sorry sweety, I thought you were studying in your room"
"I couldn't learn my lessons after what happen, so I thought I could clear my mind here" she extended her arms and gestured the dining room. "Now your turn to explain" she asked as she glanced over the headset.
"Promise me you won't tell"
"I may tattle a lot on everyone to you and mom but not the other way around unless I tell mom" she grins but that did not last. She very unaware of their activities that occurred yesterday.
"Oh no, she already knows, if you have seen your mother's look… I made her stressed from my overnight game activity" he said while rubbing his head in shame "anyway, yesterday your mother and I went out to the gaming store to get Lincoln an early birthday gift, but apparently, we bought the last copy of the early release on April fools special on a scary game. Also, I got something for myself." he jester a game cartridge on top of the headset revealing a chef image.
"Hmmm, I wish I had an early birthday gift" Lola crossed her arms. "But I hope you got a legit game, he can be very picky when it comes to games."
"Huh?" Lynn Sr was dumbfounded what she referred to his son's preference in virtual games.
Lola rolled her eyes after his confused response. "What game did you two got him?"
Lynn Sr took a moment to go through his pockets for the recipe and after dropping some loose change and pocket lint, his wallet, which by the way, fell open on the ground to reveal his drivers' license. His picture showed him smiling while wearing a disco theme tie. Lola raised a brow.
"No wonder mom wanted your tie collection destroyed" she muttered quietly to herself but her father heard since the house is quiet and the rest of the loud sisters aren't home to cause noise.
"I have ears… and feelings" he felt irritated after taking out the recipe and handing it to the little six-year-old. Upon reading the inked text she facepalms in disappointment knowing how they made a mistake which reasonably was unaware of.
"Dad, this isn't a scary game." she gave a disappointing tone. Lynn looked as if he wanted to debunk her response but she cut her off by simply explaining his mistake. "Because he already had this game a month ago by the company's special event giveaway and it's about shooting spaceships and taking over planets or something. Even Lily couldn't find it scary, not even a little spider" she mocked him by the measure of fear compared to Lily and Lynn Sr.
Lynn Sr felt foolish for not knowing this for nearly a month, he did notice his son play more frequently than usual a few weeks ago but didn't acknowledge the game he was playing. He facepalms as well and gave a loud groan in the process "dang it, I had to miss work and be scolded by my boss for this" he took the recipe from her hand and motioned it to prove his point, but quickly realized something "well, with this i can get my refund, but where's your mother?"
"She left to go to school, don't know which one but my bets on Lynn since she gets called up the most. Why do you ask?"
"She hid the game to surprise him but now I have to stop her from doing that… but I can just wait till she comes back" he smiled and placed back the VR headset to resume his game. Lola shook her head and proceeded to walk over to her to take her break, but after making her way upstairs she notices Lincoln's room had his door wide open. Not that she found it odd but notice his window that showed the view of the tree was blocked by a blanket and a few dents on the wall. That put her mind to persuade her to investigate. "Hmm"
Looking in the room she notices the dents on his wall from the opposite side of the door had knuckle marks, but that could have been Lynn since the whole freak out of the diaper head situation. Somewhere in the corner of the room, she notices the trash can that had an orange fabric sticking out from the edge, but upon closer inspection, it later reveals to be Lincoln's ripped up polo shirt from the squirrel and birds attack. It had a faint blood stain but not too much. "Must've been painful to go through, Lincoln" feeling pity for her brother grew more immense, even though she wasn't able to witness the madness he had gone through but she could tell. There was a time when she had battles and beating she gave to her brother but not that spilled blood, not even in a cloud of rumble the sometimes had. Looking over his bed she noticed the bed was perfectly fine but something was underneath the pillow. Lifting the pill it revealed to be Bun-bun, but the head was wet and moist and came with an apple smell.
"Ew, Lily!" she said but her response quickly reminded her that Lily was attending daycare and no longer isolated in her crib for naps or in the kitchen to be fed. She quickly grabbed the stuffed animal by the leg. She closed her eyes and shook the bunny to take away the drool and not get any in her eyes but this was going to be her biggest mistake. Suddenly, she heard a ripped fabric and felt her hand lighter. She looked again and gasped and later shrieked. The bunny was ripped off by the leg and landed back on the bed, and a few stuffing was flown out in the process. She knew this was his first toy he had since birth, she remembers the photo album with Lincoln holding Bun-bun. Now it's missing a leg.
"No no no no, I can fix this!" she tried to reassure herself after picking up the mess and since she was able to get it sewed back together, but the problem is Leni is not her to use her sewing skills on time. Although she was unaware of Lincoln's travel method and early release.
A/N: Well it's too long, but what do you think?