Waking up was a little different this morning.
Lincoln was first stirred by a creaking door, followed swiftly by giggles and someone shushing them. Lincoln smiled, but kept his eyes closed. His back was to the door, and it didn't take much to guess who or what was happening.
"Okay," Luan whispered to the other intruders. "On three. One… Two… Three!"
In unison, the trio yelled, "Good Morning, Lincoln!"
Lincoln shot up in false surprise, just in time for the twins to clamber up and hug him on his bed.
"Where you surprised?" Lana asked hopefully.
"I sure was," Lincoln patted her. "What a way to wake up!"
Lola giggled next to him maniacally and rubbed her face into his side. Lana settled for hugging tighter.
"They wanted to wake you up for breakfast on you special day," Luan reached over and ruffled his hair. "Happy Birthday, Lincoln."
"Thanks," he yawned and stretched his arms, the six-year-olds still latched to his sides. "Think I'll start with a shower, first."
"Alright guys," Luan stood by the door, "Let's let Lincoln wash off the stinkin'."
The girls giggled and ran off to do their thing. The now eleven-year-old got up, gathered his towel, and walked out to the bathroom line.
"Woah, woah, woah!" Lynn waved her hands up as Lincoln stood behind her in line. "What do you think you're doing?"
Lincoln yawned again. Giving him time to respond. "Isn't this the bathroom line?"
"Yeah, and its your birthday," she stated. "Birthday girls go to the front of the line. Uh, boys too."
Lincoln raised an eyebrow but was smiling. He'd been here long enough to know that the line was to be respected under any and all circumstances.
"Is that right?" he mused.
"Yeah," Lynn wore an excited, but completely serious face and tone.
Lincoln waited for the "but" to come up, but it never did. He shrugged and took a step forward.
Lynn's arm shot up, halting his advance.
"But…." She stated. "You got to let the girls do their morning biz first. Bathroom emergencies. You understand."
Lincoln opened his mouth to speak, but was cut short.
"You get to use the shower first," she clarified. Lincoln nodded with a knowing smirk. "They all take forever in there."
"Lynn, stop messing with the little dude already," Luna chastised her from the front of the line.
"Or what?" Lynn challenged, beefing out her arms at her sides and puffing her chest out. "What'chu gonna do about it?"
"I'll let Lincoln go in front of me, and you'll have to wait that much longer," she threatened.
"Ooh-dang," Lynn deflated. "That's a good point."
"I will gladly forfeit my position in this line if you all could lower your decibels," Lisa rubbed her eyes, standing behind Luna. "It is much too early for these shenanigans."
Lincoln gave a sorry glance to Lisa, who looked back at him with a solemn nod. It must have taken her a while to get back to sleep after their "talk" last night.
"Salutations, brother," she greeted, "Happy delivery day."
"Lisa…" Luna warned her. "Say it properly."
The young girl fidgeted. "…Happy Birthday."
"Thanks, Lisa," Lincoln nodded in understanding.
They day went on, and Lincoln was able to get in and out of the shower just in time to get down to breakfast. The girls and his parents gushed over him and his birthday party later that night.
"Lincoln," Rita called for his attention, "Is there anyone you'd like to invite for the party? Someone from class?"
"Uh…" Lincoln thought. "If that's okay?"
"Of course, sweetie," she answered, "We just need to know how many people are coming, so we have enough food for everyone."
"Oh, uh…" he stammered, "Maybe, like, four other guys?"
Rita nodded. "Okay! That's no problem at all!"
"Oh, that reminds me," Lori then said, "Bobby wanted to come over to celebrate with us."
"I'm so excited!" Leni then declared. "Lincy, I can't wait for you to see your new birthday suit!"
Lincoln choked on his orange juice. Lynn, Luan, and Luna all burst out laughing. The younger kids laughed along with them. Lynn Sr. rubbed his eyes while trying to contain his own laughter. Lori put a hand on Leni's shoulder.
"Leni," she told her, "That doesn't mean what you think it means."
Soon, the crowd of children was rushed into the van and pedaled off to school. Lincoln met up with Clyde at his locker.
"So you guys having a party?" he asked.
"Yeah," Lincoln started spinning the knob on his locker. He still hadn't gotten used to these things. He talked while inputting the combination. "I want you guys to come."
Clyde blinked. Lincoln added.
"You, Rusty, Liam, Zach," he listed off. "It'd be great if you were all there."
"Well, I know the guys would be up for it," Clyde rubbed his neck. "But… We don't have any presents for you, man."
"No, no," Lincoln waved it off, "Don't worry about presents. I just want you guys there. Luan's doing her comedy act, there's cake and ice cream. All that stuff."
"I just feel bad," he confessed. "Showing up to a party with no gifts? Messed up."
"Yeah well," Lincoln shrugged, "Don't worry about it."
There, he finally got it open. He'd been spinning the knob so many times it might be close to falling off.
"Happy Birthday, Lincoln."
Lincoln spun his head over to a passing girl.
"Oh, thanks!" he answered back. What was her name again? It started with a J… Jordan, maybe?
"Dude."
Lincoln looked to Clyde, and followed his gaze as he realized something fell to his foot. A folded piece of paper was pushed into his locker. He picked it up and unfolded it.
"Word was that it's your Birthday today," he read aloud, "You're pretty cool for a weirdo. Happy Birthday, Lame-o. Heart, Anonymous."
"Ooh. Intrigue." Clyde commented. "Did she really call you a Lame-o?"
"Yeah," Lincoln snickered. "That's a pretty awesome gift, right?"
"What?"
He flipped the paper to face Clyde and paused for effect.
"I'm pretty cool," he stated, "for a weirdo."
"High praise," Clyde teased. "You should get that framed."
"Yeah, right," Lincoln grabbed what he needed from the locker and stuffed the note in his pocket.
The boys sat down in their class, their teacher right behind them. While she was setting up, Lincoln felt someone tug on his shirt.
"Hey."
Lincoln turned in his seat to his classmate. He knew better than to hit girls, but if there was any girl in this building who would take it to the chin and take it in stride… well, honestly, it was probably Lynn, but Ronnie Anne is definitely the runner up.
"Here," she handed him an envelope, "Its from the class."
"Thanks," Lincoln took the envelope and turned in his seat. He pushed the fold open and pulled out the card. It was a standard birthday card, with plenty of blank space on the inside for a group of people to sign. It looks like everyone signed it. Clyde and the guys, Jordan from earlier, even that cute girl Christine, Ronnie Anne had neater handwriting than he was expecting. Even Mrs. Johnson had her signature marked here.
Unknown to him, the classmate behind him had leaned forward in her seat; hovering over the boy's shoulder. The view was terrible back here, but from this side angle she could see the side of his face. She could watch him read the card and see the creases form on his cheek from smiling at it. He suddenly turned back to her, startling her and making her think she'd been caught.
"Thanks," he said casually, "This means a lot."
He turned back in his seat, carefully placing the card in his bag. Ronnie Anne sat back down in her seat, face red, and heart thumping.
Lincoln walked through the front door of the house, with his friends in tow. It was apparent to him that the house was vacant.
"Hello?" he called out.
"Over here, bud!" his dad called from the kitchen. Lincoln's group ventured over and saw him in an apron. The man was a natural cook. He greeted them with a smile. "Everyone else is out back. Why don't you go check it out?"
Lincoln obeyed, guided by curiosity and excitement. When he stepped through the door and onto the back steps, he stopped to absorb the sight before him.
The girls were putting on some final touches. Streamers reached all around the yard, connecting areas between the corners of the house, the garage, and the tree. There was a folding table set up for food, and another line of tables set up across the yard. At one end of the line of tables, a modest pile of presents was neatly stacked at its head. The side of the garage had a makeshift stage, perhaps on behalf of Luan's clowning business. All the girls were here, along with someone who must be Bobby, and a couple of people hanging around Luna. Maybe that was her band?
Lori noticed the boys at the back door.
"Hey guys," she greeted. "Happy Birthday, Lincoln!"
The girls all stopped in their projects and shouted in unison.
"Happy Birthday Lincoln!"
Lincoln felt all warm and fuzzy inside. It made him blush.
"What do say we get this party started?!" Luan threw her arms out. "Show starts in just a few minutes!"
Lincoln and his friends all took their seats in front of the stage. The younger kids all joined them too. Luan put on a little magic show, with disappearing cards and rabbits. She even did the classic "saw a lady in half" with Lori (and Leni, but Lincoln didn't need to spoil the fun). She was quite the talented illusionist, making jokes all the while.
"Well, Lori," she said after the box was "cut" in two and she wheeled them away from each other. "You were always complaining about losing weight. Now you're half the woman you used to be!"
Okay, so not her best joke, but Lincoln let out a laugh anyway, along with the others. Soon, Lori was "restored" and she bowed before exiting the stage with the box. Leni could be loudly heard complaining about back pain, and being shushed immediately. Lincoln really had to keep a lid on it then, so he wouldn't break the illusion for his sisters.
"Hmm. Maybe Luan has more ties to the dark arts than I realized," Lucy muttered next to him.
Soon, Luan's act ended, and she took a bow while her audience applauded for her. Lori came onto the stage and bowed with her… followed by Leni, who, officially, was never on stage at all. Oh well.
Luna took to the stage, high fiving her sister on her way up. Her band set up their equipment like a well oiled machine. She tuned her guitar and looked to the small crowd with a smile.
"I'll, uh…" she seemed to sweat. "I'll make this quick and painless."
With a final look of confirmation to her bandmates, she took a breath, and started to play.
"Hey brother! There's an endless road to rediscover
Hey sister! Know the water's sweet but blood is thicker
Oh, if the sky comes falling down, for you,
There's nothing in this world I wouldn't do."
Lincoln could help but chuckle a little in his seat. Maybe it was a bit on the nose, but he heard that Luna hated pop-songs. The fact that she's performing one for him? Well, that says a lot, by itself.
"Hey brother! Do you still believe in one another?
Hey sister! Do you still believe in love I wonder?
Oh, if the sky comes falling down, for you
There's nothing in this world I wouldn't do."
It wasn't just a copy-past, either. The vocals and the rhythm had its own flare; courtesy of the rocker herself.
"What if I'm far from home?
Oh brother, I will hear you call!
What if I lose it all?
Oh sister, I will help you out!
Oh, if the sky comes falling down, for you,
There's nothing in this world I wouldn't do."
Luna inserted something of a guitar solo into the song. The kids were practically bouncing to the beat, and Lincoln knew that this kind of music had to have been heard some blocks away.
"Hey brother! There's an endless road to rediscover
Hey sister! Do you still believe in love? I wonder
Oh, if the sky comes falling down, for you
There's nothing in this world I wouldn't do.
What if I'm far from home?
Oh brother, I will hear you call!
What if I lose it all?
Oh sister, I will help you out!
Oh, if the sky comes falling down, for you,
There's nothing in this world I wouldn't do."
Lola suddenly ran up to him, pulling him out of his chair and demanding he dance to the music. Lincoln awkwardly complied, dancing with the little princess. Well, less dancing and more flailing his limbs around. He could feel the eyes watching him, but he just focused on Lola, and how big she was smiling. It wouldn't be later until he realized his mother and friends were filming him. The video never went anywhere but would be brought up in future conversations.
Thankfully, the song ended, and he stopped to give Luna and her group the loudest applause he could muster. Luna waved to her audience and stepped off humbly.
"Alright guys, who's ready for presents?" Lori called from the table. "After that, we can get cake and play some party games!"
"Alright!" everyone agreed. The crowd picked up their own chairs and, under instruction, put them in a circle almost to the center of the yard.
Lincoln sat at the head of the circle, his hands gripping the sides of his chair he was so excited. The girls had their own presents sitting on their laps. The boys looked a bit sheepish, but it was alright. Lincoln told them what was up at lunch. They shouldn't be embarrassed.
Clyde, however, was the odd one out, having a decorated bag on his lap.
"Here," he stated, "start with the worst one first."
"Dude," Lincoln scolded him, "you didn't have to-"
"No, but I wanted to," he insisted, "Happy Birthday, buddy."
Lincoln looked down at the bag and opened it up, unwrapping the prize inside. It was a walkie-talkie.
"I got the other one," Clyde revealed from his pocket. "That way we can stay in touch whenever. Even if, like, an invasion or something happens."
"This is… awesome!" Lincoln cheered. "Thanks, Clyde!"
They shared a fist bump, before the boy returned to his seat.
The twins got him some transformers action figures. Lincoln wasn't familiar with the series, but he appreciated the gifts all the same. The girls gave him a simultaneous hug at his sides before returning to their seats.
Lucy stood up and handed Lincoln an envelope.
"It isn't much, but…" she shyly proclaimed.
It was a poem, etched into a nice custom sheet with a golden trim around it. Lincoln read over the words and couldn't help but smile at them. They had her flow and rhythm, and while some of the words used might have come across as creepy by themselves, Lincoln could see what she was trying to say.
"Thanks, Lucy," he sniffed. "This means a lot."
He stood up and gave her a tight hug, which she returned. She went back to her seat with a small smile, satisfied.
Leni walked by and placed her gift in front of him with an excited smile. Lincoln took it and opened it. The box contained a nice, crisp suit. It was nicer than anything Lincoln had seen in person. It looked like something he saw on tv.
"Wow," Lincoln marveled.
"Made it myself," Leni happily declared. "What do you think?"
"It's amazing," he told her. "It looks like… the real thing. Like in stores and movies."
Words failed to convey what he was trying to say. Lori helped him out.
"He's saying it looks like it was made by professionals," she translated to Leni's ear.
"Oh," Leni gushed, "That is so sweet, Lincoln."
"Thank you," Lincoln told her, before setting the gift gently aside.
Lynn's turn came up, and she had gotten (to Lincoln's surprise) a superhero encyclopedia. The book was massive, and boasted illustrations and descriptions of hundreds of obscure characters.
"Yeah," Lynn rubbed her neck. "I wasn't sure what comic books you really liked, so… I figured this would be the next best thing."
"This is really cool!" Lincoln was already flipping through the pages. He found the pages dedicated to the Fantastic Four. "Thanks, Lynn."
"Yeah," she bashfully answered. "Maybe we can, uh… read one of those comics together, or something."
She was really trying. Lincoln felt he should throw her a bone.
"We can play a game of hoops after that," Lincoln offered. "If you want."
"Really?" she perked up. Then she shook her head. "I mean… Yeah. That'd be great."
With the two sharing a smile, Lynn returned to her seat. Lisa took her place.
"Apologies, brother," Lisa told Lincoln, "I could not think of a unique or colorful solution for my gift, therefore, I had to fall back on something mundane."
"It's okay, Lisa," Lincoln assured her. He gently took the package from her and unwrapped it. He looked at it in confusion. It was a video game, some grand adventure title he had heard about, but never thought he'd get to play. Now if only he had the system…
"Uh… Lisa? I appreciate the thought, but…"
"Lisa…" Rita scolded the girl. She didn't sound too upset. "I told you to wait."
"Ah," Lisa adjusted her glasses. "I knew I was forgetting something…"
"It's okay," Lincoln patted her head. "I know you mean well."
"Here you go, sweetie," Rita set a new box in front of him. "I guess you'll just have to act surprised."
Lincoln smiled and unwrapped it. It was a Nintendo Switch gaming system. Lincoln acted surprised.
"Woah!" Lincoln blew up. "Really? This is insane! I never would have guessed!"
"Alright, alright," Rita flicked his ear. "You little smart-tail."
Lincoln snickered, joining in the laughter from his friends. He looked over to Lisa, who looked at him in embarrassment. He gave her a knowing wink.
He felt Lori lean down next to his ear.
"I'll give you my present a little later," she whispered. She stood back up and address the kids. "Alright, guys! Let's sit around the table! Cake's almost ready!"
Lincoln yawned and stretched his arms. After a full day of partying, and playing games, and eating junk food, the final guest went home. He lounged on the couch, stretching his arms and enjoying his spoils.
"Did you have a good day, son?"
Lincoln turned to his dad.
"Yeah," he answered confidently, "The best day of my life."
"Don't say that yet," Lori appeared. "You still got one gift left."
Lincoln took the box she offered him carefully. He wondered briefly about what it could be. Was it a new pair of shoes? A cellphone, maybe?
He opened it up and shifted the tissue paper and paused. Oh, it's a gag gift. That's funny.
He picked up the toy that had been laid inside. It was a stuffed white rabbit, with a fitted purple t-shirt. It had plastic white eyes with black dots for pupils. It looked old and… it looked strange to him.
"What is this?" Lincoln laughed off.
"That's yours," Lori told him. She sat down next to him. "When you were little… you would carry that toy everywhere you went. It meant everything to you. You called it Bun-bun."
Lincoln looked back from Lori, to the toy in his hand. He had no idea it was his. He imagined himself as a baby, like Lily, grasping onto this little toy, compared to now, at eleven years old. The toy felt… incredibly small to him.
So much has happened since he last saw it.
Lincoln wiped his face on his arm. "I… I don't know what to say."
"It's okay," Lori leaned over and pulled him into a hug. "I just… I wanted you to know… We're here for you. Okay?"
Lincoln nodded into her shoulder, giving an ugly sniff.
He pulled away and wiped his face.
"Think I'm going to turn in," he said with a cough. "Goodnight, guys."
"Goodnight Lincoln," his mother told him.
"Goodnight son," his father followed.
"We'll see you tomorrow," Rita added.
Lincoln hugged his parents, squeezing each of them tightly. Lori followed him upstairs. She only spoke when he turned to go to his room.
"Wait just a second, Lincoln," Lori paused him. She raised her voice, "Girls! It's time to go to bed!"
Lincoln watched in confusion as she also went into the nursey. She came out with Lily and Lisa as all the other girls stepped out of their rooms.
"What's going on, guys?" Lincoln wondered.
"Just telling you goodnight," Luna knowingly answered.
"Lily," Lori crouched in front of Lincoln and leaned her forward. "You first."
Lincoln took the baby without knowing what was happening. Lily leaned over and planted her little lips on his cheek.
"Nigh-nigh!" the infant said.
Before Lincoln could process it, Lily was taken away and Lisa raised her arms up at him. He instinctively reached to pick her up, and she planted a kiss on his cheek.
"You can let me down now," she clarified.
Lincoln's mind was going blank.
Lola and Lana in unison ran up and wrapped their arms around Lincoln's neck. They kissed both sides of his face with loud and sloppy "Mwah!"
Lucy drifted over and gave a gentler hug, standing on her tip toes and giving Lincoln a kiss on his cheek.
"Goodnight," she greeted.
Lynn came up next. She planted a quick kiss to his cheek, and a swifter slug to his arm.
"Tell anyone, and I clobber you," she promised. It only sounded like a half-hearted threat.
Luan swooped in and gave him a big hug. She planted a kiss on his face.
"Don't go telling, now." she laughed.
Luna stepped in next.
"There's just a… Whole Lotta Love around here for you, bud," she grabbed his shoulders and gave his cheek a peck. "Sleep tight."
Leni walked up next, happy as can be. She planted a kiss on one cheek, and then the other, and then one more on his forehead.
"Okay, okay," Lori shooed her off. "That's enough."
Leni giggled and stepped away. Lori took her place, having handed off Lily to Luna.
She planted a long kiss on his forehead and hugged him to her chest.
"Goodnight, Lincoln."
Lincoln hugged her back. Squeezing her as tightly as he could.
Once they pulled apart, he walked/stumbled over to his room, and looked back before he closed it.
"Goodnight," he told them.
They all waved him off and he closed the door behind him. A change of clothes later, and he was under the covers of his bed.
He breathed a sigh of absolute relief. The only noises outside this room were the crickets in the yard down below. He was with his rightful parents. He was with his rightful family. He had a full belly, and his own room. He had friends waiting for him at school tomorrow. He had people waiting for him when he goes home later that day.
There was nothing wrong with his life.
He was home.