"Finally I'm home," Lori muttered with relief as she turned off Vanzilla's engine, then grabbed her backpack beside her.
Slinging her bag over her shoulders Lori locked Vanzilla then walked towards the house. Alberts station wagon was nowhere in sight. Sighing with exhaustion Lori dropped her backpack beside the dresser then reached into the bag and removed the bag containing Lincoln's graduation gift and card.
"I'll get the tote bag with the things I took from my locker out later," she thought.
She placed the bag on top of the dresser before flopping wearily on her bed. She remained perfectly still, enjoying the peace and quiet for ten minutes before she felt thirsty and went downstairs to drink water.
Spying a note on the kitchen counter near a covered Tupperware with ham sandwiches Albert made for the children's snack, Lori curiously picked up the paper and read the note.
Lori
If you arrive before me, I just left with Lily to pick up Lincoln, the twins, Lucy and Lisa. Love Pop Pop.
Grabbing a bottle of water from the fridge Lori flopped on the couch and started flipping casually through the TV channels, finally settling on a soap opera. A few minutes later a school bus dropped the other high schoolers near the house. Luna unlocked the front door with Leni and Luan standing behind her. Lynn had the last basketball practice for the school term and would arrive later, the others climbing out of the station wagon with Albert carrying Lily in her carrier.
"Hi Lori," the teenagers said in unison, eventually the others children settled down to eat their snacks and do homework.
Later, there wasn't much conversation at the dinner table as everyone enjoyed their mashed potatoes and meatloaf.
"Let's see, I could use Vanzilla and pick up the younger kids, then Junior, then the other girls, that's it." Albert thought.
"Kiddos tomorrow I'm picking you all up in Vanzilla," he announced.
"I've been thinking about getting a summer job to help with the expenses so today when I saw that the new Smoothie Queen that's opening at the mall was hiring, I filled out an application form after having lunch with my friends," Lori said.
"That's great Lori," Albert told his granddaughter.
Once everyone finished eating, the telephone rang and Lori rushed to answer.
"Mom," she almost shrieked into the receiver.
"I wanna speak to mom," Lola and Lana yelled with Lola jumping up and down.
"I wanna tell her about getting a B on my History test," Luna declared.
"Wow they're really excited," Rita thought, then remembered inmates were only allowed five minutes to speak to their loved ones.
"Tell them to quiet down," Rita instructed then Lori made a harsh 'shhh' sound to her siblings.
With everyone quietened down Rita continued, "Lori I only have five minutes, please put your father's dress suit and my lavender dress into a bag and my sling backs into another bag, a plainclothes officer from the Hazeltucky police station will arrive shortly to get them. We got permission from Judge Callahan to speak with Lynn, Luan, Lincoln and the younger girls but we cannot do that until the graduation ceremonies are over."
Lori understood but for clarification asked Rita, "So we have to wait until tomorrow before they're allowed to speak with you and dad," she glanced at her siblings who suddenly had looks of disappointment written over their faces.
"That's right, so your father and I will see you tomorrow," Rita responded.
"Okay bye Mom," Lori said solemnly then hung up the receiver.
Everyone scattered upstairs except Leni and Luna who went to wash the dishes. Lori grabbed two plastic bags from the basement closet then entered her parents' bedroom. After Lori pushed the clothing into one bag then the sling backs into the other the doorbell suddenly rang.
Albert peered through the keyhole, then greeted, "Hello, who's there."
"I'm Officer Seth Ingram from the Hazeltucky Police Department, I'm here to pick up some items for Mr. and Mrs. Lynn Loud," the man replied.
Albert opened the door and greeted the officer cordially, "Won't you come in Officer? I'm Albert Morgan."
Lori approached Officer Ingram with a smile extending her right hand holding the bags.
"Hi I'm Lori here's the items," she greeted with a smile.
Officer Ingram took the bags then replied, "We'll return them as soon as possible. Another thing I have been assigned to escort your parents straight to the graduation ceremonies, your siblings will be allowed to sit with them. Just say I'm a close friend of the family if anyone asks who I am."
"Will do Officer, see you," Albert replied.
After the Officers departure Albert locked the door and Lori headed upstairs to figure out what to wear for tomorrow.
Wednesday June 14
An hour and a half after her siblings left by the school bus, Lori stirred awake. Lori could hear the voices from the video Lily was watching as she stepped into the hallway.
"Today's the day," Lori thought to herself excitedly as she closed the bathroom door. Lori's graduation ceremony was three p.m. After showering Lori turned on the coffee maker to warm the coffee, removed some maple syrup from the fridge then popped two waffles into the toaster. When everything was ready Lori sat at the kitchen table with her breakfast. Two minutes later Albert entered the kitchen holding his car keys.
"Lori could you watch Lily? I'm going to get my haircut at the senior center," Albert asked.
"Sure Pop-Pop," she replied.
Lori washed the utensils she used before taking a seat beside her baby sister.
Looking intently at Lily for a moment in silent contemplation, Lori remarked, "Hey Lily your older sister is graduating today," only getting a confused glance from her baby sister.
It was twelve p.m. at Royal Woods Elementary. While Mrs. Johnson sat silently as the students read a chapter of their Social Studies textbook, a pleasant female voice began speaking over the intercom.
"Lincoln, Lucy, Lana, Lola and Lisa Loud, will you come to the Principal's Office, your grandfather's here," Cheryl, Principal Huggins secretary announced.
"Okay Lincoln see you tomorrow," Mrs. Johnson replied as he grabbed his backpack.
Tomorrow was the last day of school for the fifth graders. Each class were having graduation parties that Principal Huggins hired a caterer to serve cookies, sandwiches and soda. Lincoln met the others leaving their classrooms and they hurried towards the Principals Office.
"Hey kiddos ready to go," Albert asked cheerfully and the children nodded in agreement.
Outside they followed Albert to where he parked Vanzilla and sat behind him. First he drove straight to Lynn's school, then picked up the others at the High school. Albert made hot dogs with fries for an earlier dinner before everyone would start getting ready.
Later
"Everyone has four minutes to use the bathroom," Albert commanded when the kids formed the usual line to the bathroom. Lori was putting on makeup in her bedroom at the moment with Leni who already showered was getting dressed.
Luna, the first person now in line before Lincoln rushed in the bathroom. Albert stood near the door holding a digital watch in his right hand. Within thirty six minutes everyone except Lily were finished.
Sometime later, everyone was dressed and ready to go.
"Look at my beautiful grandkids, "Albert gushed with a gleam in his eyes when the kids except Lori were assembled in the living room. Lynn Jr. reluctantly wore a red dress Rita bought for her that was kept for occasions where Lynn couldn't wear her usual sports attire.
"Now we have something important to say," Albert declared wearing a solemn look.
"Lori received a letter from the Principal with instructions that family members of graduates cannot cheer and holler when a graduate's names are called for them to receive their diplomas. When Lori's name is called we can clap for a few seconds and nothing more."
"What a bummer," Lynn Jr. grumbled.
Albert decided to explain, "They have to make that rule so when another graduates name is being called their family members can hear."
Suddenly Lori made her appearance wearing a dark green graduation cap and gown beaming happily as she walked down the stairs. She choose to wear low brown pumps
Albert wearing the new suit he purchased, embraced his granddaughter with a bear hug when she stood before everyone.
"Lori you look great," he said proudly then released her.
"Thanks Pop Pop," Lori replied.
"This brings back memories when your mom graduated from high school," he added.
"Hey Lori let's take some pics," Leni suggested.
Lori positioned herself near the fireplace then Albert and Leni began taking pictures, afterwards Albert glanced at his grandkids and with a satisfied smile, declared, "All right lets go."
Ronnie Anne sat on the couch watching skateboarding moves on her cell phone in the living room when a green sedan stopped in front of the Santiago residence Grandparents Hector and Rosa, Uncle Carlos, Aunt Frida and cousins Carlota and Carlos Jr. stepped out and began walking briskly towards the house. When Frida rang the doorbell Ronnie Anne instantly turned off her phone and rushed to answer the door. At the moment Bobby, wearing his graduation cap and gown and Maria were coming down the stairs.
"Hola Abuela, Abuelo, Tia Frida," Ronnie greeted enthusiastically before Frida embraced her, followed by another from Rosa. Carlos Sr. stood patiently holding a white cloth bag containing tamales Rosa prepared for a celebration for Bobby taking place after the ceremony. Maria bought a cake and bottled fruit punch early that morning and a banner with "Congratulations Roberto" hung above the fireplace.
Bobby politely took the bag Carlota held and went straight to the kitchen and put the bag inside the fridge.
"Sorry were a little behind, there was a little accident on the road," Rosa explained.
"No time for conversation we have to go," Hector remarked.
Once outside Maria spoke to Bobby, "Honey since you're the graduate, I'll do the driving," so Bobby handed her his car keys.
While Hector driving close behind Bobby's car, there was an important email coming through Maria's Santiago's account from the Great Lakes City hospital.
Royal Woods High
"There's Mom and Dad," Lincoln called out when he looked across the parking lot. Everyone rushed towards the couple and Officer Ingram who wore a light blue shirt and navy pants,
Lynn Sr. gushed, "My baby's graduating," then started blubbering before rushing up to Lori and embracing her tightly.
Rita, calm but smiling proudly, "You look wonderful honey," she told Lori.
"Well I have to go, see you all later," Lori declared in a cheerful manner.
"Let's take our seats, Luna you put Lily in your lap," Albert instructed then handed the infant over to the teenage girl, "Lisa you'll sit in my lap."
Lisa looked a bit appalled at the idea of sitting in someone's lap but knew better than to make a fuss with Albert over it.
"Hey Lori," Dana called out when Lori approached her and Whitney and she waved to them.
"Please take your seats, everyone," a male teacher requested.
The graduate's names were pasted onto chairs in alphabetical order so they found their seats. In a few minutes the ceremony began.
While Carol Pingrey delivered her valedictorian speech, Howard McBride heard the doorbell ring while reading the newspaper as Clyde helped Harold with dinner.
Opening the door, the family lawyer stood there holding a mustard manila envelope containing the legal document regarding the approval for the legal guardianship of Lincoln and Lucy.
"Hello Mrs. DaCosta," Howard greeted.
