Later in the evening, nobody had the inclination to cook anything, luckily some of yesterday's pot roast remained so Lori merely warmed up the remainder with Albert boiling rice. Normally some amount of chatter would be heard around the dinner table but today no one hardly said anything.
"Pop-Pop," Lisa finally spoke, "Could you take me to the library tomorrow and until Thursday this week?"
"I'd like to come too," Lucy added.
Albert half smiled at their request and replied, "Sure thing kiddos."
Lucy resumed staring at the empty chair across from her occasionally.
Lincoln decided to call Clyde after placing his empty plate, glass and silverware in the sink. He would have called that morning to make arrangements to play video games at Clyde's home after Lynn's departure but remembered while hanging out with his friends on Saturday Zach asking Clyde about his plans on Monday and heard his dad Howard made an appointment for him at his optometrist at one p.m.,
Moments later Clyde's face appeared on the computer screen.
"Hey Clyde sorry you had to spend your first Monday of summer at the eye doctor," Lincoln commiserated.
"You know my dad's believe in scheduling my medical appointments when there's no school," Clyde said quite resignedly.
"Yeah I know," Lincoln replied wryly.
"Next week Tuesday I have an appointment with Dr. Feinstein," Clyde continued.
A little silence passed then Lincoln said calmly, "The police came for Lynn today," the news startling Clyde a little.
"Really, they didn't waste much time huh," Clyde uttered.
Changing the subject Lincoln asked, "So are you willing to hang out tomorrow?
"Sure buddy, come over around one and we'll play video games and we can order pizza," Clyde said.
"Will do Clyde, bye I have some reading to catch up on," Lincoln said.
"Bye friend," Clyde responded.
Both boys logged off simultaneously, afterwards Lincoln reclined a bit in the chair and started to ponder.
"I think it's time Liam and the others know the reason why I didn't go to school those days," he thought.
For the Santiago's this first Monday of summer vacation started with an exhausted Maria coming home at seven thirty am after working from seven pm yesterday. Maria warmed a breakfast sandwich she bought at the hospitals cafeteria before crawling into bed at eight a.m. her children had to go about their activities quietly while Maria slept, at least regarding Ronnie Anne since Bobby arranged with his boss at the supermarket to work from eight until four pm Mondays to Fridays during the summer, making the decision to quit the pizza deliveryman job two days before he graduated.
On Friday only Rosa and Aunt Frida returned to see Ronnie Anne graduate since Hector and Uncle Carlos had work commitments and Friday being Carlotta and CJ's last day of school with Uncle Carlos returning to drive them back to Great Lakes on Sunday afternoon. Ronnie Anne spent hours getting some fresh air skateboarding in the park after tidying her bedroom while her mother slept then plugged in her headphones into her laptop to watch videos after warming up some leftover tortilla soup Abuela Rosa prepared yesterday.
Maria woke at five pm from her slumber to eat some of Rosas food before getting ready for another seven pm to seven p.m shift. Passing her daughter's bedroom Maria heard light snoring and peeped inside seeing her daughter fast asleep.
The next day the children woke up later and discovered Albert and Lori weren't home. Albert dropped Lori at the mall before heading for the senior center to discuss some important business with the House Manager whom he called yesterday. Lori had received a text yesterday from the manager at Smoothie Queen asking her to come and meet with her at ten a.m.
At the mall Lori walked inside Smoothie Queen and spotted the boy who applied on the same day as her. Three girls and another boy, occupying two tables in the customer section, the boys sitting separately. Lori recognized a bespectacled girl named Suzette, another Royal Woods High school graduate who shared the same chemistry classes with her. Suzette turned around in time and her eyes widened upon seeing her former classmate.
"Hello Lori," Suzette greeted.
Lori waved at the brunette girl slightly and took the empty chair next to the other girl, a blonde wearing a blue headband. They only waited a mere fifteen seconds until a petite woman with curly blonde hair accompanied by a brown haired man holding a clipboard appeared from a door behind the counter.
"Hello everyone, I'm Stacey Reynolds, the Hiring Manager," she greeted with a slight New York accent, "I'd like to start by welcoming you to the Smoothie Queen Family. Pay is nine dollars per hour and everyone gets an hour lunch break. Since we observe the Sabbath we open on Mondays to Saturdays from ten a.m. to eight p.m. Our grand opening is next week Monday but you'll receive four days paid training starting tomorrow from ten a.m. to three p.m. Paid training is ten dollars an hour and you'll receive the check before you leave on Saturday. Everyone works five days a week and the weekly schedule will be posted in the break room. You'll receive your uniforms before you leave today. Are there any questions?" Stacey asked.
Silence filled the air for a moment, then Suzette raised her left hand half way.
"Are we going to wear our uniforms during the training period?" she asked.
"You'll start wearing them next week, and if anyone needs a particular day off come to me or Nazim," Stacey responded.
"I'd like everyone to fill out these W-2 forms. Money will be taken out of your paychecks for income tax," Nazim said, then walked around the tables, removing the documents one at a time from the clipboard and placing them in front of the new hires.
"When you're finished leave them on the table," he instructed.
Sunset Canyon Retirement Home
"Good morning, Mr. Hamilton," Albert greeted, stepping inside the office.
"Good Morning Mr. Morgan, what can I do for you," Mr. Hamilton replied as Albert pulled out the black leather chair facing Mr. Hamilton then sat down.
Albert spoke, "Mr. Hamilton, I'm asking for your permission to remain with my grandkids for the next seventeen months because my daughter and son in law are still working on a few issues. I know the Residents Handbook states that resident's need management's approval if they're staying away for over seven months so that's why I'm here."
Mr. Hamilton shook his head, and responded, "Albert, that's not a problem, we've planned on remodeling the rooms and the swimming pool two years ago and our contract has been approved. The work begins on December first. The renovation will take six to seven months tops, so don't worry. We've made arrangement with the Royal Park Hotel to have everyone relocate there until the projects completed.
"That's a relief," Albert thought, his thoughts got interrupted by the phone ringing.
"Hello. Sandals, how are you," Albert heard the Manager say cordially.
After listening to Sandals speak for a while Mr. Hamilton said, "Well congrats on your new job Sandals thanks for informing me."
Hanging up afterwards, the Manager resumed his conversation with Albert, "Sandals just accepted a full time position somewhere else so he's not coming tomorrow."
Sandals was the stage name of someone who entertained residents during rides on the center's shuttle bus called the Giggling Geezer part time.
"I'll have to hire someone to take his place," Mr. Hamilton said.
Suddenly a spark crossed Alberts mind and he snapped his fingers.
"I know just the person who could replace him, my fourteen year old granddaughter Luan who actually runs her own party business, but she can only do it for the summer," Albert continued.
"Hmmm," Mr. Hamilton mused, "I need someone to work his same schedule Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and I'll pay her fifty dollars per trip."
"Thank you I really appreciate you taking time to speak with me," Albert said rising from his seat.
"Albert I wish the best for your grandkids, daughter and son in law," Mr. Hamilton said.
"Thank you," Albert said finally before departing.
Today the kids resumed their normal routine albeit without the chaos typically associated with the sisters. Luna played her guitar in the garage but kept the volume down. Lana asked Albert permission if she could play in mud. Albert said yes but only if Lana washed herself off with the garden hose instead of tracking the mud in the house and insisted she bathe immediately after coming inside. Lola resumed driving her princess car, but restricted the activity to the backyard and front yard and Luan decided to resume her Funny Business hoping to snag a few party gigs before moving away. Albert dropped Lisa and Lucy off at the library as he promised. Lynn Jrs. roommate Latasha Jefferson returned from the infirmary when she spent two days recovering from a really bad sore throat and Lynn Jr made sure to stay on the volatile teenager's good side.
Currently the time was four fifteen p.m. and Maria Santiago, now awake, began logging into her laptop. While reading her emails Maria recognized one coming from the Great Lakes City Hospital and clicked.
Marias eyes widened in surprise after reading the first sentence.
Mrs. Santiago
Thank you for interviewing with us for the position of (title). After careful consideration, we've decided to offer you the position starting date July 15.
"Oh my God!" she whispered," I got the job," then continued reading the email.
Your starting salary will be ($$$) and the necessary benefits will be provided after 30 days of employment.
Welcome to Great Lakes City hospital and we look forward to having you on our staff.
Sincerely
Evelina Ortega
Excited Maria located her resignation letter from the desktop and sent it as an attachment to an email to her boss at Royal Woods Hospital.
Passing her daughters room Maria heard light snoring and peeped inside. Bobby informed her yesterday that after his shift ended, he'll be taking Lori directly for dinner at a new restaurant.
"I'll think I'll wait until tomorrow to tell both of them, right now I'll eat some of mom's tortilla soup then get ready for work," she thought. Bobby informed her Monday that after his shift ended, he'll be taking Lori for a date at a new restaurant.
