This chapter is now updated.
Later on that evening, whilst the Loud children ate dinner, Albert waited for a couple minutes before speaking to Luan.
"Oh Luan," Albert began, causing her to look in his direction.
"When I spoke with the Manager at the senior center, Sandals, the comedian who entertains the residents on the shuttle bus on our day trips called saying he resigned. I recommended you for the job but said you'll only be available for the summer. The schedule is Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. The Manager will pay you fifty dollars per trip. Are you interested in taking it?"
Luan's eyes sparkled with joy and replied gleefully, "Of course 'I'll take the job, thank you for recommending me. I promise to give some of the money to buy groceries."
'No problem kiddo, could you start this Friday?" Albert asked.
"Yes I can," Luan responded.
Lori was delighted for her sister getting a new job besides herself. She told Albert when he dropped her off at the mall today he didn't have to come for her, she'll just take the bus home.
"What about you Lori?" Albert inquired next.
"I just had to fill out some W-2 form. Everyone gets Sunday and another day off. We get four days paid training starting tomorrow until Saturday from ten am to three pm," Lori replied.
"Pop-Pop, can Lola and I go to the park tomorrow?" Lana asked.
"Sure kiddo," Albert responded. He called Mr. Hamilton afterwards to say Luan agreed to begin working on Friday.
At the Santiago's, with Ronnie Anne still in dreamland, Maria finished eating then washed the plate and silverware then went into her bedroom to change into some scrubs. However, Maria first placed a call on her cell phone to Rosa, waiting for the phone to ring six times before Rosa answered.
"Hello mama, guess what, I got the job," she began happily before Rosa could say hello.
"Congratulations mija," Rosa almost shouted, then lowered her voice.
"When you told me at Bobby's graduation party about applying for this opportunity, I've been praying every night they'd hire you, I cannot wait to tell everybody, I'm sure Hector will be thrilled for Bobby to work for him at the Mercado," Rosa continued rambling...
When Rosa paused to catch her breath, Maria said, "Bye Mom I have to get ready for work."
"Bye mija, when you're coming I'll get Hector and Carlos to drive over to help you with anything," Rosa continued.
"I'll appreciate that bye Mami," Maria said.
Wednesday
In the morning Lori arose bright and early for her first day of training. As Leni slept peacefully wearing her eye mask Lori crept past the seventeen year old and showered before going downstairs to prepare breakfast for herself. Albert was outside walking Charles. After having a buttered bagel with cream cheese, some blueberries and coffee with sugar, she managed to get dressed without waking Leni. Lana gave Vanzilla a proper tune up yesterday so Lori had no worries about it breaking down driving to work.
After breakfast Luan spent time working on an act for the Giggling Geezer and Lincoln rushed over to Clyde's house as he promised with his school bag packed with his game console, three video games and two Ace comic books. Albert dropped Lucy and Lisa at the library as promised and upon his return accompanied the twins and Lily to the park. Luna headed to her bandmate Madelyn (Mazzy) house to play music with their other band members, a boy named Sully (Sean Sullivan) and Samantha. Leni's friend Jackie's came and picked her up at one p.m. to watch fashion shows on the internet at her house..
Later the Santiago's were seated around the table in the dining room eating some of the food Rosa prepared during her stay. Maria glanced at her children before making her big announcement.
"Kids I have some great news," she began, causing the children to pay rapt attention to their mother.
A broad smile crossed Maria's face before blurting out, "I got the job at Great Lakes Hospital."
It took five seconds for the announcement to register into Bobby and Ronnie Anne's minds.
Bobby gasped with joy then replied enthusiastically, "I'm so happy for you Mami."
However Ronnie Anne stayed quiet briefly then gave a little smile, "Congratulations Mami," she uttered.
"The job starts on July eighteen, there's so many things to do before we leave, including mailing a final check for the rent to Mrs. Weston," Maria continued.
"Are we leaving this weekend? "Ronnie Anne asked curiously.
"No we're leaving July second that will give us a lot of time to pack," Maria explained.
"I'll continue working until next week Wednesday," Bobby thought.
"Mami, Lori told me yesterday on our date she got a job working at the Smoothie Queen that just opened in the mall," Bobby announced before taking another bite from his enchilada.
"I'm so glad to hear that," Maria replied enthusiastically, "Also my schedule has been changed back to seven am to seven pm tomorrow."
The remainder of the meal was enjoyed without another word spoken until Maria finished the last piece of her enchilada.
"Ronnie Anne please wash the dishes," Maria requested before leaving to wash the uniforms she wore the last three days.
When Ronnie Anne finished washing the dishes and silverware, she grabbed the remote on the coffee table, settled on the couch, and turned on the TV.
Meanwhile, in his bedroom, Bobby picked up his cell phone from his dresser, intending to call Lori. Noticing the phones power down to two percent he plugged in the charger. He started yawing so Bobby decided to take a little snooze, but found himself waking up at nine fifteen p.m.
Bobby muttered, "I'll just wait until tomorrow after I get home from work, I hope she doesn't react badly when I tell her," before taking a shower.
Thursday
After breakfast when Lincoln finished putting on his sneakers, a call came through on his video chat line. When he saw Ronnie Anne's face on the screen he quickly sat down to chat with her.
"Hey Ronnie Anne, what's up," he greeted.
"Guess what Lincoln Mami got hired," Ronnie Anne blurted out.
"Wha, What," Lincoln exclaimed in amazement, "Now that's good news."
"She told me and Bobby about it yesterday," Ronnie Anne continued in a serious tone.
"Wait a minute I didn't hear Lori screaming yesterday, so Bobby probably hasn't told her yet," Lincoln admitted.
Ronnie Anne shrugged her shoulders and replied, "Probably, he could be working up the courage to tell her about it."
Lincoln shuddered slightly at the thought that Lori might react as though it's the end of the world being separated from her boyfriend. Ronnie Anne still clearly remembered waiting for him to drive her to school one morning while talking to Lori on his phone. She overheard Lori wailing about not wanting to go to school when Bobby point blank refused to wear a tux she purchased for him to wear at a school dance. Eventually the dance was postponed due to the ceiling of the High Schools auditorium caving in because of a sudden storm that happened overnight, damaging a large portion of the floor.
"Well I congratulate your mom," Lincoln replied, "When are you leaving for Great Lakes?''
"We're leaving July second," Ronnie Anne replied," Lincoln, would you like to come and play video games, I don't have anyone to hang out with?"
"But isn't your mom sleeping," Lincoln questioned.
"Oh she's back on the seven am to seven pm schedule today," Ronnie Anne explained.
"All right I'll be right over, see ya," Lincoln replied.
Both logged off their laptops at the same time, then Lincoln removed the items, except for the console he packed yesterday in his school bag and replaced them with two other video games.
'Hey Leni, I'm heading over to Ronnie's, see you later," Lincoln told her as he passed her on the couch watching some fashion related show with Lola.
At Hazeltucky Juvenile Center
Later Lynn Jr. sat in one of the classrooms with her roommate Wendy, her other roomies fifteen year olds Latasha and Justina in a different class. On Monday, the day of Lynn's arrival classes weren't in session due to an important teachers and staff meeting. The newcomers were handed their uniforms, a light blue collared shirt and navy blue corduroy pants an hour after they arrived on Monday and received their textbooks on their first day of classes on Tuesday. At the moment Lynn became bored out of her mind while the teacher Ms. Granger explained the difference between how to compare and contrast when writing an essay to the students.
With her left elbow resting on her desk and fist planted under her chin, Lynn's Jr. thoughts drifted towards her siblings.
"I wonder what everyone is doing at home, Lucy's probably creeping around the vents writing poetry and Luan, well she cannot play any pranks since Pop-Pop wouldn't allow…" Lynn thoughts became interrupted by Ms. Granger's voice.
"Girls, class dismissed, for homework, please answer the questions at the end of chapter 4," the teacher commanded.
Lynn grimaced at the mention of homework and overheard some other girls grumbling under their collective breaths but Ms. Granger ignored their protests.
'Sheesh, I can't believe we're stuck inside attending classes when we could be outside enjoying ourselves," one girl grumbled walking alongside Lynn Jr. to their last class of the day.
"Tell me about it, sis," Lynn agreed.
Lori spent a majority of her time after dinner memorizing smoothie recipes given to all employees yesterday after work whilst Leni relaxed on her bed reading the latest issue of Sixteen and a Half. Lori decided to keep her cell phone off so as not to be disturbed, Bobby ended up leaving a text message. At the moment, Albert wasn't in the house deciding to take Charles for his evening walk accompanied by the twins and Lucy and Luna and Luan were washing the dishes, silverware and pots used for dinner.
"I should take a break and see if Bobby has texted me," Lori thought.
Putting aside the booklet she received from Stacey containing the smoothie recipes, Lori picked up her phone laying beside her and turned it on. Once she read the first text, the one Bobby sent just three minutes ago…
In shock Lori allowed the phone to slip out of her hand, falling on her bed, then released an ear shattering scream frightening Leni.
'No, this can't be happening," Lori muttered.
End of Chapter 38