Chapter 49
A/N: The last chapter references the episode "Coupe Dreams"
A somewhat awkward moment passed between the two gentlemen before Albert remarked, "That's mighty generous of you Mr. Grouse but I'll have to discuss the matter with Lori when she gets home if she's interested."
"Tell her I'm selling it for one hundred and fifty dollars but she can pay for it a little each month," Mr. Grouse said.
Suddenly they were interrupted again with another round of Charles whimpering prompting Albert to bid Mr. Grouse a hasty, "See you later Bud, this fella is getting restless," then departed with Charles leading the way.
The weather wasn't too sunny at this moment as Albert headed towards Ketcham Park with Charles in tow. After spending ten minutes roaming around the park and buying a bottle of water from a vendor to quench his thirst at one point Albert returned home and turned the oven knob to start baking the meatloaf after putting Charles leash where it belonged in the kitchen.
While Albert climbed up the stairs to wash his hands before continuing the rest of this evening's dinner the McBride's red minivan was making its departure from the Royal Woods Community Center with Howard at the wheel with Clyde, Lincoln and Lucy sitting in the second row with Lincoln behind Howard and Lucy in the middle. Harold had driven his own blue sedan to work.
With hands gripping the steering wheel Howard asked the children in a cheery manner, "Did you have a good day kids?"
"Sure dad Clyde happily chirped up, his eyes twinkling, "Lincoln and I learnt coding and we learnt how to tye dye shirts."
Howard then turned his attention to Lincoln and Lucy by inquiring, "And you Lincoln and Lucy?"
"I had a good time Mr. McBride," Lincoln merely responded with an enthusiastic tone voice while Lucy said with a lower voice, "Same here Mr. McBride."
"I'm glad to hear that," Howard responded and smiled with satisfaction,' Oh Lincoln you and Lucy can now use your phones and laptop, I added your names to our service provider this morning," he added then stopped at Flips for some gas.
A bit later Albert finished preparing dinner then dialed the phone number of the juvenile center. Originally he decided to speak to Lynn Jr. on the phone but instead thought visiting her would make more sense.
"Good afternoon this is the Hazeltucky Juvenile Detention Center?" a calm female voice greeted.
"Good afternoon Miss my name is Albert Morgan, I'm calling to find out what are your visiting hours because I'd like to pay a visit to my grandkid Lynn Loud," Albert answered courteously.
"Sir our visiting hours are from eleven a.m to five p.m on Fridays and weekends only," the voice replied with the same cheeriness.
"Thank you Miss, could you tell Miss Loud to expect me there this Friday," he inquired.
"I will Mr. Morgan," the woman confirmed.
That night a thoroughly exhausted Luna went upstairs while her other sisters watched a mini marathon of the talent show Audition. From last week Tuesday Luna thought about applying for a summer job instead of depending on music gigs to materialize for her and the band she formed with her three friends. She was completely devoid of cash in other words, flat broke. Even a perusal through the entertainment flyer in the Sunday newspaper for upcoming local gigs yielded no results. Only four dollars remained from her last babysitting gig with the McCauley's and Luna really needed money to contribute something to the groceries or diapers for Lily. Now dressed in her sleeping attire Luna entered the bathroom to brush her teeth and once Luna laid her weary head on her pillow an idea flashed into her mind.
"Hmm tomorrow I'll call the music store near the mall and see if they're hiring."
Meanwhile Lincoln, Lucy and Clyde were watching the same mini marathon as the other sisters when Lincoln slipped away because he needed to call Ronnie Anne. Being thankful for the use of his phone again, Lincoln immediately dialed her number. She wasn't responding so LIncoln left a text message…
Hey Ronnie me and Lucy moved in with Clyde July sixth, I would have called sooner but had to wait for Clyde's dad Harold to add me and Lucy on their phone and Internet plan.
Lincoln then returned to the living room to continue watching the show with Clyde and Lucy.
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The next day arrives with Albert having a bowl of shredded wheat for breakfast, a favorite cereal of his bought with his own money. Then Lori and Leni entered the dining room fully dressed.
"Good Morning Pop-Pop," they greeted warmly.
"Morning Lori," he replied back cheerfully.
As they disappeared into the kitchen Albert suddenly remembered Mr. Grouse's offer of selling Lori his old car. It completely slipped his mind to inform her yesterday when she arrived home. Waiting until Lori was almost finished eating her waffles before bringing up the subject.
"Lori, I forgot to tell you, Mr. Grouse told me he's gonna get his old car fixed and wants to know if you'd be interested in buying it."
"How much is he selling the car for?" Lori asked curiously.
"One hundred and fifty dollars," her grandfather replied.
'Wow that's reasonable," Lori uttered.
She'd been saving for a car out of her babysitting money since she was fourteen years old and currently saved four hundred dollars hidden in a Dutch cookie tin inside her closet.
Albert took another sip of coffee and replied, "Fine I'll call him later and say you're interested."
Sometime later Luna arose at the exact time she always does in the mornings. Just fifteen minutes earlier Leni departed with Lori and Albert drove the younger girls to the library five minutes ago. Luna washed her face then came across her roommate Luan still wearing her yellow pajamas seated on the couch watching a stand-up comedy routine eating Rice Krispies cereal while emitting a few chortles at the comedian's jokes.
Luna grabbed a bowl from a cupboard then retrieved the box of Rice Krispies Luan left on the kitchen counter and some milk from the refrigerator. Puzzled about Lily being absent Luna flopped beside Luan during a commercial break.
"By the way, where's Lily?" she inquired of her baby sister's whereabouts.
"Pop-Pop took her along for the ride," Luan responded.
Once the commercial break ended Luan ingested the last spoonful of cereal and headed into the kitchen to wash her bowl and spoon. Luna had finished eating when Luan returned then washed her bowl and spoon and rejoined Luan.
At this moment, the door unlocked and in walked Albert carrying Lily in his arms and seated Lily on the couch between the girls.
Luna showered, got dressed then found the name of the music store and number on her phone and someone answered after two rings.
'Good morning, you're calling Music Planet, how can I assist you," a pleasant male voice answered back.
"My name is Luna Loud, I'd like to ask if you're hiring students for the summer," she began hoping for a positive answer.
"Yes we do have a couple of positions that just opened yesterday, you're actually the first person to call," the man continued, 'We don't need anyone with experience working in a music store just someone with a love for music and a hard worker."
'Well, I listen to a wide variety of music and I play some instruments," Luna replied.
"Wonderful, can you start tomorrow at ten am," he asked causing a broad smile to appear on Lunas face.
"Sure I'll be there tomorrow, goodbye," she said joyfully.
Hanging up the phone, Luna grabbed a small purse and headed downstairs to speak with Albert and Luan before heading to Sam's house.
Guess what I called the music store across from the mall and asked if they're hiring, the guy said yes and hired me after we spoke for a while," Luna said almost shouting.
'Congrats dear," Albert replied extremely happy for Luna and Luan smiled at her.
The next two days passed by without incident, then on Friday afternoon at the Hazeltucky Juvenile Detention Center lunch time was almost over for the inmates gathered in the cafeteria enjoying their lunch when an announcement came over the loudspeaker
"Lynn Loud, please come to the visiting room, you have a visitor," everyone heard
Ecstatic upon hearing the announcement Lynn's heart skipped a beat then she brushed off some crumbs that landed in her lap and a female guard escorted her towards the visiting room. As Lynn Jr. entered the room the guard stood watch near the entrance. Lynn beamed at the sight of her grandfather sitting on the opposite side of the screen separating the visitors and inmates and almost sprinted in his direction.
"Hello Lynn Junior," Albert greeted cheerfully.
"Pop-Pop I never thought anyone would call," she cried out.
"How are you getting along in juvie LJ?" Albert inquired.
"'I'm getting along fine," Lynn admitted then declared in annoyance, "We have to attend school until July twenty first."
"Really," Albert responded in wonder, never expecting to hear that last sentence.
"Yeah they don't follow Royal Woods regular school schedule, anyway we get Fridays off during the summer," she admitted, followed by a momentary silence.
"Junior I'm not going I want to know what happened to the energetic girl who treated her brother with respect who never dreamed of hurting him," Albert continued
Albert could hear the girl releasing a heavy sigh on the other end of the line. What Lynn Jr. next would come as a great revelation to her grandfather.
Stay tuned for the next chapter