NLM 51
As the moments ticked by Albert waited in anticipation for Lynn to begin speaking.
'On the first day of middle school, I couldn't find my second class so I asked these boys for directions but they shoved me down the basement stairs. I spent the whole day down there trying to find my other class. I found a protein bar in my hoodie to eat for lunch since I couldn't get to the cafeteria. Fortunately school ended at two on that first day. Weeks later I farted during a History test and the next day a girl shouted, "There's Stinky McFartpants the girl who farted during the test," and everybody laughed and pointed at me. They called me that for two weeks. One week before the Christmas break I got stuck in a desk and the other kids laughed at me while the cafeteria lady lathered grease on me. Then kids started making fun of my good luck rituals. I had another test and one girl asked, "Ms. Lewis could Lynn do her dumb rituals before the test and one time I found "weirdo" written on my locker with lipstick," Lynn admitted.
"So why didn't you tell your parents about all this," Albert queried.
"Because I didn't want them to complain to Principal Ramirez and have the bullying get worse," Lynn explained, "After the Christmas break I decided to act rough and obnoxious at school to make kids back off. I noticed this guy trying to imitate one of my rituals while his friend laughed and I just grabbed him and slammed him against a locker and warned him to knock it off or else. Just knowing that I could make kids scared of me I started being aggressive at home but mostly to Lincoln since he's kinda a nerd and doesn't win trophies like the rest of our family."
Albert knitted his brow in disapproval of Lynn's assertion of treating her brother more harshly and stated, "So Lincoln being a nerd and not winning trophies is an excuse for you to threaten him with bodily harm if he didn't attend your game?"
"Pop-Pop I just do a little roughhousing with Lincoln like practice a wrestling hold every once in a while and throw a few fast balls for him to catch."
"But has Lincoln ever objected to you doing all this roughhousing," Albert asked with curiosity.
"No but I'm not gonna ask Lincoln if he wants his nails painted or get a mud facial like what Lori, Leni and Lola do sometimes," Lynn declared dryly.
"Have your parents even tried to control your bad behavior," the elderly man inquired making his granddaughter scoff at his question.
"No, they basically let us do anything we want, Lynn replied matter of factly, "We've done a lot of stuff they don't even know about."
Albert frowned at the girl's declaration about her parent's obliviousness to some of their children's antics and pressed further.
'Such as?" he queried.
"Last summer we decided to cool off at our community pool but me, Luna, Luan and Lori played chicken in the pool during senior swim but were told us to leave when Luan accidentally made this old lady dislocate her hip. Then we got kicked out of the Hazeltucky pool because Lana put chopped celery and carrots into the pool to make chicken noodle soup," Lynn replied.
Albert's eyes widen at the mention of Lana putting vegetables into a community pool but resisted the urge to chuckle because he found it a bit amusing.
'Lori used to act like a dictator whenever mom and dad went on Friday date nights by making the rest of us stay in our rooms in silence until suppertime then after we cleaned up the kitchen after eating she'd order us to stare at the walls while sitting on our beds until we fall asleep."
'Albert shook his head and thought, "I'm going to have a chat with that girl."
"Junior I hope you use your time to reflect on your out of control behavior," Albert suddenly stated in a solemn tone then rose from his chair.
"Bye Pop-Pop, thanks for coming to see me," Lynn replied, then Albert walked away in a rather hopeful mood.
Royal Woods Mall - 1:20 pm
This afternoon Lori and Leni whose lunch hour started twenty minutes ago were seated at one of the tables in the food court eating their lunch. The eldest girl was looking forward to tomorrow being Saturday since the boss gave her the day off and she planned on using the two consecutive days off to good use.
'Lori I totes can't believe both of us got tomorrow off from work," Leni declared before sipping some of her lemonade.
"That's why I'm going to see Bobby tomorrow and taking Lincoln with me, I talked to Bobby last night and he said even though he's working tomorrow we can still come. His lunch hour at one o'clock and he's taking me to lunch while Lincoln can hang out with Ronnie Anne. Tomorrow I'm leaving at nine forty and pick up Lincoln," Lori replied.
"EEEE," Leni squealed joyously, "Bobby's gonna be totes happy to see you."
'Hmm why don't you come with me and Lincoln?" Lori suggested impulsively.
Lenis face lit up and she replied, "Okay."
'I'm gonna call Lincoln right now," Lori said before pulling her phone from her handbag.
Tuesday night Lincoln left a group text on Albert, Lori, Leni, Luna, and Luan's phones saying 'Lucy and I are on the McBride's phone plan so you can call us. It's the same phone number we've always had."
Meanwhile Lincoln and Clyde had just departed the McBride residence two minutes ago for Gus, Games and Grub. After breakfast the boys cleaned the kitchen and straightened up their bedrooms then settled down to watch an episode of Starship Groupers on TV. Regarding Lucy, yesterday Haiku asked her if she wanted to hang out with her and another Goth friend, Dante at her house today and participate in Goth related activities. At dinner she'd asked Clyde's dads if she could go and they agreed. Harold departed for work a little later and drove Lucy to Haikus house located on the same street the McBride's lived.
As Lincoln and Clyde made their journey towards the arcade, Lincoln instantly felt his phone vibrate in his left jeans pocket. Clyde almost collided into his friend when Lincoln abruptly halted in his tracks upon seeing Lori's cell number on the caller ID.
'Hi Lori, he greeted.
"Hi Lincoln how are you," Lori queried in happiness upon hearing his voice.
"It's nice to hear from you Lori, how's everybody," he responded back
'Everyone's fine Lincoln but guess what," she paused for a bit then continued expectantly, "Luna found a job for the summer at a music store," making Lincoln gasp in surprise.
"That's amazing," he gushed
"Guess what, I have the day off tomorrow so I decided to visit Bobby. Are you interested in coming with me and Leni?" Lori replied.
"Does it snow in July," Lincoln asked in an incredulous manner, "Of course I'm coming," then realized she mentioned Leni's name.
'Leni?" Lincoln queried, raising an eyebrow.
"Leni's not working tomorrow since they have her scheduled for Sunday," Lori explained, 'Anyway it's a three hour drive to Great Lakes City so could you get ready by nine forty am and wait outside for me."
Lincoln beamed from ear to ear, "Sure Lori, bye," then placed the phone back into his pocket after ending the call.
The next morning Lori woke up first, then Leni a minute later while Lori showered. The girls had chosen what to wear the previous evening with Lori deciding to wear a totally different ensemble from her usual attire to surprise Bobby and make a good impression on Bobby's extended family. Lori prepared scrambled eggs and breakfast sausages which the girls enjoyed with strawberry yogurt and coffee, while they finished everybody else walked into the dining room.
'Morning girls" their grandfather greeted
Lori and Leni replied back in unison, "Morning Pop-Pop."
Eventually the older girls finished dressing, quickly checked into their purses to see if they had sufficient cash before leaving their bedroom. The sisters reappeared in the dining room to say goodbye with Lori wearing a blue jacket she bought at Horvath's during her lunch break on Thursday and a blue skirt she already owned. The ensemble was completed with Lori wearing a red beret.
Lola's blue eyes widened upon seeing Lori's outfit, "You look real classy Lori," she piped up, clearly awestruck.
"Phew, looking sharp there kiddo," Albert declared.
"Thank you," Lori answered.
"It's a three hour drive to Great Lakes, we might return about eight thirty tonight," Lori admitted.
"Well I hope both of you travel safely," Albert continued, 'Say hello to Bobby for me."
Lori and Leni arrived at the McBride house in seven minutes. When Vanzilla pulled up to the one story house the girls made out Lincoln and Clyde waiting outside the front door.
Lincoln glanced at his friend and said, "Well see ya later Clyde, I'll bring back something for you."
"Tell RA hello for me," Clyde responded then gave Lincoln a brief embrace.
Lincoln rushed over to Vanzilla and opened the door behind the front passenger seat and climbed in and dropped his blue backpack beside him.
"Morning Lori, Leni," he greeted
"Morning Lincoln," Lori and Leni greeted her brother cheerfully.
Lori waited for the click sound of Lincoln buckling his seatbelt before driving away. After some moments passed the silence inside the van was shattered when Lori released a loud squeal alarming Leni and Lincoln, who winced in discomfort and instantly covered their ears.
"I can't wait to see Bobby again," Lori gushed excitedly prompting Lincoln to scold his older sister.
'Lori, next time please give us a warning," he chided.
"Sorry Lincoln," Lori apologized sheepishly, "It's just that I haven't seen each other for a while."
Having recovered from Loris outburst Lincoln fished out his mp3 player and his earbuds from his blue backpack so he could relax by listening to music on the long journey. Lincoln placed the buds into his ears, pressed the on button of the player then settled comfortably into his seat.
'I really hope Vanzilla doesn't break down," Lincoln thought worriedly as the old family van drove past Flips Food and Fuel.
This chapter and the next includes a rendition of the episodes The Loudest Mission: Relative Chaos and City Slickers combined but with a different outcome.