Later at the McBride residence Lincoln and Clyde reclined in their bedrooms reading Ace Savvy comic while Lucy occupied herself reading poetry in her room. They'd just returned from a children's tour of the Royal Woods museum lasting one p.m to two p.m. that Harold saw advertised at the library. That evening at the dinner table, Howard and Harold had surprising news for the children while everyone enjoyed chicken cacciatore (no wine included) and rice.
"Lincoln and Lucy since Howie and I take Clyde shopping the first weekend in August because it's the tax free holiday, we're taking both of you with us tomorrow for school supplies and clothing for our vacation," Harold announced.
"So make sure both of you get enough sleep so we can leave tomorrow at ten am sharp," Howard added.
''You can count on us Mr. and Mr. McBride," Lincoln replied in an eager tone before taking up another portion of the cacciatore with his fork.
They continued eating for a while until Howard decided to bring up the subject of their upcoming vacation.
''We're also leaving next week for the Cayman Islands on the tenth," he said.
"Our flight is ten am so that means everyone should be in bed no later than nine pm," Harold warned.
"Oh and Lincoln your passport expires on September 30 this year so it has to be renewed in October," Harold said next.
The next day
Clyde, Lincoln and Lucy attended a children's matinee at the Royal Woods cinema while Albert searched for a red filing box Rita mentioned to him seven years ago that contained the Loud children's birth certificates and vaccination records. Leaving Leni in charge since Lori was working today, Albert made copies of the ones for Luan, Lynn Jr, Lisa and the twins at the library for Shirley then picked up some groceries afterwards. Next day Sunday after Luna and Lori finished the laundry, the doorbell rang and opening the door, Lori saw the visitor was no other than Mr. Grouse wearing a pleasant expression which rather unusual for him.
"Afternoon Mr. Grouse," Albert asked suddenly appearing behind his granddaughter
'Afternoon Albert, Louds, there's a surprise waiting on the lawn," Mr. Grouse said casually.
Upon hearing the word surprise, Loris other sister's curiosity was piqued so they jumped from the couch where they sat watching reruns of cartoons.
On the lawn, every sister gasped upon the sight of the newly remodeled red car that belonged to their elderly neighbor and naturally Lori rushed towards it.
"I love it Mr. Grouse," she began gushing while admiring the new paint job and outer repairs.
"The guy dropped it off a moment ago and rode back to the auto shop in a taxi," he explained.
Lori turned back to face the elderly man standing beside Albert and said, "Thank you Mr. Grouse I'll pay for the car later."
'Alright Lori see you later," he replied then headed towards his house.
During dinner Lori informed Albert about Smoothie Queen offering a program where they generously paid for employee's tuition to any college or university of their choice so she decided to enroll in the Office Administration course costing 950 for tuition and textbooks at the Royal Woods Community College she read online on the college's website.
"Well you're excellent at texting anyway you'll make a perfect secretary," Leni gushed upon hearing Lori's announcement at the table.
Ignoring the texting comment from Leni Lori added, "I'll only have to pay for school supplies using some of my paycheck."
A few more weeks eventually passed in a flash. The McBride family, Lincoln and Lucy departed on August 10 for a splendid ten day vacation in the Cayman Islands, the day after Lori's day off she visited the Royal Wood Community College to enroll for the course driving her new car.
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Eventually August 27 arrived the last day Luan, the twins and Lisa would be sitting around the dining table eating at the house they lived in all their lives. All of their other possessions were packed and standing near the front door waiting to be packed in Aunt Shirley's minivan. Two days earlier furniture belonging to certain sisters were transported to the Maxwell's house in Huntington Oaks, including the table Lola always held her tea parties and the miniature chairs.
The journey to Huntington Oaks found Lana, Lola, Lisa and Luan moodily staring out of the windows as the silver minivan drove past all the familiar places in Royal Woods including Gus Games and Grub. Lana, sitting behind the driver's seat wondered if they'll be allowed to come back home to their parents one day in the future. Soon Aunt Shirley's minivan was nearing the High School. In two weeks Luan would have been entering those very same doors as a freshman. Along the way, Aunt Shirley stopped only once to purchase gas before entering Huntington Oaks.
It would be the first time Lucy's younger sisters would be going to Aunt Shirley's home. The older sisters, Lucy and Lincoln only visited three times with their parents in the past since they weren't a lot of opportunities for frequent visits. Very soon the Huntington Oaks sign came into view and minutes later Aunt Shirley was pulling into the garage of the Maxwell's two story house with a red roof.
Lisa, being a little engrossed with the book she was reading received a soft nudge from Lana who whispered to the little genius, "Lisa we're here."
Lisa closed the book with an air of indifference then shoved it inside her backpack. Luan who sat in the front passenger seat unbuckled her seatbelt and the girls sullenly grabbed their backpacks and embarked from the minivan. Aunt Shirley unlocked the trunk for the sisters to retrieve their pull along suitcases.
"I'll give you girls time to settle in then I'll call you when lunch's ready, "Shirley told them as they walked up the cobbled pathway leading to the house.
Once Aunt Shirley unlocked the front door, the four sisters stepped inside trudging behind their Aunt. Lana's eyes quickly darted around the living room area and noticed the television wasn't a huge set like the one her parents bought but there was a DVD attached.
"Follow me girls," Aunt Shirley instructed. The four sisters dutifully trailed behind their Aunt up the stairs. Shirley opened the door to Kara's bedroom where a bunk bed Ethan bought two weeks before nestled in one corner with Cassandra's full sized bed on the opposite wall and Lola's stuffed animals laid neatly on the lower bunk bed.
"Lola you'll sleep on the lower bunk and Lana you'll sleep on the top," Aunt Shirley instructed. The twins had absolutely no objections to this arrangement.
"Lisa you're over here," Shirley added, pointing over to her daughter's bed, "Luan come with me."
Before departing their Aunt said, "You can rest for a while after you've unpacked."
After looking inside the closet and finding a few casual clothes for herself and two new overalls for Lana Lola eternally grateful to see her stuffed animals, hurried over to the lower bunk and shoved them towards the edge of the bed to lie down, kicking off her shoes first and Lana climbed up the ladder to reach the upper bunk.
Luan followed Aunt Shirley to another bedroom adjoining the right side of Kara's room and was led into Taylor's room. A trace of the former occupant remained, an framed poster from a 1980's sci-fi movie displayed on the wall that hung over a chest of drawers with four drawers and light green curtains Shirley hung two days ago that replaced her sons blue and white checkered ones adorned the windows. Her other suitcase containing her clothes Uncle Ethan bought over yesterday rested under the window.
"You can start unpacking or rest a while, there's space in the closet and the chest of drawers is empty," Shirley continued before leaving.
Luan heaved a sigh before opening her suitcase. Looking inside the closet Luan grabbed some spare hangers that Shirley left inside. After hanging up her clothes and the rest from her other suitcase Luan plopped down wearily on the bed that belonged to Cassandra made up with clean sheets and one of her cousins bedspreads.
"I'll set up my computer later," Luan mused, after a few moments elapsed, she heard Aunt Shirley knocking on the door.
"Luan lunch is ready," she called out then continued to the other bedroom.
"Girls its lunchtime," she called out cheerfully.
The sisters followed their Aunt downstairs into the large eat in kitchen and sat around a rectangular table decorated with a periwinkle colored tablecloth. Five lunches, smoked turkey sandwiches with lettuce and tomato were placed on the table along with four glasses of lemonade. Aunt Shirley took the chair at the head of the table.
"We have a few matters to discuss afterwards," she declared before they began eating.
Upon the completion of their meal Aunt Shirley pushed away her chair.
"Girls could you wait in the living room?" she instructed to which the sisters obeyed without question.
Aunt Shirley placed the empty plates and glasses into the dishwasher before meeting the sisters.
"While you're living here, I'm giving you some chores on the weekends, Luan you're washing the dishes. On school nights TV time will be limited to an hour after your homework is done, Luan I'm leaving you in charge until Ethan and I come home from work, there's also city hall meetings I have to attend the first Wednesday of each month. Your Uncle will be in charge those evenings until I reach home at eight oclock or a bit later, understood, twins and Lisa I'll show you the playroom," she said.
The girls nodded in total agreement, having now accepted the fact they'll be living with their auntie until they graduate or whatever the future holds.
Hazeltucky Juvenile Detention Center - August 28
Inside a particular waiting room near the front entrance Lynn Jr and a fourteen year old girl with blonde hair sat awaiting their parents/guardians arrival. The teenage athlete, wearing the same outfit she wore on the day of her arrival remained strangely calm as she patiently waited for her grandfather to arrive and take her home. Having no other belongings with her except for a few notebooks containing her school assignments in a plastic bag Lynn began feeling hungry. Fortunately three minutes later, Lynn's eyes lit up in relief when Albert walked through the door of the waiting. Not wanting the other girl to see her acting eager to see her grandfather Lynn stood up carrying the bag with her and walked calmly towards Albert.