Hole in One-derland Golf Course
In less than a few moments, what started out as a pleasant afternoon at the park almost turned into an all-out brawl. Somehow, even with Officer Schoffner and other members of the police force guarding the gate, the Louds still managed to make their way in. At the same time, however; Lincoln, his friends, all their families and those with them still managed to come out unscathed.
There was some chasing, a few stand-offs and even a couple of fights that left Lincoln with a few bleeding spots. But through it all, the Loud Boy had the backup he needed to hold his own against his family (or more specifically, Lori and Lynn.) As he sat down at the picnic table, sampling a burger Jordan's father had cooked up; his mind surged with questions.
The most frequent one he thought about was...why, even after all the time that's passed, were things still a mess at his house? He remembered how ridiculous the Sister Fight Protocol was and how long the last one went on. But this was Lori, the eldest member of his sisters and (in her mind) the most "mature" of all the siblings.
Why would she still be clinging on to her petty issues at home and why did the near majority of his other sisters follow suit? Was losing to Carol at a golf game really that big of an issue to remain so angry about for so long. Then, in an instant; Lincoln realized that there was much more too it than just that.
With so many people learning about his situation, there must've been some seriously huge social repercussions sent his family's way. Even now, Lincoln's mind still echoed with the vicious words Lynn had said to him mere moments ago. "Because of that little rat, our lives have been put through the wringer and now...we have nothing" Lynn roared with anger, "meanwhile, Stinkin' has all you dumb bimbos, your parents and this whole stupid town treating him like a king for no reason!"
Upon remembering these words, Lincoln suddenly started to wonder if Lynn was right all along. He was not that special of a person; he wasn't the smartest, strongest or most fashionable like the rest of his family (the last part causing him to let out a small snicker.) So, why were so many people treating him so nicely all this time; the Gal Pals especially?
That was when he remembered the words Jordan and everyone else said, after hearing Lynn's vicious tirade. She reminded him of all the kindness, support, friendship and love he'd shown to so many people; regardless of whatever said people may have done to him. He was also surprised to hear just how fast things had fallen apart at home without him being around.
Up until now, he never took in his role as the family mediator that seriously. Sure, he helped get a few hostile situations under control and help keep the little ones in line while babysitting but he never thought much of it. More often than not, he almost always believed he only helped create more problems for his family...just like Lori and/or Lynn claimed.
"Maybe...Maybe I should've just stayed at home and locked myself in my room until their fight blew over" he thought bitterly to himself, "if I did, they'd all still be at home and living their lives." The moment this thought went into his head, Lincoln suddenly found himself sinking into a pit of depression. He would've been fully consumed by it, had he not felt a sudden jab in the arm; which snapped him out of his thoughts.
After letting out a soft yelp of pain and rubbing his arm, Lincoln looked over his shoulder to find who it was that struck him. Much to his relief, he saw that it was only Ronnie Anne; who (aside from a few bumps and minor bruises) appeared to be okay. "Had me a bit worried there for a second, lame-o; when you started lookin' out into space like that" she said with a chuckle, "penny for your thoughts?"
For a moment, Lincoln remained silent; unsure of what he should say or tell his friend. As much as he appreciated Ronnie Anne's help, he never wanted to see her get hurt for his sake. Furthermore; he felt that if he said anything more on his situation, it would only make things worse (presumably.)
But after seeing her hold her own against Lynn the way she did. Lincoln was not only reminded just how strong Ronnie Anne could be. He also realized that he needed all the backup he could find, due to how things were escalating. "I'll tell you everything you need to know, Ronnie Anne" Lincoln murmured, "but there's something else I have to do first."
Then, in the blink of an eye; Lincoln leapt out of his spot and did something no one expected...he hugged Ronnie Anne. This gesture came on so quickly that she lost her balance and fell back onto her rear. At first, Ronnie Anne prepared to give her friend a verbal lashing for hugging her in public (mostly because Carlota was watching.)
But as Lincoln held her tighter, Ronnie Anne suddenly felt something dripping against her hood. It was tears...Lincoln's tears and they were pouring out his clenched eyelids like they were leaking faucets. Then, through a series of choked sobs; Ronnie Anne could hear him repeatedly murmur two simple words..."thank you."
These two words, Lincoln's crying and the sudden hug combined all took her completely off-guard. Yet, she chose to remain silent and did her best to comfort her friend. Finally, after two minutes of tears; the two of them pulled away from each other and smiled.
"There we go...feeling any better" questioned Carlota with a soft smile, "because Ronnie Anne might need a warning, if you plan on having a second wind." After letting out a soft chuckle at the joke, Lincoln wiped his tears away with a napkin and smiled. "I'm...I'm okay, I really am" he murmured, "sorry about all that, I'm just...a little shook up still, after everything that's happened."
The two Hispanic girls nodded in understanding; having seen some of the situation earlier, they knew Lincoln had been dealing with some serious. "I just can't believe your own sisters...or, as it seems, some of your sisters would take a grudge this far" sighed Carlota, "I mean, this was the same girl Bobby's been swooning over for who knows how long!" Lincoln shook his head slightly and in response, proclaimed that he felt just as confused as everyone else did.
"Seriously, dude; Lynn said you essentially 'ruined their lives'" Ronnie Anne muttered while making air quotes at the second half of her words, "how could you have done that, if you weren't even at your house the whole time?" The moment she said this, the other parents decided to join the conversation; much to the preteen's surprise. It was here that they told Ronnie Anne about the "Sister Fight Protocol" story Lincoln told their daughters and how they went on to tell it to all of them, after leaving Gus'.
"Needless to say, we were mortified to hear about the dire situation young Lincoln was expected to endure at home" grumbled Dana's father, "I mean, there are sibling rivalries and then...there's whatever the Loud Sisters do." Ronnie Anne nodded silently in understanding; whenever she and Lincoln video called each other, she'd almost always caught a glimpse of some of the family's chaos or heard their arguing in the house. "Then, before Break started; Lincoln started having nightmares in class" Clyde added, "Principal Huggins had to send him home early, after that."
Carlota gasped softly in shock, unsure of what to think or say about such circumstances. Some parts of Lincoln's story reminded her a little of her own family life, back at the apartment building...but much less crazy. "Then, I started hanging out with the girls all through break" Lincoln said with a smile, his usual joy slowly returning; "we went to Dairyland, the Ace Savvy Convention, had a great stop at the Tranquil Springs Spa, read poetry at the Burnt Bean..." Suddenly, Ronnie Anne gestured for Lincoln to stop speaking; much to the boy's confusion.
"Okay, doofus...first of all, slow down a bit; it's hard to keep track of what you're saying" Ronnie Anne sighed, "second of all, you actually went to the spa...you?" As if sensing the girl's confusion or expecting it to happen, Carol took out her phone and showed pics she and her friends took from their trip. At first, Ronnie Anne came close to falling over laughing; when she saw him getting his nails done or getting a foot rub.
But then, she was shown the picture where he was in a hot tub with Carol and a few of her pals. The moment she saw the kiss marks on Lincoln's face and his squiggly grin, Ronnie Anne's face contorted slightly into a frown; as if displeased by this. Then, without warning; Carlota looked over her cousin's head, saw the picture and squealed.
"OH, MY GOSH" she cried, "you all look so cute...wait, are those kissy marks on your face?" Lincoln couldn't help but blush shyly at the mention of this, still feeling a tad overwhelmed by the sudden PDA the girls showed him that day. Meanwhile, some of the girls were more than willing to speak for him; with Jordan leading them off.
"It was me" she giggled softly, "I kissed his cheek, while we were soaking to thank him for being so nice to me during Break." Some of the other girls quickly chimed in, admitting they also shared a kiss or a hug with Lincoln that day. "EEEE! This is just too cute" Carlota said giddily, "give me the details, I've got to know so I can tease Ronnie Anne with them later!"
Despite feeling annoyed by her cousin's words, the aforementioned preteen was also curious about Lincoln's Spring Break fun. Jordan meanwhile, was feeling a tad shy; unsure if she should speak of something so personal. "Well...to start with; Lincoln won me the cutest prize at Dairyland, earlier this week" she stated, "that was...one of the reasons why I kissed him at the spa."
This statement caused the two young ladies to raise their eyebrows in curiosity. "One of the reasons you say" murmured Carlota slyly, "do tell, what else did this little papi chulo do to win you over?" All this caused Lincoln to blush deeply in shy embarrassment. "It's nothing...really" he mumbled, "all I did was be polite and considerate towards everyone, just like...just like my mom taught me."
The last part of his statement may have come out in a whisper. But everyone around Lincoln could feel the pain that lingered in his words. Fearing he might sink back into despair, Jordan decided to try and lift the mood again.
"Say, Ronnie Anne...uh, how's big city life" she asked with a nervous chuckle, "must be a lot different compared to how things were around here." At first, Ronnie Anne was confused by the sudden change in topic. But when she saw the state of their male compatriot, she quickly played along.
"Oh...it's pretty cool; at first, I didn't want to move in because...well, being in a big family could be hectic" Ronnie Anne stated, "but then, I saw how much effort my grandparents and cousins put in to try and make me feel at home." She took out her phone and quickly brought up a picture of her new room.
Carlota then explained that it used to be the hall closet for everyone's things. But since Ronnie Anne needed her own space, they emptied it out and decorated it with everything she liked. "It's awesome, kinda reminds me of my room" Lincoln said suddenly, "only difference, I don't have a fire escape outside my window."
After everyone shared a good laugh at his words, Ronnie Anne went into detail of her new life in Great Lakes. She talked about her new crew, the skate park she goes to, she even mentioned how she was allowed to have hot dogs for breakfast from Bruno's Hot Dog Cart (every now and again.) "You're actually allowed to have hot dogs for breakfast...lucky" Chaz grumbled slightly, "big city life sounds really fun."
Ronnie Anne nodded in agreement, stating how things turned out better than she'd hoped; especially since she made a new best friend. "Her name's Sid, she's a bit overeager and excitable" she explained, "reminded me a bit of you, lame-o." Upon hearing this, Lincoln ceased sipping on his solo cup of cola and cast a mildly offended glance Ronnie Anne's way.
Then, he suddenly saw her looking rather depressed and his demeanor changed. "What's wrong, Ronnie Anne" Lincoln asked with concern, "are you sure things are alright back home." Realizing her change in behavior, Ronnie Anne shook her head vigorously and smiled at Lincoln softly. "Yeah...everything's cool" she murmured, "but there are some days where I start to feel...a little homesick, you know."
She went on to say how much she missed her old house, playing games and eating garlic knots at Gus', going to Flip's for a drink. "But what I really miss...were all the times I'd used to ruffle your feathers, dude" Ronnie Anne giggled while lightly jabbing at his arm, "can't pull off the sort of jokes with my new pals like I did with you." This statement caused some of the parents to coo softly, thinking that Lincoln and Ronnie Anne must've been close; before she moved away.
Then, in an instant; an idea formed in Lincoln's head and he hoped that the girls would all agree to it. "Hey, if ya don't mind my asking...how long do you and your cousin think will be in town" he asked suddenly, "I mean, I know you might have your own Spring Break plans and I don't want to get in the way of them." Upon hearing this, Ronnie Anne gave a light shrug and said that he wouldn't be disturbing anything.
Truthfully, aside from some amusing shenanigans back at the apartment; her break had been rather tame. "I mean...I would love to hang here longer but Abuela and my mom might get worried" she stated, "I couldn't even go downtown without half my family tailing me." This statement caused Carlota to hide her face shyly, due to the fact she was part of that guilty party.
"Well, if not the remainder of Break; would you be able to join us for mini golf tomorrow" questioned Carol, "I mean...if your fam is okay with it." With that said, Ronnie Anne turned to her elder cousin; as if thinking her approval would effect whether or not she could stay. After a couple of seconds of silence, Carlota smiled at her cousin and gave her a thumbs up.
"Sure, we could hang here for a day" she stated happily, "I'll just need to tell everyone back home about it first." No sooner had she said this, Carlota took out her phone and typed up a text message at blinding speed. Then, seconds later; she got a message from her mother sharing the family's approval.
"We're good to go, y'all" she declared joyfully, "I mean...mini golf's not my kind of thing but I'm more than willing to hang back and supervise." The parents all voiced their approval in her wishes and welcomed her to the fold. Meanwhile, Lincoln couldn't help but smile at the scene; happy to have another friendly face standing with him.
(Scene Change: the Hole in One-derland Golf Course)
It was around noontime, the following day; when everyone arrived at the course. Along with Ronnie Anne; joining Lincoln was Chaz, Carol and her crew, Kat and Cici. As they approached the entrance, the ticket booth worker beamed when he saw Carol.
"Welcome back, O Queen of the Course" he said with a chuckle, "come to face more challengers today?" Carol shook her head with a soft smile and said that she came just to have some fun. "This crew here, they're all with me" she said while drawing out a card from her purse, "could you squeeze some of them in for a full day's walk around?"
At first, the man in the booth eyed the group in silence; almost suspiciously. Then, his demeanor changed in the blink of an eye and he happily welcomed everyone in. Lincoln and Co. thanked the man for his kindness and entered single file through the front gate.
"Good luck on the course, everyone" he called out to them, "and remember; whoever makes the final hole gets into the Wall of Fame." Upon hearing this, Lincoln questioned what the "Wall of Fame" was. "First time playing her, huh" questioned Kat, "well...anyone who wins at the final hole gets their picture taken and added to the wall, it's no big deal."
The moment she said this, they suddenly found themselves passing the aforementioned wall. Lincoln gasped in awe at the amount of people that were featured in it. But he soon discovered that there was one picture featured more frequently than others...Carol's.
"Wow, that's a lot of pictures" he murmured softly, "guess I understand why Lori feels challenged by your golfing skills." Carol gave a sly chuckle and dusted her knuckles off her hand, while leaning against her putter like a cane. "Lori is good, there's a reason why she made the varsity golf team in our Freshmen year" she admitted, "but...I'm one of the few who can stand equal to her."
Soon after, some of the others began talking about their own golf skills. While not quite on the same level as Carol's each one of them sounded equally impressive. This in turn, caused Lincoln feel a tad self-conscious and he soon began to drag his feet across the ground.
"What am I doing here, these girls are pros and I'm...just me" he thought dejectedly, "the last time I tried my hand at a sport, I got chased around the school and almost beaten to to unconciousness for scoring at the wrong Football goal!" As his mind continued to race with these thoughts, he suddenly felt someone jab him in the arm; snapping him back into reality. It didn't take long for him to learn that said jab was Ronnie Anne's doing...and he was actually thankful it happened, for once.
"Having thoughts about the family again, dude" she asked casually, "don't worry about it, just focus on the game." Lincoln thanked her for the advice but admitted that his thoughts were on something different. "I'm worried about how I'll perform at this game" he muttered, "mini golf may be a lighter version of the original...but I'm still worried I might either whack myself in the leg with the putter or hit the ball so hard, it breaks one of the displays."
Suddenly; Lincoln became so worried about the game, he started hyperventilating. When she saw this, Dana rushed over and handed him a paper bag saved from yesterday's picnic; with which Lincoln proceeded to try and slow down his breathing. The moment he calmed down, some of the older gals questioned what happened.
"Long story short, he's worried he'll screw up during the game" Ronnie Anne said, "as I recall, he was never that much into sports...or felt that skilled in them." Carol nodded slightly in understanding and explained that there was no shame in admitting one's inability to play any kind of sport. "When I first started golfing, I accidentally hit the grass with my club instead of the ball" she stated, "said grass went flying into someone's face, after that."
It took all the restraint Lincoln had to keep himself from laughing at her story, however humorous it sounded. The same couldn't be said for Becky, Dana and Whitney though; who all proceeded to guffaw uproariously. "Laugh it up, gals; laugh it up" grumbled Carol, "my point is...we all screw up, sometimes but it's important to pick yourself up and try again." While Lincoln couldn't deny the truth of her words, his memory recalled hearing something different.
"Funny; my sister, Lynn would say otherwise" her murmured, "she thinks anytime somebody screws up on the field, it's a sign of weakness or failure to follow the game plan." This statement caused everyone to chuckle sarcastically, mostly out of disappointment for Lynn's poor sportsmanship. "Sounds like your sister's a bit of a bad sport" Ronnie Anne interjected, "I fall on my face some of the time, when I'm skateboarding but I never think less of myself for it."
Hearing her story made Lincoln feel somewhat happier, which caused a sliver of optimism to build up inside of him. "The point is playing games or a sport is all about the fun" Ronnie Anne added, "even if you might lose in the end." Hearing these words filled Lincoln with a newfound sense of confidence, much to his surprise. Now, he was actually getting excited to try his hand at mini golf.
"Just remember that if you have a problem, we'll be here to help you out" Becky assured, "but something tells me you'll be just fine." With that said, everyone did a quick "hands in the middle" cheer and went off towards the first hole.
(Line Break)
All was quiet, moments later; save for the sound of a mini windmill spinning on in the breeze. At the first hole of the course, Carol was the first to play; who appeared to be neck-deep in the zone. The next moment or so was spent with her positioning herself in just the right way and steadying her arms.
At first glance, the whole process looked a little odd to Lincoln. "Are all those poses necessary" he asked curiously, "I thought the game was all about hitting the ball into the hole." Chaz smiled at his mild naivety and assured him there was a bit more to the game than that.
"Golf isn't just about getting the ball in the hole, my man" he stated, "it all comes down to how you do it." Dana nodded in agreement with her brother's words and added how sometimes, even hitting a ball straight on won't guarantee a hole in one. "In mini golf specifically, it's all about finding the right angle to hit the ball in" she explained, "or how hard you strike it."
Even after hearing this explanation, Lincoln still appeared slightly confused by it. This prompted Ronnie Anne to tell him to simply watch how Carol did things, which he complied. As silence fell over the hole, once again; Carol had, at last positioned herself in just the right way.
After giving a slight shimmy of her hips, she moved back her club slightly and gave the ball a swift "whack!" The ball sailed forward at a reasonable pace, just barely missing the windmill's blades. After passing through the other side, it then rolled down the ramp and headed straight for the hole.
But then, at the last second; it only brushed the left side of the hole and moved passed it. "Too bad, Carol" Lincoln said softly, "you almost got it; maybe, next time." Then, at that moment; the ball bounced off the brick barrier and came rolling back.
Lincoln watched with stunned silence, as the ball slowly edged its way towards the hole before softly falling in. Everyone let out soft cheers of victory, while Lincoln's jaw fell low with surprise. "It's like I told ya, Linky" Carol giggled, "it's not about how hard you hit the ball...it's how you get it in the hole."
With his jaw still hanging open, Lincoln nodded silently in understanding before Dana readied her shot next. Unlike Carol however, she missed the hole by three inches...but it didn't seem to bother her. After lining up the angle between her ball and the hole with her club, Dana took her second swing.
This time, the ball sailed straight into the hole; granting Dana a two stroke score. Next came Becky, then Ronnie Anne and finally Whitney; leaving Lincoln as the last one to play the hole. As he set his ball down, the boy began to feel quite nervous. That was when an idea came to him, like a flash.
Whenever each of his sisters felt anxiety during their events, each of them had certain relaxation techniques to help them calm down; more specifically Luna and Lola's. "Okay...I think Luna uses a mantra, whenever she gets nervous" he thought to himself, "what was was the one Lori came up with, though...OH, yeah! 'Don't overthink it, relax and sink it.'" As Lincoln kept thinking this phrase over and over in his head, his thinking began to clear up slightly.
However, there was still the matter of his rapid heart rate and shallow breathing; which made it difficult for him to focus. That was when he remembered Lola's "4-7-8 Method;" breathe in for four seconds, hold in for seven and exhale for eight. With this in mind, Lincoln began to do just that. Meanwhile, everyone else watched Lincoln breathing with confused stares.
"Yo, dude; you gonna play or what" Ronnie Anne called out, "you're breathing's kinda weirding me out." After a third set of breathing techniques, Lincoln felt much calmer and smiled at his friends. "So sorry, everybody" he said apologetically, "just needed to get my head on straight."
After that; he lined himself up just right, stood straight, eased his arms and gave his ball a good tap. It went up the ramp, cleared the windmill's blades (much to his relief) and went out the other side. Everyone watched with baited breath, as the ball slinked ever-so slowly towards the rim of the hole. Then, at the last second; it stopped just as it arrived at the edge.
In spite of this, Lincoln felt moderately proud in how he managed to suppress his anxiety enough to make the shot. Still, he was hoping on a hole in one but he knew there was a 50-50 chance of anyone getting a hole in one on their first try. Then; just as Lincoln let out a soft sigh, the ball suddenly tipped over and fell into the hole.
Everyone cheered at this victory, even Lincoln; in spite of his initial shock. "Not bad, little man...for your first shot" Chaz stated, "let's hope you'll have the same luck on the remaining seventeen." Lincoln thanked his comrade for his bode of confidence and the gang proceeded off to the next hole.
Hole two had a few bumps along its path, both figuratively and literally. But regardless, each player managed to get their ball just close enough to the hole. When Lincoln came up to try; he hit his ball so hard, it flew over one of the hill bumps.
He yelped a little in shock, as the ball soared slightly through the air. But then; two or three seconds later, it fell down and landed just six inches away from the hole. "Phew! For a minute, I thought it was gonna fly up and hit somebody" he sighed with relief while addressing the viewer, "hope I'll get it in next time."
Using the same measuring method Dana used, Lincoln lined his ball up with the distance of the hole. After studying it for ten seconds, he had the right idea of how to approach it. "Just give it a good tap, dude; like you'd do with a billiard ball" Lincoln thought to himself, "nothing fancy...just tap it in."
After doing the 4-7-8 method again, he eased his arms back and tapped the ball. It rolled and rolled for several seconds...until it stopped at the rim; just barely teetering beside it. This caused everyone to suddenly hold their breath, as if they'd witnessed a jump scare scene in a movie.
Then, after what felt like an eternity of waiting...the ball fell over into the hole. Lincoln couldn't help but heave out a sigh of relief, after seeing this happen. "Whoever said golf was relaxing must've never played" he murmured, "am I the only one who gets antsy whenever the ball nears the hole?"
Carol giggled softly at him and assured Lincoln that everybody has that sort of feeling once in a while. "The first time I was faced with such a tense moment during a game, I passed out from shock; after the ball fell in the hole" she stated, "took me two minutes to wake up." The other girls giggled softly, while Whitney showed him a picture she took of the moment in question.
Lincoln couldn't help but laugh slightly, upon seeing the picture. But then, it was suddenly interrupted by a series of light coughs. "You okay, Lincoln" Carlota asked worriedly, "need a sip of water or something?" Lincoln quickly held up his hand in a "give me a second" gesture, before resuming his coughing.
Finally, much to the mild disgust of the others; Lincoln reached into his mouth and pulled out what was choking him slightly. "It...It looks like a hair" he mumbled both in confusion and displeasure, "and it's a blonde one." It was in that moment he realized how the hair got in his mouth.
While trying to hide from his sisters in the shed, Lincoln's face was pressed up very closely against Whitney's incredibly poofy hair. No sooner had they all got out, Lincoln found himself tasting some of that hair in his mouth. Yet, after so much time had passed; Lincoln thought he had cleared every hair out of him.
"Sorry about that, everybody" Lincoln mumbled while clearing his throat, "I have no idea how that got in there." Whitney meanwhile began to blush deeply in embarrassment and did her best to smooth out her hair. But alas, her efforts proved fruitless and it suddenly "sproinged" back into place.
"Ah, dang it; I hate my hair" she grumbles, "first a comb gets stuck in it at the spa and now it gets in my friend's mouth...maybe I should just cut it off completely." This idea caused the ladies (sans Ronnie Anne) to gasp in alarm and beg her to reconsider. "Don't even joke like that, Whit" Becky chastised, "you have adorable hair, be proud of it."
No sooner had they started their conversation, Lincoln joined in; proclaiming that they were the "lucky ones." "You gals have beautiful normal hairstyles" he stated while giving himself an eye roll, "meanwhile, I'm the only kid in town who gets mistaken for a short old man; due to my hair color." This caused Ronnie Anne to raise her hand while giggling, admitting that she herself once made the same mistake others did.
"Excuse me, ladies; I don't wish to seem rude" Chaz interjected, "but Chaz would like to move the game along before it gets too late." Upon realizing they had almost got themselves distracted, the ladies collected their clubs and went on to the next hole; with Lincoln in tow. Forty-five minutes passed since the game began and the crew was more than midway through the course.
They stopped for a bit for some lunch and to share some stories, around 12:30. Then, they went on to the rest of the course; eager to get things moving again. The next hole was a statue modeled in the likeness of a Brontosaurus.
All players were challenged to hit the ball through a hole in the tip of its tail, which would travel up its back and out of its mouth. "Looks simple enough" Lincoln stated, "I just hope we'll all be able to get our balls up the tail ramp, let alone get them in the hole." Everyone smiled confidently, happy to take the challenge.
Carol, Becky and Dana were able to get their balls up and out of the brontosaur. But unfortunately; not one of them were able to land into the hole, after it popped out of the mouth. Regardless, Becky and Carol managed to get two strokes in; while Dana got three.
Chaz was next to play and he managed to hit the ball hard enough to go all the way over the dino. But when it left the mouth, it bounced over the bricks and landed inside of a small flower bed. "Oops! Out of bounds" he exclaimed, "don't worry, Chaz has it covered."
With that, he walked past the hole and over towards the flowers; collecting the ball in his hand. "Not so fast, Bro" Dana called out suddenly, "you know the rules, 'always play the ball where it lies.'" Shocked by this news, Chaz prepared to urge his sister to reconsider the idea; due to where his ball landed.
"Normally, I'd go along with the rules; especially when playing a game like this" Lincoln stated, "but if Chaz were to try and hit the ball there, he might risk damaging the plants." Before Dana could argue; Lincoln added that if the plants were damaged, Chaz probably wouldn't be the only one to get in trouble over it. Dana stood in place, for a few seconds; mentally considering her options.
Finally; with a reluctant sigh, she relented and allowed Chaz to try his shot again. "But remember...wherever else the ball lands, you must hit it from there" Dana said firmly, "are we good on that?" Everyone gave a nod of agreement, even Chaz; who still relished in getting a second try at the hole. After placing his ball back at the putting spot, he steadied himself for a few seconds and gave it a good smack.
Once more, it traveled up along the dinosaur's back and off its head. The moment the ball landed on the green, it bounced off the ground three times; before it landed smack into the hole. "HA! Looks like Lady Luck is smilin' at me" Chaz chuckled, "hope the rest of you have the same luck."
Dana did her best to remain a good sport and not call her brother a "cheater." But that didn't stop her from secretly glaring daggers at him. The next hole was a model version of what looked like London Bridge, which Carlota thought looked rather cute; leading her to take a quick snapshot of it.
The green path stretched all the way down the length of the bridge, where two small steps were seen on the opposite end. After that, everyone spotted the hole on the other side. Seemed simple enough; hit the ball straight forward and try to nail a hole in one, right?
Sadly; as the saying goes, appearances are deceiving. In this case, the bridge stretched over a small pool of shallow water. It wasn't that big of an issue, in actuality...but it still proved a bit of an annoying water hazard; especially if the ball stopped midway through. This would mean a player would have to stand on either side and try to tap their ball down the rest of the way.
For some like Chaz, Lincoln and Ronnie Anne; it didn't seem like that big a deal. But for gals like Carol or Dana, the idea of their feet getting wet made them feel a little uncomfortable. Regardless, everyone stood single file and prepped themselves for the challenge ahead.
Becky and Carol managed to pass over the bridge well enough. But they each missed the hole, as soon as their balls went over to the other side. Dana almost lost her ball in the pool...but at the last moment, it bounced safely down the steps on the opposite end.
Whitney was the next to try...but unfortunately, her ball stopped midway down the bridge path. This meant that she would have to stand in the pond water and knock the ball down the rest of the way. "Dang it...why did I choose to wear sandals today" she thought to herself dejectedly, "I just hope that water's clean."
With a soft shudder, Whitney dipped her toes into the middle part of the left pool and readied herself for her swing. With the greatest of care, she tapped her ball swiftly and it sailed down the rest of the way. Then, much to her joy; it landed square in the hole.
"YES! That was totally worth standing in cold water for" she cheered, "that being said...I'm throwing these socks and sandals straight in the dryer, when I get home." Everyone shared a good laugh at this, before Ronnie Anne took her place at the starting point. After adjusting her grip and relaxing her arms a smidge, she gave her ball a swing and sent it flying straight ahead.
The ball landed on the green, seconds later and skidded on over towards the edge of the hole. Then...it stopped just mere inches away from the edge; which made everyone suddenly let out sharp gasps in unison. For a moment, it all seemed like Ronnie Anne's turn was over.
But after she let out a light cough, the ball suddenly fell into the hole; causing everyone to practically fall over in shock. "Nice one, prima" cried Carlota with delight, "you're almost on the same score level as Carol and Lincoln." This bit of news caused the young Latina to smile slyly at the two players in question.
"Hear that, you guys...I'm catching up" Ronnie Anne boasted, "so, best watch your backs." While the others simply rolled their eyes at her, Lincoln couldn't help but smile warmly; thinking just how pleasant it was that she was still the same delightful rabble-rouser she knew from school. "I really missed seeing her like this" Lincoln thought to himself, "having Ronnie Anne here just made this day all the better."
In time, everyone played through all the remaining holes and reached the final hole; which was a ramp modeled in the likeness of a rainbow. Should players make it to the top, the ball would then travel down a descending ramp and (hopefully) land their balls into a pot of gold at the bottom of the other ramp. Upon studying the hole, however; Lincoln suddenly felt quite nervous
"You girls remember what told me earlier; it's how you get the ball in the hole, not how hard you hit it" questioned Lincoln, earning a nod from each of the older gals; "well, looks like that advice may not work here." With this statement, everyone studied the hole for themselves and started to feel just as nervous as Lincoln. They didn't know what troubled them most; the anger they might feel if they'd lost or the possibility of appearing foolish in front of the other golfers, if they missed.
"If anyone has any pointers on how to win this hole, I'm open for them" Ronnie Anne murmured, "I'm even okay with the cliché stuff...like it's not whether you win or lose...yadda yadda." Upon hearing his, Lincoln's mind brain surged with an idea and he quickly called for a huddle. "I may have a couple of pointers, everybody" he stated, "the first is something called the 4-7-8 Method."
Upon saying this, everyone stared blankly at Lincoln; as if he had grown extra eyes or another head. "No disrespect meant, my friend" Chaz muttered, "but Chaz ain't heard of no '4-7-8 Method' before." Everyone else muttered softly in unison, all agreeing that they've never heard of it either.
Lincoln nodded slightly in understanding and proceeded to explain the method himself via a demonstration. "It's actually a carefully timed breathing technique" he stated, "first...you inhale for four seconds, then hold it for seven and slowly exhale for eight." As he started demonstrating the metod, everyone watched Lincoln's breathing patterns very carefully.
"After doing that, your mind should feel less foggy and not full of distracting thoughts" he explained, "plus...it helps keep your heart rate steady and calm." Everyone nodded in understanding and began doing the same breathing technique. After a while, everyone's expressions appeared more relaxed.
Yet, a small shadow of doubt lingered over their heads; like a sort of rain cloud. "Got any other pearls of wisdom, Linky" questioned Carol, "and best think quick, there are some people heading over here to play this hole." Upon seeing the patrons nearing their location, Lincoln quickly offered them his mantra "don't over-think it, relax...and sink it."
After hearing this mantra, each one of them repeated it to themselves softly in a repetitious manner. After a minute, everyone began to feel much calmer. "Good advice there, buddy" Whitney said with glee, "I'm actually anxious to play this hole." Everyone else sounded off in agreement and quickly got up in line to play again.
"You know what, gals...I think Lincoln should go first on this hole" Carol suggested, "we owe it to him, for helping us clear our heads." The moment he heard this, Lincoln couldn't help but blush bashfully. "No way, gals; you go ahead of me; I insist" he stated, "after all, it's the civil thing to do."
While hearing him offer up the idea of him going last was indeed, admirable. It all made Ronnie Anne (and those behind her group) feel a smidgen impatient. "How about this, everybody; after we use Lincoln's calming methods, we all hit our balls at the same time" she offered, "does that seem fair to you?"
The group thought it over for a bit and then, everyone came to a unanimous agreement (even Lincoln.) "Sounds like a good plan to me, Santiago" Dana chuckled, "best line up, then!" With that said; everyone lined themselves up, steadied their arms, gave a slight hip wiggle and struck their balls.
The gals and guys watched in silence, as their balls traveled up the rainbow ram and stop at the top for a few seconds. Then, each ball found its way down the other ramp and sped downward at a rapid speed. The fact the ramp was quite narrow made things especially nerve-wracking.
This meant that with all their balls traveling at once, Lincoln and his crew's chances at winning the game had suddenly become slightly slimmer. Faster and faster they went down the ramp, inching ever closer to the end. Lincoln began to grow so nervous, his shirt was starting to stain from his sweat...but he didn't care; at the moment.
Finally, the balls reached the end of the ramp; which was aimed upwards slightly like a ski jump. They each flew up into the air for three seconds before descending down towards the pot of gold below. It wasn't quite that small; in truth, it was as wide as a sauce pot.
But it was still rather easy to miss, if one didn't hit the ball correctly. All time seemed to slow down, as the balls traveled further down. The first to land was Chaz's, which seemed to bounce off the rim of the pot and onto the grass beneath it.
The teen grunted bitterly in frustration and took a seat beside Carlota on a bench, all while muttering how Dana would never let him live his loss down (if she managed to win, of course.) Next, Dana's ball missed the rim by a mere three inches and landed mere inches beside her brother's on the grass. Becky's ball rolled around the rim for a second, before it teetered off the side.
Whitney's ball, much to her surprise, bounced off the rim and hit the wall behind it; before in fell down into the grassy pit below. She came close to becoming frustrated...but then, she quickly utilized the breathing method Lincoln told her. After a while, she calmed down enough to join her other defeated friends on the sidelines.
After all that, only three balls remained; Carol, Lincoln and Ronnie Anne's. Much to each of their surprise, the balls landed on the rim of the pot of gold and proceeded to spin around it; like a basketball would on the rim of a hoop. Each of them exhibited nervousness in their own ways.
Carol came close to biting on her nails, Lincoln's shirt was now on the verge of becoming like a wash towel (due to all his nervous sweating) and Ronnie Anne's teeth began to chatter loudly. Finally, the balls ceased spinning and suddenly dipped down into the hole. The moment that happened, the rainbow lit up and Irish jig music began to play.
After each of them let out a deep sigh of relief, Carol prepared to envelop the two preteens in a big victory hug. But when she saw how sweated up Lincoln was, she held back on it. "Heh...sorry, Carol" murmured Lincoln in shame, "this always happens whenever I feel extremely nervous."
Carol smiled at him, assured the boy he had nothing to worry about and quickly brought out something from her travel bag; one of Lincoln's orange shirts. "I brought along one of the shirts you brought over from when you bunked with me" she explained, "after what happened at Gus', I thought it would be necessary." Lincoln nodded in agreement, thanked Carol for thinking ahead and proceeded behind one of the hole statues to hide himself.
After a quick change, he went back over to the group; where he saw a stranger shaking Carol's hand. He was a burly fellow with ash-grey hair, a mustache of the same color and was dressed in a semi-formal suit. "Congratulations, you three got each of your balls in the pot" he said with great pride, "therefore, as owner of this course; I award each of you with a free game of golf here at Hole-in-Onederland!"
The trio jumped and cheered wildly with glee at this news, happy to have won. "Furthermore, each of you shall have your pictures taken and hung up on our Wall of Fame" he added, "how does that sound, youngins?" For a moment, Lincoln relished in his victory; for it was one of the rare times he had ever legitimately won a game at any sport.
Although, if a certain jock were present; she might argue that golf shouldn't really count as a "true sport." But he quickly pushed that thought right out of his head and focused on the moment at hand. Then, he looked ahead at his other pals and saw the looks of disappointment on their faces.
Today had been a blast for Lincoln...but seeing such disappointment in his friends' faces made the victory feel slightly bitter. Then, he suddenly got an idea; one that he quickly shared with Carol and Ronnie Anne. After a quick huddle and some whispers, the trio broke apart and approached the owner.
"We'll happily accept the free games, Sir and thank you for awarding them to us" Lincoln stated, "but as for the pictures...I'm afraid, the three of us might be willing to decline the idea." The owner stood flabbergasted at the boy and asked why he went with this decision. To which Carol quickly stepped forward and gestured at their friends.
"We humbly request that you allow us to take a group photo for the Wall of Fame" Carol insisted, "it goes without saying that each of us was equally good, during the game and should be recognized as such." For a moment or so, the owner said nothing; all everyone saw him do was scratch his chin in thought. Then, the trio suddenly heard him muttering to himself; which made them nervous.
"I must say, youngins; this is unprecedented" he admitted, "never before have we seen such sportsmanship here at Hole-in-Onederland...it's quite commendable." This filled the kids with hope and they asked if he was actually considering at fulfilling their request? "Hey, now; I also say this situation is unprecedented because no one's made such a request before" he said firmly, "as such, doing so might be a tad unfair for the other patrons."
Upon hearing this, Lincoln and the girls hung their heads slightly; realizing the truth behind their wish. But then, the man smiled at them and agreed to go along with their request...just this once. "But I will only do it because Carol is one of my best players here" he implied, "and you three are bein' good sports in wantin' to share the glory with your party."
Everyone else overheard this news, smiled brightly and began to cheer with great joy. Moments later, everyone stood together in a group in the club and ball pickup area; where a cameraman was prepping to take their photo. "Okay now, everybody" Carol instructed, "everybody say 'best golf game ever!"
With great joy in their hearts, everyone smiled and echoed the aforementioned words before the camera suddenly flashed. Then, the man tapped on his phone and sent the photo over to the main computer. One print out later and the photo was revealed; then, it was placed on a small frame shaped like a star and was hung up on the wall.
"Wow! A great end to an even greater day" Lincoln sighed, "a pity that everyone else couldn't make it...wonder what happened to them?" For a moment, nobody had chosen to offer up an answer; fearing that the potential reveal would probably upset Lincoln in some way. It wasn't until Ronnie Anne also voiced her desire for answers that Carol finally relented, in spite of all the voices in her head telling her to keep quiet.
"Truth is, Linky; everyone else chose to stay at home because they were still a little...frazzled" she explained, "the incident at the picnic yesterday did quite a number on them, emotionally speaking." With these words, Lincoln suddenly felt an eerie chill of dread flow through his body; as if someone dumped a whole bucket of ice down his shirt. But aside from this issue; he was also a little nervous about something else, something that had been nagging at him all week.
"Carol, before anything else...I just wanted to thank you and everyone else involved for giving me such a wonderful Spring Break so far" he stated, "this has all been the most fun I've had yet!" Touched by his words, the ladies all hugged Lincoln lovingly; telling him they'd always be there for a friend. "But I'm serious; after everything that's happened, I'm humbled by the fact that you guys are still being so nice to me" he explained, "there are moments where I fear I might wake up from all this and find myself back in my room...back in the chaos of my sisters' stupid fight."
Now; normally, it was against Ronnie Anne's nature to show any signs of "sissy" behavior; hugging, warm words, tearful statements etc. But after seeing some of the hurtful actions committed by her best friend's own family and how flustered it all made him feel, she realized just how much he needed it. "Don't worry, dude" she assured him, "we've all got your back, the next time the sisters get on yours."
Lincoln smiled slightly at his friend's comment, knowing how she would be there to help him out; whenever he needed it. It reminded him of just why he came to like her company, after so much time had passed. At that moment, Carol quickly disrupted the moment with a soft clearing of the throat.
"First of all, Linky; this is no dream" she said with a wink, "second; if it were, my dreams would have me surrounded by some of the most beautiful outfits ever made." Hearing this caused Ronnie Anne to roll her eyes slightly, thinking how she must be a sort of Lori clone. Quickly snapping back to reality; Carol regained her composure and looked down at Lincoln seriously, once again.
"Third of all, I'd like to know where you learned those relaxation techniques from" she asked curiously, "without them; none of this would've been possible." At first, Lincoln hesitated; unsure of how to tell them all the truth...or if he even should tell them. But almost instantly, he realized that not one of them had judged him poorly for being honest before.
So, he found no reason to deny the truth from his friends now. "The thing is, Carol" he began, "those techniques, they...they were often used by my sisters; specifically Lori, Luna and Lola!" Everyone gasped softly at the sudden reveal, mostly because after everything that happened; they didn't think Lincoln had positive memories about his sisters anymore.
Upon sensing their confusion, the boy in question decided to explain things just a bit more. "My sister, Luna taught the mantra thing to Lori; when she was having 'the yips' during the time she was meeting with the head of her dream school" he stated, "but Lori came up with 'don't overthink it, relax and sink it,' while Luna's was more 'don't fret, just play your set.'" Before continuing, Lincoln gazed at his friends and saw that they were listening to his every word.
Before he started, he feared that they would all openly call "shenanigans" on his statement immediately. But he was happy to see that they believed what he was saying and felt even more so when they urged him to continue. "As for the breathing thing, that was something Lola came up with" Lincoln said with a soft smile, "believe it or not, even she gets nervous about entering certain pageants...mostly out of the fear of losing or messing up."
It was then that Carol recalled something Lori once told her, long ago. She had to cover for her parents as Lola's chaperone, while they were away on important business. "As I recall, Lori seemed more invested in the spa package her parents included at the hotel she and Lola stayed at than the coaching thing" Carol murmured, "but then...later on, she helped Lola get her confidence back." Lincoln nodded at both of her responses, signaling that she was right.
"I also seem to remember her saying how you swept in to save the day" Dana interjected, "a regular 'knight in shining armor' moment." Lincoln blushed shyly at the comment and retorted in saying that the day wasn't "saved," as she presumed. "Truth is, even after Lori called me up and and had me provide the necessary final touch up tips...Lola still lost" he murmured softly, "but Lola managed to take the 'L" with grace, surprisingly."
The girls all cooed softly at his story, even Ronnie Anne felt a little touched by it; mostly due to how mature Lola seemed to behave that day. "You know...it's funny" Ronnie Anne chuckled suddenly, "even after all the bad stuff that's happened, you still find ways to think positively about your sisters." The others couldn't help but agree with the young lady, saying how they were also quite surprised.
"Well...you know, even though they've all done me some wrong; I...I still love them" he mumbled, "I know that might seem weird or wrong to you guys...but it's the truth." At first, he expected everyone to laugh at him or call him a nutjob for this confssion. But for the second time that day, the ladies all wrapped him in a group hug; while Ronnie Anne simply gave him a loving pat on the back.
"It's not silly or wrong to think that way, Linky" Dana assured, "it just shows how much love you have for your family and how much you hope for things to be like they used to." Carol seconded her friend's words, adding that these feelings proved how much of a good kid Lincoln truly was. "Truth be told, if it were one of us in your situation...well, it would take a lot for the family to win us back" she stated, "but you, Lincoln...you try to see the best in people, even when they're at their worst."
Upon hearing this, Ronnie Anne fully agreed to Carol's words; recalling how much of a different person she once was. Sure, it was mostly a cover to keep her reputation as Royal Woods Elementary's resident tough girl going. But after moving in with her extended family, Ronnie Anne started to backpedal on a lot of her old habits; choosing only to indulge in them at specific times (like pranking the boys in her family.)
Lincoln was genuinely touched by everyone's kind words, feeling that they helped blow away some of the dark clouds of doubt hanging over his head. "I just hope things will be normal again soon between me and my family, to be honest" he confessed, "I don't think I can take worrying about their fighting for much longer.
Upon sensing the worry emanating from her young friend, Carol knelt down and rested her hand reassuringly on his shoulder. "You needn't worry about your family coming in and causing us anymore trouble, pal" she assured, "even after they leave the Cooler at the prison...they'll be met with an unexpected surprise." The moment he heard these words, Lincoln couldn't help but feel a twinge of worry well up inside of him.
For now, he could only hope that his family would be able to hold their own against whatever Fate had in store for them next.
(AN: Uh-oh...now this is one heck of a cliffhanger to leave off on. What type of surprise do you think the Louds will find at the prison, folks? Tune in next time, to find out.)
(Second AN: The mantra thing and the 4-7-8 Method are all Easter Eggs from the episode, Driving Ambition. Lori was the one who would say "Don't overthink it, relax and sink it," after hearing Luna's story. While the 4-7-8 breathing technique was something Lola did.
Another Easter egg was the reference to the Gown and Out episode, namely Lincoln recalling how nervous Lola was about losing and talking about how he helped her prepare. I figured these things would not only help Lincoln and everyone else calm down during the game. But I also wanted to give Lincoln some more positive memories of his family to fall back on, to counteract the negative vibes he's been feeling after past events.
This sort of thing will have an important role to play, in a future chapter; be certain of that.)