The phone rang at the receptionist's desk, so she answered.
"Royal Woods Child Care for Mental Health. Can I help you?"
"Where's my son?" said a man's voice on the other end.
"...Who is this?" asked the receptionist.
"I'm Lincoln's father," said Lynn Loud Sr. "Now where is he?" The receptionist sighed, not knowing if it was a good idea for there to even be a phone conversation, as Officer Schoffner had informed the Loud parents that they were placed under house arrest. Taking no chances, she pushed a button that would put the phone call through a speaker on her desk and pushed another button that would record the conversation.
"Just a moment," she said. "I need to make sure this is okay, so I'll page a manager."
"What for?" said Lynn Sr.'s voice now coming through the speaker and unknowingly being recorded. "For wanting to talk to my son?" And there waved the first red flag.
"Officer Schoffner said you and your wife are under house arrest, so just as a precaution-"
"I just want to talk to my son! The whole family does! Is that such a crime?!"
"Sir, calm down."
"I'll calm down as soon as I get to talk with my son!" said Lynn Sr., starting to raise his voice. At the Loud residence, as he said these words, in the background, his ten daughters looked on with worry while Rita was gently sobbing. "Would you please put him on?" Lynn said into the phone.
"Sir," said the receptionist. "I have to take precautions, so please give me a minute." She then pushed another button on the speaker that would put the conversation on hold and also pause the recording. Taking a deep breath, she pushed the buzzer on her desk to page a manager. "Manager on duty, please report to the front desk for a call holding. Thank you." Of course, since the request was broadcasted throughout the whole building, it piqued Lincoln's curiosity as to what kind of call would require a manager's assistance. It didn't take him long to get an inkling, as it was no coincidence that previously, Schoffner paid a visit and got him up to speed on recent events. His family was trying to call him and he didn't know how he should handle it.
"Drat, they put me on hold," said Lynn Sr. while his wife was still sobbing.
"What for, Pops?" asked Luna.
"Something about a manager," the Loud father grumbled.
"Why is a manager needed for all this?"
"Our parents are literally under house arrest," Lori reminded Luna.
"Indeed," Lisa agreed. "I suppose these precautions are necessary." She adjusted her glasses.
"You know," said Lynn Sr., sounding annoyed. "None of you are exactly helping here."
"Daddy, please calm down," Leni beseeched, on the brink of tears.
"Do you all want to talk to Lincoln or not?! I'm trying to get through!" Lynn Sr. was beginning to sound out of character, or rather, losing his cool. Rita still continued to cry. After all, she was more than ready to deliver such a tearful apology to her baby boy for whatever agony she put him through. That or she wanted him to come home against the odds, which also seemed to be what Lynn Sr. wanted as well.
"You're starting to lose it, Dad," said Lucy, but still in her usual monotone voice. "I can see the color beginning to flush in your cheeks." This sort of got the father back to focus, knowing his goth daughter could somehow see through her bangs that covered her eyes, but alas, if he ended up talking with the manager, he feared that he might never get through to Lincoln. And it was this fear that was clearly making him unfocused, maybe even a little unbalanced.
"It's the Loud family," the receptionist said to the available manager, back at the child care center. "They all want to talk to Lincoln."
"There shouldn't be any harm," said the manager. "They can't do much if they really are under house arrest."
"And since they'll be on trial soon, I'm recording the conversation in case we need to use it as evidence."
"Good, good. That'll show 'em, huh?" The manager had given the green light, so the receptionist pushed a button on her desk speaker to resume the call and continue recording. "Manager on duty speaking."
"Where is my son?!" demanded Lynn Sr.
"Calm down, sir. We'll inform Lincoln, but it'll be up to him if he wants to talk."
"He has to!"
"Wait, what?"
"We have to tell him we're sorry!" insisted Lynn Sr., now sounding a little desperate while Rita still sobbed in the background. "We need him!"
"Mr. Loud, if your son wants to talk, he will," said the manager. "We'll send for him, but please be patient." The receptionist pushed the buzzer again.
"Miss Lone, please escort Lincoln to the front desk," she said. "His family is on the line." Getting the message in Room 208A, poor Lincoln felt conflicted.
"Do you want to talk to your family?" Lyra asked, knowing it'd be up to him. Lincoln looked at Lyra, almost thinking that she could help with that answer. He knew that his family had wronged him, but he believed at the point, the only reason they should be punished is because the state law had to for them committing a crime and had to be upheld to set an example for society, that no child should be abused to such an extreme. "Lincoln," Lyra continued. "I am mad at your family for committing those heinous actions against you, but it's not my place to speak for you. I'll save my own choice of words if I'm allowed to at their trial or whenever it might be necessary. Does that help?" After a few seconds, Lincoln nodded. Now, the choice seemed clear.
"Where is he?!" shouted Lynn Sr. again. The front desk was beginning to get slightly chaotic just listening to the speaker.
"Sir," said the manager, trying to get a word in.
"Listen!" said Lynn Sr. "Can you hear my wife crying right now?" Rita still was as the receptionist simply facepalmed.
"Sir..."
"Can you hear her?!"
"Yes, I can hear-"
"Then please get Lincoln to talk to us! We have to tell him we're sorry!" The manager began rubbing his temples.
"This isn't gonna help their case in court," he sighed.
"Anyone want popcorn?" the receptionist joked dully. The manager was about to say something to Lynn Sr. again, but paused. He and the receptionist looked and saw... Lincoln. He stood there, holding Lyra's arm.
"What's happening?" said Lynn Sr.'s voice. "What's going on? Where is everybody?!" Lincoln slowly walked to the front desk and stood near the speaker.
"...Dad?"