As Chilli parked the family jeep and cut the engine, she looked over at Levon and saw he was staring out the window at nothing in particular, she realized her son was lost in his own thoughts and noting the solemn look on his face. Chilli knew what he was thinking about, she gave herself a moment to think of what to say to help Levon. "Levon sweetheart?" Chilli asked getting his attention as he turned to look at her, snapping him out of his thoughts. "Yeah Mum?" he replied. Chilli placed her hand on top of Levon's and cupped his cheek with her other. "I want you to listen to me carefully. There are people in this world that are miserable and they will say or do anything to make you or anyone as miserable as they are in life. But, you will also meet good people as well. Do you understand what I'm trying to say?" Levon let his mum's words sink in for a moment before he nodded with a half smile. "That's my boy. Now let's get this shopping done." Chilli said with smile on her face.
As the mother and son duo got out of the car and made their way to the grocery store, "Can I help you with the shopping Mum?" Levon asked glancing up at her. "Of course you can. Actually I think I have an idea for you to help me get this errand crossed out." Chilli replied to her son as she grabbed her grocery list out of her purse and looked it over. Chilli and Levon soon walked through the automatic doors of their local grocery store, as they both stopped near the Shopping Trolleys. "Okay, you grab the normal foods while I grab gluten free foods for Bingo?" Chilli suggested as tore the list in half, handing the half with the normal food items on it to Levon. "Okay and then we can meet up at one of the checkouts when were done?" he asked understanding his assignment. "That's the plan." Chilli replied as she and her son grabbed shopping trolleys and went into separate directions and aisles to grab the listed food items.
After shopping for while, Levon checked over the list and the trolley to make sure he had all the correct grocery items. "Okay, Apples, Blueberries, Raspberries, Bananas, Lettuce, Tomatoes, Bacon, Milk, Cheese, and Corn Chips. All that's left is Peanut Butter." Levon thought to himself as he pushed the cart and headed in the direction of the aisle where the Peanut Butter was. When Levon turned into the aisle and was surprised to see a familiar face. There standing on the tips of her toes was his next door neighbor, Judo Spitz and she was trying to reach for a jar of peanut butter. Levon felt sorry for Judo and knew that she'd probably end up hurting herself if she wasn't careful, and so he pushed his trolley halfway and walked up to her. "Hey Judo." Levon said trying his best not to startle her, to which that did not work for Judo jumped a bit and turned to face him. "Oh Hi Levon." she replied in a tone that Levon could recognize as nervous despite Judo trying to hide it. "Here, let me get that for you." Levon said as he reached up and grabbed the specific jar of peanut butter that she was trying to reach for and handed it to Judo. "Is this the jar you wanted?" Levon asked as the jar he grabbed read organic and sugar free. "Oh um Y-yes it is thank you." Judo replied. "It's no trouble, that's what neighbors do." Levon said with a smile as he grabbed his shopping trolley.
"Why do you have a shopping trolley?" Judo asked dumbfounded and surprised. "Oh I'm helping my mum with some errands." he replied. "Wow, I wish my mum would let me run the shopping trolley." Judo replied in a obvious jealous tone in her voice. Levon couldn't help but chuckle at her. "Don't worry, I'm sure one day you're mum will let you run a shopping trolley one day. You just gotta be patience." he said as a way to comfort her. Judo let his words sink in for a moment and smiled knowing he was right. "So how's school going?" Levon asked as parked the shopping cart behind him against the wall of the aisle. "Oh it's going good. I've gotten A's and B's. How's it going for you?" Judo asked. "Oh I actually start Intermediate School tomorrow, I am a little nervous though." Levon admitted. "I know I have to, but I just hope I'll be able to adjust and hope I can make mum and dad proud." Judo was surprised, Levon had just revealed some personal baggage. "Well, I'm sure you'll the best you can. You are pretty smart especially yesterday." she responded. Levon was confused until he remembered yesterday with the mud resulting in him laughing and Judo soon joined him. Eventually as their laughter settled down Levon and Judo. "Hey maybe we can talk to our mums about you coming over for a sleepover, if it's okay with them." Levon suggested to which Judo reacted a little shocked. "Yeah, that sounds like a fun idea. I better get back to my mum see you later." As Judo speed walked down the aisle leaving Levon confused. As he turned the cart out of the aisle he could have sworn he saw Judo blushing as she was walking away, he shook the thought as it could have been his imagination.
As Levon came to the checkout area of the grocery store. He looked around for his mum and saw her waving him over to checkout counter Number Five illuminated by a green light. He pushed his trolley over to her and started loading his items from his trolley to his mums. "I see you found everything on your end." Chilli said with a smile. " I can say the same for you." Levon replied as he turned to return his Shopping Trolley back to its spot so someone could use it. Levon joined his mother in the checkout line, the checkout clerk working the register counter scanned all their items and placed them in a plastic bags, afterwards Levon placed the bags in the trolley. As she was waiting for the cashier to round up the cost of the items, Chilli glanced at her son and saw he was drawing in his black journal. She noticed a look of concentration on his face, trying to get every detail right and to not make any mistakes. Chilli smiled as he finished and placed his book back in his satchel. "Levon?" she asked "Yes mum?" Levon replied. "Thanks for coming and helping me with these errands." Chilli responded as she pulled out her card to pay for the groceries. "That's some kid you got there ma'am." The cashier, a Bluetick Coonhound said with smile, as he readied the computer to scan Chilli's card. Chilli looked at her son and pulled him into a side hug, catching him off guard. "He sure is, he's my boy after all." she said as she scanned her card, paying for the groceries and getting her receipt before her made their way out of the store with Levon pushing the trolley following behind.
After making it to the jeep and loading all the grocery bags in the boot of it. Chilli and Levon got in and buckled their seatbelts before she started the engine and drove out of the parking lot towards home. "Are you excited to start Intermediate School Levon?" Chilli asked. "Um I guess..." Levon responded nervously. "It's okay sweetheart, it's a big change to adjust to. But all I want is for you to do the best can do." Chilli said as she continued to drive back to their home. "But what if... what if my best isn't good enough and I disappoint you and dad... what if I let you down." Levon said as he looked down at this lap. Suddenly he felt the jeep pull over to and come to a stop. "Levon Jacey Heeler!" He cringed upon hearing his full name be spoken by his mum and felt his seatbelt unclick and his face being cupped by his mums hands forcing him to look her in the eyes. But to his confusion her eyes were not that of anger, but of worry and love. "You listen to me and you listen good. Your father and I love you. We could never be disappointed in you and the best you can do will be good enough. Do you understand me young man?" Chilli asked to which Levon nodded. "Okay then, I'm not mad at you honey. I just don't want you overstress things. I know you will do the best you can in school and Me, your father, and your sisters will be there for you no matter what." Chilli said as she kissed her son on his forehead and out her seatbelt back on. As Levon put his seatbelt back on, he suddenly remembered him or his mum had not heard from his father or his sisters all day.
By the time the family jeep pulled into the driveway, it was getting into the late afternoon and early evening. Levon helped his mum with the groceries as they opened the front door they took the bags into the kitchen. "Okay that's all the bags." Chilli said as she began to put away some of them and prepare to make dinner. "Do you need help with anything mum?" Levon asked. "Honey you went above and beyond with helping me with my errands today, so you go and relax while get dinner ready." Chilli replied with a smile. "Oh okay, wait I forgot to tell you that I ran into Judo while we're at the grocery store." Levon remembered and began to tell his mum what happened. "And what was Judo doing there?" Chilli asked as she took some carrots out of one of the bags. "She was trying to reach for some peanut butter and she couldn't reach it, but I helped get a jar for her." Levon continued. "Aww, well that was real nice of you to do." Chilli said gushing at the adorable gesture her son did for their neighbor. "Yeah, but Judo was acting real strange afterwards." Levon said confusing his mum. "What do you mean strange?" Chilli asked looking her in the eye. "Well Judo was just nervous forming sentences and I thought I saw her blushing as she left, but I think it was my imaginati-" Before he could finish his sentence he saw his mum was smiling with dilated pupils and had both her hands were clasp together with her head tilted resting on them and her tail was wagging. "What?" Levon asked very confused at his mums actions. "Judo has a crush on my baby boy." Chilli said in full joy. Levon was now really confused and tried to find an explanation. "Mum, I doubt Judo has a crush on me, she must be sick." "She's sick with the love bug." Chilli said teasingly. "Mum don't be weird, I don't think I'm even her type of guy." Levon retaliated. "Why would you say that? You're a very handsome boy." Chilli said being honest. "Mum I'm being serious, she's Bluey's friend and I've known her since her and Bluey started playing together. She's practically like a sister to me." Levon said as rubbed his arm trying to fight off the awkward feelings that were brewing in him. Chilli stopped teasing and understood sons predicament. "I know, but just give it time and eventually Judo will move on."
"So have you heard from dad or the girls?" Levon said trying to change the subject. "I'm sure your father and sisters will be back, you know how they are." Chilli said as she began skinning the carrots. "Yeah your right, oh and mum..." Levon said. "Yes sweetheart?" she asked before starting to chop the skinned carrots. Levon then walked over to her and hugged her. "Thanks for letting me come with you on your errands and talking with me." he said as Chilli put her knife down on the cutting boards before returning the embrace. "Of course, you were a big help to me today and the talking part is part of my job as your mum." she replied as Levon went to go do whatever wanted to go do and she went back to preparing dinner.
Later that early evening, Chilli had finished placing everything in the oven and set a timer for when to take it out. Suddenly she heard the front door open and the sound two pairs of feet running across the floor, smiling Chilli turned around and knew whom those could belong to. "Mum!" Bluey and Bingo shouted ecstatically as they ran to hug their mother their tails wagging doing so. "Well, isn't this wonderful. Did you girls have fun with your dad today?" Chilli asked her daughters with a smile on her face. "We sure did." Bluey said excitedly. "Yeah!" Bingo added. Chilli looked up and saw her husband walk into the kitchen with a smile, Bandit walked over to his wife gave a kiss on the cheek. "Hey babe, how was your day?" He asked with a smile on his face. "Well, I ran my errands, Levon really helped me get them finished." Chilli said as she went to fridge to grab a drink. "Oh really?" Bandit said with surprise of fatherly pride. "Where is Levon?" Bingo asked wondering where her brother was. "I'm right here." Bluey and Bingo turned to see their brother leaning against the doorway between the kitchen and the living room with his crossed and a smirk across his face. Bluey and Bingo both ran to hug him. " I really missed you girls today." Levon said hugging his tightly. "We missed you too." Bluey said as her and Bingo were excited to tell their brother and mum how their day went. " I can't wait to hear how you and mums day went." Bingo said.
As the Heeler siblings went to go play, Chilli and Bandit sat down at the kitchen table to relax and unwind before dinner. " How'd your day go with the girls go?" she asked as she took a sip of her soda. Bandits chuckled a bit as he looked back at his day with his daughters. "Those girls had a blast at the monkey bars, then we took a bus to the playground where The Creek is. I offered to take them there but they said the most precious thing to me." Chilli with a smile cocked her eyebrow. "What did they say?" "They said ["It wouldn't be the same without Levon."] Bandit looking his wife in her eyes, as Chilli could help but be in awe. "I love those kids." He said as he went to the fridge to grab a drink. "Yeah, you want to hear what something that Levon told me after we got home?" Chilli asked to which her husband nodded as he took a sip of his drink. Chilli then told her husband about what Levon told her about Judo, to which Bandit had to keep from spitting his drink out. "Judo has got the hots for our son?" he said coughing a bit after choking on forcing his drink down. Chilli nodded with a smile. "Well you can really blame her though, Levon is a growing into a handsome young man." she said continuing to sip from her canned beverage. "Yeah, but isn't Judo a little young for this kind of thing?" Bandit asked worried. "I don't think it's a big deal, it's just a little kid crush." Chilli replied to her husband.
When the time came for dinner, the Heeler family all sat down at the kitchen/dining table as Chilli placed a tray of meatloaf on the table. Bandit's and Levon's mouths' were watering at the sight of it. "Oh mum that looks delicious." Levon said as Chilli started cutting into it. "Yeah babe, you outdone yourself." Bandit said agreeing with his son. "Why thank you both." Chilli said placing slices of it on her husbands and sons plates. As everyone got their plates of food and began eating. Chilli and Levon told the events of what they did today leaving out certain details. After they finished, Bandit, Bluey, and Bingo recalled the events of their day.
After dinner was finished, the Heeler siblings got their bathes and shower. They got ready for bed for tomorrow was the first day of Intermediate School for Levon and school in general for his sisters. After being tucked in and getting kissed good night by their mum, the Heeler siblings were asleep and Chilli made her way to the Master Bedroom to join her husband. As she climbed into the bed, Bandit was about pass out, but before he saw his wife typing on her grey laptop. "Babe what's the matter?" he asked concerned. After not getting the results she was looking for on her computer, Chilli closed it and told her husband about what happened at the dress shop and on their way back. "Oh man, poor Levon." Bandit sighed worrying about Levon, but Chilli reassured him by telling him what she told ther son. "Good, I want our son to proud of who he is." Bandit said. "The best thing we can do Babe, is to love him and be there for him when he needs us." Bandit added. "And we will." Chilli said givng her husband a peck on the lips and turning off her light. "Night honey." She said before drifting off to sleep. "G'night babe." He replied as he too drifted off to sleep.
(A/N: I hope you all enjoy this chapter sorry for the hiatus. Please stay stunned for the next chapter as Levon enters Intermediate school. Thank you all for the support as well and I wish you all the positive support right back you all. I promise to get the next chapter out soon.)