This is a sequel to No Lucky Matter.
Tuesday September 5, 2017 - 8:00 am
This week marked the beginning of the fall semester of school for the children of Royal Woods, Michigan, the day after Labor Day. On this particular morning, Lucy opened her eyes slowly after a peaceful slumber. Meanwhile her brother Lincoln stirred awake in his bedroom upon hearing his alarm clock buzz and lazily stretched an arm out to press the off button. The twelve year old boy, still half-asleep, stretching out his arms before tumbling out of bed and walked slowly towards the door. Once he stepped into the hallway, Lincoln saw Clyde leaving his bedroom. The preteens could smell the wonderful aroma of bacon drifting in their direction from the kitchen area.
"Morning Lincoln, did you have a good night's sleep," Clyde greeted chirpily.
"Yeah buddy, I sure did," Lincoln responded heartily.
The boys stepped into the bathroom shared by the children and after washing their faces they saw Lucy waiting outside the bathroom door for them.
"Morning Lucy," both boys greeted her in a cheerful manner then waited for her response.
'Good morning," she uttered less enthusiastically.
Lincoln and Clyde entered the kitchen as Howard poured hot cocoa into two yellow mugs. Howard a thin built man with red hair greeted them wearing a jovial look on his face.
"Morning Lincoln and Clyde, hope you had a good night's sleep," he greeted in a cheerful manner.
"Morning dads/Mr. McBride," the two boys replied enthusiastically as they sat on the bar chairs, eager to partake of the delicious breakfast.
"You boys must be happy today's Orientation Day for new students," Harold McBride asked while placing two plates loaded with scrambled eggs, bacon and waffles in front of them on the kitchen landing.
"We are dad/Mr. McBride,' the boys replied, smiling happily as Howard set two warm mugs filled with hot cocoa beside their plates.
While they ate, Lucy appeared and took a seat on the chair next to Lincolns left.
"Morning Lucy did you sleep well," Howard asked kindly upon seeing her arrival.
'Yes Mr. McBride," was her response as he plated some bacon and two waffles on her plate then returned with her own black mug filled with the same hot cocoa.
"Kids we are leaving in thirty minutes, Clyde you can shower in my bathroom" Howard announced once the children finished eating.
"I told you my dads are sticklers about being on schedule." Clyde remarked to Lincoln.
Lucy showered before Lincoln while Clyde used the shower in his father's bathroom.
After brushing their teeth, the trio donned their clothes and grabbed their schoolbags, the boys making sure they had enough money in their wallets to hang out at Gus Games and Grub later on. Harold and Howard were told the students would receive their textbooks at school today on the schools website. Lucy would be dropped off at the elementary school first.
"Have a good day boys," Harold declared upon arriving at the middle school
"Bye dad/bye Mr. McBride," they replied together.
They quickly made a beeline towards the school to catch up with Zach and Liam who stood at a distance waiting for their arrival.
"Welcome back guys," Liam announced chirpily.
"Hey Liam, Hey Zach," Clyde and Lincoln greeted then heard Rusty's voice behind them.
"Hey guys what's up," Rusty greeted in an upbeat mood.
"Hey Rusty," the others called out in unison then the foursome walked through the schools entrance.
The auditorium quickly filled up with the arrival of more boys and girls chattering away, then after some moments elapsed the sixth grade teachers began filling up the chairs son the stage. A male teacher wearing a mustache with white streaks in his black hair wearing slightly disheveled clothing who looked like he wished to be anywhere but amongst his fellow teachers sat in his chair with his arms folded wearing an annoyed look on his face.
A twelve year old girl, seeming quite unsure on where to sit, strolled pass the students of varying ages, eyes darting around nervously.
When her eyes fell upon the empty spot beside Liam, the farm boy's chivalrous instincts emerged.
"You can sit here," he offered, giving the brunette a cordial smile.
Smiling with gratitude, the girl whom eventually introduced herself as Stella Zhau whispered 'thank you' then sat beside Liam.
"Good Morning I'm Liam," he began continuing in a friendly manner.
Clyde turned to face their female seatmate and smiled.
"And my name is Clyde McBride," he greeted.
"Morning Clyde, my name is Stella Zhau," she declared.
Lincoln, Rusty and Zach looked over the back of their seat to say hello.
'Hi Stella I'm Lincoln Loud," the white haired boy greeted cordially.
'I'm Rusty Spokes," the taller one greeted in a confident tone.
"I'm Zach Gurdle," the shorter boy followed in tandem.
"Pleased to meet all of you," Stella responded with a smile.
The female newcomers attire consisted of a straight black skirt, a white blouse with a star in the center, white socks and a pair of bright green sneakers and two barrettes adorned the sides of her hair.
Moments later Principal Melinda Ramirez arrived, taking her position behind the microphone.
"Everyone please settle down," she spoke loudly and with an authoritarian manner, instantaneously silencing the children.
"Welcome to Orientation Day students. Before we commence, I hope everyone enjoyed their summer holidays. Now we'll take a moment for our teachers to introduce themselves," Principal Ramirez began.
Once Principal Ramirez sat in the front row on the far left, a pleasant looking female sitting beside her wearing a long yellow dress rose from her chair.
"Hello everyone, my name is Mrs. Salter," she greeted very cordially, "I teach Social Studies and also a homeroom teacher."
Now you will be taken on a tour of the school, there will be refreshments served inside the cafeteria after the tours over," the Principal declared.
Finally the school tour ended. Lincoln, his friends and their new friend Stella all chose Mrs. Salter for their sixth grade teacher. A group of students headed straight to Gus, Games and Grub to relax and enjoy themselves but called their parents first to obtain permission.
Next day
Lincoln, Lucy, and Clyde woke up, got ready for school, making sure they didn't forget to place their schedules into their school bags after eating a back to school breakfast of waffles and crispy bacon.
When they stepped inside the school bus Lucy turned around and said, "See you later," to Lincoln and Clyde then she hightailed it towards where her Gothic friends Haiku, Boris, and Dante sat. Her brother and Clyde spotted the red haired trio (seated in the same seats as in "Schooled") and went over.
"Hey fellas," Liam greeted beaming at his friends who waved slightly.
"Hey Liam, Rusty, Zach," they greeted simultaneously before taking the empty booth in front of the trio with Clyde sliding inside to take the window seat. Stella the newcomer to Royal Woods who arrived on August fifteenth approached the boys.
"Hey Stella," Lincoln called out.
"Hi Lincoln," she responded then sat beside him.
After two female students boarded the bus last, the driver quickly closed the doors then began driving to her next destination.
Making only one more stop to pick up three boys who weren't in Lincoln's class at Royal Woods Elementary school, the bus eventually arrived at the middle school. Instantly Lincoln's friends and Stella became apprehensive as they filed out of the bus with backpacks hoisted over their shoulders.
As they walked together beads of sweat formed on Clyde's forehead and he uttered nervously, "I'm not sure about this guys."
"We're not lit and we're definitely not cool," Zach added throwing his palms slightly in the air before letting them drop back to his sides.
Stella gulped nervously then uttered, "I don't think I can go through with this."
"Be positive, you can do it," Lincoln chirped while walking beside her carrying an air of confidence.
"I wish these dang butterflies in my stomach would disappear," Liam remarked then bit his lower lip.
The six children gradually merged with the hordes of other students walking up the front steps leading into the school, some students looking annoyed because school was back in session. Lincoln observed some of them engaging in friendly banter and watched two eighth grade boys interacting with each other with one being held in a slight headlock as the other gave him a rather harsh noogie.
Suddenly everybody became alerted to the Principal's voice coming over the loudspeaker
"Good morning all students, this is your Principal I hope you enjoyed the summer and welcome to a new school year. For new students you'll find some lockers have been reserved for you, please pick whichever one you want."
Sure enough there were various lockers with "reserved" written on yellow post it stickers by Principal Ramirez's secretary Meryl. Stella picked one on the right side of Lincoln's locker while Clyde decided on the locker on the left side of Lincolns.
After placing what they needed in their lockers Lincoln and friends hightailed it to Ms. Salters classroom before the first bell rang.