Chapter 5
Sundays at the McBrides always began with a late breakfast then Clyde, Lincoln and Lucy making their beds and tidying their rooms. The boys would then relax reading comics on the sofa whilst Lucy read her gothic novels holed up in her bedroom. In the meantime, Harold was outside working in the front garden pulling out weeds. Howard was out purchasing a few essential items at the Supermart including cat food for the kitties. Before dinner was served, the boys watched a SMOOCH concert on a music channel.
Ten days later Lincoln and company were eating lunch in the cafeteria.
'Hey guys, we should think about joining a club," Rusty commented in an excited tone.
'Hey we could create our own club,' Clyde asked quizzically.
The friends stopped their conversation and remained silent for a couple seconds before Zach snapped his fingers as inspiration struck.
"Wait a sec, we could revive the Action News Team. My mom was on the team," Zach announced with glee in his voice.
'Hey that's a great idea Zach," Stella exclaimed.
"Is everyone in," Rusty asked, and the others thought about the idea for a moment.
"I'm in," Lincoln asserted in a confident voice.
"Me too," both Stella and Liam exclaimed in unison.
After a moment's pause in their conversation, Stella was suddenly reminded of something.
"But remember we need Principal Ramirez's approval to restart the news team," Stella declared.
Early the next morning they visited Principal Ramirez in her office where Zach informed her of their decision to restart the Action News Team. Ramirez said the room was located to the right of the Arts and Crafts club. Before returning to class, the friends texted their parents to explain they were restarting the schools news team and were staying behind after school to clean up the abandoned news room.
On the morning on Monday October tenth, Royal Woods woke up to a light shower of rain. Later Lincoln and Lucy sat around the dining table with the McBrides eating spaghetti and meatballs for dinner.
"How was your day kids?" Harold asked suddenly.
Harold received a response from Lincoln who waited to speak until he swallowed a mouthful of spaghetti and a piece of meatball.
"Me and the guys desperately need some new equipment for our news team, we can't continue working with the old equipment any longer,' Lincoln griped.
"Why not ask Principal Ramirez if she can obtain some funds to buy new equipment," Harold suggested.
'Good idea dad but we prefer to think about doing something like having a bake sale to get funds for some new equipment," Clyde replied.
"I'm sure you'll think of something," Harold reassured the boys
'What about you Lucy," Howard addressed her, "How is the Morticians Club doing?"
"Our former club President Bertrand who left last year to live on a cruise ship with his parents is returning to Royal Woods next week," Lucy explained.
"That's good to know Lucy," Harold said.
After dinner whatever homework that wasn't finished was completed by Lincoln, Lucy and Clyde before retiring for the night.
The next day Chandler managed to squirm his way into the Action News Team when he overheard their plight by offering them new equipment which they gladly accepted only for Chandler to demand more perks but started doing these obnoxious news reports which were basically playing pranks on students and the news team themselves
Gradually the sisters became well-adjusted to the new changes in their lives. Leni chose Wednesday and Friday afternoons to leave school early when she filled out the early release form in the schools administrative office. Lucy continued attending her Mortician Club meetings on Monday and Wednesday after school. Lori received perfect grades in all her subjects. Luan managed to reestablish her company Funny Business, asking for Shirley's approval first. Her first birthday gig was for a boy in Lisa, Lana and Lola's class. By late September Luna started a romantic relationship with her friend Samantha Sharp, a member of her band. Luna stopped spending too much time during school days playing music and studied more and stopped the habit of cramming for tests at the last minute. Without Lisa being available for tutoring her sisters, she and Leni actually attended tutoring sessions after school on Wednesdays taking place at the Royal Woods library. Regarding Lana and Lola their fighting had ceased altogether due to their Aunt and Uncles no nonsense attitudes. Lynn stopped performing her good luck rituals at her sports events and her grades improved considerably. Taylor Maxwell had played basketball in high school so there was a basketball court in the back yard for Lynn to practice or just for relaxation. The mandatory classes for every student at the Maxwell Academy where they learned good manners and showing consideration for others and conflict resolution for the teenage students changed Luan, Lynn, Lisa and the twins for the better.
In Great Lakes City Ronnie Anne met a new girl named Sidney Chang who just moved into the city with her family with the two girls eventually becoming best friends. Lincoln and Ronnie Anne also started a video blog with Clyde and Sidney being frequent guests. Lincoln also developed an interest in performing magic after attending a magic show with his friends and classmates one Friday at 2 pm when the Magician, called the Amazing Brailster performed a show at the middle school. Classes and extracurricular activities being cancelled at 1:55 pm. Eventually Lincoln managed to enter two magic contests and won third place on both occasions.
Sunday November 2
The morning began with Lori, Leni and Luna eating breakfast somewhat depressed. The reason for the girl's cheerlessness was because in a few hours, they'd be saying a reluctant goodbye to Lily who was leaving with their Aunt Sara and Uncle Lucas for the home she'd ever known, despite arrangements previously made to visit Lily every Sunday at their aunt's home. Of course nobody could tell if Lily would return since it depended on whether Rita and Lynn Sr. regained custody of their children.
Lucas and Sara also came up with a brilliant arrangement with Shirley and Ethan that Lisa would return to Royal Woods and live with them so that Lily would feel more comfortable in their home. The former roommates would share a room again so Uncle Lucas purchased a new bed two weeks ago. Shirley drove Lisa over to their home the day before in the afternoon.
At two p.m. Sara's sedan pulled up to the house as Lori and Luna sat idly on the couch with Albert sitting in the armchair. Lori perked up once the doorbell rang and went to answer it.
"Hello Aunt Sara, Uncle Lucas," Lori greeted them as cheerful as possible.
'Hello Sara and Lucas," Albert greeted.
"Afternoon Albert," the couple greeted simultaneously.
'How's Lisa doing?" Albert suddenly asked.
'She has settled in quite nicely," Lucas explained.
Suddenly everyone heard Leni's footsteps walking down the stairs carrying Lily in her arms. Lily was dressed in lavender shorts and a white tee and purple shoes.
A small suitcase packed with Lily's clothing and diapers and a box with her toys stood beside the coatrack. Upon seeing Lily arrive with Leni, a friendly smile appeared on Sara's face.
"Hi Lily, I'm your aunt Sara, would you like to see Lisa," Sara greeted Lily when she approached Leni.
"Sa Sa," Lily babbled with delight upon hearing her sister's name mentioned.
After Sara held out her arms to take Lily from Leni, an air of sadness filled the living room. Leni's eyes became downcast. Lori and Luna kept a stoic façade. Albert reluctantly grabbed Lily's suitcase. Nobody moved a muscle or said anything until ten seconds passed.
"We better get going then," Lucas said in a solemn tone.
"Bye Lily well miss you tremendously," Leni said.
"You'll see us soon," Luna and Lori said in unison then Lucas grabbed the box with Lily's toys and Lori picked up Lilys car seat near the fireplace.
Everyone walked outside with Lucas in front and Sara unlocked the car. She then opened the trunk of their sedan for Lucas to put the box with Lily's toys. Albert placed the suitcase in the back seat and Lori placed the car seat behind the driver. After Sara placed Lily in the car seat, the couple waved to the others.
'Bye' the couple said together before entering the car.
Once the sedan disappeared from everyone's sight, the rest went back inside and Albert started preparing a beef stew for dinner.
Later that month, Sara invited Albert, Lori, Leni, and Luna to Thanksgiving dinner at her home which they greatly appreciated.
After Sara gave them a tour of the lovely five bedroom, three bathroom home, they settled down to a sumptuous Thanksgiving meal with Albert doing the honor of carving the turkey.