Brita (aka Rita Loud) had to do a double take as she saw Luan give her a nonchalant wave and headed straight outta Royal Woods High School right in the middle of the day.

Her fourth eldest daughter was only a sophomore and only Juniors and Seniors were allowed to leave the school for free periods (mainly because they were going to internships and other work programs).

She knew her daughter had a mischievous streak to her…the impromptu food fight had proved her tomfoolery wasn't just reserved for April 1st, but skipping school? That was downright delinquent behavior and as much as Rita was enjoying connecting with her older daughters, she could not stand by and allow Luan to go down the wrong path and ruin her future.

"Lynn, initiate Vanzella disguise number 54 and meet me in front of Royal Woods high school ASAP!" she whispered into her cell phone.

"Hun I can't just drop everything and-"

"NOW!"

Lynn whimpered and she could hear Vanzilla start up.

Less than five minutes later they were discreetly following the white city bus Luan had gotten on.

"I don't know hun, maybe you are jumping to conclusions about this-"

"NO! Bad puns are one thing Lynn, but it's time we had a serious discussion with our daughter about how you can't just make life one big game or joke! She takes things way too far by pranking us and innocent other people and one day…one day it's going to get her in very real trouble and we won't be able to get her out of it! I mean, I know all our girls have very unique passions and talents but those talents could actually get them places in life…"

"Rita…we've talked about not worrying so much about our kids futures and to just let them be kids-"

"I know Lynn, but she's got so much potential and she just throws it away on pranks that hurt people and-and I just want what's best for her,"

"What's best for her or what you think is best for her?"

"Why can't it be both?"

"She has been doing better about exploring other venues though! She wrote that wonderful play this semester and you can't deny that her little clown business is successful for what it is! Will it make her as rich as Lisa with her inventions? Probably not, but she'll be alright! She's a hard worker with a good heart She'll be fine…and worst case…I can always leave her the restaurant! We just gotta trust her and believe the best in her,"

Rita looked like she was trying to believe her husband's words but was still frustrated. About this time they arrived in front of the hospital where Luan hopped off the bus.

"…What is she doing here? Don't tell me she wants to prank people here!? She could KILL SOMEONE with a pie in the face at the wrong time!"

"Rita…I'm sure there's a reasonable explanation,"

Rita was straightening her Brita wig with determination, "stay here, I may need backup," she said as she got out of the car with a slam.

Lynn just watched sadly as his wife trailed their daughter through the double doors.

Rita kept her distance as she followed Luan through the endless maze of corridors and up the elevator to the children's ward, seeing her clown bag and supplies Rita suddenly got the sensation of rocks in her stomach, she had a bad feeling that maybe she had made a misjudgement.

Sure enough, Luan entered the great room to the excited squeal of the many children who were playing in the corners. She flashed a warm smile and instantly started greeting the children and making balloon animal hats for kids suffering from cancer and alopecia and bringing out Mr. Coconuts to greet some of the shyer kids. She then pulled out her unicycle…the one she had rode in the cafeteria earlier that day and delighted all the kids by juggling for them.

Rita had tears streaming down her face, how could she have judged her daughter so harshly? How could she have expected the worst in her without any real foundation? Sure, her daughter might have hobbies that differed from her own, but Lynn Sr. was right…she did have a really beautiful heart, and she could trust her daughter to do the right thing and to use her comedy for good.

"Excuse me, are you with the school too?" one of the nurses asked, snapping Rita out of her self-loathing thoughts.

"Uhhhh…kind of…" Rita said, putting on her best Brita voice but not doing well due to all the tears.

"I can understand you wanting to take a back seat to Luan, she's just wonderful! She comes on weekends too, you know? The school typically doesn't allow students this young to come but we made an exception for Luan!"

"So this is all arranged through the schools?" Rita said, both relieved and ashamed that Luan hadn't even been ditching school like she originally thought.

"It was actually Luan's idea…she came up one Saturday to share some cheer with the kids and didn't want to leave. She created bonds with some of the kids who are here for longer periods of time and so the school agreed to give her a period during the day where she can come and visit with the kids, she has to keep her grades up and stay out of "serious" trouble, but she does it. She would hate to not be able to see these kids and these kids would hate to not see her,"

Rita started crying all over again.

Luan looked up from under her clown wig and finally noticed the poor woman sobbing on the floor.

"Brita! Are you okay?" she asked as she walked over…unfortunately in the sobbing mess that she was Rita's wig accidentally fell off revealing her not so secret identity.

"…MOM!?"

Rita tried putting on her wig again, but she accepted defeat and braced for her daughter's wrath.

Luan was definitely surprised, but she wasn't angry.

"…You've been Brita this whole time?"

"I'm so sorry honey…I should have never violated your trust like I did,"

Luan gave a sheepish smile, "sorry about the food fight earlier today…and the mustard hand…and my secret prank and-"

"No honey, I'm the one who's sorry! I-I know I don't always appreciate or understand your humor or your pranks or your puns, but I love you so much and I'm so proud of you and all you do for everyone around you!"

Luan herself got teary eyed as she embraced her mom, feeling closer to her than she ever had.

A few more hugs and laughs later and after bidding goodbye to the kids in the hospital Rita and Luan came out of the hospital arm in arm laughing and smiling together.