I do not own anything in these stories. All rights go to the creator Chris Savino and the current showrunner, Michael Rubiner.

It was Tuesday, October 21, 1986 at Royal Woods Elementary School. Ronnie Anne was walking over to the cafeteria and noticed that everybody was looking excited for something.

Ronnie Anne walks over to Lincoln and his Clyde who looked most excited and said, "Hey, Lincoln, my brother. Any idea why is everybody acting all excited?"

"Guess what, Ronnie Anne?! Today's the day that our classmate Chandler is handing out invites to his birthday party. It's at the sewage treatment plant where his dad works!" Lincoln exclaimed.

But Ronnie Anne was shocked upon this and spoke, "A birthday party at a sewage treatment factory?! Are you serious?!"

"I know! It's gonna be epic!" Lincoln exclaimed.

"I hear the facilities can process five hundred metric tons of human waste a day!" Clyde exclaimed.

"I hear they have a secret room for the mutant animals they find in the sewers!" Lincoln added.

"And plus, I hear, if you take off your mask in there, the stink will burn off your nose hairs!" Clyde added.

"I really hope we get invited!" Lincoln exclaimed.

But Ronnie Anne was against the idea and complained, "Not to crush on your dreams, Lincoln, but don't you think that might be a bit I don't know... hazardous for your health?!"

"It'll be fine, Ronnie Anne. Chandler's dad will be handing out hazmat suits," Clyde replied.

"Oh, well. That's alright. But I still think that a sewage treatment plant is a lousy place to have a party," Ronnie Anne complained but the lights suddenly turn off, and a kid plays music while many kids cheer.

"It's happening!" Clyde and Lincoln hold hands, but a bunch of sweat from Clyde's hand appears, "Oh, ha ha, sorry, sweaty palms."

The doors open, and Chandler walks in. The students gasp upon his entrance, "Put on your galoshes, people..." Chandler said in an eager voice as he busts out galoshes and tosses them in the air, "...'cuz it's time to party!" and one of the students grabs a galosh as the others look on in awe. Chandler holds out a plunger and passes the invites out with it, "Darren! Miguel! Mollie! Stella! Jordan! Kyle! Kat!" and finally, he goes over to Ronnie Anne, "Oh, hello there. Haven't seen you around before."

Chandler holds Ronnie Anne's hand but Ronnie Anne pulls it back, feeling uncomfortable, "Pleased to meet you! I'm Ronnie Anne. Thanks for noticing!'

"You know, I'm having a birthday party in a couple of days," Chandler said as he hands Ronnie Anne an invitation, "You wanna come?"

Ronnie Anne then declines the invitation, "No thank you," she said in a stern voice, "I don't know about you but Lincoln and I don't want to be partying in raw sewage. Mom and Dad would get really upset at us."

"All right, then. Suit yourself," Chandler said threateningly as he takes the invitation back, "But, feel free to call me."

Ronnie Anne was very disgusted, "Ugh. Twerp."

"Okay. And the last two invites go to..." Chandler plunges them and walks over to Lincoln and Clyde as they eagerly squeal but then walks away from them, "...Joy and Jen!

Lincoln and Clyde are devastated as the birthday boy leaves and the kid playing the music turns it off and the lights come back on.

Lincoln felt crushed within himself and said, "We can probably stop holding hands now."

Later that day, at the Gus's Games & Grub Restaurant, Lincoln, Ronnie Anne and Clyde are playing video games with not being invited still on their minds.

"I don't get it. How could Chandler not invite us?" Lincoln asked in concern, "I loaned him a pencil in math class and held the bathroom door open for him!"

"And I made eye contact with him everyday! Like this," Clyde said as he takes off his glasses revealing his astigmatic eyes, "Who wouldn't want this face at a party?"

Suddenly, Lori enters wearing her employee outfit, "Hi, kids."

Lincoln then spoke downtrodden, "Hey, Mom."

"Guess what?! I have just been promoted last week and I am now a top class employee here at this restaurant! Now I can get myself enough money to buy a new dress for the big dance this coming Friday! The theme is "Romance Under the Sea", and Bobby and I are going to be the Sea King and Queen. It's gonna be the greatest night ever!"

Suddenly, Mr. Gamesngrub called for her, "Hey, Loud! Can you get back to work please? If you got time to lean as a top employee, you got time to clean as a top employee."

Therefore, this causes Lori to rush over, "Oh, sorry, Mr. Gamesngrub! I'm coming! Just hold on and be patient!" Lori said before she goes back to Lincoln, "Oh, I almost forgot. Employees get free tokens every shift. You guys can have mine."

With that, Lori proceeds to give Lincoln her tokens and leaves as Clyde comes to her.

Lincoln then became more optimistic, "Thanks, Mom!" Lincoln responded before he turned to Clyde, "Clyde, check it out! Free tokens from my mother!"

"I have to say, Lori is such a great parent and a great person," Clyde replied while he was playing Dig-Dug.

Later, Lincoln and Clyde were both playing Skeeball and Clyde sinks a ball in one of the point holes.

Clyde cheered out after he sinks a ball in one of the point holes, "Woo-hoo! Yeah! All right!"

"Wow! Way to go, Clyde!" Lincoln cheered.

"By the way, I'm saving my tickets to buy your mother that bobblehead pig," Clyde said as he points to the indicated prize which looks less than appealing while horror sting music plays, "Ooh, I hope she doesn't already have one!"

But then, Lincoln spoke in concern, "Are you going to be okay with Mom in a higher position here?"

"Sure. She'll be able to serve me anything if I have enough money," Lincoln said in concern.

"Here you go, sweetie. Free pizza and root beers," Lori said as she served them the free pizza and root beers, "Just one of my ways of saying thanks for helping me get this job back in March of this year."

As she walks off, just then, Chandler walks up to their table, "Hey, Larry."

Lincoln started speaking bitterly, "It's Lincoln. The guy who held the bathroom door for you?"

"Hmm...I don't remember that," Chandler remarked, "Hey, did I just see you get free pizza?"

"Yeah, my mom has been working here since March but she got a higher position here last week," Lincoln replied.

"Man, that must be nice," Chandler remarked.

Just then, Lincoln gets an idea and gives Chandler Clyde's slice of pizza, "Here, why don't you take it?"

"Really? Why... thanks," Chandler said as he takes the slice of pizza and walks off with it.

But Clyde started confessing with Lincoln, "Hey! Lori gave us that pizza! I was going to put it in my scrapbook!"

But Lincoln was still concerned, "Clyde, if we give Chandler all our freebies from Mommy, he might invite us to his sewage party after all."

Clyde started cheering out, "Brilliant! Man with the plan."

"You got that right!" Lincoln said before he bites into a breadstick.

"Hmmph. Yeah, right..." Ronnie Anne said to herself in disgust.

With Chandler, he was playing Mappy but he loses after seven rounds.

MAPPY

マッピー

GAME OVER

INSERT ANOTHER TOKEN TO CONTINUE PLAYING.

Chandler checks his pockets only to find he has no tokens left, "Great! No tokens left!"

But luckily Chandler had help from... "Hey, Chandler. Need some tokens?" Lincoln said as he offers him some tokens.

"Wow! Sweet. Thanks, Larry," Chandler said as he takes the tokens and continued playing Mappy.

"I'll grab us some free drinks," Lincoln said as he went over to the counter to get some from Lori.

Lori still spoke happily to Lincoln, "Here you go, Lincoln. Anything for my beautiful boy who helped me get a higher promotion in my job."

Lincoln, Clyde, and Chandler all raise a toast with their drinks, "CHEERS!" and they all sip on their root beers.

Chandler then started explaining, "Hey, you guys are alright. You know, I'm having a birthday party this Tuesday..."

Lincoln and Clyde do a spit take and Lincoln was feigning unawareness, "It's your birthday? I had no idea."

Clyde was also feigning as well, "Me neither. I didn't know you were having a party at the sewage treatment plant..." but he realizes what he just said, "...I mean, wherever your dad works, I mean..."

But Lincoln decided to shut Clyde up, "Uh, Clyde, why don't we let Chandler finish what he was saying?"

Chandler then finished up what he was saying, "Yeah. So, my party. I was hoping that Ronnie Anne girl would come but she declined my offer."

Lincoln then realized something, "Wait, Ronnie Anne? That's my slightly younger sister, though she's Lily's older sister."

Chandler realized, "She is? Dude, you've got to score me a date with her!"

"If I do, will you let us in your party?" Lincoln asked him.

"Sure, I'll be cool upon that..." Chandler replied before he left.

The moment he leaves, the boys squeal and start dancing and singing, "We're goin' to the partay! We're goin' to the partay!"

However, they notice Chandler's still watching them and go back to laying back.

Later, back at the house, Lincoln, Clyde and Ronnie Anne were in his room and Ronnie Anne was shocked and angry.

"You want me to do WHAT!?" Ronnie Anne said in anger.

Lincoln was confessing with her, "It's just for this one time, Ronnie Anne! He said he'll let me and Clyde come to his party!"

"Forget it! I am not dating that twerp just so you can party in raw sewage!" Ronnie Anne yelled at them.

"Well, Ronnie Anne. Will you do it just to help your big brother?" Lincoln begged her and widens his eyes.

Ronnie Anne groans, "Fine. But just this once!"

"Yes!" Lincoln frantically shakes Ronnie Anne's hands, "Thank you thank you thank you thank you! Chandler will be at Gus' Game n Grub tomorrow after school!" and he dashes off, "See you there!"

Ronnie Anne started grumbling to herself, "Something tells me I'm gonna regret this..."

Wednesday, October 22, 1986

Lincoln and Clyde are waiting anxiously for Chandler at the restaurant to show up with their invites while Ronnie Anne sat by a table.

Lincoln then noticed Chandler coming, "Here he comes. Play it cool."

"Cool is my middle name," Clyde said as he grabs a glass of water only for it to slip and splash him due to his sweaty palms.

Lincoln tried to greet Chandler as he entered, "Chandler, buddy! How's it go..."

But Chandler ignored him, "Ronnie Anne!," Chandler said as he sits down at her table, "I thought you weren't gonna make it!"

Ronnie Anne angrily mutters to herself, "Same to you, twerp..."

Lincoln started to confess, "Uh, Chandler. About those invitations?

"Huh?" Chandler realized, "Oh, yeah sure. Hey, you got anymore free tokens?"

"What?" Lincoln also realized something, "Oh, yeah. Sure," and he gives Chandler some more tokens.

"Thanks," Chandler takes the tokens and walks away, "I'll see you later, Lame-O!

Ronnie Anne shudders in anger to herself, "That lousy son of a bitch!"

Clyde still felt worried, "Where are the invitations?"

"He probably just forgot," Lincoln replied to him, "He's got a lot on his mind planning that big sewage party and all.

Ronnie Anne still muttered angrily to herself, "I'll be surprised if there's anything in his mind..."

"Hey, guys. I almost forgot..." Chandler said while Lincoln and Clyde smile hopefully for what they think is the moment of truth but Chandler actually told them, "...to ask for four root beers. Can you get us some from your sister?" and he heads off.

Clyde started becoming concerned, "What's with this guy?"

"Be patient, Clyde. I'm sure we're gonna get our invitations," Lincoln said before he goes up to the counter to ask Lori who is cleaning it, "Hey, Mom, can you spare some root beers for my friends?"

"I'm Sorry, Lincoln. But, I really have cool it on the free stuff. It's just that... I just don't wanna get in trouble with my boss."

Lincoln was now playing the guilt card, "Okay, I get it. I know how your boss is. I remember how tough he was when I talked to him about giving you a higher position.

Lincoln continued smiling toward Lori but she was very frantic and nervous about this and thought to herself, "I gotta keep myself levelheaded and speak in a maternal tone whenever it's like this."

Meanwhile Chandler tries to flirt with Ronnie Anne, "So like, what are your hobbies?"

Ronnie Anne tried to speak to him, "Well, I like to look after m..."

But Chandler didn't listen to Ronnie Anne, "Yeah, that's cool. Me? I like to skateboard. I got some sweet high scores at Half-Pipe Havoc. Wanna hear about it?"

But Ronnie Anne groans annoyed upon this.

Lincoln is now handing Chandler and his posse the root beers, "Sorry it took so long. The soda machine exploded. Heh. Almost looks like a sewer backed up in there."

But Chandler did not care, "Hm. Yeah. Sad story, Larry," Chandler said as they took their root beers and go elsewhere, "Hey, I almost forgot," but Lincoln smiles hopefully, "We'd love a pizza. Half pepperoni, half meatball..." and then he spoke to Ronnie Anne, "You want anything, babe?"

Ronnie Anne was very disgusted still, "Ugh, no thanks! I just lost my appetite..."

Chandler shrugged, "Hm. Anyway. Thanks, dude!"

Lincoln started becoming exasperated, "Sure, dude. Not a problem."

A few moments later, Lincoln was asking for for the pizza order.

Lori was speaking with him in a maternal tone, "I'm pretty sure that's a problem. Root beers are one thing, but I think a pizza is just too much."

Lincoln started speaking falsely sympathetically, "I know. I'm sorry. I mean, if anyone knows how hard it is to get you a higher place at your job, it's me."

"Well... do you think we are really doing this?" Lori spoke nervously.

Lincoln was now pretending with a cute smile, "Doing what?"

Ronnie Anne looks on at Lincoln and worries about him but Chandler decided to speak to her, "What's the matter, Ronnie Anne? Hungry?"

Ronnie Anne started becoming really annoyed, "I'm just worried about my brother. Don't you think you might be using him too much?"

"Nah, he's fine," Chandler replied, "He's just doing favors for us. Your brother is a really generous kid."

Ronnie Anne grumbled to herself, "He sure is..."

But Lincoln returns to Chandler with the pizza, "Here's your pizza, guys. Hey, Chandler, may I invite you to have a slice?"

"Wow. Thanks, dude," Chandler started eating a slice of the pizza.

"Um, hello, aren't you forgetting something?" Lincoln asked him in concern.

"Some pepper flakes would be great," But Lincoln frowns upon what Clyde told him and sighs, and walks over to Clyde, "All my clever hints and NOTHING! Maybe we should just ask him for the invitations."

"Clyde, if we're too pushy, he might not invite us. Let's just keep playing it cool," Lincoln explained to him.

"You're right, Larry," But Clyde realizes something, "Ah! Now he's got me doing it."

Meanwhile, Ronnie Anne was getting exasperated from seeing Chandler playing video games.

"Check this out, Babe. I'm about to do a sweet triple flip!" Chandler wins but unfortunately, he only gets to tickets, "Two tickets? Oh, man. I really wanted that ukulele, but it costs 500. Guys, gimme yours!" and Chandler's friends reluctantly hand him their tickets.

"Hey! You can't just take these guys tickets!" Ronnie Anne yelled at Chandler.

"Relax, Ronnie Anne. They're cool with it," Chandler said as he did a pose but they look unhappy. Ronnie Anne scowls at Chandler as he counts his tickets and sees it's still not enough for a ukulele, "Damn it! Still not enough!"

Lincoln looks over to Clyde who's carefully counting his own tickets, "498...499..." but Lincoln demanded, "Clyde, give Chandler your tickets."

"WHAT?! No way!" Clyde yelled back, "I almost have enough for that bobblehead pig. A courting man must come bearing gifts, Lincoln."

Lincoln started to confess, "Clyde! Focus on the invitations. We're so close, I can feel it."

Clyde then sighs and reluctantly offers his tickets, "Here, Chandler. You can have my tickets."

"Sweet!" Clyde said as he takes the tickets and goes to cash them in and stops, "Guys, I can't believe I forgot!" and the boys put on their hopeful faces, "I promised to bring home some garlic knots."

But Ronnie Anne suddenly started growling at Chandler and got fed up with him, "GRRRRRRGGHHHH! That's it! I can't take it anymore! That kid is just so selfish and rude and totally annoying! I'm gonna..."

But Lincoln stops her, "Cool your jets, Ronnie Anne! Just hold it a little longer. He's gonna give us those invitations."

"Don't you get it, brother?! He's never gonna give you those invitations because he's been using you guys!" Ronnie Anne snarled at him.

But Clyde tried to break up the fight, "What are you talking about? We've just been doing some favors for him."

"No you are not! You are his chore boys! He's nothing but a jerk who only cares about himself!" Ronnie Anne explained angrily.

Lincoln then confessed, "Alright, Ronnie, we get it. You hate Chandler. I can respect that. But, trust me, he'll keep his promise. Now, if you excuse me. I gotta go get some garlic knots."

Lincoln then goes to Lori who remained levelheaded.

"Look, I'm sorry but we have no more, Lincoln," Lori said in concern, "And please don't give me that "you helped me get a higher job" stuff. I'm not sure if it's gonna work or not."

"Mom, please! I promise, this is the last time!" Lincoln pleaded her, "Clyde and I really wanna go to this kid's party, and if we don't give him everything he wants, we could lose our invitations, which, technically, we don't even have yet."

Lori then realized something going through her mind and decided to speak out, "Oh my god! Lincoln, is... is this true? Are you... are you really trying to..."

But suddenly, Mr. Gamesngrub then called for Lori, "Hey, Lori! Can you get back to work please?"

Lori then called to her boss, "Just one moment, please? I need to take care of something real quick!"

Deciding to go through with it, Lori went around from the front counter and over to the table where Chandler and two of his friends were sitting.

"Hey, you're Chandler, right?" Lori asked him in a stern tone.

"Yeah, that's right." Chandler replied, "You must be Larry's mother."

"Uh, excuse me, his name is Lincoln..." Lori shot back as she folded her arms, "But anyway, I know all about the game that's being played about you getting free stuff and I do not like it one bit."

Chandler shrugged dismissively, "I don't see the big deal. My friends and I here are getting some complementary grub. And soon enough, your son will be invited to the party event of the season. A win-win if you ask me."

Lori rolled her eyes, then narrowed them in Chandler's direction, "Look, I didn't like the fact that my son just kept leaning on me for the free food. But what I really hate is you looking like you're only leading him on in some vain hope he'll actually get invited to your birthday..."

"Lori, what are you doing?!" Chandler confessed.

As she likely fully expected, Lincoln came rushing on over to the scene and began pushing Lori away until they were back near the front counter.

"Mom, what were you doing talking with Chandler?" Lincoln asked agitated, "You'll blow my chance in going to his party!"

"Look, I think I may have been doing you a favor, Lincoln," Lori said in a stern tone, "It seems clear to me that he doesn't actually want you coming to his party. And even if he was, it's only because he's exploiting you to get free stuff from me."

Lincoln then tried to speak, "You don't know that! He could've been..."

Before he could finish, Lincoln heard the voice of Clyde calling for him.

"Lincoln!" Clyde shouted, "Chandler just left!"

"Wait, what?!" Lincoln screamed.

Sure enough, once Lincoln turned around and looked, Chandler and his friends had just left though the doors of the eatery. He went on over to the table they had been sitting at looking to see if there was a chance that any invitations to the party were left behind for him and Clyde, but saw nothing.

"Did he give you any invitations, Clyde?" Lincoln asked.

"Not that I know of." Clyde answered dejectedly, "Unless he's going to hand deliver them to our houses, which is all but totally unlikely at this rate, since I doubt he knows where we live."

Feeling any remaining hopes of his being dashed, Lincoln released a defeated groan. Then, he turned back over in Lori's direction with an expression of pure anger materializing on his face, believing her intervention was what made Chandler leave and forgoing the invitations.

"Thanks for nothing, Mom! You just had to meddle in my affairs, didn't you?!" Lincoln snarled at Lori furiously, who suddenly became frightened by his sudden outburst, "You just wrecked everything for me! For that, I hope your dance tonight goes wrong for you!"

With that little declaration out of the way, Lincoln promptly exited through the front door, with Clyde following behind a bit more worriedly.

"Whoa, Mom. I think you must have really hurt Lincoln's feelings," Ronnie Anne said to her mother.

But Lori didn't listen and she left the restaurant as she walked out the restaurant through the from door with tears starting to run down her face, and Ronnie Anne soon followed behind her.

Back home, Ronnie Anne was in Lincoln's room still angry about Chandler, "I knew I was going to regret this! Grrrrrgh!"

But just then, Lincoln walked by wearing a tuxedo and galoshes and notices Ronnie Anne, "Hey, Ronnie Anne." But Ronnie Anne said nothing to Lincoln, "Uh, are you okay?

Ronnie Anne started speaking to him angrily, "How can I be okay? After the way Chandler treated us?"

Lincoln then confessed to her, "Sorry, you had go through that, Ronnie Anne. But look at the bright side. Despite the fact that I didn't get an invitation, I at least don't have to submerge myself in raw sewage."

Ronnie Anne sighs in despair and anger, "Just leave me alone, Lincoln..."

"Okay..." as Lincoln heads out, he drops by Lori and Leni's room to check on his mother, "Hey, Mom, are you ready for your dance?" but he notices something, "Wait. You're not wearing that, are you?

Lori is actually in her employee uniform and her dance dress is hung up on the door and was not very happy with Lincoln.

"Look, Lincoln. I'm not going to the dance. My boss is making me work tonight to pay for all the free stuff I gave you," Lori said in a stern tone, "Instead of Romance Under the Sea, I'm gonna have mozzarella under the fingernails. I'm very sorry to say this, Lincoln, but I have to leave for my overtime shift. I'll come back home to you as soon as I'm done."

With that, Lori leaves for her overtime shift but Lincoln looks on at her position with concern. Clyde arrives in a hazmat and knocks on the door. The door opens to reveal Lori. When Clyde sees her, he gasps, puts on his helmet.

But just after Lori left, Clyde takes the helmet off, "Phew. That was a close one."

But Lincoln was still concerned, "Clyde? What are you wearing?"

"This is the only way my mom and dad would let me visit a place where I might get splashed with raw sewage," Clyde explained to him, "Speaking of which, are you ready to make this the greatest night ever?"

Lincoln noticed Lori drive off to work and made up his mind, "Yes...I am."

Later on, Lori would have been off at her dance. But she wasn't, and instead, here she was back at her workplace, Gus' Games & Grub, having to do another night shift there.

It was not how Lori wanted her night to go. She had everything planned out, including getting the absolutely stunning dress she would've worn befitting of the undersea theme of the dance, but a last minute phone call from her boss changed her plans. Now, she had to work the night shift in order to pay off all the free stuff she gave away all because of Lincoln due to her being his mother. As a result, she couldn't help but hold a bit of resentment towards Lincoln for not being able to make it for her big night, even after feeling like she did the right thing in coming to his defense against Chandler.

While she was busy clearing a number of tables of plates, wrappers and such, Lori heard the front door opening. She turned her attention over there, and much to her surprise, she saw Lincoln coming right in.

"Uh, hey there, Mom." He said, laughing a little bit nervously afterward.

"What do you want, Lincoln?" Lori said rather flatly, turning her attention back to the table she was clearing up.

Lincoln then tried to speak, "Well, um...Mom, if it isn't much trouble, could I have a word with your manager?"

"Huh? What for?" Lori wondered, but then she made a stern face at him, thinking she had an idea of what may be going on, "Lincoln, if you're going to try to find a way to get more free stuff, then please do not even bother."

"It's not about free stuff, Mom!" Lincoln answered back, "Please, just let me talk to him for a moment."

Lori let out a sigh, but then spoke like a protective mother, "All right, Lincoln. I doubt whatever you're going to say to him will go through, but please go ahead. Make sure you let me tell him you're coming first."

With that, Lori paused in her table clearing and worked her way back behind the counter to inform her manager of Lincoln's coming arrival. Just under a minute later, Lori returned to him to let him know he can go over.

"Okay, he can see you," Lori said to Lincoln in a soft voice, "But please make it quick."

With a determined smile on his face, Lincoln zipped past Lori and on over the Mr. Gamesnugrb's office.

Meanwhile, Lori resumed in finishing up in clearing away some of the tables. With that done, she would return back behind the counter and decided to take a few moments in writing her diary about what she has been doing recently.

While writing a little more in her diary, Lori found herself leaning against the wall just next to the door leading to Mr. Gamesngrub's office, and she started to overhear the conversation going on inside between her boss and Lincoln.

"Do you realize how close I came to firing her? If it wasn't for the fact the she is your mother and that you talked me into becoming a top employee here, I've would've done so in a flash," Mr. Gamesngrub spoke to Lincoln.

"I know, but it wasn't her fault that she gave away all that stuff for free, but instead it was mine. I kept begging my mom off for everything just so I could give it all to this kid in the hope I could go to his birthday party. But the more I think about it, as she was trying to tell me earlier, he likely was only using me just as much as I using her. So please don't put all the blame on Mom, because I'm the one who really deserves it."

"Hmm, well if that's truly the case, I do appreciate you coming over and clearing things up while taking some responsibility for everything, too. Thanks for doing so."

"It's no problem, but there's one other thing I wanted to ask. You see, my mom was meaning to attend this important dance of hers and I hate the idea of her missing it because of my selfish actions. So, if its okay with you...is it possible I can take over and do her shift for her instead?"

The minute she heard that, Lori gasped lightly and widened her eyes. She was so shocked to hear Lincoln offer to do that, she fumbled around and almost dropped her diary in the process. Now she was listening in more intently.

"Well, that's a pretty unusual request. I've never had anyone of your age working here before. I'm not so sure about this..."

"I understand, but would you please consider it for me?" Lincoln pleaded, "For Mom at the very least?"

"Well...it probably won't be too busy tonight. You know what, as a favor to both you and your mother, I'll let you do it. Just make sure she is okay with it first."

A smile came across Lori's face. The level of generosity Lincoln was showcasing had moved her so much, that no more than two steps after Lincoln emerged out of the manager's office, she yanked him right on over towards her in a tight hug.

"Oh, Lincoln..." Lori said softly, then parted away to look at his face, "You really would take over for me?"

"Um, yeah." Lincoln responded confusedly, "Wait, hold on, Mom. Were you listening in just now?"

"Well, I wasn't trying to at first, but once I heard that part, I couldn't help myself." Lori admitted, "But anyway, you're serious about doing my shift for me?"

Lincoln nodded and put both hands on Lori's shoulders, "Yes, I am, Mom. Because of what happened today, I should be the one getting mozzarella stuck in my fingernails and not you, while you should be over at that dance having one of the best nights of your life."

Once more, Lori was so incredibly touched by Lincoln's selflessness. She sniffled and let a couple of tears fall from her eyes while she embraced him again.

"Oh, Lincoln...this is one the nicest things you've ever offered to do for me." Lori said tearfully, yet also proudly on top of that, "I cannot thank you enough. I'm never going to forget this, AND I can promise you that."

"It's my pleasure, Mom." Lincoln said in response, "Now you should probably get going. You've got a big night ahead of you."

Lori smiled, patted Lincoln's shoulder and headed off to change out of her work uniform. After doing so, she was just about to leave before Lincoln spoke up again.

"Wait, one more thing, Mom."

Lori then paused and looked back at him, "What is it?"

"Thanks for making me realize what Chandler was doing, and I shouldn't have gotten so irritated at you earlier. I'm sorry..."

"Don't worry about, Lincoln." Lori said assuredly, "Though you have to admit, having a meddling sister did help out here, didn't it?"

"Uh, heh...maybe?" Lincoln responded with a hesitant laugh.

"I suppose I'll take that as a yes." Lori said, amused with the indecisiveness of his answer.

With that, Lori left through the entrance way as Lincoln prepared himself in getting to work for the coming shift ahead.

Back home, Ronnie Anne was reading a book in the living room. Just then, Lori comes down the stairs wearing her sea queen dress.

Ronnie Anne immediately took notice of it, "Mom? You're wearing your dress to work?"

"I'm sorry, Ronnie Anne, but I'm not going to work because I changed my mind," Lori said in a soft tone before her tone became happy, "I'm going to the dance because something surprising came to me."

Ronnie Anne suddenly became surprised, "The dance? I thought you were gonna work off all the free stuff Lincoln got."

"About that, Ronnie Anne," Lori replied, "Lincoln told me that he's convinced my boss to cover my shift for me. I'll see you tonight."

With that, Lori leaves to go to the dance.

Ronnie Anne then thought to herself, "Wow, Lincoln's really doing this? Maybe he's learned his lesson. Hm. Guess he cares us more than some silly party. I'm proud of him. Still, I feel kinda bad for Lincoln missing out on a party. Even if it is at a sewage treatment plant. But at the same time I'm not happy at Chandler taking advantage of my brother and trying to make moves on me. I guess this is one time I can't help him. He's already solved his own problem. I'm proud of him."

At Gus's Games & Grub, things still weren't going so well.

Mr. Gamesngrub was calling, "Loud, get to work, will you, please?! Remember, if you have time to lean, you have time to clean!"

But instead of Lori, it's actually Lincoln working the shift.

"I'm on it, sir!" Lincoln commanded as he starts cleaning the tables.

But suddenly, Lori arrives in her sea queen dress, sparkling with radiant beauty.

Lincoln screamed at first, "GYAH! SEA MONSTER!" but realizes that it's actually Lori, "I mean, you look great, Mom."

"I know, right? Hey, Lincoln, thanks for convincing the manager to let you fill in for me," Lori spoke softly.

"Heh. It's the least I could do, Mom. I mean, this dance is why you got this new job in the first place," Lincoln replied softly.

"Look, Lincoln. I am very sorry you won't get to go to your friend's party," Lori still spoke softly.

"That's okay, Mom. He's not really my friend. Ronnie Anne was right," Lincoln replied softly, "He was just using me, the way I was using you. Have an awesome time tonight, Mommy."

Lori and Lincoln both share a very heartwarming hug, "Thank you, Lincoln, my dear sweet child."

Suddenly, a loud crash is heard outside, and they were both jubilant at the same time, "Bobby's here/Daddy's here!"

Sometime later, Clyde drops in on Lincoln's shift, "Hey, Linc!"

"Clyde? What are you doing here?" Lincoln asked in surprise.

"I couldn't go to that party without you, Lincoln," Clyde replied, "Besides, the hazmat suit was giving me a heat rash."

"You know, Clyde? I guess we'll never get to experience the wonders of raw sewage," Lincoln explained to him.

"Or have our nose hairs burned off by the stench," Clyde added to what Lincoln said before suddenly.

Lori's boss called off-screen, "Hey, Loud! Grab a mop! The toilet in stall three is overflowing. It's a real stinkfest in there."

Lincoln and Clyde suddenly have an idea and he shouted out, "Put on your galoshes, Clyde, 'cuz it's time to party! YEAH!" and they both tango into the restroom.

The shot changes to outside the arcade while the stinkfest can only be described.

"Whoa! This is better than the sewage treatment plant!" Lincoln exclaimed.

"It's burning my nose hairs!" Clyde exclaimed as they continued partying through the night.

Sometime later that night at 10:00 P.M., things were now quiet at the restaurant. For the most part not a whole lot happened over time, aside from a quick visit from Clyde, which made things easy for Lincoln in regards to handling the work shift that would've otherwise been done by his mother. While this was obviously not how he wanted to spend his night, it didn't matter. He didn't care one little bit about missing out on Chandler's birthday or sticking it out here so long that his mother got to go to her much anticipated dance and for that reason alone it was worth doing in his mind.

Speaking of which, as he was leaning against the front counter, Lincoln saw the headlights of the car shine through the front windows. Sure enough, it was Lori coming back so that she could take both of them back home. She stepped on out and came through the front door, still decked out in her marvelous Sea Queen dress, which earlier caused Lincoln to humorously call her a "sea monster" when she stopped by briefly to thank Lincoln again before heading off for the dance, much to her amusement.

"Hey there, Mom," Lincoln said.

"Hey, Lincoln." Lori answered back, "How did things go around here?"

"Eh, not a whole lot happened. Pretty boring, if you ask me, Mom," Lincoln acknowledged with a shrug, "But anyway, enough of that, how did your dance go?"

"Oh, it was positively magical! It turned out to be one of the best nights of my life, just like you told me it would before I left!" Lori answered, sighing dreamily in addition.

"I'm so glad to hear that, Mom," Lincoln said while smiling, "And by the way, I want to say again that I'm sorry for blowing up on you earlier in the day. Plus, I'm sorry for begging you off for all the free stuff. That was totally uncalled for on my part. And also I..."

But before he could go on, Lincoln felt himself become ensnared in a suffocating, but nonetheless loving embrace from Lori, who also kissed him on the top of his head.

"Lincoln, relax, you don't need to go on some lengthy apology tangent. It's okay, all is forgiven," Lori said, filled with esteem, "With that being said, and I cannot say this enough, but thank you again for doing this for me. You truly are a sweet little bro. I owe you one in the future."

"That's nice to hear, Mom, just great..." Lincoln barely expressed, straining from the tight hug he was gripped in, "And I also appreciate it if you could let me get some oxygen back into my system..."

"Oh, sure, sorry about that." Lori said softly, letting him go, but still keeping her hands on his shoulders, "So, are you ready to head back home, sweetheart?"

Lincoln nodded, "Sure I am. Though I must say, I'm still surprised you were willing to take me home. I think I could've made it back on my own."

"You kidding me?" Lori said in a soft manner, "The only reason Mom and Dad would even consider allowing you to be out this late at night altogether, let alone to cover my shift for me, was going to be based on me coming to get you. So honestly, it's not like you had a choice here."

"True, I guess I can admit to that." Lincoln conceded with a nod, "Anyway, Mom, just let me get changed out of my work uniform first."

Nodding back in acknowledgment, Lori let Lincoln go to the back to get changed while she waited near one of the booths nearby. About a little bit past two minutes later, he reemerged in his regular clothes.

"Okay, let's roll!" Lincoln said with aplomb.

Lori chuckled as she lead her little son on over to Vanzilla where he got into the front passenger seat and she in the driver's seat. As she settled in, she couldn't help but look over to her right and noticed that not even two seconds after getting situated himself, Lincoln was leaning against the window and appearing to be coming close to falling asleep. Even if the night shift itself didn't have much of a workload, being out this late at night still made him feel pretty tuckered out, a sight that Lori found to be nothing short of adorable.

"You tired, Linky?" She asked sweetly.

"Mm-hmm..." He replied quietly.

"Well, we will be back home soon enough so can get some much needed rest." Lori said as she reached over and gently stroked Lincoln's cheek, "You've pretty much earned it after tonight."

Letting Lincoln get a small amount of rest on the way, Lori started the engine and drove themselves back on their way home. She was all smiles along the way, eternally thankful for what he did for her tonight. One day, she hoped to find some way to return the favor for his selfless deed as she had just promised him moments ago.

A few minutes of driving later, they had at last returned home after their respective long nights. Lori stepped out of the driver's seat, and knowing he was still pretty exhausted, she went around to the passenger's side to help Lincoln out by picking up and carrying him back inside the house.

Stepping into their now quiet home, Lori hauled Lincoln in her arms up the stairs and into his room, where after she took off his shoes for him, she would pull down the sheets and blankets, placed him onto the bed next beside Ronnie Anne who was already asleep in Lincoln's bed for the night, and then finally covered them up cozily. All of this did cause Lincoln to stir awake a little bit.

"Mommy…?" He whispered out.

"Shh...get some sleep right now, okay?" Lori told him softy, "I love you, sweetie, and thank you yet again for everything. Good night."

Following a ruffle of his hair and a kiss on the forehead, Lori allowed Lincoln to get comfortable and start the process of going to sleep. She left him alone and headed for her bedroom so she can make her own preparations for bedtime as well.

Meanwhile, as Lincoln was getting closer to sleep, he smiled warmly. Although he was ambiguous in response to her earlier question, in this case, having someone who intervened in his affairs really did in fact help out and he'd learn to be more appreciative of such watchful practices from her or any of the other sisters for that matter from that point onward. On top of that, he was proud of what he did today both for the satisfaction of his mother and for the love she'll always give him in return for it.

"Thank you, Mommy...and I love you, too..." Lincoln quietly said sleepily before he finally dozed off into slumber.