As the sisters continued eating their breakfast of oatmeal, buttered toast with grape jelly and hot cocoa, Rita told them, "Girls get dressed after you eat while we clear the table, then meet us outside,"

Meanwhile at the McBride's, Lincoln and his friends had finished eating a delicious breakfast ten minutes ago. The boys enjoyed a hearty breakfast of beef sausages, waffles with maple syrup, strawberries and hot chocolate. While Rusty, Liam and Zach changed into their clothes, Lincoln and Clyde were sitting on the couch watching cartoons in their pajamas.

It was 11: 15 am and the girls were gathered on the front lawn. The younger girls were annoyed and Lola grumbled about getting sweaty. Unlike the other sisters Lynn Jr. was ecstatic about the opportunity to get some exercise.

"All right girls, let's start with a power walk around the house," Lynn Sr. declared. At this moment, Mrs. Hart was returning from church with Jeffrey in the passenger seat and Susanna in the back and noticed the Loud's wearing exercise attire walking briskly towards the back of the house.

"Is that some kind of boot camp for those future felons?" Teresa wondered.

At this moment, Rusty and Zach whose fathers arrived at the same time were saying goodbye to their friends.

"Come on guys pick up the pace," Lynn Jr. shouted enthusiastically as they rounded the house the second time.

"Shut up," Lori whispered irritably under her breath. After walking around the two story house twice, Rita said, "Let's take a breather. Girls, get some water and we'll call you back in fifteen minutes."

The girls ambled back inside and grabbed bottles of cold water from the refrigerator then plopped themselves on the couch. The fifteen minutes ended and Lynn Sr. returned from the master bedroom where he was resting with Rita.

"Girls lets go," he commanded. The sisters followed their parents back outside.

"All right we're going to perform some jumping jacks," Lynn Sr. shouted.

"Girls that's enough for the day," Rita said after the family completed twenty-five jumping jacks.

Everyone wearily trudged inside and the girls picked up the bottles of water they left on the coffee table.

"Girls meet us in the dining room, we'd like to have a talk with you," Rita told them.

The weary sisters sat at the table and drank the remainder of the water.

Rita and Lynn Sr. stood before them and looked at their daughters with serious expressions on their faces.

"Girls you might think our punishments are very harsh but this is what your father and I call tough love. We've been too focused on making you happy so we allowed you to do whatever you please without any consequences. For instance we should have stopped that nonsense about the sister fight protocol when nobody could use the bathroom because someone was cooling off, we didn't even punish you for fighting the next day after the argument about the dresses was settled. We just cleaned up the mess you made instead of making you do it," Rita added.

"You've taken us for granted for too long. You all have cellphones and laptops that my boss at the IT company gave me as gifts," their father raged.

"I haven't bought new shoes or new clothes for a long while because most of my salary goes into helping your father pay the mortgage and buying everything you girls need for your hobbies and extracurricular activities even though you older girls have your babysitting business," Rita added.

"Mom Chunk buys most of my equipment," Luna reminded her. The parents had bought Luna's purple guitar for $120 dollars.

"And I have to pay for the minutes on your phones and pay for internet service we all enjoy. Plus we have to buy food for the pets and take them to the vet," Lynn Sr. told them.

"Now we'd like to address your anger issues. Lola how could you scare people into buying lemonade?" Rita asked her daughter.

"But mom her tactic worked, look how much she and Lana made," Lynn Jr. said in defense of her sister.

"Junior she was extorting money from those people," Rita told her daughter.

"You have to learn how to control your tempers. What if Aidan's parents decided to press charges against us? Lori you're legally an adult and would get charged with assaulting a minor," Lynn Sr. told her.

"Mom I wasn't aware of that," Lori replied.

"Okay you're all excused. We'll call you in an hour," Rita said.

#################################################################

Meanwhile at the McBride's, Clyde, Lincoln and Liam were watching cartoons. Clyde just returned from tidying his bedroom.

"So Lincoln how are your sisters, I hope they're not going to be jealous of you not getting punished?" Liam asked in his Southern drawl.

"Oh I'm not worried about that. My mom warned them if they threaten, blackmail or guilt trip me into getting out of their punishment she's sending them to live with Aunt Ruth until Christmas," Lincoln proclaimed.

Liam's cell phone rang. "Hi dad, you're waiting outside, Okay, be right there."

He picked up his overnight bag lying next to the sofa.

"Bye Lincoln," Liam said while he followed Clyde to the door.

"Bye Liam," Clyde responded once Liam walked outside.

The best friends continued watching cartoons for an hour until Clyde said, "Let's do something else."

"We could go to the park", Lincoln suggested. Clyde turned off the TV then rushed into the study where Howard was reading a novel.

"Hey dad, Lincoln and I are going to the park," Clyde said.

"Have fun," Howard replied.

Luan and Lynn Jr. washed the breakfast dishes while the three older sisters took out all the foodstuff from the kitchen cupboards and laying them on the dining table. The other girls removed all foods and containers from the refrigerator. Lucy was told to wipe the cupboard shelves after the cupboards were emptied.

"Eww, this smells disgusting," Lola declared when she opened a blue Tupperware container and was met with a foul aroma.

"Lola throw it out including the container," Rita instructed.

The three older girls didn't find much expired food among the canned goods. Eventually the job of cleaning the kitchen was finished.

"Good job girls, you deserve a little something for your hard work," their father said and took out a liter bottle of soda from the fridge. While they drank the much desired beverage, Rita said, "You're free to do whatever you want until dinner ready."

"But there's nothing else to do but read," Luna protested.

"I can show you what I have put together for Zach's party," Luan suggested.

The comedian soon returned with various props and began her act in the living room.

Lincoln and Clyde spent a whole two hours in the park reading comics then watching a Sunday concert for thirty minutes before leaving.

"I'm going home Clyde," Lincoln said upon returning to McBride residence then retrieved his packed belongings from Clyde's bedroom.

"Tell your dads bye," Lincoln told Clyde before his departure.

Back home Lincoln was surprised to find Luna and Lucy playing checkers in the living room. He heard the voices of his father and Lori in the kitchen while Lisa was sitting in the armchair reading. Luna looked up and noticed her brother upon hearing the front door opening.

"Hi Lincoln," she said smiling at him.

"Hi Luna where is everybody?" he inquired.

"Lynn, Luan, Leni and the twins are sleeping and mom is working on her novel in her bedroom," Luna answered.

Lincoln went upstairs and napped until his father called everyone down for dinner. Mashed potatoes, roast chicken and carrots were being served. Everyone enjoyed their meal in silence until Lynn Senior spoke.

"Lincoln you'll start working from 9 am to 2 pm," he revealed.

Monday morning

Lincoln woke up at 7: 40 then joined the usual line to the bathroom. He was grateful for the opportunity to begin work at nine am instead of eight thirty. Lori was waiting for Whitney downstairs.

Lincoln noticed a certain pageant princess was missing and asked, "Where's Lola, is she sick?"

"No, she says she's not going to school," Lana admitted.

Luan, Luna and Lynn Jr. decided to check out the other twin's reason. Lola was laying on Lana's mattress covered with the top sheet.

Lola why aren't you getting ready?" Luan asked.

"Because I'm not going without my makeup or a tiara another day," Lola insisted then pouted. The three older girls started frowning.

"You're getting up, Lola, if we have to go to summer school so do you," Luna ranted.

Suddenly Lincoln made an entrance and approached the petulant girl.

"Lola you better get up, or mom might let you spend the day with Aunt Ruth," Lincoln said calmly. Lola pushed aside the sheet and rushed through the door.

Rita was downstairs feeding Lily her breakfast while the children waited in the bathroom line. She smiled at Lily when she swallowed the last spoonful of cereal. Lily was going to the daycare center located in Rita's office building. Eventually all the kids were dressed and sitting at the table eating cheerios. When the morning ritual of teeth brushing was done, the girls grabbed their backpacks and headed downstairs with Lincoln at exactly 8: 35 am.

Lynn Snrs. first stop was Royal Woods High. "Remember girls I'm calling Mr. Grouse at one-forty so make sure you're there," Lynn Sr. reminded them before Luna and Luan stepped out of Vanzilla.

To be continued….