Sunday

This morning Lori assisted her father to prepare scrambled eggs and bacon for breakfast while Rita sat with Lily at the kitchen table feeding the two year old cereal. At present Luna and Luan were waking up. Luna released a huge yawn then roused herself to a sitting position.

"I hope we get a break from chores today?" Luna said while idly slipping her feet into her purple slippers.

Luan stretched her arms above her head before replying, "Probably not."

The unmistakable aroma of bacon greeted them in the upstairs hallway.

"Hooray I smell bacon," declared Lana with a smile as she walked out her room. Lincoln was watching videos on his laptop having been awake since nine am and showered earlier. The others were gradually stirring awake.

A minute later Lynn Sr. called, "Kids breakfast's ready."

The whole family sat together for breakfast which was rare on Sunday mornings. After a while Lori decided to ask something out of curiosity.

"Mom what are we going to do today?" she inquired.

"Well girls you're getting a break from chores today," Rita proclaimed.

They all smiled at each other.

"But we're still doing our exercises," Lynn Sr. added which the girls except Lynn Jr. started groaning.

"Lincoln could you take Charles for a walk after you eat, then you can visit Clyde," Rita asked.

"Sure mom, Clyde told me yesterday he's spending the day with Nana Gail," he replied.

"Okay you can go to the arcade," Lynn Sr. said.

"Girls, after our exercises, we will have a discussion about your aggressive behavior, and later we're going for a drive in the country to get some fresh air," Rita told them.

When Lincoln finished eating, he placed his utensils in the sink then grabbed Charles leash from its place. Lincoln dressed quickly in his everyday clothes and left before the sisters were ready to begin their mandatory exercises.

The sisters followed Rita and Lynn Sr. for a power walk around the house for the fourth time. Lynn Sr. stopped when he reached the front porch. "That's enough girls," he remarked.

Rita said, "Drink some water then we'll call you in ten minutes."

Lincoln returned when his sisters were resting in the living room after doing calisthenics for ten minutes. He placed Charles leash back and headed upstairs and placed his wallet in his right pocket.

"Okay girls come into the dining room," Lynn Sr. commanded once Lincoln closed the front door.

"First we'd like to know is there anything bothering you," Rita asked once they were seated.

They gave their parents puzzled looks.

"We're worried that your tempers are going to be a problem when you become older. We're also appalled at your ill manners and the way you fight over every little thing," Rita said.

"Moms right," Lori said all of a sudden. Her sisters glanced at her in shock.

"I haven't stopped thinking about you saying I could be charged as an adult if Aidan's grandparents pressed charges," Lori admitted, "I'm the oldest and I should start acting mature."

"But mom it's normal for siblings to disagree," Luan asked

"It's not normal if it includes beating up each other so often," Rita replied.

"We haven't been responsible parents, we thought you could handle all of your problems on your own but we were wrong," Lynn Sr. told them.

"From now on you can come to us anytime you have a problem," Rita said.

"Regarding our neighbors you'll always keep on their good side, you can enjoy yourselves but show consideration at the same time," Lynn Sr. said.

"Do you understand girls," Rita asked.

"Yes Mom," they droned.

"Now you can change and relax, and later we'll go somewhere," Rita said.

Upon Lincoln's arrival at Gus, he spent an hour playing video games before deciding to buy a slice of pepperoni pizza and lemonade. None of his friends came today. After he finished the pizza, Lincoln continued playing his favorite game for twenty minutes until he had enough and decided to leave.

Vanzilla wasn't in the driveway when he arrived home and the house was unoccupied.

He found a note in Rita's handwriting taped on his dresser mirror.

Lincoln, we'll be back in about two hours, don't worry about dinner, dad will buy something at Penny's, love mom.

As Lincoln watched episodes of Dessert Storm he prerecorded the others were relaxing at a nature park miles from Royal Woods. Rita had driven almost forty minutes before reaching. The sisters remained unusually quiet during the drive and just looked out the windows at the passing scenery. Sometime later the family departed and Lynn Sr. stopped at Penny's and bought fish and chips dinners.

Luna's rebellion

It was business as usual for the family on Monday. On Tuesday afternoon while Lisa and the twins snoozed on Mr. Grouse's sofa after Lana and Lola did their homework while the other girls continued doing their own assignments, Mr. Grouse peeked inside the dining room.

"Girls I'm going to water my plants, I trust you'll behave while I'm gone," he told the sisters.

As soon as Mr. Grouse closed the front door, Luna spoke.

"Guys, I can't stand coming here another day tomorrow we're going to Sam's house."

The other sisters were astonished by Luna's revelation.

"And how are you going to contact Sam genius we don't have phones," Lynn whispered.

"I'll just borrow someone's phone during recess," Luna said.

"Aren't you forgetting that dad calls Mr. Grouse in the afternoon?" Lucy asked.

"I have that covered, I'll call dad and tell him before we got on the bus Lisa wasn't feeling well so we took her to the nurse's office, then we headed to Sam's since she lives just across the street from the school," Luna replied.

Lucy maintained a worried expression throughout the conversation.

"You think dad will believe you?" Lucy asked.

"Its dad, he'll believe anything we tell him," Lynn Jr. remarked confidently.

"At least we can watch some TV at Sam's, is it a deal then?" Luna added.

"You bet," Luan replied.

"Definitely," Lynn Jr. said, then the girls returned to their homework.

Sometime later, their father returned home and called Mr. Grouse to ask them to come home.

It was Wednesday morning before the first bell when Luna noticed a classmate standing at her locker and approached the girl.

"Hi Danielle would you mind if I use your cell phone," Luna asked.

"Sure Luna," Danielle replied. Sam was preparing breakfast when her phone rang.

"Hi Sam, it's me Luna," she heard on the other end.

"Hi Luna, but I thought you are grounded," Sam replied puzzled.

"We are but I'm calling to ask if I could bring my sisters to your house after school, we have to stay with our grumpy neighbor Mr. Grouse after school but today we've decided to ditch him," Luna asked.

"But your parents will be mad when they find out you're not at Mr. Grouse," Sam asked worriedly.

"We have that covered," Luna replied, then the bell rang

"Sorry have to go bye," Luna said hurriedly and handed Danielle the phone after hanging up.

That afternoon, Luna and Luan met Lynn Jr. at Royal Woods Middle at the school entrance then made the journey to the elementary school.

"Lana Lola and Lisa there's a change of plans, we're going to Sam's house," Luna announced boldly.

The younger sisters gasped at the revelation.

"May I remind you our father calls Mr. Grouse at exactly one forty in the afternoon," Lisa reminded Luna.

"That's why I'm calling dad and telling him you got sick before we could get on the bus and since her house is across the street we decided to let you rest then we'll come home later," Luna explained.

"We can't, Mom and dad might find out we're lying and punish us for another month," Lola protested.

Lynn Jr. crossed her arms then glowered at Lola.

"If you don't come with us, we'll tell mom and dad your little secret Lindsay Sweetwater told Lincoln about your sneaky behavior at your pageants," Lynn threatened.

Lola's eyes widened in sudden fear. "You wouldn't dare," she squeaked.

The older sisters frowned at the pageant queen.

"And you better not tattle on us either," Lynn Jr. added.

Lola sighed in defeat and uttered, "Fine I'll come along."

The sisters crossed the street carefully and arrived at Sam's house shortly. Sam was reading on the couch and heard Luna ringing the doorbell.

"Hi Luna, hi everyone," Sam said cheerfully once she opened the front door.

"Hello Sam" Luna replied, before embracing her friend.

"Hey Sam could you turn on the Cartoon Channel?" Luna asked Sam as they stepped inside the house. Sam turned to the channel and the younger girls plopped themselves on the couch with grateful smiles.

"Luan and Lynn we can watch TV in Sam's room," Luna said

"Wow you have your own TV," Lynn asked enthusiastically, then she and Luan followed Luna towards Sam's bedroom.

"Do you girls want strawberry shortcake?" Sam asked the younger sisters. They perked up immediately.

"Of course we do," Lana piped up

"Okay I'll be right back," Sam replied. After serving four slices of the dessert, Sam joined Luna at the kitchen table to listen to music.