Next morning…
The sisters including Leni were having cereal for breakfast which they ate in silence. Rita was dressing Lily at the moment. When Lynn Jr. was almost finished, a little milk was left in her bowl. She placed the bowl to her mouth and began slurping it annoying Lola and Luna and they scowled at their sister.
"Cut it out bro," Luna protested.
"Yeah do you have to eat like a pig?" Lola declared angrily. Suddenly Lincoln entered to have breakfast earlier. Today he wasn't in the mood to visit Gus preferring instead to stay home. After breakfast Lincoln would telephone Clyde to say he wouldn't be joining him and his others friends.
"Good Morning," he told them cheerfully.
"What are you gonna do today?" Luan asked.
"I'm just going to read comics and other things," Lincoln answered innocently.
Suddenly Lynn Jr. became irritated about Lincoln's response and scowled a little. She thought, "It's so unfair he gets to relax at home while I have to attend school."
Lincoln placed two waffles in the toaster and made some hot cocoa. The girls placed their bowls and spoons in the sink before brushing their teeth.
Four minutes later their father was shouting from the stairs, "Girls hurry up."
The girls except Leni were soon downstairs sporting frowns on their faces which their parents noticed.
"Cheer up girls summer school ends next week Thursday," Lynn Sr. said.
While Vanzilla was halfway down the road, Lincoln finished the last mouthful of breakfast then washed the things he used and the bowls and spoons. After feeding Lana's pets he hurried upstairs to call Clyde.
"Hey Clyde I'm not coming to hang out with you today since I made other plans,"
Lincoln explained.
"That's okay buddy," Clyde responded.
"See you tomorrow then," Lincoln replied before hanging up. He took the second remote from a drawer, settled on the couch and turned to the Cartoon Channel.
Minutes later Leni appeared by his side, "Bye Lincoln, I'm going to work."
Lincoln locked the door after Leni then returned to the couch.
"Finally," he uttered under his breath. An hour later nature called. While stepping out of the bathroom Lincoln noticed the twin's bedroom door ajar. Instinctively he pushed open the door and entered. Since his parents stripped the sister's bedrooms of almost everything he hadn't stepped inside any of them except Lisa's.
He glanced at the bare walls where Lola's portraits and Lana's caps were previously.
"Right now Lola would probably be having one of her tea parties," he mused while standing at the low table Lola reigned over with her stuffed animals. Lana's pets were living temporarily in the basement.
He then entered Lori and Leni's bedroom and noticed a few cosmetics were still on the dresser. He stood there for a few moments before changing out of his pajamas then returning downstairs to watch more cartoons.
Later…
"Kids before you go, we have something important to say," Rita told her children before they could rush away after dinner.
"Leni and Lucy last night we decided you're longer punished, you're free tonight," Rita announced. The other sisters glanced at each other in disbelief.
"What!" Lori managed to say
Lynn Sr. added, "We felt your behavior at the block party wasn't as serious as that boy getting assaulted."
"Leni you can borrow my phone until your sister's get theirs back," Rita said.
Lynn Jr. started grumbling, "Why do we have to stay punished?"
"Because you could have sent Aidan to the hospital," Rita commented.
"Could I borrow your phone tonight, mom I got tomorrow off? I want to call Becky so we can go to the mall," Leni asked.
"Okay Leni but you have to return it to me every night," Rita said.
"Luna, Luan and Junior remember you're still on kitchen duty," Lynn Sr. reminded. The three girls began clearing the table while everyone else departed. Lincoln was going to watch videos on his laptop in his bedroom for a while before turning in for the night.
Later Lucy walked into her bedroom where Lynn Jr. was occupied doing push-ups. The athlete was still miffed about her parent's decision about Leni and Lucy.
"Hey Lynn," Lucy said, which was ignored by the athlete.
Sensing that something was bothering her sister Lucy asked, "Is anything wrong?"
Lynn stopped after one more push up and snapped, "No."
Lucy was surprised by Lynn's tone and decided not to further question her.
"Night Lynn," was all she said before laying on her mattress.
Saturday
Rita asked Becky if she could drop Lisa, Lucy and the twins at the library before heading to the mall with Leni. Rita had convinced the library staff to end Lola's suspension under the condition that Lola behaved herself. Lynn Sr. asked Lynn to meet him outside after breakfast. Lynn Sr. was waiting outside with the mower. Lincoln was busy collecting the garbage.
"You can start mowing the lawn," her father said before leaving to clean Vanzilla.
When Lynn finished the job, she retrieved the ladder from the garage. As she removed leaves from the gutter, Lincoln walked by, carrying his knapsack filled with video games and comics over his shoulder.
"Hey son are you hanging out with Clyde today," Lynn Sr. asked which suddenly bothered Lynn.
"Yes dad, bye Lynn," Lincoln replied before leaving.
"Why does Lincoln get to have all the fun," she fumed. Meanwhile Luna was sitting on the basement steps reading while some sheets were being washed.
Lincoln and Clyde played games and read comics for a long time on the couch until Harold appeared.
"Clyde, it's dinnertime," Harold said while Clyde played Muscle Fish with Lincoln.
"Okay dad," Clyde replied. Lincoln glanced at his watch and realized it was almost dinnertime for his family
"I have to get home for dinner," he declared then turned off the game.
"Hey Lincoln tomorrow I'm visiting my cousin Tamara in Hazeltucky. I'm coming back next Sunday," Clyde explained while Lincoln packed his video games and comics into his knapsack.
"Well enjoy yourself," Lincoln said.
When Lincoln finished packing Clyde followed him to the front door. As he stepped outside Lincoln turned around and said, "Have a safe trip," before walking home.
That evening dinner was barbeque wings and potato salad that Luna, Lynn Jr. and Luan helped Rita prepare.
"That chicken was fantastic mom," Lincoln exclaimed after the last mouthful.
"Hey I helped to cook it," Luna replied.
"Lincoln Lucy and Leni you can have ice cream later," Rita said. Lincoln waited until the kitchen was cleaned before getting some vanilla ice cream with Lucy and Leni.
The next day Lincoln participated in the Sunday morning exercises then a half hour later Lynn Sr. took the family to the nature park where they spent two hours relaxing and eating ham sandwiches Rita made the night before.
On Monday the girls going to summer school were impatient for Thursday to arrive. On Wednesday evening Rita had some news to share after dinner.
"Hey everyone tomorrow my last patient is arriving at four fifteen for a tooth extraction so I won't be home to supervise the girls," she announced.
"Hmm they could stay with Mr. Grouse until you arrive," Lynn Sr. suggested which made the sisters frown in disapproval.
"No he might think we're pushing it," Rita said which pleased the girls.
"Mom I could ask permission to leave work at four and get them at Mr. Grouse," Lori suggested.
"Okay Lori and you'll be in charge until I get home," Rita said.
"Lori you can find anything simple to fix for dinner," Lynn Sr. said.
"Okay dad," Lori replied.
And I'm locking the attic door so you cannot gain access to your toys and hide the remote control," he added. Later the girls did some reading before going to bed.
The next day Lincoln was standing at the bus stop after leaving work. Today had been a tedious one for Lincoln. At 1:00 p.m. a woman had complained about a toilet overflowing in the ladies room causing water to spill all over the bathroom floor. While Rudy unclogged the toilet Lincoln was asked to wipe up the water and the job lasted for twenty minutes. His father allowed him to rest in the employee lounge afterwards until his shift ended at two p.m. Needless to say, Lincoln wanted to get home quickly and rest until dinnertime.
"Where is that dang bus?" he muttered under his breath then glanced at his watch. The bus was supposed to have arrived seven minutes ago.
The heat was becoming unbearable so he decided to take shelter under a nearby tree then the bus arrived instantly.
"Thank goodness," Lincoln muttered as he stepped inside the vehicle. To his relief, the air-conditioner was on. After paying his fare, the exhausted boy sat in the seat behind the driver. Fifteen minutes later he was stepping out of the vehicle at the stop near his house.
"Sweet relief, I'm home," Lincoln rejoiced silently as he walked down the pathway. Inside his bedroom, Lincoln kicked off his new sneakers before laying on his bed.
