( Author's Note )
When I bring Lisa back into the fray, I will not be using the lisp as dialog. It seemed it didn't go over as well as I imagined it would. Also, this is the first fiction, where I've used so many people in one place. I hope it turned out good enough.
( Lincoln )
Lincoln sat on the sofa next to his sister, who was reading her book. After the other two had left, he was confused at their sudden departure. Then he became interested in having power in the bus. Of course, he had to use some of their older blankets to cover the windows of the bus. Having light was great, but to have light being able to be seen from the road, would give them away. And that was something that he didn't' want. Though, the heater made a big difference, it had taken him a few times to find a temperature that him and Lucy were comfortable with. Even at the orphanage they hadn't gotten to choose the temperature.
Once they had set the heater, they focused on their meal that had been provided by Mrs Lori. He and Lucy had talked over dinner about how their days were. He was happy that Lucy had something interesting to talk about. One day he hoped that she would be able to have many interesting stories to tell. Maybe find some friends that she could hang around with. Maybe Lana, and Lisa knew people that Lucy shared some interests with.
He talked about his day, and what Mrs. Lori had done for him. How she knew about them being homeless, and he didn't know how he knew, but he knew that he could trust Mrs. Lori. Lucy had explained that she felt the same way about Lana, and Lisa.
"It's time for bed now, Big Brother." Lucy said closing her book, "You have to go to Ketcham Park tomorrow."
"You're right." He got up and turned out the light, still amazed at the novelty of it.
"Big Brother?" Lucy called from her bed, after having changed into her pajamas that were a little baggy, but she had told him that she liked it that way.
"Yeah, Luce?" He laid on the couch.
"Can I come with you tomorrow?" She asked. She hadn't asked if she could come with him before. This was a good thing. Something that should be encouraged, and he planned to.
"Yes, you could bring your book to write in. There are benches, and picnic tables." He said, then he thought about the gift from Mrs Lori. "We can pick up lunch from that restaurant, then eat in the park."
"Thank you, Lincoln. Good night, love you." Lucy murmured from her bed.
"You're welcome. Love ya too, sis." He sighed as he stretched out on the couch. The inside of the bus was warm, and it felt great.
…
'Another bike.' he thought to himself as he pulled the rope from the water, a hook attached to one end, which had hooked the frame of a bicycle. He struggled pulling it in, fighting against whatever aquatic plants had wrapped around it. In part his struggling could be because this was the fourth bike he had pulled up from the lake, and that he had picked up the waste from the entire park.
He knew that he should get more than sixty dollars for doing this job. He was sure that the guy that had hired him was getting more money, but that didn't bother him. He couldn't get work elsewhere, so he took what he could get. But he got paid in advance, since he knew Lincoln had done a lot of work around town.
Once the newest bike frame was pulled up to the shore, he sat down on the shore and looked out at the water. He watched several swimmers playing around, along with the few floating docks where swimmers rested. He sometimes wished that he lived lives like them. Had the free time to just enjoy themselves like they were. It wasn't like he didn't have free time, just not as much of it.
'Well,' he thought to himself. He had been at this for hours, it had to be time for lunch. 'Time to go see this restaurant, Lynn's Table.'
The plan had been to pick up something for lunch, but they had gotten a late start. It seemed the comfort from the heater had caused them both to want to sleep longer than usual. It was a luxury they hadn't had in a long time. So, they had decided that they would pick up lunch, and return back to the park. Though, he wasn't completely feeling like making that trip back today. He was sore from hauling up bikes, and other junk from the lake. Along with other things he had to clean up.
Lincoln pulled the bike frames neat the sidewalk, where the guy had told him to take any big trash to, and he would collect it at the end of the day. He made his way over to the shaded picnic table where Lucy sat, writing away in one of her notebooks. She looked content, or as content as she had ever looked. If someone didn't know her, they wouldn't know that she was content.
"Hey, Luce!" He called as he got closer to the picnic table. "Ready to grab some grub?"
"Maybe we should stay at the restaurant." said back to him, as she closed her notebook, putting it, and her pens into a black carry bag. "You seem a bit tired."
"I am. Thank you. I thought that you'd want to sit outside." He was thankful that she had suggested it. He didn't want to spoil her day out, since she didn't go out very much.
…
The restaurant didn't look all that special from the outside. Plain beige and brown building with an older fifties style sign, reading Lynn's Table. Double doors in the middle of the building. With as much as he had heard about the restaurant, he had expected it to be a lot bigger. Sure, the parking lot seemed rather filled. The outside was clean, and upkept, despite the building's age.
"Alright." He tried to brush off some of the dirt on his shirt. He didn't really care what he looked like normally. But he was with Lucy, he didn't want to embarrass her. Though, his clothing was pretty bad. He might need to head to a second hand store, and find something new. "Lets go in."
Wonderful aromas hit him as he walked in. After he had taken a deep breath, he looked around. A counter to their left where they would be seated. Also, he was sure this was where he would pay after they had eaten.
"Hello, and welcome to Lynn's Table." A brunette with a pony tail and braces, called out to them as she popped up from behind the counter. Lincoln assumed that she had been straightening something up. Or picking up something she had dropped. She wore a white collared shirt, without sleeves. And yellow pleated skirt, or pants. He couldn't see anything other than the top of the clothing item.
"Um. Thank you." Lincoln said as he approached the counter with Lucy. "We wondered if we could get a table. First, I wanted to know if this was the right place for this."
Lincoln pulled out the gift card to show it to the lady, who took the card, looking at it then handed it back.
"We sure do! That's our gift card!" she smiled, her braces glinted in the light. "Table for two? Or a booth?"
"Booths are usually darker," Lucy commented from behind him.
"Booth it is then," The hostess said, as she gathered up a couple menus, and lead them to a booth not too far. "I also cover the booths on this side. So, when you're ready to order, just give me a call. I'm Luan. Can I start you off with drinks?"
"Um. I'll have a cola, if that's alright." Lincoln asked softly. He wasn't used to ordering, it was weird having people waiting on him to speak.
"Do you have cranberry juice?" Lucy asked. She did favor red drinks. Maybe because she liked vampires. He had never asked her, not because he didn't want to know, he assumed if she wanted him to know, she would have told him.
"Of course! I'll bring them right away." Luan smiled and bolted off.
"So, lets see what grub is available." Lincoln said opening his menu. There were so many options. Between the orphanage, and living in the bus, they had never had much of a selection. He couldn't even believe the amount of options. Everything was priced fairly well.
Even though Mrs. Lori had implied that she would have another card for him. He didn't want to spend the money too swiftly. There were many delicious sounding, and looking choices. He had decided on the most filling choice for the money. A hamburger and fries. He put his menu down. He noticed that Lucy was still making her selection. He couldn't blame her, he had been the one that selected her meals. Even at the orphanage when there was more than one selection she had looked to him to choose for her.
"There are a lot of choices, Lincoln." Lucy said holding the menu down to look at him over it. "What do you think I should get?"
"Anything you want, Luce. Anything you want to try?" Lincoln asked her. And she returned her gaze to the menu.
"The chicken tenders sound good. But so does the pork chops." She puts the menu down, and sighs. "What is bourbon chicken?"
"Um..." The only thing that he knew about bourbon was that it was an alcohol that the janitor at the orphanage drank, and made him smell bad. "I'm not sure. Maybe you could ask..."
"Hey!" Luan the waitress seeming appeared from no where, scaring him causing him to jump, and make a fairly unmanly noise. Which caused Luan to pour his cola on herself. "Oops! Looks like this one's on me! Hah, get it? I'll be right back" She sat Lucy's drink down on the table in front of her.
"She's funny." Lucy said, a slight smile on her face. Until now, he had been the only one to be able to make her smile. He definitely wanted Lucy to be able to open up more.
"Clumsy. But yeah, she is funny." He admitted.
Not long after the spill, Luan had returned with a clean shirt, cleaned up the mess, and had come back again to get their order. Since then, Lincoln had managed to help Lucy decide on the chicken tenders. And a slice of chocolate cake for desert. Maybe she would be able to decide on her own some time. She had relied on him so long, he wondered if he was hurting her in the long run. She needed friends.
…
They had received their meals. Which were a lot larger than he had imagined. Even Lucy had used her hand to raise her bangs up to take a look at the chicken tenders on her plate. He rarely saw Lucy's silvery blue eyes, it was a nice sight. A long with her mouth agape looking at the meal before her. His burger was the same way. It was gigantic. Easily three times what a burger from The Burpin Burger would be, and only a dollar more. Also, he was sure the food here was fresher, and healthier.
They talked about things they could do with electricity, and how they would have a little extra money without having to buy more blankets, batteries for flashlights , and candles. It wouldn't allow them to live lavishly by any means. But it would afford them a bit more comfort. He had wanted to ask Lisa, if there were other things that she could help them with. A cooking range. There were enough junked stoves in the junkyard. Maybe she could rig something so they could cook food. But he didn't want to seem too greedy.
He still had over half of his burger left, and hadn't even touched his fries. Lucy still had over half of her meal left over as well. She sat back, and had a clear look of contentment on her face, as she rested one hand on her stomach. He felt the same way, as he yawned leaning back himself. This was a good day. He had gotten Lucy out, had spent the day outside, and had a great meal that blew away anything they had eaten in a long time.
"Hey, Linc!" Someone called, causing him to sit up and look for the person. It was Lana, he noticed as she came to his and Lucy's booth.
"Hello, Lana." Lucy said sitting up, moving over to give room for Lana to sit. "Would you like some of my chicken tenders? They gave me so much."
"Na, I Luan knows what I want." Lana smiled.
"Lana? Where did you... Oh, there you are!" Luan called as she got close enough,, and saw that Lana was with them. Mrs. Lori was not far behind her, as was another female that was as tall as Lori.
"Lincoln?" Mrs. Lori said when she noticed who Lana was sitting with.
"Wait, you know them too?" Luan asked.
"Lincoln helped me at the arcade the other day." Mrs. Lori had said.
"You know each other?" What were the odds?
"These are my sisters... Well, some of them." Some? Lincoln thought, didn't their parents ever sleep? "Luan, you know. Then there is Lori, which you know too. And this is Leni."
Leni was blonde, teal dress and flip-flops and white framed sunglasses on her head. She was looking straight at them, but didn't seem as if she was really paying attention.
"Hello, Leni. I'm Lucy, this is my brother Lincoln." Lucy smiles, and moves over more allowing Lana to move over, to make room. "Lincoln. Make room."
"Oh." He hadn't been paying attention, he slid over. "Sorry, Mrs. Lori."
"Just call me Lori." Lori had said.
"Hey!" Leni called out as she sat down looking at him, then looks at Lori. "I could use him!"
"Leni?" Lori asked curious as to what she meant.
"For that fashion thing for my fashion class. He needs new clothes." Leni said. And everyone sighed, except him.
"Leni. You're not supposed to comment on peoples clothes." Lana said.
"And not right in front of them!" Luan said commented.
"I don't really have..." Lincoln started feeling pretty self conscience, something he hadn't felt before. Maybe it was because he and Lucy were surrounded by clean, nicely dressed girls, that made him notice that his clothes were tattered, bleach stained, and worn.
"I"m sorry, Lincoln. Leni means well. She's really caring. But doesn't always say the right thing." Luan smiled and put her hand on Leni's shoulder.
"Hey! I saw that!" Leni muttered.
"It's nice to meet you, Lucy." Lucy looked up from her food.
"It's a pleasure." Lucy said her usual monotone voice.
"I don't think she likes me too much." She had leaned down and spoke softly to him.
"No, she's having a blast. Lucy is just a bit different. But she's very nice." He smiles at his sister, who at the very edges of her mouth she can see a slight smile while she is showing Lana, Leni, and Luan. This is what she needed. She needed contact with people that wasn't just him. "I know you've done a lot for me. I want to ask a favor, if it's alright."
"What is it, Linc?" She asked turning towards him to listen, and look at him.
"She's happier than I've ever seen her." He sighed, and glanced over at Lucy as she read from her book. "Would it be alright, if she hang around with your sisters sometimes, while I'm working. This is the first time in months since she's left the bus."
"Of course, Lincoln." She put her hand on his shoulder. "You and Lucy are more than welcome to spend time with us any time. And there are more sisters too. Loud isn't just our last name. It's our reputation." Lori smirked.