It was early morning of the cold streets as the young homeless found himself back in the shelter. Already, he questioning how he got here because he remembers clearly doing some panhandling, and now he was back here, but not looking well. As Lincoln looked to the side, the homeless woman was tending to him. He watched as she wrings out the washcloth and placed it on his forehead.
Lincoln barely had any strength to move. His whole body felt literally drain. Lincoln figured that this was one of the many, many downsides of being homeless. Homeless people had the poorest health care in the world. Lincoln was now seeing that aside from the many injuries he endured.
"So you're finally awake?" Karen spoke to Lincoln.
Lincoln was still weak as he sat up. "What happened?"
"Don't you remember, you passed out on the street after doing your thing? Victor and AJ carried you back quickly, so it would certainly avoid taking you to a hospital." Karen explained wiping the sweat from his head. "They left me in charge ever since then.
"They did all this for me?" Lincoln asked groaning in pain
"They said don't worry about it, they will take care of things. I don't mind at all. It comes with the territory of being a nurse." Karen eyes then shifted the other direction. Lincoln was surprised that Karen still had her nursing bag even after being homeless. Inside were various medicines, bandages, and treatment patches. "Or at least I was going to be."
"You know I don't see a too much homeless woman, no offense"
"None took. Believe me; there exist some of all genders. There are even much older ones besides a young twenty-one-year-old like me."
"So how did a young pretty girl end up like this?"
Already Karen was unsure about opening up old wounds, but she took a breather and reluctantly told him. "I was just a young naive girl blinded by her affections," Karen told Lincoln as she took his temperature. "Before all of this, I was just a young nursing student in training. I was nearly done with school; but all that changed when a certain man came into my life."
"A certain man?" Lincoln puzzled.
"Yep," Karen replied with a nod. "His name was Raymond Dawn, and boy did he sweep me off my feet. He was really charming on the outside; the inside, however, was a totally different story." She continued. "Outside that charming smile and that soft-spoken voice was a man that I should not have gotten involved in the first place, yet I let him sway me time and time again."
Lincoln continued to listen.
"He was a man with big dreams in life. In terms of work, he has a real profession, and his profession was being a con man. Each time he wants to ask to borrow money, and I will always put my blind faith in him giving him money because I loved him so much. In addition, it will always pay off, by the time I saw him again he will always have something nice like a car or even a house. Soon we were living a life of luxury. I thought now that I have a life that needed a career. He really did deliver on his promises; however, that only went so far. Next thing you know, IRS Agents were knocking at our door as well as Law enforcement. To make matters worse since we were married, he had easy access to most of my accounts, check most if not all my money and even maxed out all my credit cards, and even took my passport which means I could not go back home. I tried calling him but his phone was disconnected, haven't heard from him ever since."
"I know how it is to be used by someone," Lincoln-related reflecting back to his previous experience.
"He ruined my life, and now I'm paying for his mistake mostly mine. Now here I am a Career School dropout, a possible Fugitive, and a loser living out on the streets. Pretty pathetic huh?"
"I'm so sorry to hear that."
"And before you ask even if I could go to the police it's still his word against mine. I have not spoken to my parents in years. They probably forgot about me." Karen's eyes begin to soak. "No matter how hard I cry, these tears would never ever dry of my greatest sin." Lincoln felt nothing but remorse for the young woman. Even if he was sick and even if he did stink badly, he wanted to embrace her as if he used to comfort his little sisters.
Sensing more discomfort, Lincoln quickly changes the subject. "So where did AJ and Victor come along?"
"Those two saved me while I was on the streets before some men want to do something most... unpleasant to me. They suffered injuries, so I tended to them and we have been together ever since then. I became their little sister/nursemaid." Karen chuckles a bit. "So what about you?"
Lincoln was already bothered by the sudden question. "Sorry, I don't feel like talking about it."
"No worries, take these pills, it should reduce the fever a bit," Karen ordered handing water and two pills. "Most of the money I get from panhandling, I usually spend on medicines to help myself and AJ and Victor, not a lot of it to spend it nice clothes."
Lincoln grimace at a magazine Karen was holding, already this caught his attention. It had a very familiar face, and he could not believe it. Lincoln's second eldest sister was on the front cover. Karen noticed Lincoln staring at the picture. "Yeah, this is the latest clothes trend by someone named Leni Loud. They are simply lovely, something I wish I had at times, let me tell you, that Leni Loud certainly is something."
Lincoln knew fully what she was talking about. "Oh, she is something alright." He knew that Leni's talent in fashion would take her very far, and it did.
Back to the present, Lincoln's current life was not any better. After suffering some insomnia, Lincoln was now bedridden and sick. Like his dream self, Lincoln's body was too sore to move freely. Head was hurting, stomach was aching, and constant coughing. It was like it was in shutdown mode.
The Loud mother made her way to Lincoln's room. As he placed her hand on the middle-child forehead, it was clear something was wrong. "Oh my, you're burning up sweetie, what happened?"
Lincoln coughed. "I don't know Mom; I'm just not feeling good."
"Well looks like there is going to be no playtime for you young man. Furthermore, I'm going have to call the school and let them know about your sick leave," Rita said. Rita checked her watch and grabbed her purse. "Well, I have to get to work at the Dentist Office. Kids, your father and I are heading to work, please take care of your brother while we are gone. He's not feeling well." Rita shouted
While bedridden, the sisters tried whatever they could to help their only brother. Knowing that his sister's always had a tendency to go overboard with their help, he knew he was going to be in for a long day. For now, he rested and tried not to dream at all, assuming if he could, many help of staying awake turned out to be.
When he heard his door open, Lincoln tilted his eyes in the front direction. "Come on Lincoln, it's time to take your temperature," Lori told Lincoln, stuffing the thermometer in his mouth. After a few minutes, she checked the temperature, reading anything but 98.6. It instead read 105.5, meaning something serious.
"I'm going to see if I can find the proper medicine for you."
As Lori took her leave, Lisa made her way into the room with a device of hers. "Lisa, what is that?"
"It's my newest invention dear brother; with this, it will be able to detect and determine body signs including parts of the bladder. And it should help you get back on your feet in no time, figuratively speaking."
Lincoln was already cautious. "No offense, Lisa but maybe we should leave it up to the trained professionals."
"I am professional, now hold still please." As she fired her device, Lincoln's body begins to tingle.
After getting the analysis on her machine, Lisa's eyes lifted with a question. "Well looks like I still need to work out some necessary bugs. BRB." Lisa left the room.
There were only a few interruptions, but it did not bother him all that much. It is nice that his sister's cared for his well-being, there was only so much of their attention he could take. As he tucks himself in, Lincoln stared at the ceiling. He either rested with his eyes open or just waited to fall an asleep. Since his future self has been recurring like a rerun of a TV show. Or worst a ghost of your inner demons.
As his eyes shut slowly, Lincoln was back on the streets again. Homeless Lincoln coughs and coughs throughout his sick process. From every a cough, Karen patted his back and feed him liquids. As she checked his condition, she sensed that temperatures were continuing to rise.
Karen did not have enough equipment in her bags and her funds were limited. Soon the coughing started to slow down and he was back rested again. It was a relief that his condition was not as worse as she feared.
"Lincoln, I'm going to need to buy some medicine for you, but I don't have enough money, so I'm going to need to use yours if that's going okay. Give me a sigh if that's ok with you."
Lincoln was weak and shaking but slowly gave the thumbs up.
Karen grabbed Lincoln's hooded jacket. Keeping herself hidden from unnecessary strangers, she covered her head. Fortunately, she knew where the pharmacy was, it only took a few blocks. She rushed as if she was an ambulance truck. As the young former medical student wiped the sweat from her forehead, she entered the store.
"Cough medicine?" She asked the clerk.
The clerk responded by silently pointing in the opposite direction.
Karen felt bad about spending Lincoln's hard-earned money, but his health was the utmost importance. Still, she did not stop for anything else as she made it back with time to spare. Like any other nursemaid, she feeds him a spoonful.
"Ugh, it's disgusting," Lincoln, groaned.
"Live with it medicines aren't supposed to be good. They're supposed to cure you no matter what."
Even if Lincoln knew, the medicine still made him a bit queasy inside. "Don't suppose there's an option B?"
While resting, Lincoln was again cut back to reality. As he opens his eyes, the next sisters made it to his room. After they were open all the way, he was met with the twins loose tooth grins; already this sent a shiver down the spine, as he was not expecting this. He was not expecting this.
"Hey big brother," Lola said. "We heard you were sick so we are here to see you get better." Lola pulled out some snack like medicine. "It's something Mom and Dad use for us when we were feeling sick." Lola poured the bottle, only to find one snack. Lola did not even need to guess who was responsible. "Dang it Lana, again," Lola scowls.
"I can't help it they were good." Lana shot back.
Lola growled at the oldest twin, and before Lincoln knew it to his unsurprised, a fight was an issue. Good thing for him that left the room before he was not caught in their crosshairs.
"Hey Lincoln," Lucy appeared unexpectedly, causing him to freak out as always.
Lincoln was clearly in no mood for this. He turned his head away from his dark sister.
"I guess you want to also try methods to make me feel better too?" Lincoln suspected.
"No; I just need words that rhyme with big." Lucy corrected.
"Zig, rig, Tig, did, and rid." He gave out, while annoyed.
"Thanks, Lincoln, oh and I hope you feel better soon." Lucy left.
As the sisters were gone, Lincoln took another rest. Once again, he was back lying down on the futon of the shelter. From every hot forehead, Karen grabbed a damp washcloth. Even if various medicines did not work, Karen tried to cool his temperature. Looking at his peaceful sleeping face, almost pull that her heartstrings. It almost reminded her of the time she will always tend to her husband's injuries. Although she will question it he will always reply with, "don't worry about it, comes with the job" and that is her worries were lifted.
Still, that was back then and this is now. Bored by playing nursemaid to Lincoln, Karen's eyes dim shut. At least it would have if she did not hear footsteps nearby. AJ and Victor were not going to return until late, so it could not be them. This made her shake as she pulled out a baseball from a pile of garbage. Unlike AJ and Victor, she did not have combat experience. She gripped it with both bravery and caution. Karen heard the footsteps get closer and fear overwhelmed her.
Fear levels only raised as the footsteps turned into bangs on the door. The banging got louder and louder from every approach. She sat quietly. It did not stop Lincoln as he was still in pain. Without haste, she covered his mouth, keeping him from making a sound. Both hearts raced on the intense situation as she felt the sounds getting closer and closer. Then after the final beat, the knocking had seized. Lincoln and Karen were shaking on their feet; nevertheless, they were was a sign of relief for both of them, at least for now. Lincoln knew for sure how much he was playing Russian roulette on the streets. They all came to an end where he was back in present-day again. Throughout the day Lincoln found himself shifted from regular to the dream world as if he was stuck in some kind of loop. This time the airheaded sister came around. In their hands, he has presented Lincoln with a fresh bowl of soup.
"Here you go Linky, some fresh oatmeal to help you wipe that nasty cold away." She presented.
Lincoln took a hopeless sigh. "Leni, for the last time... I don't have a cold."
"Here comes the racecar, vroom-vroom!" Bubbled Leni.
Reluctant as he was at first, he knew Leni was not going to give in so easily. So he submitted by eating the oatmeal. To be alone again, Lincoln was glad.
Luna and Luna were in the hallway. Both debated who would go first. As Luna and Luan stood in the hallway debating, they decided to settle it with a game of Rock, Paper, Scissors. Having heard the terrible news on Lincoln's condition was like announcing that one of them had cancer. One way or another something had to get done about Lincoln's standing.
Having lost to Luan, Luna stepped up to the plate.
"Hey there bro, heard you feeling down." Luna inquired holding her guitar. "So how about lifting your spirits with a sing-along?"
"Not now Luna," Lincoln hissed.
"Come on bro, it will be fun." Luna tried to persuade Lincoln.
Before she can sing a verse, Lincoln tossed a pillow at Luna, "Luna! I really need my rest." Lincoln said trying to hide his frustration.
Luna took the hint as she left. "What's going on with you bro you've been acting like a real bonehead lately, and it's not cool?" Lincoln did not reply.
At this moment, he did know if you want to rest anymore until the Loud comedian came in.
"Hey... Lincoln, I hope you're ready because Doctor Ben Smiles is here to turn that frown upside down." Luan beamed wearing a red nose in the doctor's coat. "After all laughter is the best medicine and who better to make you laugh when your dear sister."
"I really rather you not Luan," Lincoln replied grumpily.
"So Lincoln what does the dwarf and cat have in common, they are both grumpy, get it?" Luan joked, making Lincoln groaned with annoyance. "Did you ever hear about the fusion of the two sinuses, the common cold?" Lincoln still was not impressed, not even one smirk. "What do you call two planes that can barely move; airway traffic?"
"Please go away," Lincoln grumbled hiding his face inside his covers.
The number of annoyed groans Lincoln was giving out was a clear indication that his problem was deeper then she imagined. Nonetheless, Luan wanted to at least try to make a grin. "How about this, what did Ace Savvy say at the end of his poker game? I got a Full House, get it?"
"You wanna maybe just go? I'm sure there are other people dying to be annoyed by your puns."
Luan's mouth and eyes widened with shock, if not a bit hurt. Luan silently left the room. "You know something is seriously wrong with you Lincoln.
"No luck dude," Luna asked. "That's way harsh even for him."
Luan shook her head. "Nope, it's more serious than we thought. He would not even laugh at my jokes."
"Of course it is serious siblings; depression is not a symptom that can be cured by happy gestures, no offense." Lisa came in looking at Luan. "It seems like what is elder brother's going through stems from a deeper problem, but what it is still a mystery. The mystery of depression can have various effects on a person."
"What? Lincoln is running for an election. Then who's backing him?" Leni wandered into the conversation.
All three girls slapped their foreheads on Leni's behavior. "No Leni, not election, depression." Luan corrected the dim sister.
"O-M gosh, that is horrible." Leni might not have been the brightest of all the sisters, but she sure as well knew what Depression is.
"I should have known something was going on, Lincoln is almost as moody as Lucy now." Lynn quipped making her way upstairs.
"Even I don't like this condition of Lincoln," Lucy added.
"It's no wonder Linky has been acting like a big meanie lately, can you believe he had the nerve to criticize my skills?" Lola intervened. "Maybe I should have let him a little present."
"Oh yeah sis, like that would make him feel better," Lana said to Lola sarcastically.
"Either way dudes, we have to do something to snap our bro out of this funk he has," Luna suggested. "Whatever is on his mind even if he does not accept it?"
Lincoln could not help but overhear their conversation even when the store was closed. Lincoln shook his head thinking that the sisters were wasting their time. "You wouldn't understand," Lincoln said to himself as he dozed into his sleep once again.
It was nightfall back at the shelter. The two homeless men had come back. Karen had advised them of Lincoln's condition, yet at the very least, he was better. At least at the point where Lincoln was not suffering pain in his body now anymore. It was quiet them fall day for her as it was eventful for Victor & AJ. They matched earn some little decent profits but not enough to really get them by.
Still, they got home safe and that was all that matters, despite some complications with other hoodlums. They still have their lives and that was all that mattered. The four of them rested to see what the next day would bring them joy. While sleeping it off the middle-child found himself coughing again. Few times became rapid.
After some rapid coughing, Lincoln felt something spill on his hands. He checked to see that it was drops of blood.
Lincoln may not have been a medical expert but he could tell it was not a good sign. "Oh dang it."