Soon enough, days turned into months and Shelly and Bubbles became inseparable, but unfortunately, things still weren't going too good for Shelly and her faithful mother, and Bubbles didn't even know about it.
The diner Marilyn worked at closed down due to the economic downturn. As a result, she lost her job.
Now, she had to look for work, but she had no luck finding anything.
By that point, Shelly and company are heading into grade nine just as the economic downturn hit.
"What I am I going to do?" Marylin thought to herself "How am I going to take care of my baby? My baby!"
Marylin walked over to her daughter's room, where she was sleeping and squeezing her stuffed bunny.
As she watched her daughter sleep, Marilyn tried to think of a solution.
She could probably go back to the unemployment office and see if there were more openings or she could have Shelly work with her, that way they could probably earn enough money for both of them.
At that moment, Shelly started to stir and wake up.
"Good morning, good morning to you" Marylyn sang to her daughter "The sun is shining through. Good morning, good morning to you"
"Morning, Mom." Shelly smiled as she kissed her mother.
"Good morning, baby girl" Marilyn said as she kissed her daughter back.
"What's for breakfast?" Shelly asked as she got up from her bed and prepared to change into her usual clothes.
"I've got toast and oatmeal, honey" Marylyn replied "You like that?"
"I do." Shelly nodded as she changes into her clothes.
As Marilyn left Shelly to change, she made her way to the front door of their apartment, where she spotted a letter from the condo manager. She sighed as she read the letter.
"Mama, what is it?" asked Shelly.
Marylin sighed before replying and reading the letter to her baby girl.
"Dear Mrs. Sanders: I regret to inform you that your rent for Unit 1976 has been overdue for two weeks. If you can't pay the rent to the condominium within the next five days, then you will have to vacant the premises immediately." Marilyn read.
Sep 11Marilyn started to cry and hide her face on the table.
"Mama..." Shelly said to her mother.
"What are we going to do?" Marilyn asked. "I can't find another job and my Social Security payments aren't enough to cover the rent."
"I don't know" Shelly said "Maybe somebody could let us live with them for while"
"But who?" asked Marylyn "We don't have any other relatives"
"Well, I can ask Bubbles and her parents." Shelly offered. "You're also good friends with her mother."
"Baby, are you sure?" asked Marylyn.
"I hope so, mama" Shelly assured her "I'll go ask them"
"Thanks baby girl" Marylyn kissed Shelly's lips.
Later at school, Shelly ran into Bubbles in the locker area.
"Hey Bubbles." Shelly greeted her friend.
"Oh, hey Shelly." Bubbles smiled. "What's up?"
"We have a problem, Bubbles" said Shelly "My mommy and I are going to be kicked out of our house because we don't have enough money to pay our rent"
"I'm sorry, Shelly" said Bubbles.
"So we were wondering if we could stay with you and your folks for a while" Shelly said "If that's okay"
Bubbles thought before nodding.
"Sure, that will work." She replied. "I just need to ask Mom and Dad, but I believe it will work, since our mothers are good friends."
"Okay" said Shelly "I hope they say 'yes'. Mama and I have never had a lot of money or food"
"You haven't?" asked Bubbles "What're you talking about?"
"Uh...my mother and I have been living together alone since my father and brother died years ago." Shelly said sadly.
"I'm so sorry" said Bubbles "What happened?"
"They both got really sick." Shelly explained. "And my father didn't have insurance, so we couldn't afford the hospital bills."
"That's terrible" Bubbles remarked.
Shelly nodded sadly.
"Don't worry Shelly" said Bubbles "I'm sure that mommy and daddy would be happy to have you around"
"Really?" asked Shelly.
"Of course" Bubbles smiled "You're my best friend in the whole world"
Shelly nodded. "Thanks, Bubbles."
"No problem, Shelly." Bubbles said. "That's what friends are for, right?"
Shelly nodded again in agreement as the school bell rang.
"Come on" said Bubbles "We'd better get to class"
The girls headed to class, where Clem and Biff were waiting for them.
"Hey guys." Bubbles said to Biff as they arrived.
"Hello ladies" said Biff "Great to see you two arrived. Clem has some big news"
"He does?" asked Bubbles "What is it?"
"My folks said I could get a new pet as long as it doesn't set off my pop's allergies" Clem replied.
"Boy, that's great Clem" Shelly smiled.
"So what pet have you considered?" Bubbles asked.
"I don't know" said Clem "I've always wanted a dog or a Guinea pig or a ferret or some kind of marine animal"
"And what is your father allergic to?" Bubbles asked.
"Animal fur" Clem sighed.
"So animals like cats, dogs and bears wouldn't do." Bubbles remarked. "What about pet birds?"
"Nah" said Clem "My pop hates animals that squawk or copy what you say"
"So a parrot is out of the question." Shelly folded her arms before thinking of something. "Say, what about a fish?"
"A fish?" asked Clem.
"Yeah" Bubbles said "They don't have fur and they don't squawk. Plus, what pet could be easier?"
Clem nodded. "I'll ask Dad about it."
It was then that the school bell rang again, indicating that it is class time.
"Come on guys" said Biff "Time to go to math class"
The four friends then walked to their math class together. Eventually, school had ended and it was time to go home. Shelly and Bubbles walked over to Bubbles' folks, who were waiting for her.
"Hey Bubbles." Her father smiled as they spotted the two girls.
"Daddy!" Bubbles shouted as she ran up to her father.
"How are you doing, muffin?" her father hugged her.
"I'm doing great, daddy" Bubbles said to her father "But daddy, I need to tell you something"
"What is it, honey?" asked Mr. Jackson.
Bubbles sighed before answering.
"Can Shelly and her mother live with us?" Bubbles asked. "They're getting kicked out of their place and can't afford to pay the rent. They haven't been able to do that since her father and brother's deaths."
Her parents looked at each other.
"We do have some extra, vacant rooms in the house." Mrs. Jackson said.
"And we could use the extra help" added Mrs. Jackson.
"So can they come live with us?" Bubbles said as she made doe eyes.
"Of course, dear" Mr. Jackson replied with a nod.
"Oh thank you, mommy, thank you daddy!" Bubbles squealed.
Bubbles hugged both of her parents and kissed their lips a million times each.
Mr. and Mrs. Jackson then turned towards Shelly, who was smiling at them.
"I sure don't know how to thank you, Mr. Jackson." She said.
"That's okay, honey" Mr. Jackson smiled "Just go home and tell your mother"
"Oh boy" Shelly said as she ran to her house to tell Marylyn the great news.
Meanwhile at the pet store, Biff and Clem were with Clem's father looking for pets.
Clem looked at a Guinea pig's tank "Yoo hoo! Hi Mr. Guinea Pig"
"Careful Clem" said Clem's dad "Three more seconds and my tounge will swell up big time"
"Sorry, Pop" Clem said.
"Let's ask the owner if he has anything" suggested Biff.
Clem and his father nodded as they went to the counter, where the store owner was reading the afternoon newspaper.
"Excuse me, sir" said Clem "Do you have any pets that won't make my pop sneeze or wheeze or roll around squawking like crazy?"
"Of course, child" said the owner "Gordon's has pet for everybody. Come, follow me to the back of the store"
Clem nodded as he followed the owner to the back of the store. In the back storage room were a large variety of animals in play dens, along with fishes in tanks.
The owner reached into a tank and handed Clem some sort of frog.
"What the heck is that?" asked Biff.
"Norwegian tree frog" said the owner "Clean you, clean himself, clean everybody"
Clem's father sniffed the frog and he sneezed it right off Clem's hand.
"See? He is allergic" Clem said "That's why we need your help, sir"
"No worry" said the owner "I'll find something else"
The owner led the father and son to a large water tank, where they see several types of fish swimming in it freely.
"Wow, look at all of those fish." Clem remarked as he looked at the fish in the tank.
"Yeah, they sure look exotic" Biff remarked "Your dad can't be allergic to marine life"
"So what kind of fish will you recommend to us?" Clem asked the store owner.
The store owner thought for a moment.
"I have one creature!" the owner said "I breed myself! One of a kind"
"Whatever it is, it better not make me sneeze." Clem's father said as he blew his nose with a handkerchief.
After a while of waiting, the owner came back.
"Come, follow me" he said "Into larger and darker part of the store. My animal is right there"
The three followed the man to where he said the animal was. Hopefully, it wouldn't set off Clem's father's allergies.
Soon, they arrived at the darker part of the back of the store.
"So what is it?" Biff asked.
The store owner switched on the light, and everyone was surprised by what they were seeing.
Author's Note:
It looks like Shelly and her mother have hit rock bottom and their lowest. Will Marylin find work and will Clem find the pet of his dreams? Stay tuned for new developments!