The Sweet Spot
Luna Loud, her sisters and brother Lincoln looked at each other in disbelief after they stopped fighting. The family van literally fell to pieces because of their violent brawl over a certain seat their brother claimed for himself because the whole family was going on a road trip. The sisters all wanted that coveted spot and that was the reason for the vicious fight.
"Oh my god, look at what we did to Vanzilla," the eldest Lori, called out.
Luan, trying to lighten the mood, said, "Yeah, looks like it's really totaled."
"Seriously," Luna snarled at her.
"This is not a time for joking around," Lori added, resisting the urge to throw the steering wheel at Luan. 'How are we going to help dad pay for the damage?" Luna asked.
Everyone started walking slowly towards the front door in silence. Lynn and Lana sported black eyes, Lisa's glasses were broken, and everyone had cuts and bruises. As they walked inside the house their mom Rita called from downstairs. "Kids go into the living room after you clean up."
Minutes later, Lincoln walked into his bedroom and closed the door, then he revealed there was another "Sweet Spot" on the couch... he dashed downstairs and rejoiced when he saw the sofa was unoccupied.
His sisters came downstairs and sat down without fighting over seats this time. Their mom appeared from the kitchen and told them breakfast was in the dining room.
Lynn looked into the bowl and whined, "Oatmeal! Mom we hate oatmeal."
"We ran out of cereal, "Rita explained. "And since you like to fight over seats, you're to sit on the couch at the same spots you were sitting at just now."
After finishing their breakfast, the children headed back to the couch. Their father entered the living room shortly. He displayed a furious look on his face. The four younger girls looked scared. "All right, kids start talking," he commanded. Lincoln told the whole story.
"You all think your mom's punishment is torture, words cannot explain what punishment you're getting from me, once I think of something." The children flinched in fear.
Rita added, "It's going to cost a lot of money to put Vanzilla together again, thanks to you kids."
"This means everyone will walk to school or take the school bus," she announced. They all groaned except for Lincoln who didn't mind walking to school with his best friend Clyde.
"And Lori don't even think of asking your boyfriend for a lift to school," Rita added. "Walking to school is a part of the punishment."
Suddenly, there was angry knocking on the door. Rita became worried, "For your sakes I hope those are not angry neighbors," A married couple stood before them.
Rita was about to speak when the man said harshly, "Why are your children fighting outside at 4:50 in the morning? Cheryl and I arrived home from the airport two hours before we were awoken by a commotion that sounded like a bar fight."
I'm so sorry,' Rita apologized.
"Save your apologies, Mr. and Mrs. Loud every Saturday your children make so much noise we can barely concentrate on anything. There's always some explosion or girls screaming," the wife said angrily.
"Mr. and Mrs. Winters, as we speak the kids are under punishment," Mr. Loud said sternly.
"It better not happen again or we're calling the police and we might be calling CPS," the wife warned.
Good day, Mr. and Mrs. Loud," the husband ended.
As the couple walked away, Lynn and Rita exchanged glances.
Once they reentered the living room, Lynn Sr. said to his children, "I hope you're all happy, those were Mr. and Mrs. Winters angry at you for disturbing them last night and this morning."
Rita said, "If you'll excuse us, your father and I have to discuss how you're all going to help with the van's repairs."
As she was about to walk away she warned the ten children, "Don't any of you move from that sofa."
Inside their bedroom, Rita and Lynn Sr. sat on their bed.
They sat deep in thought for a few seconds, then Lynn Sr snapped his fingers.
'I got it," he exclaimed.
Then he proceeded to tell his wife what he had in mind. Then he made a phone call.
Back in the living room…
'Kids, there's going to be a slight change in your punishment," Mr. Loud announced. The children looked at each other, puzzled.
"So we don't have to stay in the living room all weekend," Lori asked. "Great, I'm going to call Bobby."
"I'm going outside to play some hoops," Lynn announced.
"I'm just gonna play some music," Luna added.
"Lynn Leslie Loud, Lori Leigh Loud, Luna Star Loud sit your butts down," their father said in a threatening tone. They sat back down quickly.
"Let me begin. Gary told me once that he was having trouble hiring teenagers to paint his fence. So Lori, Leni, Luna, Luan, Lynn, and Lincoln since you're the oldest they have decided to hire all of you to paint the fence and I'm going to take the money you earn to pay for some of the vans repairs."
"And we're taking money from Lola's pageant winnings to pay for the rest of the repairs," Rita added.
"But dad," the five oldest girls protested.
I don't want to hear any 'buts' Lynn Sr. said firmly.
"They already bought the paint and they want the six of you to start in two hours," Rita replied.
"And if I hear any of you fighting while you're doing the job the consequences will be more severe than just sitting on the sofa," she warned.
"Yes Mom," they all uttered sadly
Two hours later…
Lori rang the doorbell as the children stood on the porch of the one-story home owned by the Winters. Cheryl Winters, a short-haired lady opened the front door.
"Hello, Mrs. Winters," Lori said as cheerfully as possible, "I hope you remember me, I was friends with Renee some years ago."
"Oh yes you're Lori," she said. Then the other kids introduced themselves.
The six children were wearing work clothes suitable for painting.
"You can all go around to the back. My husband is waiting there," Cheryl told them.
The kids met a stern looking man wearing gardening clothes standing at the fence with some open cans of paint and paint supplies.
"Good, you're all here," the man said rather abruptly.
As the children started picking up paint brushes Mr. Winters said, "Before you begin, your parents warned Cheryl and I about your tendency to fight a lot, and I'll have none of that while you're working for me, understand."
"Yes sir," they responded.
"Now I can only afford to pay each of you seven dollars so I hope that's not a problem," he said.
"Good grief, what a cheapskate," Lori thought.
If you have any problems call me, he told them then walked away.
Lori immediately took charge. "This is how were going to work this out. Leni, Luna and myself are going to paint the outside of the fence and Lincoln you, Lynn and Luan are painting the inside, that way we can finish quickly," she commanded.
As they painted, Luna who was standing beside Lori whispered to her older sister. "We're getting paid just seven dollars, what a cheapo."
"I know," Lori whispered back.
As time went by the children worked in silence, stopping every once in a while to rest. Other than Luan saying one of two lame puns, they all got along with each other.
Sometime Later
The children made their way back to the Winters house to inform the couple they were finished painting the fence.
They were invited inside by Mrs. Winters. She asked them to wash their hands in the powder room because there was refreshments waiting for them in the kitchen.
While they ate, the stern looking Mr. Winters entered the kitchen
"You all did a fine job, kids, well done," he announced.
After eating, Mr. Winters came back into the kitchen with his wallet. As the children got paid, they were surprised to see ten dollars in their hands.
"I've decided that since you all did such a great job, you deserve the ten dollars," he told the children.
"Thanks Mr. and Mrs. Winters," Lori told the couple.
Back at the Loud house, the six children walked inside their abode. They were met by their parents in the foyer.
"The Winters just called us and they said they were pleased by the way you behaved yourselves and that you all did a wonderful job painting their fence," Rita told them
"See kids you can all get along. Now hand over the money," Lynn Sr. asked.
They all groaned and handed over the sixty dollars.
"Now after you change, rejoin the others on the sofa," Rita said.
After changing out of their work clothes, Lori, Leni, Luna, Luan, Lynn, and Lincoln immediately returned to the living room. They were surprised to discover the furniture placed on the sides of the room.
"What's going on?" Lincoln asked the five younger girls.
"Oh you're not sleeping in your rooms tonight, Rita declared. "Until you all get along you're sleeping together in the living room." She left the room.
"Let's watch TV," Lori said.
"Oh mom and dad took the remote. We're not allowed to watch TV either,' Lucy told Lori.
"Oh really," Lori grumbled. A few minutes later the parents appeared carrying board games
"Because you're going to play board games instead," Rita said. More grumbling followed.
As the games progressed, Lynn Sr. left to prepare dinner. Once dinner was ready the children were allowed to eat at the dining room table.
Bedtime…
The parents brought sleeping bags into the living room and laid them out on the carpet. They had prepared hot beverages for their kids to drink before settling down for the night. After the Loud kids brushed their teeth, they returned downstairs. Their dad had something to say.
"Kids before you go to sleep we'd like to say we're very pleased you were able to get along so well today that your mom and I decided to end your punishment starting tomorrow morning."
"You mean that dad," Lincoln asked wide-eyed.
"Yes Lincoln," his dad said.
"HOORAY!" all the kids then rejoiced, then climbed into their sleeping bags.