Chapter 2

Breaking The News

Marge pulls up to Springfield Elementary just as the kids have finished school and are practically stampeding towards the school bus, a few teachers can also be seen running towards their cars as though the fires of hell were after them.

"Hey Simpson, isn't that your mother?" Nelson asks noticing Marge pulling up before Bart could.

Bart looks over and is confused as to why his mom is here to pick him up, he also notices Lisa in the car with her, further adding to his confusion, though it also makes him believe that Lisa is indeed okay. Bart begins running over to them when he sees them exiting the car, alongside him is Janey Powell, Lisa's 'best friend' who had been genuinely concerned for Lisa throughout the day.

Lisa seeing both her brother and Janey running towards her can't help but lose control of her emotions, she runs towards them and embraces them both in a tight hug while also crying on their shoulders. Both Bart and Janey look at each other confused since Lisa wasn't usually this emotive, Lisa's actions also increase their worry for her. Nevertheless, they returned her hug.

"Mom, what's going on?" Bart asks his mother worry lacing his voice.

"I just need to speak with Principal Skinner that's all." Marge answers intending to tell Bart when they were home alongside Homer.

"Does it have anything to do with what happened this morning?" Bart asks making Lisa sob harder and tightens her hug, thereby confirming that indeed it did.

Marge doesn't answer Bart who already had his answer anyway and instead turns her attention to Janey.

"Janey sweetie could you please leave us? I'm sorry but it's family business." Marge gently asks the girl.

Janey looks disappointed at being asked to leave, buts nods her head and begins to walk back to the bus. Only for the bus to drive off before she can reach it, making Marge groan as now she'll have to drop Janey off before getting Maggie and then going home. None of them noticed Milhouse's distressed face pressed against the back window, the poor boy had been desperately trying to make his way off the bus, hoping to get a hug from Lisa only for the tide of students getting on the bus to be too much for him to get through.

"I have to go speak to Principal Skinner, while I do I want you three to sit outside and behave." This last part is directed at Bart who nods as best he can while still being almost strangled by Lisa's deathlock of a hug.

Marge satisfied begins walking towards the school with the three children falling behind her, Lisa in between Bart and Janey her holding hands with them. Neither of them pulling their hand away from her.

(X X X)

Principal Skinner the dedicated Principal of Springfield Elementary was hoping for a routine afternoon once the school day had finished, it would be nice after a not-so-routine school day. First with Mrs Simpson phoning up and telling him that Lisa would not be attending school today, which threw him through a loop since if Mrs Simpson was going to be phoning up about one of her children missing school, it'd be Bart instead of Lisa, who'd likely try and attend school even during the apocalypse. Second Bart hadn't been disruptive today even once, which admittedly wasn't the first time the little hellion hadn't been disruptive during school, but with it coinciding with Lisa missing school, he considered it a bad omen.

So when Mrs Simpson herself entered his office he braced himself for bad news.

"Marge what can I do for you?" Skinner asks with a familiarity born from regular meetings.

"Hello, Seymour." Marge greets with a strained smile.

Seymour notices this and frowns.

"Is something the matter, if you're asking about Bart he's actually been well behaved today." Seymour says which does bring a genuine smile to Marge's face.

"While I'm pleased that Bart has behaved today, I'm afraid it's about Lisa." Marge says a sob threatening to break through her.

A weight begins to settle in Seymour's stomach as he prepares himself for the worst.

"I took Lisa to the hospital and they found a brain tumour, they say it's inoperable due to its location." Marge says trying not to break down, while Seymour just sinks further and further into his chair with each bit of news.

"Thank you for informing me, I'll inform my staff and the rest of the students tomorrow morning. Do you know when her treatments are scheduled?" Seymour asks lifelessly.

"Not yet." Marge answers.

"I see. Well if there is nothing else Marge I'm afraid that I still have a lot of work to get to." Seymour states.

"I understand Seymour. I'll let you know when Lisa's treatments are scheduled." Marge says getting up.

"Please do." Seymour replies as Marge leaves his office.

Once Marge has left Seymour loses his self-control and begins massaging his temple with both hands worry and panic settling in his mind. Worry for a little girl who has so much to offer the world and panic for what this'll mean for the school as Lisa along with a few others are the only reason this school is still open.

(X X X)

At the Springfield Nuclear Plant, it is quitting time for Homer and his friends.

"Hey, Homer you coming down to Moe's?" Lenny asks his balding friend.

Homer is about to respond with a yes automatically but stops himself.

"Sorry fellas but I'll have to pass, I've got to get home and make sure my little girl is okay." Homer says not having been able to banish his worry for Lisa even with his friend's reassurances.

"Yeah, we understand, we'll let Moe know, but I doubt he'll understand." Carl responds.

"Thanks guys." Homer says leaving for home.

As Homer drives home he has an internal conversation with himself.

'She'll be fine, she's just got a migraine likely from overworking her brain.

Do you think so?

I know so.

Aw thanks brain.

You're welcome' Is Homer's internal conversation.

Homer pulls up to his house just as Marge does, which confuses him as he expected her to be home before him, his confusion significantly increases when he sees Bart getting out of the car and actually helping Lisa out, who he notices is actually being rather clingy with Bart hugging him and holding his hand as though seeking reassurance from him, and Bart not pushing her away. Getting out of his car he decides to ask Marge what's going on.

"Hey, Marge how come you're only just getting back? And why'd you pick up Bart?" Homer asks.

"Inside Homer, I'll explain everything inside." Marge says shuffling Maggie about in her arms while pulling her keys out.

Once the family are inside are seated in the living room, the three children on the couch, Lisa between Bart and Maggie, Bart holding her hand and Maggie hugging Lisa as though she can sense her sister's sadness and is trying to comfort her, Marge and Homer sat on chairs on either side of the couch. Once seated all eyes except for Lisa's, who is fixated on the floor, turn to Marge who sighs, and decides to just get it over with.

"At the hospital, they found a brain tumour in Lisa's brain." Marge says dropping the bombshell.

A dead silence permeates the room save for the sobbing of Lisa. However, it is soon broken by Homer.

"A tumour, like a brain tumour, like cancer?" Homer asks his voice rising with each syllable.

Seeing Marge nod Homer begins running around the house screaming the family used to his ways of showing distress ignore him.

"Is Lisa going to be okay?" Bart asks trying to keep the worry he feels out of his voice.

Marge smiles at her only son wishing he would show his sweet side more often, so that others could see beyond his bad-boy persona, to see the incredible person she knows her special little guy is.

"Of course, Lisa's going to be ok this isn't the 1950's there are so many methods for treating cancer, plus she's young and healthy giving her a higher chance of survival." Marge says trying to comfort her children which they appreciate.

"Yeah, they could just surgically remove the tumour." Homer says having stopped his mad screaming.

"Actually Homer they said that due to the location of the tumour, they can't surgically remove it." Marge says sending her husband into another screaming frenzy around the house.

"Then what are they going to do since they can't remove it surgically?" Bart asks his worry increasing.

"Well there's the standard chemotherapy and radiotherapy, there's also something called Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy." Marge explains.

A heavy silence fills the house save for the screaming of Homer, as the family allow the news to sink in each of them pondering how this will affect the family. Marge unable to take the depressing atmosphere any longer stands up suddenly, rushes to her children and envelops them in a big hug. Bart and Lisa reciprocate the hug with Lisa finally smiling for the first time today just happy to be so loved. When Homer stops screaming and running he to joins in the hug as does Santa's Little Helper and Snowball.

The family had no idea what the future held, they don't consider a future without Lisa a possibility, but they knew that no matter what they'll pull through as a family.

(Chapter Ends)