Chapter seven: Welcome Home Mike
It had been four weeks since the incident at the nuclear power plant. The Loud siblings and Natasha are in Lori and Leni's room. Lori stands in front of the other siblings.
"So. You all know that Natasha's father will be allowed out of the hospital in a few days. And what do you think if we celebrate?" said Lori.
"Good idea." said Lincoln.
"I like the idea too." said Luna.
"There is a problem." said Natasha.
"That would?" asked Luna.
"A lot of people will come from the nuclear power plant. And our garden and yours isn't big enough." said Natasha.
"Where do you want to organize the party?" Lynn asked.
"We've looked around and there's plenty of room at the Beaverton Trailer Park. We just have to ask people if they agree." said Natasha.
"We'll split the chores. Who wants to get the food?" asked Lori. Luan, Lynn and Lincoln held out their hands.
"Good. Decoration?" asked Lori.
Leni and Lola stretched out their hands.
"Great. Well, Natasha and I will go to the trailer park and get permission there." said Lori.
"And what does the rest do?" asked Luna.
"Maybe we can find something else. Oh, that reminds me, you can make music." said Natasha.
Lori and Natasha go down the hall, and then down the stairs.
"Natasha, I don't mean to offend you, but you've gained weight. Visibly gained weight." said Lori.
"Two things. First, thanks for the tip. Second, ouch." said Natasha.
"Sorry, but you had to buy new clothes last week because your old ones were getting tight."
"I know."
Lori gently slaps Natasha's stomach. A small ripple emanates from her hand. Natasha grins, and does the same to Lori.
"Got you." said Natasha.
Lori also starts to grin.
"You're crazy." Lori said, gently pinching Natasha's stomach.
The two stumbled and were just able to hold on to the banister.
"We both have mental damage." said Natasha jokingly.
"Clearly." said Lori, and laughed.
The two get into Vanzilla and drive to the trailer park. The two get off in front of the trailer park. The two walk through the trailer park for ten minutes. You only see children playing. All between six and eight years old.
"Remember how you used to play like that when you were a little kid?" asked Lori.
"When I was that old, I still had friends. Those were the good times." said Natasha. "Was that before you were fat?"
"Yes. My stupid thyroid was still working normally then."
A black Chevrolet Monte Carlo pulls up next to them. The two hear loud, bass-laden music coming from the car. At the wheel sits a man holding a glass in his right hand that has what looks like Coke in it. He has a black mustache and beard, and black hair. He is muscular and wears a tight black t-shirt.
"Hey girls. Looking for something?" asked the man.
"Well, my dad is coming out of the hospital and we want to have a party. We'd like to do it here at the trailer park because there's enough space here." said Natasha.
"You're looking for space? My buddies and I have properties right next to each other. Shall I give you a lift?"
"Yes would be kind." said Natasha.
The two get in the back and Carl drives off.
"My name is Carl. What's your name?"
"I'm Lori and this is Natasha."
They drive down the street and Carl turns into a wide lot. There is a shed on the property, in front of which a man is sitting welding a shopping trolley. He wears a plaid shirt, a welding mask, and has extremely thick glasses that have lenses like magnifying glasses. Julian, Lori and Natasha get out. The man takes off the welding mask.
"Hey Carl. What's up?" said the man.
"Hey Bubbles. I just found the two girls here. This is Lori and Natasha." said Carl.
"Nice to meet you. What are you doing here?" Bubbles asked.
"We want to make a party for my father. He's coming out of the hospital." said Natasha.
"Exactly. And we want to ask if we can celebrate here." said Lori.
"When do you want to celebrate here?" asked Carl.
"In three days." said Natasha.
"That works. But I have to fix these cocksuckers over there first." said Bubbles, and pointed to a bunch of shopping carts.
"But otherwise we can start organizing tomorrow." said Carl.
"Thanks for the offer. But we're not really missing anything anymore." said Natasha.
"The tent. The party tent is still missing." said Lori.
"We can organize that tomorrow." said Julian.
"Oh fuck. Carl. He's back." said Bubbles.
Carl looks around. A man in his mid-fifties who has few hairs on his head. Comes up to the four. He is wearing a cocky-colored shirt and pants. In his right hand he holds a whiskey bottle with three bandits depicted. He is drunk.
"Oh Shit." said Carl.
"Ah. Even more little Friends that will help you grow dope?" said the man.
"Fuck off." said Bubbles.
A black 1975 Chrysler New Yorker with Green spots stops next to the five. The Chrysler has no right front door and has dents everywhere. A man with light brown hair and mustache and beard slips from the driver's seat to the right door in the passenger seat. He wears a gold chain and a black and white checked shirt.
"Fuck off Hammond." said the man.
"I'll get you all on it." Hammond said, and took a sip of the whiskey bottle.
"We don't grown dope Hammond." said the man.
"That's the right one to say. Jake, you know what a Shit apple tree is? You. And I'll tell you what becomes of the Shit apple. A loser. And the Shit apple doesn't fall far from the Shit trunk. Just like you're a Shit apple tree, so is your daughter Trinity a Shit apple." said Hammond, and left.
When Hammond was out of earshot. Walked Ricky to his car.
"Guys. I just made some pretty good hash. You gotta try it." said Jake, taking a Bong out of his car.
"Jake. Now's the wrong time for fucking hash." said Bubbles.
"Bubs is right. In three days these girls are going to be having a party for their dad on our property." said Carl.
"Oh. And I thought these would be new playmates for Trinity." said Jake, lighting up the hash in his Bong.
He hit the Bong and inhales the smoke deeply.
"You're screwed in the head Jake." said Carl, and took the Bong away from Jake.
"What the hell was that?" asked Natasha confused.
"The drunk idiot was Hammond. He's the trailer park supervisor." Said Bubbles.
"That's right. And Carl, give me my hash back." said Jake.
"J, you'll get your Bong back after we've worked out the details with the girls here." said Carl.
"Well, when do you have time?" Bubbles asked.
"Well, the day after tomorrow we're free from ten o'clock in the morning." said Lori.
"Good. Then I'll get these shopping carts out of here by tomorrow, and then we can start setting up." said Bubbles.
"Yes. Jake, Bubbles and I can still help you organize things." said Carl.
"Good. Day after tomorrow." said Lori.
"We still have a lot to do. Have a nice day." said Natasha.
"Bye girls." said Julian.
Lori and Natasha leave.
"These guys are crazy." said Lori.
"I don't know. Somehow I like them." said Natasha.
Luna woke up in the middle of the night. She didn't know why, but she hadn't slept well. She got up. Luan slept. She looked out the window. She saw the moon. He was a narrow sickle. She saw someone on the street. She looked closely. It was Todd. Luna ran into Lori's room. She shook Lori awake.
"Luna? What's going on?" Lori asked softly.
"Todd. He's in front of our house." said Luna.
"Go wake Natasha."
Luna and Lori went downstairs and woke up Natasha who was sleeping on the sofa. Lori and Luna shook Natasha awake.
"What the hell?" said Natasha.
"Todd is in front of the house." said Lori.
Natasha stands up and looks out the window unobtrusively. Todd was standing on the street looking at the house. Natasha went upstairs to Lori's room. Lori follows her.
"What are you doing?" asked Lori.
"You will see." said Natasha and entered Lori's room.
She went to Lori's closet and pulled out her 90 assault rifle.
"Natasha?"
Natasha doesn't answer. She takes out a magazine and loads it with twenty rounds.
"You're waiting." said Natasha, and went down the stairs.
She went to the front door and put on her shoes. She put the magazine in the assault rifle 90, put it in combat position, and opened the door. She walks out and closes the door behind her.
"Is it loaded?" asked Todd.
Natasha moves the small lever on the Assault Rifle 90 from position S to position 20.
"Loaded, cocked safety and ready to fire twenty bullets through you if you don't leave." said Natasha aggressively.
"Calm down. I was just watching the house."
"It's already too much. Fuck off."
Todd looked at Natasha and left. Natasha trained her assault rifle 90 on Todd until he was out of sight. She put the lever back to position S, and goes back into the house. Natasha walks up the stairs to Lori's room without a word. She took out the magazine and made sure the Assault Rifle 90 was safe. She put it back in the closet. Then she went back downstairs.
"Natasha, what was that?" asked Lori.
"Yes, what did you do?" asked Luna.
"I told him that if he doesn't fuck off and leave you guys alone, I'm going to shoot him." said Natasha.
"You threatened to shoot him?" asked Lori.
"Yes. Todd is a danger to this family. Even though we have allies from a White Power Gang, I still don't trust these guys. And if you're in danger, I will protect you." said Natasha.
"That's nice, Natasha, but you don't have to shoot anyone for us." said Luna.
"Luna is right." said Lori.
"Girls, you forgot a word." said Natasha.
"Which?" asked Lori.
"Deterrence." said Natasha.
Lori and Luna nodded. They went up the stairs and went to her room. Natasha lay down on the sofa and fell asleep. From then on the night was quiet.
Lori, Leni, Luna and Natasha drive to the trailer park with Vanzilla. They drive onto Bubble's lot and get out. Bubbles had driven away all the shopping carts. Jake's Chrysler pulls up at the lot and Jake, Carl and Bubbles get out.
"Hey girls. What's up?" said Julian.
"Not much. Shall we start?" asked Natasha.
"Yes." said Carl.
"Well girls I've been on the phone and I know where to get the marquees and maybe drinks too if you need them." said Bubbles.
"Where do we get that from?" asked Lori.
"Oh, my buddy Shitty Bill has party tents and tables. He has a junkyard." said Bubbles.
"Shitty Bill?" asked Luna.
"Yes, he shit his pants as a kid and the name stuck." said Bubbles.
"And we'll get drinks from Coconut." said Julian.
"That's fucking great. Then we can go back to Talk-o." said Jake.
"Talk-o?" asked Lori.
"You will see." said Bubbles.
"It's best if we split up. Lori, do you want to get the drinks with Leni?" asked Natasha.
"In order." said Lori.
"Good. Luna, we'll both get the tents and the tables." said Natasha.
"Okay." said Luna.
Lori and Leni go to his Chrysler with Jake.
"Leni, you're sitting in the back. I don't want you to fall out." said Lori.
Leni sat in the back seat and Jake climbed into the driver's seat through the passenger door. Lori sat down and Jake drove off. They drive to the mall and Lori first notices a small booth with a Fat Hawaiian sitting in it. He has long dark Hair, and a Red shirt. Next to the stall is a birdcage in which a parrot is sitting. The three get out and walk towards the stall.
"Hey Coconut, what's up."
"Not much dude." said coconut.
Jake went to the birdcage.
"Hey Talk-o. Talk-o likes weed." said Jake.
Then the parrot began to speak.
"Talk-o likes weed."
"Suck my balls." said Jake.
"Jake. Language please." said coconut.
"Suck my balls. Suck my balls." said talk-o.
"Didn't the parrot really say that?" Lori asked confused.
"Jake I have customers." said Coconut and grinned.
"Suck my dick." said talk-o.
"We need drinks." said Jake.
"What drinks and how much?" asked Coconut.
"I don't know how much, but a lot." said Lori.
"I'll put together a load of drinks for you. When should I deliver?" asked Coconut.
"See you tomorrow at 3:30 p.m." said Lori.
"It's pretty short notice. But I'll do it." said coconut.
"Thanks." said Lori.
Leni looks at Talk-o and walks towards his cage.
"Hello Talk-o." said Leni.
"Finger my ass." said talk-o.
"See Jake? Even regular customers can get scolded by Talk-o because of you." said coconut.
Luna, Natasha and Bubbles are at Shitty Bill's junkyard. Shitty Bill is in his early fifties, has messy gray hair, wears a red and black plaid shirt, and is holding a beer bottle. The four load a party tent onto a small truck.
"Shitty, where are the tables?" asked Natasha.
"They are next to the wrecked cars." said Shitty Bill.
"Okay Shitty. I'll check it out." said Natasha, and went to the wrecked cars. Luna followed her. The two took the table and dragged it to the truck.
"It's going to be a great party." said Luna.
"I think so." said Natasha.
Luna, Natasha, Bubbles and Shitty Bill drive into the trailer park and start unloading the tents.
"I hope that Lori and Leni are successful." said Luna.
"I hope so too. I can't go without any drinks." said Natasha.
They put down the tent and Bubbles begins to unload a table. Then all the tables fall off the truck.
"Cocksucker!" shouted Bubbles.
Luna and Natasha run to Bubbles.
"Everything okay?" asked Natasha.
"Yes, but that bracket didn't hold up. And now the tables are broken." said Bubbles.
"The table legs are broken." said Luna.
"Shitty, do you have any more tables?" asked Natasha.
"No, those were the last ones." said Shitty Bill.
"Oh no. What do we do now?" said Natasha.
"My buddy Reggie also has a junkyard. I'm sure we'll find tables there too." said Bubbles.
"You can use my truck." said Shitty Bill, handing the keys to Bubbles.
"Thanks Shitty." said Bubbles.
Luna, Natasha and Bubbles get in the truck and head to another junkyard. They didn't meet anyone. The three got out.
"Girls, there are the tables." said Bubbles.
"Can we just take this stuff like that?" Natasha asked.
"Reg and I have known each other for a long time. It's okay." Bubbles said.
Natasha, Luna and Bubbles lifted the tables onto the truck. Then Luna spotted something really amazing.
"Check this out. A little stage." Luna said happily.
"We can take it with us, too." Bubbles said.
The three lifted the stage and loaded it onto the truck. The three got in and drove back to the trailer park.
The three unload all the tables in the trailer park. When they finished setting up the tents and tables, Jake's Chrysler pulled into the driveway. Lori, Leni and Jake got out.
"Hey Luna, Natasha. Guess who this talk-o is." said Lori.
"Who is he?" asked Luna.
"A parrot. A swearing parrot." said Lori.
"What did the parrot say?" asked Natasha.
"I'm not saying. In any case, Talk-o really offended Leni." said Lori.
"Yeah. He's really mean." said Leni.
"I don't know what you guys mean. Talk-o is cool." said Jake.
"You've already set up. Good." said Lori.
"That means we meet tomorrow at 3:00 p.m." said Natasha.
"So. Bye boys." said Lori.
"Bye girls. See you." said Jake.
Lori, Leni, Luna and Natasha board Vanzilla. When they are on the main street, they talk.
"I can't believe your father wants to go back to work the day after tomorrow." said Lori.
"What can I say. My father loves his job. And the day after tomorrow the lid of the nuclear reactor will be lifted. And he doesn't want to miss that." said Natasha.
"Tell him to spend some more time with you." said Leni.
"My father is very happy with the fuel change. And I want him to be happy." said Natasha. "There's someone standing in the middle of the street." Lori said, stopping Vanzilla. Natasha looks at the man on the street.
"Lori. This is Jack." said Natasha.
"Oh no, please not." said Leni.
Natasha opened the door.
"He wants me. If something happens, drive away." said Natasha, and gets out.
Natasha closes the door and approaches Jack.
"My nephew Todd stood in front of your house at night?" said Jack.
"Yes." said Natasha.
"And you threatened him with a gun?" said Jack.
"Yes."
"So that's how it was?" said Jack.
"Yes. Do you want to shoot me, Jack? For revenge?" said Natasha.
"You taught Todd a lesson. I told him to stay away from you Girls."
"I do not understand."
"Todd's a stubborn guy. Next time he's in front of your house, go ahead and shoot him in the leg."
"You mean you don't want to shoot me?"
"From Aryan to Aryan. You did the right thing. I would be happy if most Aryans were like you."
"I'm not Aryan."
"Yes you are. And a fine example of an Aryan." said Jack, raising his right arm.
Natasha recognized the gesture immediately. It was the Hitler salute. She looked at Jack.
"If you think I'll raise my right arm and make that salute, then you're wrong." said Natasha slightly angry.
Jack lowered his arm.
"Up to you." said Jack.
"You can continue."
Natasha climbed back into Vanzilla.
"You can continue." said Natasha.
Lori drove past next to Jack and accelerated.
"Natasha, are you okay?" asked Lori.
"Apparently I'm admired by a leader of a neo-Nazi gang. And I hate it." said Natasha.
The four drove to the hospital. They go to Mike's room and go inside. There was very short hair on Mike's head. Still, it looked like Mike was bald.
"Hi dad. How are you?" said Natasha.
"I'm looking forward to tomorrow. And a change of plans. I'm going straight to the nuclear power plant tomorrow. I have to see the new ABB generators that Chevalier has ordered." said Mike.
"You want to go to the nuclear power plant first?" asked Natasha. Natasha sits on Mike's bed.
"Dad. Come home with me. Please." Natasha said, and started playing with Mike's short hair.
"Natasha. Stop that." said mike.
"I like to play with your hair dad. But I'll stop if you promise to come home with me." said Natasha.
"Fine. I'm going home. But stop playing with my hair." said Mike. Natasha took her hand away.
"Thanks." said Natasha.
"Wow, Natasha. That was a bit harsh." said Lori surprised.
"Lori, Natasha is just like her mother. Once, when she was pregnant with Natasha, she took me all over Pennsylvania with that kind of behavior. And guess what. There was no reason." said Mike.
Mike leaned into his pillow and started to smile.
"That was the most charming thing your mother had. I remember when I first saw her. It was in the control room at Three Mile Island One. She looked at me and waved at me. She was twenty and I was about twenty-three."
"She was also a worker in a nuclear power plant?" asked Luna.
"Yes. I fell in love with her so much that I poisoned the reactor core." said Mike.
"Poisoned?" Leni asked.
"I moved the control rods too quickly and fission stalled." said Mike.
"Shall we come back tomorrow?" asked Lori.
"Yes. And take my VW." said Mike.
"We'll do that. Dad." said Natasha.
"And Natasha." said Mike.
"What's dad?" asked Natasha.
"I'm going back to work the day after tomorrow. I want to change fuel elements." said Mike.
"We have to go. Bye Dad."
"Bye girls. Looking forward to finally getting out of here." said Mike.
The four went to Vanzilla and drove home. The four arrive at the Louds' house. Luan, Lynn and Lincoln got the food. They bought sausages, hot dogs and cheeseburgers.
"I'm proud of you three. You did a good job." said Natasha.
"Thanks." said Lincoln.
"Luan, Lynn and Lincoln. Come with me. We'd best take the food to the trailer park." said Lori.
"In order." said Lynn.
The four loaded the food into Vanzilla, and drove to the trailer park. In the trailer park, Bubbles was in front of his shed. Lori, Luan, Lynn and Lincoln got out.
"Hi Bubbles. Can we store the food in your shed?" asked Lori.
"I'm afraid that's not possible." said Bubbles.
"Why not?" asked Lincoln.
"I'll show you." said Bubbles, opening his shed.
In the shed there was a TV, a bed on which two kittens slept and a toilet.
"I live in the shed. And if they're parents didn't bang so much, I wouldn't have to take care of twenty kittens." said Bubbles, and stroked the two kittens.
"And where can we store the food?" Luan asked.
"We'd best ask Carl. Maybe he'll store that food." said Bubbles.
The four walk with Bubbles to a black trailer next to Bubble's lot. Bubbles knocks on the door and Carl opens the door.
"Hey boys. Lori, are these more siblings?" asked Julian.
"Yes. This is Luan, Lynn and Lincoln." said Lori.
"Nice to meet you." said Carl.
"Julian, the four want to store the food with you. Can we do that?" Bubbles asked.
"Of course. Bring it in." said Carl.
Lori, Luan, Lynn, and Lincoln lugged the food into the trailer with Bubbles and Carl.
"Thanks Julian." said Luna.
"No problem." said Carl.
"I'm a little thirsty. Carl, can I have a sip of your drink?" asked Lori.
"Yes. Here take." said Carl, and gave Lori the glass.
Lori took a sip and spat out the drink.
"There's alcohol in there." said Lori.
"Of course. That's Whiskey Cola. How old are you?" asked Carl.
"I'm 17." said Lori.
"Damn Carl. You can't give alcohol to a 17 year old Girl." said Bubbles.
"Sorry Bubbles. But Lori looks like she's twenty-two." said Carl.
"It's okay. I didn't swallow the drink." Lori said, handing the glass back to Carl.
"What do we do now?" Lynn asked.
"Now we're going home." said Lori.
"Goodbye everyone." said Bubbles.
"Oh Bubbles, before we go, how much rent does Shitty Bill charge for the party tents?" asked Lori.
"Don't worry Lori. I'll pay." said Bubbles.
"Thank you Bubbles." said Lori.
The siblings go to Vanzilla.
"Shitty Bill?" asked Lincoln.
"He shit his pants as a kid and the name stuck." said Lori.
The siblings went home. Everything looked good. But in this night, Natasha slept badly.
Natasha and Lori are in a fire truck. They both wear fire department uniforms. The sirens are wailing.
"The roof shall burn." said Natasha. "We quickly deleted that." said Lori. "I hope so."
The two drove onto the nuclear power plant site. A large pile of debris was at unit one. Lori and Natasha unrolled the fire hoses. The two walk to the debris pile. Natasha connects a valve to the end of the hose. Lori sees a metal rod in the concrete rubble, glowing blue. She picks it up with her right hand.
"Hey Natasha. What is that?" Lori asked.
"What do you mean?" Natasha asked.
"This." Lori said, and showed the metal rod.
"You better leave that on the ground. Come to me."
Lori puts the metal rod on the ground and walks over to Natasha. "Do you taste metal?" Natasha asked.
"Yes. What's this?" Lori said. Lori turns the valve on.
"I don't know. Lori, there's no pressure in the hose. Open the valve." Natasha said.
Lori stands up. She goes to the fire truck. Her right hand starts to itch. Lori opens the valve. Natasha starts to put out the fire with the hose. She hears an agonizing scream. She looks around. Lori was sitting on the floor. She took off the glove and her right hand is burned and bleeding profusely. Natasha shuts off the hose and runs to Lori.
"Lori! What happened?" Natasha asked in shock.
"I don't know. It hurts so much!" Lori yelled.
"It's going to be alright. It'll be fine." Natasha said.
Lori starts to throw up. Natasha looks around. There was the metal rod on the ground, glowing blue. Not a normal blue. It was literally the blue of death.
Natasha wakes up and screams. She runs up the stairs and goes to Lori's room. She takes Lori's right hand and looks at it closely. No radiation burn. Lori wakes up.
"Natasha? What are you doing?" Lori asked tiredly.
"I had a nightmare. I wanted to make sure you were okay." said Natasha.
"The nightmare was very realistic?"
"Yes. And terrible." said Natasha.
Lori makes room on the bed next to her.
"Lay down with me." said Lori.
Natasha lay down next to Lori. Natasha occupied sixty percent of the bed. Lori drapes her blanket over herself and Natasha.
"Do you want to tell me about the nightmare?" asked Lori.
"We were both in the fire service. And we drove to the nuclear power plant. The roof and the concrete were on fire. And then you picked up a blue glowing metal rod. It was a fuel element and the blue light was Cherenkov radiation. You had burns on the right hand and you had to vomit."
"That must have been awful."
"That was it. I don't want you to be hurt."
During the night, Lori noticed that she was lying under Natasha like a wedge. Lori still slept peacefully. In the morning the alarm clock rang. The two woke up.
"Good morning." said Lori.
"A good morning to you too." said Natasha.
Lola enters Lori's room.
"Lori, can you comb my hair please? What are you doing here Natasha?" Well, Lola. I had a bad dream." said Natasha.
"What was it about?" asked Lola.
"Lori and I were in the fire department. We drove to the nuclear power plant. It had exploded and there was debris everywhere. And Lori picked up a metal rod that was smoldering blue. An old fuel element. I don't have to explain what happened to Lori. You did saw my father throwing up in your garden."
"Blue glow?" asked Lola.
"Cherenkov radiation. When the radiation is strong, the air around the radiation source begins to glow blue. The blue looks like Loris's make-up. It's the most beautiful color I know. And at the same time it's the blue of death."
"Why do you think it's beautiful?"
"Lola, I'd like to know that myself." said Natasha.
Natasha goes into the living room and gets her clothes. Then she goes into the bathroom and changes. When Natasha is done, she goes into the kitchen where Lori was already. She drank orange juice.
"Would you like a glass too?" asked Lori.
"No. That stuff burns my throat." said Natasha.
Lori made scrambled eggs. Natasha fried bacon, and then the two of them ate breakfast with the family. After breakfast, all the Louds, except Lori, boarded Vanzilla. The family drove to the trailer park, and Lori and Natasha waited at home.The Louds get off at Bubble's lot. Bubbles is setting up a grill.
"Hey Bubbles. What's up?" said Luna.
"I'll take care of this grill here." said Bubbles.
Carl approaches the Louds.
"We'll have to fire up the grill soon, boys." said Carl.
"Luna, how do you know each other?" Rita asked curiously.
"We were looking for space for the party and Carl, Jake and Bubbles were very kind." said Luna.
"Are you her mother?" Bubbles asked, pointing at Rita.
"Yes, I am." said Rita.
"Excuse me if I upset you. But the two jerks can't see properly anymore." said Bubbles, pointing to his eyes.
"No no. You didn't upset me."
"Come on, let's get started." said Luna.
"Good. I love to cook or grill. Can I help?" asked Lynn Sr.
"Of course. Chef Bubbles is happy to have help." said Bubbles.
Bubbles and Lynn Sr. go to the grill. Bubbles takes out a sack of charcoal and feeds the charcoal into the grill. Lynn Senior pulls out matches but Bubbles holds Lynn Senior back.
"What you are doing?" said Lynn Sr.
"You're doing it wrong. I'll show you how to do it right." said Bubbles.
Bubbles went into his shed and pulled out a can of gas. Bubbles dumped the gas over the grill and took out matches.
"Away quickly!" said Lynn Sr.
The Louds took a few steps back. Bubbles lit the match and threw it on the grill. The grill caught fire immediately. Lynn senior went to Bubbles.
"I've never lit a grill like this before." said Lynn Sr.
"I do it all the time." said Bubbles.
Coconut pulls up in a small green van. On the loading area are crates full of soft drinks and other drinks. There's a birdcage on the passenger seat. Coconut gets out.
"Hey Bubbles. What's up?" said Coconut.
"Hey Coconut. It's going well." said Bubbles.
Coconut takes the birdcage from the passenger seat. He carries the cage to a table and sets it down. The twins, Lucy and Lincoln go to the cage where Talk-o is sitting.
"Children, you better not talk to Talk-o." said Coconut.
"Why not?" asked Lincoln.
"Talk-o likes weed." said talk-o.
"That's why. Better go play somewhere else." said Coconut.
Lincoln, Lucy, and the twins leave but watch Talk-o from afar. Just as they are out of earshot, Talk-o starts talking again.
"Finger my ass." said talk-o.
"Didn't the parrot really say that?" asked Rita confused.
"Yes. And there comes the reason for it." said Carl, pointing to Jake, who was walking towards them with a little girl by the hand.
The girl is seven years old, has blond, wavy hair that goes down her back. She is wearing a sky blue t-shirt and bright red pants.
"Hey guys. What's up?" Jake asked.
"I just have to explain why Talk-o swears all the time." said Carl.
"Trinity go play something with the other kids." said Jake.
Trinity approaches Lincoln, Lucy, Lola and Lana.
"Hello. What's your name?" asked Trinity.
"I'm Lincoln. This is Lucy, Lola and Lana. And what's your name?"
"I'm Trinity." said Trinity.
"What do you want to do?" asked Lana.
"Do you want to play soccer?" asked Trinity.
Lynn came running.
"Soccer? I'm in." said Lynn.
"This is my older sister Lynn. She loves sports." said Lincoln.
"Good, then let's begin." said Trinity.
"Without me." said Lucy, playing dead. "Is she alright?" asked Trinity.
"Yes, that is quite normal." said Lincoln.
Lori and Natasha leave the house and get into Mike's VW Golf. Lori climbs into the driver's seat and Natasha into the passenger seat. Natasha gives Lori the ignition key. Lori looks at the pedals. It was only two. Then Lori notices that the gear shift looks weird.
"Natasha, there's a pedal missing and the gear shifter... I don't understand the gear shifter." "Lori, this is an automatic transmission." said Natasha.
Lori laughed embarrassed.
"Oh. And how do I use these?" asked Lori.
Natasha pointed to the lever, which was in the P position.
"This is the drive lever. This is where you select the position of the transmission. P is the park position. N is neutral, R is reverse, and D is drive."
"Okay. Then I'll drive backwards." Lori said, turning on the car and moving the lever to position R.
She drove slowly onto the road.
"And now on D." Lori said, putting the lever in position D.
Lori drives to the hospital. They get out and want to go to Mike's room. Mike was already waiting in the entrance hall. Natasha went to him and hugged him.
"I'm glad you can finally go home." Natasha said. "I'm happy too. I can finally go home." said Mike. "Let's go." said Lori.
The three go to the VW Golf.
"Natasha, could it be that you've gained weight?" asked Mike. "Yes a little bit." said Natasha slightly annoyed.
They get in and drive off. After a while Mike got a little confused. "Lori, you're wrong." said Mike.
"I do not think so." said Lori.
"Yes. You're going in the wrong direction."
"Dad, please wait." said Natasha.
They drove through Beaverton, and then to the trailer park. "What are we doing here?" asked Mike.
Lori and Natasha were silent.
"Will I be kidnapped?" said Mike jokingly.
Lori drove onto Bubble's property. The Louds, Frank Rivera, Celeste Chevalier and their daughter Isabelle were there, waving at Mike. People from the fire brigade and also from the accident commission were there. Among others, Professor Clarkson and Professor Schröder. Julian, Ricky and Bubbles were at the grill. Mike got out.
"What the hell?" said Mike.
Lori and Natasha got out, and Natasha put her hands on Mike's shoulders.
"Welcome back dad." said Natasha.
"Natasha? Lori? Did you organize that?" asked Mike.
"Yes we have." said Natasha.
Mike looked at the smiling faces of his friends. Rivera, Chevalier, Isabelle, the Louds, the firemen. And someone else came along. Miller.
"Do you think we won't greet you warmly when you come back?" Miller said.
Mike keeps looking around. He looked at Lori, and at Natasha. Then Mike saw the sausages.
"Oh, sausages. Finally something decent to eat again. I hated the food in the hospital." "He hasn't changed." Rivera said.
"I hope so." said Chevalier.
Mike noticed Chevalier was wearing a gray dress. It had a long skirt, so long that all you could see was her gray shoes. Rivera was wearing a suit, dark brown jacket and orange yellow shirt, and no tie.
"Thank you. I don't know what to say other than thank you." said Mike.
Rivera approached Mike and pulled a hip flask from his shirt pocket. He unscrewed the flask and gave it to Mike.
"Already now, Dad?" asked Natasha.
"I want to have some fun princess." Mike said, taking a sip from the hip flask.
"That's the good stuff." said Mike.
"No wonder, it's also the best whiskey from the region." Rivera said.
Chevalier approached them.
"You men are all the same." said Chevalier and started to smile.
Mike handed the hip flask back to Rivera. Rivera held it to Chevalier.
"Would you like a sip too, Celeste?" Rivera asked.
"I thought you'd never ask." said Chevalier, taking the hip flask and taking a long gulp.
"I still like more red wine." said Chevalier.
"Enough drunk. I want to eat something." said mike.
Luna stepped onto the small stage and started playing a pretty good tune.
Mike went to the grill where Bubbles was at with Natasha, Lori, Rivera, and Chevalier with Isabelle.
"Here." Bubbles said, handing Mike a plate of sausage.
Natasha got a plate with a sausage from Jake, and went to a buffet table, and grabbed a good portion of potato salad. Lori took the same. The three sat down at the table where the Louds were sitting. Rita was sitting next to Mike, holding Lily.
"We're glad you're okay Mike." said Rita.
"Thanks. Your daughter Lisa made a serum which I think helped me." said Mike.
"Our littlest Lily has something for you Mike." said Rita.
Mike looked at Lily and saw that she was holding a drawing. Lily handed the drawing to Mike. Mike looked at the drawing. It was a drawing showing Mike, Natasha and Lori.
"Thanks Lily." said Mike, patting Lily's head.
They started eating.
"Natasha, thank you." said Mike. "Dad, that was natural." said Natasha.
They continued to eat, and Lori watched as Frank Rivera ran around with Isabelle Chevalier on his shoulder. Isabelle laughed and was obviously having a good time. Lori looked at Chevalier, who was watching them dreamily, smiling softly. Lori could almost see the hearts above Chevalier's head.
"See Chevalier?" whispered Lori.
"Yes. But have you seen what Rivera looks like?" asked Natasha.
"What do you mean?" asked Lori.
"See how he plays with Isabelle? He has a lot of fun with her. He loves Isabelle too. He loves her like a kind of daughter." said Natasha.
"They should finally admit how they feel about each other. I can literally see the hearts above Chevalier's and Rivera's heads." whispered Lori.
Rivera put Isabelle back on the floor. At some point it started to get dark. Luna kept playing. Then Mike got up and went to Luna.
"Hey, could you do me a favor?" asked Mike.
"Yes. What?" asked Luna.
"I would like you to play this song." Mike said, showing Luna something on his phone. Luna looked at it.
"It's okay." said Luna.
"Thanks." said Mike.
Mike sat down next to Natasha. Then Luna began with a distinctive melody.
"I know that song." said Natasha.
"You know that very well." said Mike. Luna began to sing in a calm voice.
"Radioactivity
Is in the air for you and me
radioactivity
Discovered by Madame Curie
radioactivity
Tune in to the melody."
"My favorite song." Natasha said.
radioactivity
Is in the air for you and me
radioactivity
arises for you and me in space
radioactivity
Emits waves to the receiver."
Natasha softly began to sing along.
"Radioactivity
When it comes to our future
radio activity
arises for you and me in space
radioactivity
Is in the air for you and me
radioactivity
Discovered by Madame Curie
radioactivity
Tune in to the melody
radioactivity
Is in the air for you and me
radioactivity
Is in the air for you and me."
Luna finished. Rivera approached Mike.
"Okay, I'm sure you picked that song." Rivera said.
"Yes." Mike said.
"I thought so. You want to be there tomorrow when we open the reactor. You can." Rivera said.
"Good. It's going to be great." Mike said.
Around midnight Lori said goodbye. The Louds went home. Natasha and her father went home ten minutes later. For the first time in a month, Natasha and Mike slept at home. The night passed quietly. In the morning Mike woke up and got dressed. He had breakfast with Natasha. Pancakes with maple syrup.
"Today I can finally see how the fuel elements are lifted out of a boiling water reactor." said Mike.
"You've already seen it with pressurized water reactors." said Natasha.
"Yes. And today the lid will be lifted and the first fuel element will be lifted."
"Will be particularly interesting to see the control rods. Plus-shaped control rods which are retracted from below."
Mike gets up.
"I have to go now. Bye Tasha." said Mike.
"Bye dad."
Mike left the house and got into his VW Golf. He drove off. Mike heard some news on the radio. It was about inflation and the new methamphetamine problem in Royal Woods. He turned onto Radium street and drove to the nuclear power plant. He kept glancing at the two cooling towers, only one of which was giving off steam. Mike parked in front of the nuclear power plant in the parking lot, and went into the main building. The security guard greeted him.
"Mike! It's been a long time." said the security guard.
"That's right. Good morning Otis." said Mike, walking through the x-ray machine.
Otis waved at him and Mike walked on. He went into the dressing room of reactor block one and put on the white trousers, the white lab coat and the white cloth cap. He went into the long corridor and ran to the reactor hall. Many employees walked past him. Mike stepped through the thick door and entered the reactor hall. The cover he was on with Lori and Natasha over a month ago was gone. A huge pool filled with water could now be seen, around which a barrier made of chrome steel was built. A huge crane had entered the water. Mike went to the barrier and looked down. Spotlights, which were in the basin, illuminated a kind of container. Mike recognized the reactor pressure vessel. And he looked straight into the heart of block one. A 3600 megawatt nuclear reactor. The lid was lifted to the side. Mike heard footsteps behind him. It was Rivera.
"Do you like what you see?" Rivera said.
"Yes. What a beauty." said Mike.
"That's right. We'll have the first fuel element out in an hour."
"Good. I'll wait a bit."
Rivera Left. Mike waited. After half an hour some workers came. Another quarter of an hour later they drove the crane for the fuel elements into the water. Then they slowly began to lift the fuel element. Mike took a small device out of his pocket. It was a device for analyzing the gamma spectrum. Mike always wanted to know what isotopes are in the fuel assemblies. Mike held it over the pool. It started measuring. First it measured that the fuel elements were contaminated. He continued to hold it over the pool. It wasn't unusual, because in the first few minutes the measuring device always shows nonsense. After ten minutes it was calibrated very precisely. But it still indicated contamination. There were isotopes that are not normally found in a used fuel assembly.
"What the hell?" said Mike softly.
Mike repeated the measurement. The same result. Calibrated the device again. It indicated the same. He had seen the same thing at Three Mile Island. Something is wrong with the fuel elements. Mike starts sweating. He restarts the meter. He calibrated it again. It indicated the same. He went through contamination control into the cloakroom and got an even more accurate measuring device from his locker. He went back to the reactor hall. Mike continued to measure. He saw a very precise analysis on the screen of the device. Mike calibrated the meter. It showed the same thing again. Mike was now sure the fuel elements weren't what they were supposed to be. Rivera enters the reactor hall and Mike turns off the meter.
"And? Is it exciting?" Rivera asked.
"Very. It's very interesting." said Mike.
"Hey Mike, you're sweating like hell. Go home and get some rest."
"Thanks Frank."
Mike leaves the reactor hall and goes to contamination control. No contamination. He went to the locker room and put on his normal clothes. He leaves the nuclear power plant and gets into his VW Golf. He puts his hands on the steering wheel. Mike Takes a deep breath.
"I reported it in Three Mile Island. Five years ago. Why is the same error showing up here at Royal Woods with the same measurement? Something isn't quite right."
End of chapter seven