Memories Land Chapter 3
It was nearing midnight, and all the Loud sisters were asleep except for one. Lori, the eldest of the Loud family, was still awake. She lay in her bed, gazing out the window with a sad and troubled expression. The thought that she might have been too harsh on Lily haunted her. She feared she had made Lily feel uncared for. Lori recalled the embarrassing video Lily had made of her and her sisters, which had angered them. They had been so upset with Lily that they ignored her and refused to speak to her. Lori even told her, "You literally disgust me." The memory made Lori doubt if she had ever been a good sister. Lori: Maybe I was too harsh on her. Lori's face showed her distress. I should have waited and let her finish what she was about to say. Instead, I yelled at her. After that, I felt like the world's worst sister. Just then, Lori's phone rang. She glanced at it. It was a text from her boyfriend, Bobby. Bobby's text: Hey, Babe, you are the best thing that ever happened to me. I am so glad to have you. Lori was about to reply, but instead, she turned off her phone, placed it back on her desk, and stared at the ceiling. That text reminded her of the time she got upset with Lily for calling Ronnie Anne names, which led to Bobby breaking up with her and Lori being angry with Lily for it.
Lori: "Am I that mean to her? Sure, I was upset because Bobby broke up with me after I made Ronnie Anne cry, but I should have handled it differently." Lori sighed loudly and turned over, and her gaze fell upon three photographs featuring her family and Lily. She gazed at the first picture and a smile graced her face. Lori: "I remember this. It was the day Lily came home." Flashback 1
Seven-year-old Lori was sitting with her four sisters on the couch, chatting excitedly. "I can't wait to see our new baby sister," Lori exclaimed. Six-year-old Leni, puzzled, added, "So mommy will bring the baby out of her room?" "No, Leni, mommy will bring the baby home," corrected five-year-old Luna, trying to clarify. Four-year-old Luan chimed in, "I hope they come soon. It feels like we're living in the Stone Age," she joked, and this time everyone laughed. Three-year-old Lynn Jr. couldn't contain her excitement, "I can't wait to be a big sister. I will take good care of her," she declared, eager to assume her new role. Before anyone else could speak, the door opened and Lynn Sr. and Rita Loud entered, holding their new baby, her face covered to surprise the girls.
Loud sisters: "Hi Mom, hi Dad," they exclaim, peering eagerly at the cover. "Is that...?" Their eyes are full of curiosity as they nod in unison. "Yes, it is," confirms Luna, Luan, and Lynn Jr., as they huddle around Lori. "You're all too young to hold her," they're gently reminded. Understanding, they comply. Once gathered, Rita hands the new baby sister to Lori. "There you go," she says softly. As Lori cradles the baby, Lynn Sr. encourages, "You can remove the cover now." Anticipation fills the room. Lori hesitates for a moment before revealing the baby's face. As the coverslips away, the sleeping infant's face is met with gasps of wonder. Loud sisters: "She's so adorable," they whisper, tears glistening in their eyes. Lori, with tears streaming down her face, asks, "What's her name?" Rita and Lynn Sr. answer together, "Her name is Lily Loud."
Lori gazes at her and utters her name, "Lily." Upon hearing her name, Lily's eyes flutter open, she surveys everyone, and then fixes her gaze back on Lori. A smile graces her face as she addresses baby Lily, "Hi Lily, welcome to the Loud family." At this, Lily beams and coos, eliciting a chorus of "Awws" from the family as they embrace her. End of Flashback One With a smile, Lori turns her head to look at another memory. "Oh yes, her first step."
Flashback two Nine-month-old Lily was playing with her building blocks in the living room while her loud sisters lounged on the couch watching TV, and their parents were in another room. The child had grown tired of "Tree Grown." Lori, looking utterly bored, inquired, "Where's the remote?" Luna, equally disinterested, responded, "I don't know; it was just here." Luan chimed in with a pun, "Looks like we're bored to extinction, haha get it?" prompting laughter from her sisters before they succumbed to boredom again. Lynn Jr. sighed, "If only we knew where the remote was," echoing the sentiment of her siblings. Although Lily was just a baby, she understood a bit of what was happening. She began crawling towards the kitchen, and upon arrival, she spotted a TV remote on the floor. Attempting to bring it to her siblings proved challenging as she struggled to hold the remote and crawl simultaneously. Inspired by her family's bipedal movement, she attempted to stand on two legs but kept falling. Fortunately, she wasn't hurt. After two unsuccessful attempts and on the verge of tears, Lily had an epiphany. She crawled to the table leg and used it to pull herself up.
She teetered on the brink of falling but steadied herself, and with that, she began to take steps one after another. At that moment, Lily was taking her first steps. "Oh my gosh!" a loud voice exclaimed. In the living room, all her sisters turned to their eldest sister Lori, while Lynn Jr. began to question her. "Lori, what's up?" Lynn Jr. inquired, eager to know why Lori had shouted. "Lily," Lori responded. "What about Lily, and where is she?" Luna asked, searching for her. Lori rose from the couch and announced, "Lily, you can walk!" Her joy was evident. As they looked at Lily, it wasn't long before Leni, Luna, Luan, and Lynn Jr. shared in the joy and rushed over to Lily, who was walking. Seconds later, the parents' door swung open, and Rita and Lynn Sr. stepped out to see what was happening. "Kids, what's going on?" Rita asked with concern. "Did something happen?" Lynn Sr. questioned his daughters. They exchanged glances and then announced in unison, "Lily can walk!"
As they all watched, Lily took her first step. Lynn Sr. and Rita were surprised to see her walking. "Oh my goodness, Lynn, get the camera!" exclaimed Rita. "On it! This is the best day," Lynn Sr. replied, rushing to get the camera with joy. The entire family was overjoyed to see Lily start walking. End of Flashback.
Tears filled Lori's eyes when she witnessed Lily's first steps, being the first to see them. "Ha, I was so happy that day," Lori recalls with a smile, though a hint of sadness lingers. She gazes at the last photograph, one she remembers distinctly. It was Lily's first day of Kindergarten, and she was very scared. Flashback 3 At 4 years old, Lily sits in the living room, apprehensively preparing for her first day of Kindergarten. Rita attempts to soothe her overwhelming fears.
Rita: There's nothing to worry about. Rita tried to reassure her. Lily: No, I don't want to go. I'm scared. Lily said in fear. Rita looked at her and asked, "Lily, there's nothing to be afraid of." Rita continued to try to help, but Lily shook her head no. Rita sighed, unsure of what to do next. Lori, who was upstairs, had heard everything and came up with a plan. She went downstairs to talk to her mom. Lori: Mom, I can help Lily with this. Lori offered an example to her mom. Rita looked at her, uncertain. "Are you sure, Lori? I don't know," Rita expressed her doubts, but Lori continued. "Don't worry, Mom. I'll help her. Plus, my boyfriend's mom is taking me to school, and I asked if it's okay to take Lily too. They said okay." After Lori finished, Rita thought it over. A few seconds later, Rita responded, "Well, okay, I trust you with this, Lori," Rita said with a tone of happiness. Lori was glad to hear that. "Don't worry, mom. I won't let you down," Lori said proudly. "I know you won't. Thanks a sweetie," Rita advised, kissing Lori on the forehead. She then looked at Lily. "Have a great day, Lily. Mommy loves you," Rita said, kissing her forehead, ready to take her child to school. Lily: "Mommy, wait!"
Lily tried to run to the door, but she slipped on Lynn Jr.'s baseball bat and fell to the floor. She got up with a bruise on her leg. As Lily began to cry, Lori rushed over to comfort her and tried to soothe her. "Don't cry, Lily, everything will be okay," Lori said, cradling Lily as if she were her own child. She gently placed Lily on the couch and fetched a first aid kit. Lori took out a spray and applied it to Lily's leg, which made Lily whimper, but Lori reassured her, "Don't cry, Lily, I'm here." Once she finished, she put a Band-Aid on the bruise. "There you go, all done," Lori said, wiping away Lily's tear. Once Lily had calmed down, Lori began to speak.
Lori: Okay, Lily, what's wrong? Why don't you want to go to school? Lily looks at her and replies. Lily: I'm scared. Lori: Why are you scared? Lori asks in a calm tone. Lily: I'm scared that someone will hurt me or that no one will like me. Lily says, sniffing. After hearing this, Lori knows what to do. Lori: Lily, there's nothing to worry about in kindergarten; it's really fun. Lily looks at her and responds. Lily: It is? She is concerned about what Lori says. Lori: Yes, it is. They have nap time, finger painting, and a trampoline. After hearing this, Lily's eyes widen. Lily: Finger painting and a trampoline? That sounds fun, but what if no one likes me? Lily is still unsure. So Lori kneels down to her level and says. Lori: Lily, you are the kindest and most caring person. If no one likes you, that's on them, and if someone hurts you, I'll beat them up and turn them into human pretzels. Lori says, reassuring her sister.
Lily: "You will do that," Lily says with a smile. Lori nods. Lori: "Yes, you're my little sister. I'll always be there for you." After saying this, Lily rushes to embrace her big sister. Lily: "Thank you, Lori." Lori: "You're welcome, Lily. Are you ready for school?" Lily nods vigorously. Lily: "Yes, I'm ready." End of Flashback. Tears welled up in Lori's eyes as she reminisced. She longed for the days when they had each other. Lori pondered how everything had changed. Lori: "Yeah, I was too harsh on her. I was just worried that something might happen to her," Lori reflects on the past events. "First, I need to apologize to her. Then, I need to have a heart-to-heart talk so we can understand each other," Lori muses, smiling at the thought. With that, Lori drifts off to sleep.