"Ah, the eternal dilemma," Lincoln said aloud. "Too much sugar and it's a sugar rush, too little and it's just... cereal."
Suddenly, Luna enters the kitchen, playing electric guitar, her eyes closed, striking a series of dramatic chords and her wild blue hair trailing behind her. Then she begins to sing.
"Her voice is a mixture of yawn and melody.
Lori rolls her eyes, asking Luna to lower her voice, heavy with the early hour.
"Oh, sorry, sis!"
She sets her guitar aside and heads to the refrigerator, which she opens, revealing a kaleidoscope of leftovers and forgotten foods before pulling out a carton of eggs and begins juggling them.
"I'm just getting ready to make jam before the big concert tonight!"
Lynn Sr. then enters the kitchen, already dressed in her workout gear, picks up a banana and peels it with one hand while grabbing an egg that Luna tosses to her.
"I'm opening for a band at the Rock "n" Roll Diner!"
The young musician's voice reveals her enthusiasm as well as through her eyes, which light up.
"I've been practicing all week!"
After hearing this good news, Lynn deftly catches the egg with her mouth at this moment and swallows it whole.
"That's great, Luna! You're going to crush it!"
Later in the living room, Lori tries to spend a quiet moment with her morning coffee, the aroma filling the air in stark contrast to the cacophony in the kitchen.
"Could you keep it down?" she shouts before sighing, her voice a mere thread amidst the storm of noise.
She then takes a sip of her coffee, her eyes closing briefly in happiness.
"Sorry, Lori!" calls Luna, without lowering her voice before beginning to play an air guitar solo, her feet tapping in rhythm with the silent music.
Lynn then grabs another egg and cracks it on the counter.
"You're going to be great, Luna! Don't forget to breathe between solos," she advises, tossing the egg into the frying pan.
Leni soon enters the room, her blond hair rolled up in curlers, still in her pajamas, then looks around, bewildered.
"What's going on?" she asks in a soft, sleepy voice.
"I'm playing at the Rock "n" Roll Diner tonight, Leni!" says Luna, her voice full of enthusiasm.
"Oh, that's cool!" replies Leni, her eyes twinkling. "I'll be there!
"You're all invited, of course!" Luna announces to the room, her excitement palpable.
"I can't wait to hear you sing!" says Leni, getting more and more excited.
Lynn nods and places a perfectly cooked egg on a plate.
"You did it, Luna!"
"Thanks guys!"
Luna beams, grabbing an egg in each hand. She starts juggling with it again, her movements a little more confident.
"This is going to be the best day ever!
The sound of running water upstairs stops abruptly and Lola skips down the stairs, dressed in a tutu and fairy wings, holding a toothpaste-covered toothbrush like a microphone.
"I'll be there to cheer you on," she sings, doing a little spin on herself.
"Lola, you're going to be my number one fan!"
Luna laughs and tosses her an egg, which her sister deftly catches in her mouth.
"Mmm, breakfast and a show!" says Lola, chewing and speaking simultaneously.
"I'm surprised you can hear yourselves over the noise," says Lori, back in the kitchen, her coffee cup halfway to her lips.
"The soundcheck at the garage starts at 3, so we've got plenty of time to get ready!" says Luna, her eyes sparkling.
"Don't forget we have soccer practice after school, Luna!" reminds her as Lynn flips through a cookbook.
"Psh, I've got it all under control!"
Luna makes a dismissive gesture with her hand, the eggs still in the air.
"Oh, I almost forgot!" says Luna, plucking the eggs from the air and setting them aside. "Guys, I invited Sam!
"Sam?!" Lynn Sr. and Leni say in unison, their expressions mixing shock and excitement.
The doorbell rings. Luna's friend Sam waits patiently, her usual casual attire of band T-shirt and jeans reflecting her cool, collected attitude. The sound of chaos he hears inside was just another day.
"Sam's going to help me with my soundcheck!" Luna exclaims, jumping up and down.
"Sam? As in 'Sam the Sweetheart'?" Lori asks with a knowing smile, eyebrow raised.
Sam nods, a smile forming on his lips.
"That's me," she confirms, her voice a gentle mix of confidence and modesty. "Ready to rock?
"So ready!"
Luna yells, grabbing her guitar before they both head for the garage, the sound of their laughter echoing in the hallway.
"Good luck following her, Sam," Lori calls after them, her smile widening.
"I'll do my best," she replies without stopping.
"All right, Sam, let's get ready and get started!" says Luna, her eyes shining with excitement.
The garage door opens to reveal a makeshift stage, covered with posters of their favorite bands.
"Sounds good to me," says Sam, plugging in his amp and testing the sound.
"I'll go get my soccer gear," Lynn says, heading for the door. "Someone remind me about sound control, okay?
"I'm coming with you, Lynn," says Leni, whose enthusiasm for the concert has already waned a little. "We can't be late for practice!
"Okay, Sam, I've got a new song to try out," says Luna, her eyes shining with anticipation.
She strums a few chords on her guitar, the sound resonating in the crowded space.
"Okay, let's hear it," says Sam, picking up his chopsticks.
"It's called Luna's Lunar Lullaby!"
Luna begins to sing, her voice a mix of power and sweetness. The lyrics tell the whimsical story of a girl and her moonlit adventures. Sam nods, tapping out a rhythm on her legs before joining in on the drums. The rhythm is infectious, and soon the garage is filled with the sound of their improvised jam later, the garage door opens wider and brother and sister gather around the improvised stage.
"Wow, Luna, this is really good!" says Leni, clapping her hands, forgetting her other sister's soccer practice.
"Thanks, Leni!"
Luna smiles, her cheeks blushing slightly.
"What do you think, Sam?
"It's got potential," says Sam, looking thoughtful. "We could add a bass line and maybe some backing vocals.
"Choirs?"
Luna's eyes light up then.
"Would you like to join us?"
Lincoln and his sisters start singing together, their laughter and the music filling the garage.
"I'll get the bass!" says Lynn, sprinting upstairs after deciding to skip practice to stay at rehearsals.
The music is like a siren's song. It's hard to resist!
"And I can sing harmony!" Leni exclaims, her voice boiling with excitement.
"Perfect! Let's make this the best concert ever!" says Luna, her voice full of determination.
Brother and sisters, without forgetting Sam, plunge into rehearsal, each bringing their own unique talents to the table. Lynn returns with a bass guitar slung over her shoulder, plugs it in and begins to play a catchy riff that complements Luna's melody. Who'd have thought it!
"Hmm, I think harmony should be like this," sings Leni, her voice blending perfectly with Luna's.
"That's great!"
Luna beams, her voice booming.
"And I'm going to add some sick rhythms," says Sam, her drumming becoming more complex and dynamic.
"It's going to be epic!" Leni exclaims, her voice full of joy.
The garage has now become a whirlwind of sound and movement as the Lincolns and her sisters with Sam rehearse.
"Okay, let's do it for real!" says Luna, her voice a mixture of excitement and nervousness.
"It's okay," nods Sam, her eyes riveted to the music.
"One, two, three, four!"
Lynn counts them off, and the band explodes into a vibrant crescendo of sound.
Luna's voice rises, the lyrics of "Luna's Lunar Lullaby" telling a story of magic and adventure.
"Time for harmony!" Leni singing her part with surprising skill.
Lynn nods in agreement, her bass line matching Sam's drums.
"This is going to be the best performance ever!" exclaims Luna, her voice full of confidence.
"Don't forget to have fun," Sam reminds her with a reassuring smile.
"And don't forget to breathe," adds Lynn with a hint of concern in her voice.
"I will, I promise!" says Luna, her eyes shining with that same determination. "Now we've got to get that soundcheck right before the big night!"
"One more time, from the top!" Luna calls, her voice echoing in the garage.
Sam nods, adjusting her drums with practiced ease.
"Ready when you are," Lynn says, her bass at the ready.
"I've found the harmonies," says Leni, her voice a soft hum.
"All right, here we go!" calls Luna.
The band starts playing "Luna's Lunar Lullaby", their passion for music echoing through the house.
"Keep it up, Luna, you're killing it!"
Sam's voice is now a melodious mix of encouragement and concentration, her hands a blur on the drums.
"Thanks, Sam!"
Luna's confidence soars, her voice amplifying with every line of the song.
Never taking her eyes off the drums, Sam maintains a steady, strong rhythm, forming the backbone of the band's sound. Leaning against the garage door, sipping her coffee, Lori nods rhythmically, a small smile on her face.
"It's pretty good," she murmurs to herself.
"We're going to blow the roof off the Rock "n" Roll Diner!" exclaims Luna, her voice ringing with excitement.
"Let's make sure we don't blow the garage door off first," jokes Sam, her laughter mingling with the music.
"You sound amazing!" says Lynn, pausing her bass.
"Seriously, you're going to be stars!" Leni raves, her eyes wide with wonder.
"Thanks, guys! I couldn't have done it without you," says Luna, her voice sincere.
"Break a leg tonight, Luna," Sam says with a smile, her chopsticks in a dramatic motion.
"Remember to stay calm until then," Lynn reminds them with a chuckle, her voice a warm, familiar tease.
"Can't wait to see you shine, Luna!"
Leni's enthusiasm is infectious.
"Me neither!" Luna laughs, her cheeks red with excitement.
The rehearsal ends two hours later, with everyone taking a moment to catch their breath.
"Okay, Luna, let's rehearse the bridge one last time," Sam suggests, her voice calm and collected.
"Okay!"
Luna nods, her fingers resting on the strings of her guitar.
Sam's drumsticks beat out the rhythm, Luna's voice and Lynn's bass intermingle, creating a harmonious blend.
"Wow, that sounds so professional!" says Leni, her eyes wide with astonishment.
"Thank you, Leni! You're the best team-mates in the group!" says Luna, smiling radiantly.
As they all share a moment of camaraderie, the sound of a vacuum cleaner is heard upstairs, contrasting sharply with the symphony of the garage.
"What is it?" Luna asks, her eyes widening as the noise of the vacuum cleaner intensifies.
"It's just Luan cleaning," Sam says with a shrug.
"But she's supposed to be the wild one!"
Luna laughs, her voice full of disbelief.
"Well, she has to make less noise for the scales," Sam remarks, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
"I guess we all have our moments of order in the midst of chaos," Luna says with a chuckle, her voice a gentle melody.
In the living room, Luan vacuums with surprising zeal.
"I'm coming with the comedy cleaning crew!"
She starts singing along to the purring of the vacuum cleaner, her clown wig bobbing up and down.
"Luan, you're supposed to be the wild one!" Luna calls to her, her voice over the sound of the vacuum cleaner.
"I have to keep the stage clear for the rockstar!"
Luan yells back, her laughter bouncing off the walls, Sam laughing, the sound a warm, comforting rhythm amid the cacophony.
"Looks like we've got a full house for soundcheck!
"You guys are the best!" says Luna, her voice rising to a crescendo.
"We're just here to help you shine," says Sam, looking serious.
"And maybe to get free food at the restaurant," adds Lynn with a wink.
"And to see you live your dream!" Huh? And to see you live your dream!" repeats Leni awkwardly, her voice a gentle reminder of the importance of the moment with her mind as often as not out of focus.
The scene suddenly unfolds with a touch of the surreal, as Luan's cleaning routine turns into a circus act.
What's going on here?" asks Luna, blinking.
"It's just a little warm-up before the show!" says Luan, juggling a guitar, a trumpet and the family hamster. "You've been dreaming about the concert, haven't you?
"Looks like it," laughs Sam, her eyes crinkling with amusement.
"I think so," admits Luna with a laugh. "But I'm wide awake now, and I'm ready to rock!
The atmosphere changes as Luna realizes the reality of the situation.
"Oh no, not again," moans Luna, wiping drool from her mouth.
"You really need to stop dozing off in class," says her teacher, her voice a mixture of concern and displeasure.
Luna straightens up in her chair, wipes her drool with the back of her hand, then blushes as her classmates start laughing. She finds herself embarrassed and disappointed.
"I've been had again."
The siblings laugh and the scene fades, leaving Luna to face her dilemma.
"Miss Luna Loud, it's time to join us in the land of the living," says the teacher sternly.
"Yes, Miss Huggabees," Luna mumbles, opening her eyes wider.
Her cheeks flush as she realizes that all her classmates are staring at her and glances at her desk, where her head was resting. Sam, sitting behind her, chuckles softly, trying not to let it show.
"It was just a little daydream," protests Luna, her voice hopeful.
"Well, I hope it was educational," says the teacher, raising her eyebrows.
"It was really... musical," offers Sam, his voice a low rumble of amusement.
"I think I'd better stay awake for the real thing tonight," Luna murmurs, her thoughts racing.
Then the school bell rings to signal the end of the day, with students running through the halls, hurrying home.
"Wish me luck, boys," says Luna, gathering up her books.
"Break a leg," says Sam, in a comforting voice.
"You've got everything you need," says Lynn, nodding.
"This is going to be great," says Leni, smiling.
"Thank you," says Luna, her voice a sweet melody of hope. "I'll tell you all about it tomorrow.
She pauses for a moment, turns around, eyes wide, realizing that maybe this wasn't a dream. Luna winks at them, her electric guitar appears in her hands and together, the band begins to play as if by magic, while the powerful sound of a vacuum cleaner begins to drown out the sound of their music. Luna wakes up on the sofa, this time to see her mother vacuuming. She sighs with relief.
"It all makes sense!" she says, with a wry smile.