Chapter five: Welcome back
It was dark outside. It was 6:30 a.m. and Lori and Marisa sat on their table in the kitchen, and ate Pancakes with chocolate chips. They were showered and freshly dressed.
"We pick up Tatiana's at her home?" Marisa asked.
"Yes. We drive with my car." Lori said.
"How long will it take to get to Royal Woods?"
"Three hours. Depending on how many times we go to a gas station." Lori said.
Marisa looked at the small window of the kitchen.
"Still dark." Marisa said.
"Yeah. But it gets summer soon. Then it's bright outside at this time." Lori said.
"I would like to see that when it happens." Marisa said.
"I believe you. It won't take long for that."
"Good." Marisa said and took a fork of her pancake.
They finished their breakfast. They put their dishes into the dishwasher and Lori turned it on.
"I use the bathroom, and then we can leave." Lori said.
"Okay." Marisa answered.
Lori went to the bathroom, closed the door, used the toilet and washed her hands. She left the bathroom and went to Marisa. She was wearing her shoes. Lori put on her shoes.
"We're ready." Lori said.
Lori took two backpacks. They left the apartment, and Marisa locked the door behind them. They both went to the parking lots, and got into Lori's car. Lori sat on the driver seat and Marisa next to her. Lori threw the backpacks on the passenger seats behind her. Lori turned on the engine, and drove out of the parking lots. She went on the Main Street and drove to the suburb where the scrapyard and Tatiana's home was. They turned into the street where Tatiana's home was. They saw Tatiana sitting on the ground of her driveway, with her head bending over, and had a backpack on her back. She was obviously asleep.
"Is she asleep?" Marisa asked with a confused smile.
"She is." Lori said and laughed.
"No way."
Lori stoped her car in front of Tatiana's driveway and turned the motor of. They stared at the sleeping Tatiana in front of them for some moments. Then Lori broke the silence.
"I'm so tempted to honk."
"Don't. She won't like it." Marisa said.
"You're right. She won't."
Lori opened the door, and got out. Marisa followed her. Lori went to her knees, and gently tapped Tatiana's shoulder.
"Hey. Tatiana. Wake up sweetie." Lori said softly.
Tatiana stretched herself and opened her eyes.
"Co?" Tatiana said.
"English Tatiana." Lori said.
"What?" Tatiana said with a tired voice.
Then she looked surprised around.
"Did I fall asleep?" Tatiana asked surprised.
"Yes." Marisa said.
"We just arrived." Lori said.
Tatiana got up and rubbed her eyes.
"Is my backpack still here?"
"Your black backpack? It's on your back." Lori said.
"Ah good. You said you would be here on six and you didn't arrive."
"I said that I set my alarm to six."
"Oh." Tatiana said.
"Come. Let's get it." Lori said.
Tatiana nodded. Lori went on the passenger seat. Marisa sat again next to her, and Tatiana sat on the backseat behind Marisa. She threw her backpack on Lori's and Marisa's.
"Let's go." Tatiana said.
Lori started the engine and turned. Then she went back on the Main Street.
"So, you remember my family, Tatiana?" Lori asked.
"Yes. Your mom, your dad. Then your sisters, Leni, Luna and Luan, the one that had the same name like your father, the twins Lana and Lara, and Lucy. And your brother with the white hair." Tatiana said.
"Very close. The twins are Lana and Lola, and Lynn has the same name like my dad. And my brother is called Lincoln. Prepare on two more sisters. Lisa, she is five now, and really smart. And Lily, she is two."
"Now you're eleven kids? Wow." Tatiana said, impressed.
"Yes. Eleven." Lori said.
"And you're still in the same house?"
"Yes. Leni has now even more place than before since I'm in fairway."
"Im sure that's great for her." Tatiana said.
"Yes."
Lori entered the highway, and followed the traffic signs that had Royal Woods written on them. Three hours and many kilometers later, a sign showed the exit of the highway to Royal Woods. Lori left the highway. The landscape was familiar to Lori. The hills, the forests, the giant power nuclear plant, the farms, and river. All have Lori the feeling of being home again.
"Home Sweet Home." Lori said, while she drove over a bridge that crossed the river.
"I was not here since years." Tatiana said.
"I believe you. Nothing much changed."
Marisa looked out of the window at the houses.
"Every time you take me with you, I have to think how much I like it here." Marisa said.
"You get why I love it." Lori answered.
The car went in the center of the town, and the girls passed the main railway station.
"We're soon there." Lori said.
Lori turned into the Franklin avenue, and parked her car on the driveway of the house number 1216. Lori turned off the engine and pulled the handbrake.
"Were here." Lori said.
Tatiana looked between the seats in front of her, and through the windshield.
"Nothing changed. It is like it was six or seven years ago." Tatiana said.
"Well it still looks good, doesn't it?" Marisa said.
"Yes." Tatiana said.
"Take you backpacks." Lori said.
Lori, Marisa and Tatiana left the car. They took their backpacks from the backseat. Lori locked her car. Then they went to the door.
"I wonder who opens." Lori said, and rang the doorbell.
The door opened, and Rita looked at them.
"Lori!" Rita said overjoyed and hugged her daughter.
"I missed you mom." Lori said.
"I missed you too."
They broke the hug. Rita turned to Marisa.
"Good to see you Marisa. How are you?"
"I'm good." Marisa answered.
Rita looked at Tatiana. She was kinda confused about her.
"And you are?" Rita asked confused.
"Tatiana Jaruzelski." In that moment, Rita remembered her.
"Oh yes. Your the girl with the accent. Lori's best friend. How are you?" Rita asked with a surprised voice.
"Good. Lori and I met in the city. And we spend time again together." Tatiana said.
"Okay. It was so long ago since I saw you the last time. You were much smaller."
"I know." Tatiana said.
"Well come in girls." Rita said.
Lori, Marisa and Tatiana entered the house.
"Do you want something to drink?" Rita asked.
"Yes. Sure." Lori said.
"Alright. I have something in the fridge. Just sit on the couch." Rita said.
Rita went to the kitchen. Lori, Marisa and Tatiana went to the living room, and sat down on the couch. Rita came back with three drinking glasses and a big mug made of glass, with a juicy red liquid in it.
"I made a fruit punch yesterday and I am happy I did." Rita said.
She put the glasses on the small table in front of the couch. Rita poured the fruit punch in the glasses. Lori, Marisa and Tatiana took the drinking glasses, and tasted the punch. It tasted like cherry, apple, pineapple, and a little bit of orange and banana.
"It's good." Tatiana said.
"It is." Marisa said.
"It's really great mom." Lori said.
"Oh. Thank you very much." Rita said with a grateful voice.
"Did the others try or too?" Lori asked.
"Yes. I made two mugs of it. One was empty yesterday."
"Doesn't surprise me."
"Reminds me. Where are your sisters?" Tatiana said.
"Some of them still lay in bed. Lola and Lana are in the backyard, Leni went to the park with Lily, and Lincoln is hanging out with his friends." Rita said.
"Can we go to the twins?" Tatiana asked.
"Sure." Rita said.
Lori, Rita, Marisa and Tatiana got up, went through the kitchen and opened the backdoor. Lola was sitting in her little, pink car. She wasn't driving at all. Instead, Lola admired herself in a small mirror. Lana on the other side was busy climbing around in the tree that was in the backyard. Rita saw Lana.
"Don't climb to high!" Rita said.
"Yes mom." Lana answered. Tatiana walked to Lola.
"You are so big. The last time I saw you you were so small." Tatiana said.
"Who are you?" Lola asked with a suspicious look.
"Tatiana."
Tatiana picked Lola up, taking her out of her small car.
"Hey! What are you doing!?" Lola yelled.
"You still have your temper. You were such a mad little girl."
Tatiana held Lola, with her harms wrapped around her, and with Lola's back on Tatiana's torso. Lola stopped struggling against Tatiana. She leaned her head against Tatiana's chest.
"You liked that when I held you like that when you were a baby." Tatiana said.
Lola didn't answer and just enjoyed being held.
"You have a nice car." Tatiana said.
Lola answered Tatiana with a very relaxed voice.
"I like my car."
"I like it too." Tatiana said with a soft voice.
Lori, Rita and Marisa watched them from door of the kitchen. Lana sat on her tree and was also watching them. Lori and Rita were surprised.
"I rarely have seen Lola that relaxed." Lori whispered.
"Yes. I think she feels like a baby again. I think because Tatiana held Lola often like that when you had to take care of her." Rita whispered.
Lori, Rita and Marisa went into the backyard to Tatiana and Lola. Tatiana turned around. Lola saw Lori.
"Hi Lori." Lola said relaxed.
"Lori!" Lana said overjoyed.
Lana climbed down the tree, and ran to Lori. Lori knelt down. Lana ran to her with open arms, and then they both hugged.
"I'm so happy you're back." Lana said.
"I'm happy too. You grew a little bit." Lori said.
"Really?"
"Yes. You will be a big girl." Lori said with a smile.
Lana felt a warm, happy feeling in her.
"Okay." Lana said with a smile.
"And a very pretty one." Lori said.
"Thanks Lori."
"Hey!" Lola said with a very jealous look.
Tatiana cuddled Lola again.
"You're a very beautiful girl Lola." Tatiana said and cuddled Lola tightly.
Lola for relaxed again.
"I'm beautiful." Lola said and closed her eyes. Loti got up.
"Hey. I don't want to be like that, but we go inside again for a moment. Okay?" Lori said.
"Sure." Rita said.
Tatiana put Lola on the ground. Lola looked stressed at her.
"Why? Hold me again please!" Lola said.
"Don't worry. I'm not far away." Tatiana said.
Lori, Marisa and Tatiana entered the house and went to the dining room. They sat down at the table.
"Nothing changed here." Tatiana said.
"Well, yes. Every time I come here, it feel like I just left." Lori said.
Lori got up and went to the living room. In the next moment, she came back with the mug of fruit punch.
"We need something to drink." Lori said, and put the mug on the table.
She went into the kitchen, and came back with three drinking glasses. She put one in front of Marisa, and Tatiana. Then Lori sat down again.
"So, that's it for now." Lori said.
They sat there, and started to drink the fruit punch.
"Do you continue were you left off?" Marisa asked.
"Where?" Tatiana asked.
"You said something about a carnival and Betty going back to her special school."
"Right. So, Betty was one month in our school, then a month in a special school with teachers specialized for her, and then again with us and so on. And at that weekend was a carnival." Lori said.
October 19th, 2013:
Lori, Carol, Ava, Jane and Betty, Tatiana and Quinn were in the center of Royal Woods. They were wearing their jackets. It was getting colder. Many shops were in this street, and restaurants, and the road was paved with paving stones.
"Why is this Carnival set today, two week before halloween?" Jane asked.
"I is weird." Carol said.
"I think its nice. I remember the last time. It was so nice." Lori said.
"Is this every year?" Tatiana asked with her thick accent.
"I think so." Quinn said.
"Is Betty coming with us?" Tatiana asked.
"Yes. She enjoys the loud music." Jane said.
The girls gave Jane an odd look.
"She can't hear." Lori said.
"But she can feel loud music." Jane answered.
"She feels loud music?" Quinn asked slightly confused.
"When there is extremely loud music, even I can feel it in my belly." Jane said.
"That's impressive." Lori said.
"She can't hear the music but feels it. Poetic." Ava said.
"Someone spoke for the first time since a week." Tatiana said.
Lori, Carol, Jane, and Quinn looked shocked at Ava.
"You need to stop that." Lori said.
Then girls laughed.
"Well now you had your dream Ava." Carol said.
"She had. Anyway we should go to the carnival now." Lori said.
"Yes." Quinn said.
The other girls, except Betty, nodded. Jane took Betty by her hand, and they walked off. Some minutes later, they reached the park. A giant Ferris wheel was built up, and was visible from afar. Many rides, like a roller coaster called "Cat and Mouse", where the roller coaster cars were painted like Tom and Jerry, bumping cars, a crazy house, where all the interior moved around, and a ride called burnout. Burnout was basically a giant arm, with some safety seats at its end. And all it did was swinging one around with a lot of force and speed. The girls looked at the cotton candy stalls, the food stalls, and even the small games it had. And everything had colorful bulbs on it, that made it glow in many colors very brightly.
"This is awesome." Quinn said.
"So cool." Carol said.
"I like it every year here." Lori said.
"It's great. I already love it." Tatiana said.
Then they heard Betty.
"Pmmaaah!"
The girls looked to Betty, who had a big smile on her face. The girls were surprised, and started to smile.
"Betty likes it." Jane said with a smile, holding Betty's hand.
"The best thing is when Betty smiles." Carol said.
"There's nothing more beautiful." Lori said.
"Yes." Ava said.
The girls went into the carnival. Loud music was playing, and the girls felt the beat in their bellies. Betty rarely smiled so much like in this moment. The girls stopped. They stood in front of a yellow ride. It looked like a house. And it was labeled with «crazy house».
"Oh boy! That looks like fun!" Quinn said with a hyped voice.
"Well… Seem so." Carol said with a worried tone.
"I guess… You think that's a good idea Quinn?" Lori asked.
"It has to be fun. Look at the stairs at the entrance!" Quinn said, and pointed at a stair.
It was split in two in the middle. Each side had only place for one foot, and each one was bouncing up and down in the opposite direction.
"That stair promises fun." Quinn said.
The girls noticed that Jane and Betty exchanged words with each other through sign language. Jane turned to the other ones.
"Betty wants to go. And me too." Jane said.
"Okay. We go in." Lori said.
"I guess. How much costs a ride?" Carol asked.
The girls looked at the price list.
"Kids two dollars, and Adults five dollars." Jane said.
"Ah nice. That's worth a penny." Tatiana said, and took out her wallet.
"I pay for you two." Jane said, and looked at Lori and Carol.
"Thank you." Lori said.
"Thank you so much." Carol said.
"Always." Jane said.
The girls split up their money, and paid their entrance. Then the first challenge came. The stairs. Lori put her right foot on the right side of the stair. The stair pulled her up, and then down.
"Oh my!" Lori said shocked.
"Put your left foot on the other stair when it's fully up." Quinn said.
The stair went upwards again. Lori placed her foot on the left side. The left side of the stair pulled her upwards. Now she did the same again with the right side of the stair again. And then again with the left side. Lori reached the end and went immediately on the non moving ground.
"That was wild." Lori said.
Carol came up fast, using the same method like Lori.
"I think that's just the start." Carol said.
Betty reached the top of the stairs anf placed herself next to Lori and Carol. She was extremely happy.
"Hmmpaa!"
"At least Betty has fun." Lori said. Quinn reached the top.
"Much more fun is about to come." Quinn said.
Jane reached them.
"I heard that Betty is really happy." Jane said.
"She is." Lori said.
Ava came up the stairs. She didn't have any smile on her face.
"Are you even entertained by that?" Quinn asked.
Ava shrugged. Then the girls shrugged. They entered the crazy house. It was kinda dark inside. Lori stepped on a ground plate. It started to shake loudly. Lori started to panic.
"Ahh!!!" Lori screamed.
"What happened?" Carol said, and went to Lori.
Carol got on the plate and immediately knew what.
"Ahhh!!! This is terrible!" Carol said upset.
Lori and Carol walked on and out of the aisle with the shaking ground. They heard a sharp scream from the aisle they were before. Betty ran out of it and stood next to Lori and Carol, panting loudly. Jane came out of the aisle.
"I forgot to warn her." Jane said.
"I heard that!" Lori said upset.
Quinn, Tatiana and Ava left the aisle.
"This was awesome." Quinn said happily.
"We almost got as scared at Lori and Carol!" Tatiana said.
"Not me." Ava said, with stressed eyes.
"You jumped at me and held at me, Kurwa!"
"Calm down tatiana." Lori said.
"We still have a lot in front of us." Carol said.
"Yes!" Quinn said happily.
They went on. The next room was full of pillars, wrapped around with foam, covered by truck tarpaulin. The pillars were close to each other, and it was narrow. The girls looked into the room, and then slowly at Quinn.
"What?!" Quinn asked.
"You will get stuck here." Carol said, and poked the corner of Quinn's belly.
Quinn twitched.
"Ouch! No I won't!"
"You will." Jane said.
"No?"
"Oh yes you will."
"No… I don't…" Quinn said unsure.
"You will." Ava said.
"Ohhh…"
Quinn looked concerned at the floor. The girls started to go through the room. Lori went through, Followed by Carol, Betty, Jane, and then by Quinn. Quinn struggled to get through.
"This is so tight!" Quinn said.
"I knew it!" Carol said from the exit of the room.
"I'm not stuck!" Quinn said.
Quinn struggled on, and reached Lori, Carol, and Betty and Jane. Tatiana came through the room.
"You took the longest."
Ava appeared behind her.
"Huh. And Ava was the fastest." Tatiana said.
"She is the thinnest of us." Jane said.
"Yes." Carol said.
The girls walked on. They reached a yellow metal wall, with a short tube in it.
"Well, maybe here?" Carol said.
"No." Quinn said.
Lori climbed through the tube. Followed by Betty, Jane, Ava and Quinn. And Quinn got stuck.
"I knew it!" Carol said.
"For real? You got stuck?" Lori asked.
"Yes…" Quinn said devastated.
"And of course I need to push her butt!" Carol said upset.
"We need to get her free." Lori said.
"Or should she be stuck there forever?" Jane said.
"I guess not." Carol said.
"Good. Now let us set her free." Lori said.
Lori and Jane took Quinn's hands. Carol started to push Quinn from behind.
"Move! You're so heavy!" Carol said while pushing.
"Why do you have to eat so much garbage!" Lori said while pulling Quinn's hands.
Carol stopped, and continued to push with her hands. Quinn slowly moved.
"Slowly! Oh my god!" Carol said.
Quinn fell out of the tube. She got up. Betty was grinning.
"Why is she grinning?" Quinn asked.
Jane looked at Betty and moved her hands. Carol climbed through the tube.
"What is Betty doing?" Carol asked.
"Grinning." Lori said.
Betty answered. Jane spoke her words.
"You… brought me here… this is… a creepy place… I thought… my heart stopped… I enjoyed… every moment… of you… being stuck."
"Are you trying to insult me?!" Quinn asked upset.
Jane translated what Quinn said. Betty raised her finger, and took out the pen and the small black notebook out of her dress pocket. She wrote something down, and then showed it to Quinn.
«Maybe, Kurwa.»
"That's so mean!" Quinn said.
"What did she say?" Jane asked, and took the notebook out of Betty's hand.
She read what Betty wrote, and looked angry at Tatiana.
"Why did you teach Betty that word?" Jane asked upset.
"Oh… I might thought that Betty could use that word?" Tatiana said.
"Is it Kurwa?" Lori asked.
"Of course it is." Jane said.
Jane turned to Betty, and moved her hands.
"Don't… use that word… again." Jane said while moving her hands.
Betty rolled her eyes and nodded. The girls walked on. They reached a slide. It was a wide slide, was shiny, made of metal, and even Quinn was able to fit through.
"Finally something nice." Carol said.
"Oh yes." Lori said.
"Yes." Quinn said.
"Oh yes. Betty is hyped." Jane said.
Betty was smiling, while she looked at the slide.
"Then let's go down." Lori said.
Lori slid down, followed by Carol, Tatiana, Quinn, Jane and Betty, and Ava. They went to the next obstacle. It was a giant tube. So big that even a grown man could walk through. But with a catch. It was rotating.
"So… how do we get through that?" Quinn asked.
"Easy." Tatiana said.
Tatiana got into the tube, and walked sideways, while walking forward. Some seconds later, Tatiana was at the other end.
"Easy." Tatiana said again.
The girls looked at each other, and nodded. Lori, Carol, and Quinn got into the tube. They walked like Tatiana, and reached the other end. Ava, Jane and Betty entered the tube. Betty moved her hands. Jane laughed.
"What did she say?" Ava asked.
"She said, I'm a hamster." Jane said.
Ava, Jane and Betty left the tube. Lori and Carol held their hands on their mouths, and looked like they felt not good at all.
"What's wrong with you?" Jane asked.
"They feel sick." Tatiana said.
"This turning thing is horrible." Lori said, with a kind of tired voice.
"This was too much." Carol said.
"Is it really that bad?" Jane asked.
Lori and Carol nodded. "But this tunnel was crazy." Quinn said.
"It was." Tatiana said.
"Betty liked it." Jane said.
"It was okay." Ava said.
"Wasn't it more than okay?" Quinn asked.
Ava shrugged.
"I kinda knew she would shrug." Lori said.
"She always does." Carol said.
"One day we will make you talk a lot and laugh loud." Jane said.
Ava shook her head, and had a facial expression that said something like, «No, you won't».
The girls got annoyed.
"It's not fun to hang out with you when you act like that." Quinn said.
"For real." Lori said.
"Life isn't fun. We have no goal in life. All we are are some small things on a giant rock that turns around a star called sun." Ava said.
All, except Betty looked with widened eyes at Ava. Ava's eyes wandered from the left to the right.
"Do you want to continue?" Ava asked.
"Yes." Quinn said quietly.
The girls nodded. They went to the next obstacle. They stood in front of the next obstacle. It was a bridge. Made of thick rubber, that bend when someone stepped on it. Lori stepped on it.
"Uh." Lori said nervously.
"All alright?" Tatiana asked.
"Yes. Just strange. The bridge bends."
Lori walked carefully to the other end. It was hard to walk. Every step was different. And it wasn't even a lot of light in this crazy house. Carol followed, holding Betty's hand, who was behind her. Betty got startled at one moment.
"Pa!"
"All alright Betty, this… Right… you can't hear me." Carol said.
Carol and Betty reached Lori at the other side. Quinn and Tatiana followed.
"This bridge is pain to walk on." Quinn said.
Then Jane and Ava followed.
"I know now why Betty got startled." Jane said.
They reached the other side.
"And now?" Tatiana asked.
"The next one." Lori said.
They went in the next room. On the floor was a conveyor belt that was running.
"I think we just need to step on it." Lori said.
Jane went to Betty, and moved her hands. Betty nodded.
"Then let's go." Carol said.
Lori got on the conveyor belt, followed by Carol, Betty and Jane, Ava, Quinn, and Tatiana. The conveyor belt took them slowly forward, to an end of a tunnel, where light was. It was the exit. They got off of the belt, and stood now in front of the crazy house. The girls stood there, and looked at each other.
"That was the most unusual house I ever saw." Carol said.
"I'm sure it has to be that way." Quinn said.
"Even if it's name is crazy house, what it is, it's still the most unusual house I've ever entered." Lori said.
Betty moved her hands. Jane nodded and translated.
"I don't go… again… in this house… It's scary." The girls nodded.
"Tell her that we understand that." Lori said.
Jane moved her hands.
"I find a time to come back some day." Quinn said.
"How you want." Carol said.
The girls went away from the crazy house, and got to a candy stand. They got some sweet stuff to snack. Quinn had a pack of ginger bread cookies. Lori, Jane and Betty had cotton candy, Carol a rainbow colored lollipop, and Tatiana a white and red colored one. Ava had nothing.
"Why didn't you choose anything?" Lori said, and ate a little bit of her cotton candy.
"You didn't even want the black coke bonbons." Carol said.
"Why didn't you take anything of that beautiful stuff?" Quinn asked and ate another gingerbread cookie.
"A dark soul doesn't need candy." Ava said.
The girls rolled their eyes. Betty took a piece of the cotton candy and looked at it with wide, happy eyes. Then she ate it. She looked really happy.
"Great to see Betty like this." Carol said.
"Yes. In her special school, she gets no sweets. She leaves tomorrow by the way. And only comes back for Halloween and then away. One month, only Halloween where I see her." Jane said.
The girls looked sad at Betty, who ate her cotton candy.
"Two weeks. Only Halloween. And then again two weeks. Without Betty." Lori said.
"It's not fair." Quinn said.
"You all know it's a compromise. She can't learn well here. She is only here because our school, her school, and my parents allowed it." Jane said.
"We will miss her as much as you do." Carol said.
Ava put her right hand on Betty's shoulder. Betty looked at her, and held her cotton candy to Ava, suggesting her to try some. Ava nodded, and took a bit of the cotton candy, and ate it. Betty smiled. The girls felt touched.
"At least you eat candy for Betty." Jane said.
"Only for Betty." Ava said.
The girls finished eating their candy, and went on. They stood in front of the Tom and Jerry themed roller coaster. They stared awkwardly at the roller coaster cars that looked either like Tom, or like Jerry.
"Tom and Jerry…" Carol said.
"Yes. Tom and Jerry." Lori said.
Betty moved her hands, and the girls understood that she said something about hitting something small.
"What did she say?" Quinn asked.
"She loves Tom and Jerry. She thinks it's funny how Tom tried to catch Jerry." Jane said.
"Does she want to ride the roller coaster?" Tatiana asked.
Jane moved her hands. Betty nodded.
"She wants." Jane said.
The girls nodded.
"Okay. Let's take a ride." Lori said.
"What's the price of one ride?" Quinn asked.
The girls looked at the price list.
"Five dollars." Carol said.
"Sounds fair." Tatiana said.
"It's a little overpriced." Jane said.
"Says the rich girl." Carol said. Jane got annoyed.
"Yeah yeah! I still can think it's overpriced. And the actual rich girl is Tatiana. With that giant villa in Warsaw her family owns." Jane said.
"I guess?" Tatiana said with a confused look.
"You're that girl who's uncle gave you hundred bucks, because you just asked him. How much did he have you for today?"
Tatiana took her walled, and counted her money.
"Two hundred." Tatiana said.
They all looked shocked at Tatiana. The girls payed their tickets and went on the coaster. Quinn, Jane, Betty and Carol got on one that looked like Jerry the mouse. Quinn struggled to get into the roller coaster seat.
"Even in the roller coaster." Jane said.
"Everything is so tight." Quinn said.
"Or maybe you're too fat?"
Quinn got slightly mad. Jane sat down next to Quinn. Betty and Carol sat down in the seats behind them. The safety holding came down and secured them. The roller coaster car started to roll, and got pulled up.
"Now it starts." Carol said.
"Yes." Jane said and looked behind her.
She saw Betty who was smiling. Jane raised her thumb. Betty raised hers. The roller coaster went over the top of the trees. Carol didn't have the courage to look down.
"My god is that high." Carol whispered.
Carol looked to Betty. She was hyped up. Betty noticed Carol, and took her hand.
"Thanks Betty." Carol said.
Betty smiled at her. The roller coaster reached the top, and stopped. The sun blinded them.
"Uh, why did we stop?" Quinn asked.
In that moment, the roller coaster leaned forward, and accelerated. The girls felt a cold shock. The roller car rushed down, and got up, very close over a kebab stand.
"Ohh my god!!!" Carol yelled.
Betty was extremely entertained by the ride.
"Hmmaaa!"
The roller coaster went up. They went now slowly through a curve, that was again at the height of the trees. Then it went down again, driving fast. They went through a spiral. Quinn saw how the whole world around her turned, and heard very behind her, laughing. She sounded like Jane. They went out of the spiral.
"Oh my god…" Jane said.
The coaster went through a looping. Carol, Quinn and Jane felt kinda exhausted of it. Betty on the other side enjoyed every moment of it. The coaster went up, and down. Then through a sharp curve. The coaster went into the start again, and stopped. Carol and Quinn felt dizzy. They all got out.
"That was too much." Quinn said.
"Way too much…" Carol said.
Betty moved her hands. She looked happy. Jane nodded.
"She thinks it was awesome. I also think it was awesome." Jane said.
"I'm glad she had more of the fun. I didn't." Carol said.
"It was way too much." Quinn said.
"You already said that!" Carol said upset.
"I know. But it's all I can say now." Quinn said.
Another roller coaster car arrived. Lori, Ava and Tatiana got out. Lori and Ava felt dizzy.
"This was too much." Lori said.
"Even Lori says the same." Quinn said.
On a monitor, they saw a photo. It showed Quinn, Jane, Carol and Betty on the roller coaster. The hair of all of them was waving in the air from pure speed. Quinn, Jane and Carol were screaming. Betty on the other hand had the time of her life.
"Oh my god." Jane said embarrassed.
"Uh…" Quinn said and blushed.
"I look horrible when I scream." Carol said with a quiet voice.
Lori and Tatiana laughed. Betty looked at the photo and was happy.
"Pmma!"
Betty took out her walled, and went to the cashier who sold the tickets.
"She gets this moment so she shows it to you forever." Lori laughed.
"Betty does a good job." Tatiana said and laughed.
A new photo appeared. It showed Lori, Tatiana and Ava in their roller coaster car. Lori and Tatiana hugged each other and were screaming. Ava who sat behind them had widened eyes. They all saw the fear she had.
"You were almost as scared as us." Carol said.
"Hmmm…" Lori said annoyed.
"It only fun when I make fun of you." Tatiana said.
Betty went to them with two photos. One was the photo with herself, and the other one was the one with Lori, Tatiana and Ava. Betty stretched the photo from Lori, Ava and Tatiana to Lori. Lori took it. She felt touched.
"Aww thanks Betty." Lori said and gave Betty a hug.
"Kurwa why did she get that?!" Tatiana asked.
"This is not a good photo." Ava said.
"Why? Because you show some emotions there?" Lori asked.
Ava went silent.
"That's what I thought." Jane said.
They went away from the roller coaster. They got to a stand that was for can throwing.
"I want to do that." Carol said.
"Me too." Quinn said.
Jane moved her hands. Betty nodded.
"Betty wants too." Jane said.
"Okay. Come with us Betty." Carol said, and took Betty by her hand.
They went to the stand. The showman who operated the stand was preparing the cans.
"How much does it cost?" Carol asked.
"Three balls, three dollars." The showman said.
"We take ten." Carol said, and stretched ten dollars to the showman.
He took the money, and handed them ten balls.
"Thank you." Carol said.
She turned to Quinn and Betty, and gave three to Quinn, and four to Betty. She kept three balls herself.
"Let's see how well we do." Carol said.
"Why did you give four to Betty?" Quinn asked.
"I didn't want to pay nine dollars, and Betty deserves four balls to throw."
"Who throws first?" Quinn asked.
"I do first, then you, and then Betty." Carol said.
"And how do you want to tell her?"
"Uhm…"
Carol thought hard. She looked at Betty. Carol made a move that looked like she was throwing the ball. The. She pointed at herself, then at Quinn, and then at Betty. Betty looked awkwardly at Carol and nodded.
"I think she got it." Carol said.
"I guess." Quinn answered.
Carol turned around. The looked at the can pyramid. She threw the first ball. It hit the right can directly below the the one on the top. Two fell.
"Dang it." Carol said.
She threw the next ball. It hit right in the center. Only three cans stood, the rest fell. Carol threw the last ball at the cans, and hit two of them.
"Wow. Well done." Quinn said.
Betty smiled. The showman nodded.
"Nine out of ten. That's not bad. Well, take your price."
The showman pointed at a wall with many middle sized plushies. There were many plushies at the wall. From cats to dogs, dolphins and even shark, up to plushie snails, and even snakes.
"Uhm…" Carol said.
Carol saw a rainbow tie-dyed dolphin that had a unicorn horn on its head. Carol pointed at it.
"That rainbow dolphin." Carol said.
"Alright." The showman said.
He took the dolphin from the wall and gave it to Carol.
"You are so cute." Carol said.
Quinn started to throw her balls at the cans. Lori, Jane, Tatiana and Ava looked awkwardly at Carols dolphin plushie.
"It looks weird." Tatiana said.
"It has too much colors." Ava said. Lori went to Carol.
"Are you really into something like that?" Lori asked.
"Yes. If it's cute. And this one is a cutie. Look at him." Carol said, and showed Lori the dolphin.
Lori nodded with an awkward smile. Quinn threw her last ball at the cans, hitting two cans. She hit six out of ten.
"Dang. Only six." Quinn said frustrated.
"Not bad." The showman said.
He pointed at another wall with smaller plushies.
"Take the one you like."
Quinn looked at the plushies. She pointed to one she liked. It was a baby blue gopher.
"The blue gopher there."
The showman took the plushie and gave it to Quinn. Quinn looked at it.
"This one is cute."
Betty threw her balls at the cans. They all fell, except one. Nine out of ten.
"Well done. Take your price."
The showman pointed at the plushies. Betty looked at the plushies. She saw a gray cat. She pointed at it. The showman took a penguin, and stretched it out to Betty. Betty shook her head and pointed on the cat.
"Girl you need to tell me what you want." The showman said.
"She can't hear you. She is deaf." Carol said.
"Oh… My bad."
The showman put the penguin back and pointed at a parrot. Betty shook her head again. Then she pointed at the cat. Betty nodded. The showman took the cat and gave it to Betty. Betty looked with a happy face at the cat plushie.
Betty went to Lori, Carol, Jane, Tatiana, Quinn, and Ava. Held the cat plushie and showed it to her friends. She had a big smile on her face.
"Wonderful… You did… well." Jane said and moved her hands.
"Great Betty!" Lori said and raised her thumps.
"You did so well." Carol said.
"She can't hear us." Tatiana said.
Ava made gesture with her hands. She gestured a ball, then a throwing motion, and then raised her thumps. Betty started to smile even more.
"That wasn't bad." Jane said.
Lori, Quinn, Carol, and Tatiana looked surprised at Ava.
"How do you know sign language already?" Carol asked surprised.
"I've watched how they talk since I've known them." Ava said.
"So you watched them and learned it?" Tatiana asked.
"I had to focus. I can't understand everything they say." Ava said.
"And how much?" Quinn asked.
"Less than half of it."
"I understand nothing when they talk." Carol said.
"Me neither." Lori said.
The girls went on. It was slowly starting to get dark. Then Lori saw something she liked.
"Ah look." Lori said.
She pointed at a bumper car ride.
"Who wants to go on the bumper cars?"
Jane moved her hands. Betty nodded.
"Betty and I." Jane said.
"And me." Tatiana said.
"What about you?" Lori asked, and looked at Quinn, Carol and Ava.
"We're okay." Carol said.
"We wait here." Ava said.
"Alright." Lori said, and went to the cashier.
Jane and Tatiana followed her. Betty went to Ava, and gave her the plushie cat.
"Hmaa!"
Betty went to Lori, Jane and Tatiana. Carol and Quinn looked impressed at Ava, who looked at the cat Plushie.
"Wow. She immediately trusted you her toy." Carol said.
"She really trusts you." Quinn said.
"I guess." Ava said.
"Feel honored. Being Betty's friend is the best thing that could happen to you." Carol said.
Lori, Tatiana, and Jane and Betty paid for the bumper cars. They went on the ride. The bumper cars were standing still.
"Come Tatiana. Let's take this red one." Lori said.
"Yes." Tatiana said.
Jane moved her hands. She pointed to a blue bumper car. Betty nodded. They sat down in the bumper car. Lori and Tatiana sat in their red bumper car.
"We will show them who's the boss." Lori said.
"Yes. We will do it!" Tatiana said.
Lori put the coin she got into the bumper car. Then they waited.
"Who does what?" Tatiana asked.
"I press the gas pedal, and you take the steering wheel. Okay?" Lori said.
"Yes!" Tatiana said overjoyed.
The bumper cars twitched. The lights went on.
"Let's go!" Lori yelled overjoyed, and pressed the pedal.
The bumper car drove forward.
Tatiana held the steering wheel.
"There!" Tatiana said, and turned the steering wheel to the left.
They bumped in another bumper car, wich was driven by two girl, who where a bit younger then them. Tatiana and Lori laughed. Tatiana turned the steering wheel to the left, and the bumper car drove backwards. She then turned it to the right and the car drove forward again. Tatiana drove around like crazy. She looked around.
"I wanna hit Jane and Betty." Tatiana said.
"Me too!" Lori said.
Tatiana bumped into an older teenager, around at the age of eighteen. He laughed. Tatiana turned away and drove it around, evading other bumper cars. Tatiana saw Jane and Betty in their bumper car.
"I saw them!" Tatiana said.
"You're about to…"
Lori and Tatiana almost fell out of their bumper car. Jane and Betty turned around and looked at them, smiling with shock. Betty turned the steering wheel around.
"Oh oh oh!" Tatiana said, turned the steering wheel around, and drove away.
Lori turned her head back and saw Jane and Betty following them.
"They're after us!" Lori said and laughed.
"I know." Tatiana said.
A bumper car, driven by a father and his son, bumped into Lori's and Tatiana's bumper car. Then they felt a strong bump from behind. Jane and Betty hit them. Jane and Betty laughed.
"Gotcha!" Jane said.
Jane and Betty turned their bumper car and drove away. Tatiana turned the bumper car around and started to chase down Jane and Betty. But in mid of the chase, the power was cut off. The bumper car ride was over. Lori and Tatiana got out of their bumper car and went to Jane and Betty, who got to the exit.
"That was fun." Tatiana said.
"It was." Jane said.
"Betty enjoyed it?" Lori asked.
"Very."
"She had a big smile." Tatiana said.
"Yes."
They walked to Carol, Quinn and Ava. Ava held Betty's Cat Plushie. But she was also holding a giant spider plushie, and she was smiling. Lori, Tatiana, Jane and Betty were surprised seeing Ava smiling.
"Is Ava… Happy?" Tatiana asked surprised.
"Where did you get that spider from?" Jane asked.
"There was a lottery. Ava won it." Carol said.
Betty went to Ava, and pointed at her cat plushie.
"Here." Ava said, and gave the cat plushie to Betty.
Betty smiled and hugged the cat plushie.
"I never saw you smiling like that." Lori said.
Ava tried to suppress her smile. But it was still obvious how happy she was. They went on, and reached the Ferris wheel. It was dark, and the carnival got lit up by colorful lights. The girls paid for a ride in the Ferris wheel, and entered a cab. It started to move, and stop.
"Why did it stop?" Tatiana asked.
"They need to let some people in." Carol said.
The Ferris wheel moved again. They were now on the height of the tree tops.
"We are high off the ground." Lori said.
"That's not even half the height." Jane said.
They got further up. Eventually they were almost on the top. The Ferris wheel stopped. The roofs of the buildings near the park looked small. They looked around. The girls saw the lights of the town, the tv broadcast towers red plane obstruction lights in the distance, and in the other direction the red plane obstruction lights of the two cooling towers of the nuclear power plant, and in the distance the light of a train heading out of a area where a forest was. They looked in another direction again, seeing now neighborhoods where the houses had light in their windows.
The girls were amazed.
"Wow." Quinn said.
"I never saw something like this." Tatiana said.
"The houses are so small." Jane said.
Lori looked at Betty. Betty's mouth was open and she started on awe at the lights.
"Betty is amazed." Lori said.
"I get why." Ava said.
"I think I see my house." Carol said with joy.
They enjoyed the ride on the Ferris wheel. Shortly after that, they left the park where the carnival was.
"What a lovely day." Quinn said.
"It really was. Especially with this lady here." Carol said and laid her arm around Betty's shoulders.
Betty looked at Carol and blinked slowly. Then Betty grabbed Jane's hand.
"I think especially Betty had a good day." Lori said.
"I am sure she did." Tatiana said.
"So, we go home now?" Quinn asked.
"Yes. I think so." Jane said.
"Alright. Bye girls."
Quinn went into the streets.
"We go now too. Was fun." Jane said.
"Bye." Lori said.
Jane and Betty waved at them, and left.
"Same for me now." Tatiana said.
"See you." Carol said.
"Bye." Ava said, and waved at her friends.
Then Tatiana and Ava left. Lori and Carol looked at each other.
"Maybe tomorrow?" Carol asked.
"I guess. Channel 37?" Lori asked.
"Alright. Take care."
Carol left. Lori waved at her, and then walked home.
Saturday, April 4 2020:
Lori, Marisa and Tatiana sat at the table. They drank all of the fruit punch.
"I won't forget that day." Tatiana said.
"Your first carnival. I remember how badly you wanted the carnival to come back." Lori said.
"Yes. It's again in half a year? Right?"
"Yes."
"I never was at a carnival." Marisa said.
"Really?" Lori asked surprised.
"You missed a lot." Tatiana said.
"I know. But there was never an opportunity." Marisa said.
"I take you with me if I see an opportunity." Tatiana said.
"Would be nice."
"We can have a lot of fun." Lori said.
Half an hour later, it rang on the doorbell. Rita went to it, and one minute later, she came to Lori, Marisa and Tatiana with pizza boxes.
"I got something for you. I didn't expect you to come here. Otherwise I would have cooked for you." Rita said.
"All okay mom." Lori said.
"Thank you a lot Mrs loud." Tatiana said.
Rita smiled and put the pizza boxes on the table. The three pizzas Rita got were all different. One was with salami, one with extra cheese, and one was a margarita. Lori took the margarita pizza, Marisa from the extra cheese, and Tatiana and Rita from the salami pizza.
"So, what is up these days? What are the other ones doing?" Lori asked.
"If you mean the typical stuff, Leni prepares for her last year in school. Luna is doing fine. She does her typical stuff. Luan had a bigger comedy show two weeks ago. Lynn is still sport addicted like you knew her. Though the coach says that she should hold back. Lincoln is often with his friend Clyde in town. Lucy's writing improved a lot. She is really good at handling language. Lola and Lana are… well you saw them. Lana is often in the forest lately. And Lola currently takes a short break from her contests. Lisa reads a ton of books lately. And Lily is doing well at the kindergarten. Though she had a phase where she was… exhausting." Rita said.
"Wow. Sounds like it's going well." Lori said, impressed.
"It is." Rita said and took another piece of the salami pizza.
"I'm impressed that you have eleven kids." Tatiana said.
"Ah. It's unique, I know." Rita said.
"You already were a big family when I was here years ago."
"Yes."
"And you decided to make it even bigger?"
"Hmm… Yes." Rita said and nodded.
"Impressive."
"But after Lily, we decided that it was enough." Rita said.
"What you said just sounded kinda cruel." Lori said.
"I had eleven kids, Lori. There is a moment where I think it's enough. And eleven are enough."
Lola and Lana ran into the dining room.
"Did we smell…" Lana started to say.
Lola finished Lana's sentence.
"Pizza?"
"Yes." Rita said.
"Can we have some?" Lola and Lana said in the same moment.
"Calm down first." Rita said.
"We are calm." Lola and Lana said.
"Really?" Rita asked with an awkward look.
"Yes." Lola and Lana said simultaneously.
Lori snapped in that moment.
"Just listen to what mom says!" Lori said loudly.
Lola and Lana looked at each other. They looked like they got mad. Then they left the dining room. Lori and Rita sighed in relief.
"Oof. They're away." Lori said.
"They will be back in five minutes." Rita said.
"You made them mad." Tatiana said.
"They have to put up with it." Rita said.
"They're way too hyperactive." Lori said.
"Okay. But I think you were too harsh with them." Tatiana said.
"I think that too." Marisa said.
"That's something I did often when I still lived here." Lori said.
"I'm kinda happy that you weren't my older sister." Tatiana said quietly, and ate a new piece of pizza.
"We had enough fights. Never mind. Is the pizza good?" Lori asked.
Tatiana nodded.
"And yours?" Lori asked and looked at Marisa.
"It's great." Marisa said.
The time went on. It was six am. The family had dinner already. Lori, Marisa, Rita, Lynn senior, Leni, Luna, Lincoln, Lucy, Lily and Tatiana sat in the living room. Tatiana held Lily in her arms.
"This is like when Lola and Lana were two years old." Tatiana said.
"You carried them often. And your other friend Carole's Lucy around." Rita said.
"Ava. Her name was Ava." Lori said.
"Right. She had a big influence on Lucy." Lynn senior said.
"Yes… A really big one." Rita said and looked at Lucy.
"I can kinda remember Tatiana. She was gone from one day to another. With the other ones." Lincoln said.
"Oh I liked you all so much." Leni said.
"How did you end up in Great Lake?" Luna asked.
The family that took care of me moved there. I of course went with them. There I finished high school, and started a business almost two years ago." Tatiana said.
The Louds nodded impressed.
"What business?" Lincoln asked.
"A scrapyard." Tatiana answered.
The Louds have her confused looks. Luna smiled.
"Something that really fits you." Luna said.
"Yes. I love working there." Tatiana said.
"Hehe. I remember how much you liked to go to the scrapyard here."
"Oh I did."
"That's like Lana. Except she isn't a scrap girl, more a mod and nature girl." Lincoln said.
"I think they would get along really well." Rita said. Lori looked at the time on her phone.
"We will go now." Lori said.
"Ah. Where?" Rita asked.
"A hotel."
"Ah okay."
"Sad that you leave already." Leni said.
"Will you come tomorrow again?" Lynn senior asked.
"Yeah. It's a Sunday after all. But we leave at afternoon." Lori said.
"Yeah! We have you Tomorrow." Luna said.
"Great." Lincoln said with a smile.
Lori got up with Marisa. Tatiana reached Lily to Rita.
"Here. Take her." Tatiana said.
"Yes." Rita said and took Lily in her arms.
Tatiana got up and went to Lori and Marisa.
"Bye. See you tomorrow." Lori said.
"Bye." Rita said.
"Take care." Lynn senior said.
"See you tomorrow." Lincoln said.
Lori, Marisa and Tatiana went to the door, and left.
"Which hotel will we stay at?" Marisa asked.
"Hotel Oak. It's more in the southern part." Lori said.
"Do they have rooms with three beds?" Tatiana asked.
"It's the biggest hotel in town. I'm sure they have." Lori said.
They went in Lori's car, and went to the hotel. They got a key for a room and went upstairs. Lori opened the door, and entered with her friends. The room had three beds, a big balcony and a big bathroom.
"Wow." Marisa said.
"This is nice." Tatiana said.
"We got a good room." Lori opened her backpack and took out fresh clothes.
"I take a shower. I'll be right back." Lori said.
"Alright. Enjoy it." Marisa said.
Lori went into the bathroom. Tatiana locked the door of the room, and went to Marisa.
"I'm on the balcony. I need to make a call." Tatiana said.
"Okay." Marisa said.
Tatiana went to the balcony. She closed the door behind her, and sat down on a plastic chair next to a white table. Tatiana took her phone. The background of the phone was a selfie of a woman in her age. She looked like she came from mid Asia. She had tan skin and brown hair that was so long that it reached her upper back. She was wearing a light blue tank top and black jeans, with black boots. Tatiana went to the call list, and took a contact, making a video call. The call got answered. The woman looked happily at Tatiana. She spoke with a slight accent that sounded like central Asian origin.
"You're calling me!"
"Of course Madina. I can't have a day without talking to you." Tatiana said.
"Same. I really miss you." Madina said.
"I miss you too. But we will lay in our arms together tomorrow."
"Yes. Talking about tomorrow, will we do anything?"
"Yes of course. I make the goulash you like, we east it, and then we watch a movie. How does this sound like?" Tatiana asked.
"I agree. Only if you hold me while watching the movie." Madina said.
"I can hold you. And I can kiss you."
"You love kissing me."
"I'm very passionate about this."
"I know, love."
"I love you Madina."
Madina put her phone on a table, and formed a heart with her hands.
"I love you too."
"See you tomorrow." Tatiana said.
"See you tomorrow Tati." Madina said.
"Bye."
The call ended. Tatiana got up, and went back to the room. Lori sat on her bed and typed something on her smartphone. Marisa laid on her bed and looked at the ceiling.
"Was your talk good?" Marisa asked.
"It was." Tatiana said.
"Who did you talk to?" Lori asked.
"Ah, not important."
"Okay. You're the next to shower, Tatiana."
"Okay." Tatiana said.
She took her backpack and took out fresh clothes to sleep. Then Tatiana went in the bathroom, and locked the door.
"This is a good bathroom." Lori said.
"Ah. Really?" Marisa asked.
"You have in the shower a step, as high as your knees. And you can sit on that while showering. It's the best way I ever took a shower."
"That sounds great." Marisa said.
"Yes. I need something like that at home."
"You know we can't let the bathroom get renovated like we want."
"Sadly you're right. I really need to find my own place to live."
"With Bobby?"
"With Bobby of course."
Some minutes went by. Tatiana left the Bathroom, barefoot; wearing a grey tank top, black jogging pants, and she had wet hair.
"This shower is wonderful." Tatiana said.
"Sounds familiar." Marisa said.
"What?"
"I said the same as you. The possibility to sit down is great, right?" Lori asked.
"Oh yes. I know exactly what my bathroom will get next week." Tatiana said.
Lori and Marisa looked at each other, and then at Tatiana.
"Can we use your bathroom sometimes?" Marisa asked.
Tatiana looked awkwardly at them.
"Uhm… If you need to… I guess." Tatiana said.
Marisa got up, overjoyed.
"Thanks! Now it's my turn!"
Marisa took her clothes to sleep and went fast into the bathroom. Tatiana and Lori looked at the door of the bathroom that got locked. Lori and Tatiana looked at each other.
"What's the deal with her?" Tatiana asked.
"She is just hyped." Lori said.
"For a shower?"
"Yeah. You also liked it."
"Yeah. It's a great shower."
"You see." Lori said and smiled.
"Yes." Tatiana said and sat on her bed.
Some minutes later, Marisa came out of the bathroom. She was wearing a brown t-shirt and soft black pants.
"This was better than I expected." Marisa said.
"Like I told you." Lori said.
"We're kinda crazy." Tatiana said.
"Oh yes. We are."
Lori got up from her bed.
"It's time to sleep."
"I guess." Marisa said.
"Well, good night then." Tatiana said, laid in her bed and covered herself with the blanket.
Marisa also laid down and covered herself.
"Good night." Marisa said.
"Night." Tatiana answered.
"Good night." Lori said.
Lori turned off the light, and went to her bed. She laid down, covered herself with the blanket, and closed her eyes.
End of the Chapter