A Songbook In The Making//S.M.

6. Strings (2)

"Years flew by, I was less than 12
Long division, I need your help
Can you come on over
And work with me
Anytime you like
I'll make it work for me
Cause I knew back when
If we get too close
When the time is right
Maybe I'll propose
Baby climb on up, show me the ropes"

"Please, Lu." Shawn's voice flooded Lucy's ears, muffled by the phone.

"I don't know, Shawn, I'm pretty busy." Lucy said. Except she wasn't, really. Well she did have some homework, but, it was Saturday, and she really didn't want to climb across their tree, and tutor Shawn in math.

"Please? We have a test Tuesday, and I'm really behind in this chapter."

"Come on, it's so easy. It's division, Shawn."

"Yeah, long division. I really need your help."

"Well, then you shouldn't have just drooled over Lindsay all year."

"I wasn't drooling...much."

"Well, maybe when you have to repeat 6th grade, you'll learn to look at math, and not girls."

"Come on, Lu, I'll buy you lunch at Timmies."

"With chocolate chip muffins?"

"Oh, always with chocolate chip muffins!"

"Ok, Muffin Man. Fine, I'll help you, but it's really early, so I'll come by later."

"It's 11:00."

"Yes, but this is my lazy day, so to me it's like 7:00 a.m.

"Ok. Come by anytime, I'll make it work. A long as it is today, Lu."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, Shawn. Bye!" Lucy said, as she hung up the phone, and drifted off to sleep.

$&£

"Bye, Mom!" Lucy said and grabbed her coat.

"Where are you going?"

"I told you, I'm going to Timmie's with Shawn."

"And when did you tell me this?"

"Like half an hour ago. Check your phone."

Lena took out her phone, and Lucy grabbed her bag.

"Sorry I turned..."Lena started, as she looked up from her screen, but Lucy was already out the door.

"...my phone off. Yeah, bye, love you too." She mumbled to herself.

She walked over to the counter, picked up her bag, and opened up the dishwasher, then she scoffed at what she saw.

"Luke! I told you to load the dishwasher."

"I'll do it later, Mom!" He yelled from upstairs.

"It better be done by the time I get back!"

"Mom, why are you yelling?" Ben asked tiredly, clumsily walking down the stairs. "You woke me up."

"Ben, it's 2:00."

"Exactly. You woke me up," Ben sighs, collapsing on the couch.

"Whatever. Make sure Luke loads the dishwasher, and that Lucy is home by curfew, and if she asks: Yes, Shawn can spend the night, but Sebastian can't. I'm working a late shift, so I'm not going to be able to-"

"Wait, wait, wait. You can't just dump all this on me. I had plans!"

"I'm sorry, Ben!" Lena put her hand up, signaling for him to shut up. "But I have to work 3 jobs to support this family. And until you get one, you have to make some sacrifices. We all do."