Thread:MrAnimatedToon/@comment-31647719-20180801204708/@comment-32807753-20180803020438

TERI: (grins) Excellent choice. So, whose turn is it to purchase lunch this time?

BECKY: Uh, Dana did so last trip so...it's Lori's turn.

LORI: Fair enough. I take it we all pretty much want the same thing?

Everybody sans Carol nodded.

CAROL: Is it okay if I come with you to the checkout to look at the menu? This is actually my first time eating at Burpin' Burger's.

LORI: WHAT?! Okay, you are SO coming with me!

''She immediately grabbed Carol's arm and the two of them walked to the restaurant. Just then, Becky's cellphone began to rang.''

BECKY: Oh! Sorry, guys. I gotta take this call. Be right back.

''She walked off in another direction while answering her phone. Teri then noticed a nearby gift-wrapping station.''

TERI: I'm gonna head over there for a few minutes. I want to get Darcy's new pajamas wrapped up.

She walked off towards the station, leaving Lincoln sitting alone with Dana.

LINCOLN: So you’ve been friends with Lori since always?

DANA: Actually, I met your sister from her boyfriend Bobby. He and I used to work together at a department store.

LINCOLN: Oh yeah. He did mention you to me once. Dana, right?

DANA: That's right.

LINCOLN: (in an embarrassed tone) Listen, if Bobby at all ever mentioned to you a little fiasco involving...possible cheating, I apologize for making that assumption.

DANA: (in a kind tone) Yes, he did mention that incident to me. And it's alright. I can understand why you made that mistake. I just think it's sweet knowing that you were acting out of concern for your sister.

LINCOLN: Well, that's what you do in a family. You look out for one another. I guess I just never realized that Bobby had so many jobs and thus had so many friends. (chuckles) Good ol' Bobby.

DANA: Speaking of Bobby, how is he? We really haven't kept in touch since he moved away to the big city.

LINCOLN: Well, I haven't really been keeping in touch with him too much either. I've mostly been communicating with his sister, Ronnie Anne. But according to her--(then notices how Dana is smiling at him) Hey now! Whatever Lori has told you and the others, it's not true! Ronnie Anne is NOT my girlfriend. We're just friends. Nothing more.

DANA: Whatever you say.

LINCOLN: Yeah... Anyways, she's been telling me he's doing great. He's running their family's bodega with their grandfather and she tells me it's successful. But she also says he really misses his co-workers, and especially Lori.

DANA: That does sound like Bobby. He always was the hardest working employee at the department store. He was also probably the kindest co-worker I knew.

LINCOLN: (eyes her suspiciously) I'm sorry but, do... did you use to have a crush on him?

DANA: (nervously) W-WHAT?! No! I-I mean... maybe?

Lincoln's eyes widened upon hearing this.

DANA: I-I-I mean! I know he's already with Lori, and I really respect that!... (blushes) but... yeah, he's really nice. He just has so many qualities that I find admirable. He's dedicated, responsible, selfless, hardworking, and cares deeply about others.

LINCOLN: (chuckles a bit) That's Bobby, alright.

DANA: (smiling) Yeah... I was even considering to ask him out on a date... (then her smile turns into a sad frown) but when I was about to ask him... he talked about her girlfriend, Lori...

LINCOLN: Uh oh...

[The other glance at Lori, who's now looking very worried]

DANA: Yeah. That's what I was thinking too when I first found out about them. I didn't show it to Bobby, but deep down, I felt so humiliated with myself. And yes, I did feel pretty jealous of Lori at first. But then Bobby offered me to join him and Lori for lunch one day, so I came. And I got the opportunity to know your sister better. (smiles) And since then, we've both been pretty close companions. Honestly, I'm glad that her and Bobby have one another.

LINCOLN: Yeah. Lori is pretty nice. (under breath) As long as she's not mad for something.

DANA: (overhears Lincoln) Yep. She has the temper of a volcano, huh?

LINCOLN: (realizing she heard him) Oh! You've gotten a taste of that attitude before?

DANA: Hey, just because it's something she might have used on you and your sisters a few times before doesn't mean it's limited to just her family.

LINCOLN: I guess not. You can't really blame Lori for it, though. When you live in a family as big as ours and you're the oldest child with the responsibility of looking after ten younger siblings, the stress can get to you pretty easily. In the same way I kind of get having be the only boy with ten sisters. But still, once we spend enough time with such a situation, we get used to it and find a way to work with it.

DANA: Well, I can understand that. Bobby's not the only employee at the department store who has more than one job.

LINCOLN: Wait... how many jobs do you have?

DANA: Oh, about...four?

LINCOLN: What?!

DANA: M-my family doesn't really have that much money. At least, not since my dad got fired from his old job and got a new one. The only problem is that this one doesn't pay him as much as the previous one did. So I felt the least he deserved was a little support. So I registered for the job at the department store and got it, but it didn't pay me a whole lot. I kept searching for other opportunities, but a lot of them didn't pay much. I figured the best I could do was take enough jobs that would pay me enough money combined. Ever since then, my weeks have been pretty busy. Every Monday and Wednesday after school, I have a shift at the department store for two hours. On Tuesday and Thursday, I work as a waitress at Aloha Comrade for an hour, and I helped out here at Young Navel on Fridays for another hour. And on some Saturdays, I work with Teri at the pizzeria.

LINCOLN: Wow...I had no idea. I'll bet that must be tough.

DANA: Well, it certainly isn't easy. A lot of the time I spend at work tends to detract from my studies and assignments. And sometimes, I've stayed up pretty late at night in order to complete my homework. But between it all, I always remind myself why I'm doing this. Because I care about my family. And that helps instill confidence in myself. Besides, I'm grown pretty used to this life by now.