Little Things

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"Why did I say yes?" Penelope shook her head while waiting for her kids to arrive home from school and for Syd's mother to drop them off.

"Because you are a wonderful mother and love your el ninos, but you also saw a young man who was hurting and hope that if either of your pequenos were in a similar situation that someone would also reach out to help," Lydia spoke up from the kitchen where she pointed carefully at each of the dishes she'd prepared and packed in plastic containers. "Do you think I prepared enough?"

"Yes. I think you have mommy."

A knock came at the door and Penelope walked over and opened the door. A rather excited Syd stood there. "Is Elena back from school yet?"

"No. Not yet."

"I'm so excited." They leaned in close. "They're the new NASA."

"Something like that." Penelope closed the door only for Schneider to sneak in after Syd. "Hello, Schneider."

"I'm so excited," Schneider's hands clutched the straps of a backpack made for backpacking in the wilderness.

One of Penelope's eyebrows shot up and she walked over to Lydia and leaned over. "I'm not sure Schneider knows how this stay over thing works."

Lydia leaned back and looked at their landlord before leaning back in. "It certainly seems like he is preparing for the zombie apocalypse."

"Really?"

"I hear that's the new thing to say."

"Yes, mommy."

The door to the apartment flung open and Elena and Alex hurried in. Elena set down her backpack. "I've already finished my school work for the weekend, so all I have to do is check my travel bag to make sure I have everything."

Elena dashed off while Alex shrugged his shoulders. "My homework is obviously not done." Penelope gave her son a look indicating he wasn't to skip doing his homework. "Okay. Okay. I'll make sure to do my homework when I get back." She continued giving him the look. "Fine. I'll pack my homework so I can do it if I have time. Don't blame me if I accidentally lose it."

Penelope pointed her finger at him as he headed to his bedroom to fetch his items. "Don't pretend to accidentally lose it either."

"I'll make sure that doesn't happen." Schneider seemed excited. "I passed their background check, so I'm good to go."

Lydia leaned backward. "Is there any reason you think you wouldn't."

"Honestly, I didn't think I'd pass my citizenship. I did some really weird stuff before I gave up drugs and alcohol. Some really weird stuff I don't remember."

Penelope held back a chuckle of amusement. Elena came out with her bag and wanted to double check everything again, and again. When Alex finally came out Penelope glanced at her wrist. "Okay. Time to go." She pointed at the door. "March!"

All four of her charges walked out the door and down to the car. Schneider's backpack didn't fit in the back with the travel bags of the teens, so it went into the back. As such she heard complaints from Alex who somehow got stuck in the middle only for him to stop when she glared at him in the rearview mirror. Schneider held onto Lydia's snacks.

Shiro and Veronica greeted them when they arrived, but Shiro seemed a bit nervous. "There may be a small problem."

"They didn't approve the stay over?" The look in Elena's eyes said she was looking for a cause to fight.

Veronica pushed her lips together. "No. Lance somehow found out, but he also got permission for him and his friend Hunk to join."

"That doesn't seem like a problem," Alex said.

Penelope frowned. "I should have told you kids before we left that a lot of people don't know that Shiro and Keith are siblings, but that includes your cousin Lance and his friend Hunk."

"Why? Why don't people know?" Elena frowned.

"You three have seen how socially awkward Keith is when we had dinner over at your place. I didn't want people taking advantage of him because they knew I was his older brother."

"Oh. I get that." Schneider piped up. "I had a lot of people acting like they were my friends because they knew my father is loaded." He turned towards the three teens. "So, you guys promise not to say anything?"

Alex shrugged his shoulders. "I don't really get what the big deal is, but whatever. I won't say anything."

Elena glanced at Syd before turning back and nodding her head. Syd spoke u. "We agree."

"Good. I'll see you into the room you guys will be using for the stay over and drop off your abuella's snacks. I'm rather glad she packed more." Penelope pulled the large bag further up onto her shoulder.

Veronica leaned over and whispered into her ear. "Why does their chaperone look like he's going on a camping trip."

"Don't ask."

"I kind of have to as I have to look through everything." Veronica cleared her voice. "So, you're all aware that we have to check your bags before the stay over since this is a military base." She glanced down at her watch. "Of course, Cadet Holt who is supposed to be your senior cadet for this is not here yet. He was actually picked because he is the one senior cadet who knows Keith is Shiro's younger brother. I can't imagine..."

A young man with brown hair hurried up followed by a girl with long brown hair. "I am so sorry. Out parents got called out on an assignment and I got stuck babysitting her."

"Wait. Does she know?" Alex asked.

"Yes. All of the Holts know." Shiro sighed. "Hello, Katie. I see you packed your own bag."

"I also brought peanut butter cookies and other snacks."

Penelope sighed. "Well, they will certainly have enough to eat tonight."

She also wondered what else would go wrong. The senior cadet stared at Schneider's pack. "Wait. Let me guess? I've got to check that?"

"Well, I'm certainly not letting you check any of the bags which may contain certain things the owners would not want a young man seeing." Veronica let out a laugh. "But it looks like I'll be checking Alex's bag as well, but I'll need to see to yours, Katie."

"Fine."

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