Work Text:
Do Better
When they get on the bus, Liz sits next to Moe, and Lizzzzzard gets on the seat behind them, next to Millie. "Where are we going?" asks Millie.
"We're going to the mall," says Lizzzzzard for the dozenth time.
"Are we there yet?" asks Moe.
"No, we just started," says Liz.
"Why are we going to the mall?" asks Millie.
"Because you two need clothes when school starts next week," says Lizzzzzard. "Like Mom said before we left."
"She's not my mom," the younger twins chorus.
"No, but she's mine," Liz and Lizzzzzard chorus back.
"The bus is stopping. Are we there now?"
"No. The mall is three stops away."
"Why do we need new clothes for school?" asks Millie. "We have clothes!"
"Can I sit in the aisle seat?" Moe stands up.
"Your brother has Harrison's old clothes, which are torn and stained," says Lizzzzzard.
"No, you can't sit in the aisle seat," says Liz, using one finger to push Moe back down.
"But why do I need new clothes?" asks Millie.
Lizzzzzard takes a deep breath and glances over her shoulder at Liz. "Switch?"
While Liz and Lizzzzzard switch seats, Millie draws a tally mark on the armrest where Moe can see it. Moe grins. The second Lizzzzzard sits down, he asks, "Are we there yet?"
"No."
"How about now?" Moe bounces in his seat.
"No." Lizzzzzard rubs the center of her forehead with two fingers.
"You never said why I need new clothes," Millie whines.
"You need new clothes because your hand-me-downs are from Lucky."
"What's wrong with Tulia's clothes?"
"She wants to be called Lucky, so please call her that, and the fabric's kinda mildewed and yellowed." Liz takes a deep, shaky breath.
"The bus is stopping, are we there yet?"
"No."
"But the bus is stopping!"
Liz lets out her breath. Lizzzzzard has to take her own. She starts counting to ten.
"But I don't want to wear some stranger's clothes! I wanna wear Tulia's!" Millie kicks the air.
Lizzzzzard reaches ten. "This is the second stop. We want the third stop."
"She wants to be called Lucky,” says Liz. “Call her Lucky. And you won't be wearing a stranger's clothes." She grips the armrest so hard her knuckles turn white. "We're buying you new clothes."
"Why are we getting new clothes?" Millie pulls her feet onto the seat and kneels to try and see over the seat in front.
Liz makes her sit properly again. "Because Dad wants you two to have nice new outfits to wear on the first day of school."
"He's not our dad," Moe and Millie chorus.
"No, but he's mine," the older twins chorus back.
"Why does he want us dressed nicely on the first day?" asks Millie.
Liz looks over her shoulder. "Switch?"
While the older twins swap places, Moe kicks the back of Millie's seat twice. Millie giggles.
Lizzzzzard settles into her original seat and says, "He wants you to make a good first impression."
"Why?"
"Because a lot of people make judgments based on how you look."
"Why?"
"Because they don't know you well enough to judge by anything else, and we want you treated well from the start."
"Are we there yet?" asks Moe.
"Oh thank cod yes," says Liz.
When they get off the bus, Moe and Millie hang back as much as they can to put their heads together. "Only twice?" Moe whispers.
"We can do better," Millie whispers back.
“Come on, you two, you're gonna get lost,” calls Liz.
Moe grins at Millie, turns, and grabs Liz's hand. "Can we go home now?"