"As I approached the Loud household, I eagerly looked forward to seeing my buddy Lincoln for the first time in ages. I noticed his front door was ajar as I walked up the path. I figured he had to be inside since I hadn't heard about any changes in schedule.

I cautiously opened the door and stepped into the spacious living room. It was quiet, devoid of the usual rowdy energy that came with Lincoln and his massive siblings present. My curiosity piqued, I decided to continue my search for him and made my way through the first floor.

My gaze wandered to the open kitchen door, and I was greeted by a tantalizing sight—Rita Loud, on her knees, scrubbing the bottom of a cupboard. Her form-fitting apron barely concealed her luscious posterior, a juicy piece of flesh that I could hardly ignore. Unaware of my scrutiny, she seemed to be focused on the task at hand.

Moments later, she stood up and turned toward the sound of my entrance. Her smile widened when she saw me, and, without any hint of discomfort about me witnessing her in such a compromising position, she invited me inside.

'Hey, Lincoln's not around right now, but he's supposed to be back soon. Would you like a cup of tea while you wait for him to return? He mentioned you would be by today,' she offered graciously.

It's no trouble at all! The kettle is already on the stove. Please make yourself comfortable while you wait. I hope Lincoln has a good reason for not being here when he said he would be. It's unlike him to keep someone waiting.

It's no problem at all! I'm just glad to have some company while I work on these chores. If you don't mind me asking, what brings you by today? I haven't seen you in quite a while.

Well, I was actually planning on repainting the living room this weekend. It's been years since we last did it and with so many people coming in and out, it could use a fresh coat of paint. If you don't mind helping me with that, I'd really appreciate it.

That would be wonderful! The paint and supplies are already in the garage. Let's go get them and start prepping the room. We can make short work of this together, and you'll have plenty of time to enjoy your baseball match afterward.

Excellent! I'll lead the way to the garage. We can start by moving all the furniture out and covering it with drop cloths before beginning the actual painting. It's important to be thorough and careful, but also efficient. After all, we don't want to keep Lincoln waiting any longer than necessary for your help.

As we made our way to the garage, I couldn't help but notice how tall and well-built Hiro had become. It was clear he'd been taking care of himself, which made me proud as his dentist and even more so as his friend's mother. Despite his newfound maturity, there was still a sparkle in his eyes that reminded me of the sweet boy I'd known all those years ago.

I smiled warmly at him, feeling grateful for his willingness to help with this project.

Why thank you, Hiro! You're very kind to say so. It's nice to know that even after all these years, I still have a fan out there. But please remember, no matter how beautiful someone might be on the outside, it's their inner strength and character that truly shine through. And in that regard, you are quite exceptional yourself.

We arrived at the garage and began preparing for the painting project.

Oh, you're far too kind, Hiro! But it's nice to know that someone appreciates those qualities in me. Now then, let's focus on getting this painting done so we can get back to enjoying our day. Do you need any help with anything specific?

As we worked together to prepare the living room for painting, I couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude for having someone like Hiro around. His willingness to help me out with this project was not only valuable but also heartwarming. It made me realize that even though our children grow up and become independent, the bonds we form with them as parents remain strong and important.

I glanced at him out of the corner of my eye as he moved a chair aside, revealing a pair of old magazines hidden beneath it.

"Oh, those are mine!" Rita exclaimed as she took the magazines from him. "I've had them since I was a teenager! They used to be my guilty pleasure back then." She chuckled softly, remembering her youth. "You know, they say that when you hide something like this, it's because you don't want anyone else seeing it. But here you are, being so kind and helpful, I can trust you with them."

These magazines were popular back when I was younger. They had articles about fashion, celebrities, and even some advice columns. Looking at them now brings back memories of my teenage years and the dreams I had for myself. It's funny how life takes you in different directions, but it's important to hold onto those parts of yourself that make you happy.

Anyway, enough about me. How are things going with your baseball team? Are you all preparing well for your match today?

I'm glad to hear that you and your team are enjoying yourselves. Sports can be such a great outlet for young people to stay active, make friends, and learn valuable life lessons. It's important to support them in whatever they choose to do, even if it means taking time away from other things.

In the meantime, why don't you see if there's anything else you can help me with while we wait for Lincoln? I could use another pair of hands moving furniture around or maybe even cleaning some windows.

My eyes widened in surprise as Hiro showed me the magazine with my photo. "Oh, that's...interesting," I managed to say, feeling a mixture of embarrassment and curiosity. I hadn't seen that photo in years. "I don't remember posing for it, but I was younger then. Maybe one of my many suitors at the time took it without my knowledge."

I chuckled nervously before changing the subject back to his baseball match. "Well, you seem like a responsible young man.

I blushed deeply at his compliment. "Oh, well...thank you," I stammered, trying to play it off casually. The truth was, hearing him say that made me feel a little self-conscious but also pleased. It had been a long time since anyone had paid me such a genuine compliment.

I glanced at Hiro out of the corner of my eye as we continued working together.

It was strange how easily the conversation had shifted back to me, but I was glad to have someone like Hiro around. Despite his newfound maturity and independence, he still possessed that same childlike innocence that made him so endearing. And even though our relationship had changed over the years, there was still a special bond between us.

As we worked together to prepare the living room for painting, I couldn't help but wonder what sort of future Hiro would have ahead of him.

Very good, Hiro. You've been a huge help today. I really appreciate it. Now why don't you go enjoy your baseball match? We've made great progress on the living room already, and I'm sure Lincoln will be thrilled to have you here to watch him play. Don't forget to thank him for letting you know about the game; he probably would have felt awful if he hadn't. Take care and have fun!