Outside the Hospital, on the Lawn.
Frank howled and cursed for a good long while until the pain became too much, and he finally shut his mouth. Gritting his teeth, he forced himself to stand up and shuffled away slowly, looking for a place to crash.
After searching for five or six minutes, he couldn't walk anymore. Frank curled up next to a dumpster and closed his eyes.
As long as he didn't move, the pain eased up a little.
Before he knew it, Frank fell asleep.
Summer skies brighten early.
At 5:30 AM, the first light of dawn appeared. The poor souls who had to work early started trickling onto the streets.
Some people walked past Frank, glancing at him curiously as they went.
That was all.
Nobody cared.
After all, Frank looked like just another bum, and in a place like the South Side of Chicago, bums were everywhere. People were used to it.
Around 8:00 AM.
Two cops walked up to Frank, holding coffees.
One of them lightly kicked Frank's leg. "Wake up. You can't sleep here. Move along."
Frank opened his eyes, squinting against the light, and looked bleary-eyed at the two officers.
"Okay," Frank was a coward at heart. He didn't dare argue with the cops. He agreed quickly, struggled to his feet, and shuffled away painfully, looking like a man on his deathbed.
The two cops didn't care in the slightest. Drinking their coffee and chatting, they moved on to shoo away other homeless people.
Under the now-bright sunlight, Frank dragged his aching body, moving inch by inch, stopping and starting. He felt more and more like he was actually dying, and fear started to creep in.
Driven by fear, Frank thought of his kids. He wanted to go back and see them... more importantly, he wanted those kids to take care of him on his final journey.
I guess most people think of family when they're about to die.
Frank gritted his teeth and pushed forward, heading toward the Gallagher house.
The distance itself wasn't far.
But for the current Frank, it felt like an endless marathon.
---
The Milkovich House.
Mickey had just finished breakfast. Cigarette dangling from his mouth, he impatiently yelled at Mandy, "What the fxxk are you dawdling for? Hurry up!"
Mandy was putting on makeup. Hearing this, she snapped back, "Fxxk off!"
Mickey was used to it. He laughed and mocked her, "Who are you dressing up for? You're ugly and you got no tits!"
"!!!" Mandy was furious. She spun around and charged at Mickey. "I will fxxking cut you!"
Mickey smirked smugly. "You? Don't make me laugh. Hurry the hell up!"
Mandy glared daggers at Mickey before stomping off to finish her makeup.
...
2113 North Wallace Street.
Kevin, Veronica, and Ethel were all packed and ready.
"Let's go," Kevin said with a happy smile, enjoying the vibe of a family of three. After apologizing to Veronica last night, things were basically back to normal between them.
The three of them quickly hopped into the pickup truck and headed to the Alibi to load up the booze.
...
Karen's House.
Karen changed into the sexy swimsuit she had bought specifically for today. She stood in front of the vanity mirror, admiring herself with satisfaction.
Sheila knocked and entered. Seeing Karen like this, she smiled with relief and sentimentality. "My daughter has really grown up. She's ready to fly away."
"Karen, you remind me of a poem..."
Sheila had majored in poetry in college. When it came to being artsy, few people in this slum could compare.
And honestly, if she wasn't mentally unstable and didn't have a penchant for pegging men, Sheila was actually quite impressive.
Karen didn't have any issues with Sheila as a mother. She respected and cared for her. She waited for Sheila to finish, then smiled sweetly, reverting to her good-girl persona. "Mom, no matter what happens, I'm always your daughter."
Hearing this, Sheila's eyes welled up with tears. She pulled Karen into a hug. "Oh, my dear Karen."
Karen let Sheila hug her. After a while, she whispered a reminder. "Mom, I'm gonna be late."
Sheila let go immediately, wiping her tears. "Right, right. Get changed. Have fun."
"I will," Karen replied obediently.
Fifteen minutes later.
Karen, dressed to kill and looking genuinely stunning, left the house, got in her car, and drove toward the marina.
...
Dex Fruit Shop.
Even though she was going to a party today, Svetlana stuck to her routine. She had restocked early and was selling fruit. She turned to check the clock, then looked outside.
The morning rush was almost over.
Svetlana lit a cigarette and decided to wait another twenty minutes. Then, she'd close up and leave.
---
The Gallagher House.
Carl, having never seen Lake Michigan or a yacht with his own eyes, was bursting with excitement. He had woken up at the crack of dawn and was pacing around the first floor, anxiously waiting for 9:00 AM, acting like a normal kid for once.
He waited and waited.
Peggy got up.
Ian got up.
The Gallagher house came alive with noise as everyone woke up.
Then, Fiona came back, dropped off by Adam.
Ian had come home late last night, so Carl hadn't had a chance to talk to him. He didn't know Ian was also going to Dexter's party. So when he heard Ian ask, "Can Dexter's car fit one more?" he was genuinely surprised.
"Ian, you're going too?" Carl asked in shock.
Ian immediately thought of Mickey. Love-struck, he gave a sweet smile. "Yeah, I got an invite too."
"Awesome!" Carl grinned brightly. "Dexter's car is huge. You'll definitely fit. Let's go together."
Ian nodded with a smile.
Just then, Lip, who had clearly heard what Ian said, spoke up urgently. "Ian, we need to talk."
Ian had no idea what had happened at the Gallagher house last night, nor what was about to happen. Hearing this, he didn't waste time and followed Lip out the back door.
In the kitchen, Fiona's brows were furrowed tight. She stared grimly at Peggy for a moment, then pulled out her phone and re-read the text Lip had sent during the night.
In the text, Lip briefly outlined the plan to send Peggy back to prison.
From the moment she received that text until now, Fiona had been hesitating, unsure if she should do it.
But now...
Watching Peggy openly laugh and joke with Carl while completely ignoring Debbie!
Seeing how happy Carl looked, clearly successfully brainwashed by Peggy!
Fiona hesitated no longer. She made up her mind. For the sake of the Gallagher family, she had to send this goddamn woman back to prison!
Outside the back door.
Lip smoked furiously. He didn't bring up Ian going to the party yet. Instead, he explained in one breath that Peggy was planning to take Carl and move out.
Ian listened quietly. He couldn't quite understand Lip's rage. "So?"
Lip raised an eyebrow, baffled by Ian's reaction. "What kind of attitude is that? Did you understand what I said?"
"I understood. I just don't see the problem," Ian, already disillusioned with Lip because of the Karen situation, no longer worshipped him like before. "Peggy is Carl's grandma. Carl can't have his own room here. Now he has a chance to move out—and it's basically next door. He can come back anytime. What's the problem?"
"Do you seriously want Carl living in that beat-up van?"
Lip couldn't believe Ian was saying this. The veins on his forehead popped. He growled, low and angry, "We are family! We have to stick together!"
Haha, there he is!
Captain Family!
Ian couldn't help but chuckle slightly.
The fact was:
Unlike Fiona, Lip, and Debbie...
After everything that had happened, Ian didn't think this "family" was all that precious anymore. He wasn't as obsessed with the concept of "family" as they were.
"So, for the sake of 'this family,' it doesn't matter if Carl is unhappy?" Ian shook his head gently and asked back. Then, before Lip could respond, he turned and walked back inside, done with the conversation.