The Butler Did It

Zora POV

Carlton and I were sitting in the kitchen doing our homework when Will walked in carrying suitcases

I was staying the weekend at the Banks House. My grandfather was going with Geoffrey to his Butler Convention which sounds boring I don't know why he'll wanna do that

"Will, it's nice of you to help Mr. and Mrs. Banks with their bags." I told him

"Oh, yeah, man, you know I mean, they treat me so good here I'll do whatever I can to repay their kindness." Will said as Carlton and I gave him a look of not believing him

"Can't wait for them to leave either, huh?" Carlton asked

"Does Barry White want seconds?" Will asked as Carlton and I got up and walked over to him

"Well, as acting head of the household this weekend I think you'll find me tough, yet fair. Firm, yet kind." Carlton said

"Hey, besides, man, Hilary's the oldest. She's in charge." Will told him

"But not equipped to lead. She's a figurehead. Like Queen Elizabeth. Dan Quayle. Colonel Sanders. Now, I've typed up a few ground rules. I think you should check this out." Carlton told us

"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Carlton, come on, man.
You gotta loosen up a little bit, man.
You're too tight, wonder you don't sneeze
and pop your drawers." Will said as I chuckled

"He's right" I told him

"Will, Zora, please, I'm hardly a stranger to life on the edge. I can't count the number of times I've gone swimming right after eating." Carlton said

"Oh my bad boy" I cooed hugging his side as he wrapped his arm around my waist and I kissed his cheek

"I've been through the whole neighborhood
and I haven't sold one box of cookies.
Even Shelley Winters turned me down." Ashley said walking in with Hilary

"Look, what you need is a different sales strategy. Look, here's one that always worked for me.."Mister, I was going to sell you
some cookies.. "but I tripped on your driveway "and I think I broke my ankle.
"Could you please call my daddy? He's a lawyer. He'll know what to do." Hilary said

"That's a pretty smart strategy" I told her nodding when Mrs. Banks walked in

"Okay, Hilary..I'm leaving you $100 for groceries and here's the number where we'll be staying for the legal convention. I can't say
I'm looking forward to it. I can't say it, because it would be a big fat lie." Mrs. Banks said

"Goodbye, everyone. We're off for the weekend." Geoffrey said walking in with my grandfather

"Bye, Geoffrey, Mr. Allen I hope you enjoy
your butlers' convention." Ashley said as they kissed her cheek

"Goodbye, Ms. Ashley." Geoffrey told her

"Goodbye Dear" my grandfather said as I walked up to them and kissed their cheeks

"Bye Geoffrey. Bye Papa." I told them

"Uh, yo, G, G, I always wondered what y'all be doing at them joints. What is it, like reminiscing about Mr. French?" Will asked as he laughed at his own joke

"Actually, we'll be reminiscing about Benson.
It's the Black Butlers' Convention. This year's theme is "Get It Your Own Damn Self." Geoffrey said

"See you all Monday morning." My grandfather said as the both of them left

"Ready for the convention, sweetheart?" Mr. Banks asked walking in

"Oh, no matter how you prepare you can never really be ready for something like this." Mrs. Banks told him

"Great. Now, kids you're all mature young adults and your mother and I trust you completely." Mr. Banks told us

"But by the same token if any of you are planning on using this weekend as an excuse to engage in reckless activities you'll have to think again. Misbehavior of any kind will
result in immediate grounding...and suspension of allowance. Do I make myself clear?" Mr. Banks asked as we all looked at Will

"This is a racial thing, right?" Will asked
------------------------------------------------------------

I was in the living room doing some work when Ashley and her Troupe walked in

"Zora, can you bring us to the Grocery Store we have to sell cookies" Ashley asked

"Sorry Babe. I'm busy but I can bring you later" I told her as they walked into the kitchen

I heard a engine revving as I walked into the kitchen and saw Will, Hilary, and Carlton there. We all looked at each other than hurried and ran outside

We all walked into gathered all of Ashley troops and brought them into the kitchen

"Okay, Thelma and Louise, park it over here." Will told them

"I told you the "R" didn't mean "Real fast." Ashley mumbled

"What were you guys thinking you could of been hurt" I scolded them

"Okay, I'm in charge, I'll handle this. Young lady, what do you think, that I'm made out of money?" Hilary said

"Hil-Hilary, what does that have to do with anything?" Will asked

"I don't know, that's what dad always says to me." Hilary responded

"I must say, color me disappointed. This is our home. I live here, damn it! Now, just because mom and dad are away doesn't mean we should act like people without trust funds! And besides, if anything goes wrong, it's Will's butt." Carlton said

"It's not so much my butt, man, it's Uncle Phil's foot coming towards it." Will said

"That's why I told the film crew to be really careful tomorrow. They're shooting a video here." Carlton said as I gave him a look

"Excuse me, girls could you put your hands
over your ears, please?" I told them as they covered their ears

"Carlton, what the hell are you talking about?" I yelled as him hitting his arm

"I'm talking about the financial opportunity of a lifetime. It's an investment strategy
that's leveraged with zero risk." Carlton said as I looked confused

"Carlton, what the hell are you talking about?" I asked again

"We get five grand for doing jack." Carlton said

"Five thousand dollars! Yo, man, I could
purchase a new butt." Will said

"I know anything I saw won't stop you so I give up" I said as I went go sit on the bar stool

"Where's the money?" Will asked

"They're bringing it tomorrow and they promise we won't even know they're here." Carlton said

------------------------------------------------------------

The next morning Will, Ty, and I walked downstairs to see the family room didn't even look like the family room. The couch was missing, there was a smoke machine, it was a totally different color.

"Where's the family room?" Will asked as we walked down the stairs

"Man, I'm gonna kill Carlton!" I said as I stomped over to him

"Kill him. I wanna know the name
of his decorator." Ty said

"Hey, Carlton, man, you got a lot of explaining to do and I hope it begins with the words, "They got a gun." Will said

"Calm down, Will. All the furniture's in the back yard safely out of harm's way and by the time mom and dad get back on Monday
it'll all be back in place and our gross revenue
will be 100 percent profit without losing our assets." Carlton told him

"Look, man, I still don't know what you're talking about but look, if I get killed, homey
your toe is gonna be tagged too." Will told him

"Zee why didn't you stop him" Will asked as I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion

"Why do I have to babysit you guys. I warned you, you didn't listen now pay the consequences" I said

"I told you. It'll all be put back on Monday." Carlton told him

"Monday?" Will asked

"Monday." Carlton told him

"And action!" The director yelled as instrumental music began playing as Bell Biv DeVoe walked from behind the curtain

"Bell Biv DeVoe" I screamed as I began jumping up and down excitedly. I love them so much. Will, Ty, and I ran up to them as I sat on the floor and wrapped my arms around Rickey's leg

"Can you excuse me, please? We're trying to do a video here, if you don't mind."

"Hi, Ron. Hi, Ricky. Hi, Michael. How you guys doing?" Hilary said walking down the stairs

"What's up Hilary-shy I like that jacket."

"I don't know, I think I like the yellow one better."

"Oh, listen guys, I know I said we should do lunch but today is just awful for me." Hilary said

"Yeah, you got that shoe sale, right?"

"One of these days I've just got to take a vacation." Hilary said as she said goodbye then left

"Places, everybody!" The director yelled

"Sorry, guys. It's looking great. Really, you guys are doing great." The director told them

"Can somebody get her off me" Rickey yelled as Will came up to me and pryed me off Rickey's leg as we went stand by Carlton

"And action!" The director yelled as I began silently singing along to the song

"Oh, my God, is that them?" I heard Ashley ask as her and her troopers ran up to them jumping up and down

"I'm sorry. Hey, hey, I'm sorry about that, guys. Listen, hey, y-y-you know how kids get you know, immature trying to get in front of the camera. I'm-I'm sorry, man." Will apologized

"Okay. Sorry, guys. Really, I am. You were great." The director told them

"Monday, right?" I asked

"Monday." Carlton confirmed

"And action!" The director yelled as they started again as Will and Ty squeezed into the background and began dancing

"What do you two think you're doing?" The director yelled

"I was trying to get up to my room. Hey, Ty, what was you doing?" Will said

"I-I was trying to be in the video." Ty said

"Look, man Look, man, this is my house. You wanna be in a video, you go rob a liquor store." Will told him

"There'll be no more interruptions. You've got my word." Carlton said grabbing Will and Ty

"Action!" The director yelled as the phone began ringing as Will went go answer it

"Okay, that's a wrap. Everybody out. Y'all ain't got to go home but you gotta get
the hell out of here." Will yelled

"Will, come on, these people paid to use our house. Let's be a little courteous." Carlton said

"Aunt Viv and Uncle Phil aren't coming home Monday they're coming home tonight." Will told us

"Not Monday?" I asked

"Not Monday." He told me

"Okay, that's a wrap. Everybody out. You ain't got to go home but you got to get the hell out of here." Carlton and I yelled at the people

"Look, fellas, fellas, fellas. Relax. We got one more shot then we're gonna bring everything in from outside." The director said

"Alright, that's cool." Will said as we heard thunder from outside

"Is that rain?" I asked

"Okay, I can't breathe." Will said as he hunched over as I began rubbing his back

A/N this is my favorite look by Lovie (she looks beautiful all the time but this is my absolute favorite)

I went go change into some clothes and get Will a paper bag when I walked back downstairs the family room was trashed

I kept rubbing Will's back as he was in the middle of having a panic attack

"They'll only be here one day." "They'll only be here one day." The Titanic sank in one day!
The Hindenburg blew up in one day! The entire city of Pompeii was covered in molten lava in one day!" I yelled as they carried the couch in and it was destroyed

"Okay, I can't breathe." Will said blowing into the paper bag

"Deep Breathes" I said rubbing his back as he started to take deep breathes

"Relax! Babe, trust me. Everything will be fine
when the cleaning crew gets here on Monday." The director told us

"Look, man, how many times I got to tell you? My uncle's coming back tonight!" Will yelled

"Bubele. Talk to your cousin Hilary. She's the one who signed the contract. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a phone call I gotta make." He said as he sat on the couch and it made a squishing noise

"Well, I'm glad I don't live here." He said as he left

"Boy, I'm glad I don't live here." Ty said walking down the stairs

"So am I, man. I'm gonna have to move into your crib when my Uncle Phil bowls my butt down the driveway." Will said

"Oh, man. Come on, chill out. Now, I mean, this is easy. All you need is a little paint, a little elbow grease you know, everybody pulling together, I'm telling you the place is gonna look dope." Ty told us

"You're right, you're right. You're right. Thanks a lot, man. Thanks a lot, man. Come on, let's get busy." Will said

"Oh, you know, I plan to, but not here. See, the fly honeys invite me to the wrap party.
Later, man." Ty said as he left

Carlton walked in carrying a rug and crying as he sat on the floor in defeat

Hilary walked in with her handful of shopping bags as I walked up to her

"Oh, Hilary. Hilary, look. We got big, big problems." I said as she looked around

"My God, Geoffrey needs to clean up around here." She said as Carlton began crying louder as I crouched down and rubbed his back

"Oh-oh. I wonder which one of you dad will kill first?" Ashley said walking in

"It's 4 o'clock now, they'll be back at 9. We'll never get this place together by then." Carlton cried as I stood on the coffee table amd clapped getting their attention

"Alright. Look, look, look, look. Let's not panic. Come on. Here's the plan. Hilary, you take $2,000 and you go get a new couch." I told her

"Carlton, you shut up and take care of the floors." I told him

"Will you and I are going to try to salvage the rug" I told him as he grabbed the rug

"Ashley, I want you to take care of painting." I told her as she crossed her arms

"I'm not painting. I didn't have anything to do with this." She said as I gave her a surprised look I know she not talking to me with her arms crossed

I got off the coffee table and walked up to her face

"I seem to recall a certain little sunshine trooper trying to get her car theft badge." I blackmailed her

"That's right if I'm going down. I'm taking everybody with me" I yelled pointing around the room

"Oh! Latex or enamel?" She asked as I smiled sweetly and walked away

Hilary left to go get a couch as I was wiping down and Will was putting the door back on. We saw Carlton reading the instructions on how to use the buffer as Will and walked up to him

"Oh, yo, bench, you got the floor buffer!
Come on, man, turn that joint on!" Will told him

"Not so fast. A wise man always reads the instruction manual first. Page one, "Welcome to the wonderful world of buffing. "First, take a moment to familiarize yourself with your Buffomatic." Carlton read we don't have time for this

"Hey, can I see that for a second?" I said as he nodded

"Sure." He said handing it to me as I folded it up and hit the back of his head with it

"We don't have time for this" I told him

"Come on, Einstein, I'll plug it in." Will said as he plugged it in as it started moving by itself as it went outside

"Make sure buffer is off before plugging in." Carlton read as we heard electricity sparking

"Do not use near water." He read again

After a while Ashley and her troop were cleaning the floors when Hilary walked in with two guys carrying a couch

"Okay, over there." Hilary told two guys as they set a small white down

"So, how do you like the couch?" Hilary asked

"Yeah, it's great. But when does the rest of it get here?" Will asked

"Now, if we rearrange the room, nobody's going to even notice." Hilary said

"Hilary, I think Uncle Phil will notice when he stands up and it's stuck to his butt!" Will told her

"Hilary, you have to take it back and get the exact same couch." I told her

"Okay, but it's going to be another $2,500
including delivery." Hilary said

"Wait, wait, what are you talking about? That couch only cost $2,000 in the first place." I told her

"Tell them." Hilary said

"I will." I said

"Yo, I think I need to have a couple words with y'all." I yelled as I walked up to them and got in their face as they glared at me

"Don't let nobody tell you that big people can't wear plaid." Will said as he dragged me away from the situation before I do something I might regret

After a while Will and I were still cleaning the inside Ashley and Carlton walked in with the rug

Ashley dropped the rug as I saw her hair was fizzed all over the place

"What'd you have, a Patti LaBelle nightmare?" Will asked her

"Will, you would not look good either if you had your head stuck out of a sunroof
going 90 miles an hour holding on to a rug." She said

"Relax, sweetheart. Burt Reynolds does it every morning on his way to work." Will told her

"Okay, we would have been here sooner
only we were stuck behind some idiot with a flying carpet." Hilary said as she walked in with another couch

"I'm the idiot." Carlton said

"Hey, very good, Carlton. That's the first step, admitting it." Will said as they put the couch down

That night we were just finishing the last minute touches when Will and I went go sit next to Carlton

"Alright, we pulled it off, man." Will said

"How much money we got left?" I asked

"Well, according to my calculations we're in the hole by $80 which means you each owe me $16

"Will you take cash?" Will asked as he nodded as we all took out money and smacked him with it as he rubbed his head

"We're home!" They yelled

"Oh! Oh! Here they come. Go, go!" I yelled as we all act natural

"How was the convention? Did you bring me anything back?" Hilary asked

"Yeah. A mother with a big smile on her face." Mr. Banks said as they walked into the living room

"Hey Aunt Viv. Hey, hey, Uncle Phil, I didn't hear y'all come in" Will said as I went go up to them and greeted them

"Well, um..y-y'all ready to read the Bible?" Will asked

"Again?" I asked playing along

"Well, I am pleasantly surprised. I came home expecting a catastrophe. I'm happy to see I was wrong." Mr. Banks said leaning on the wall

" Well, I'm going upstairs to unpack. Philip, are you coming?" Mrs. Banks asked

"I'll be up in a minute. Goodnight, kids." Mr. Banks said as we told him goodnight as we saw he had wet paint all over his coat jacket as we gasped

"I'll get our bags packed. Ashley, you drive." Will said as we all began running

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