Lollie Parker
Lollie fumbled with her pencil as she listened to Mr. Matthews teach.
"The Statue of Liberty, the Great Lady of New York has been speaking loud and clear since eighteen eighty-five." He said, "Anybody know what she's trying to say? Maya?"
"Should I just talk?" Farkle asked.
"No," Maya said, "I'm sick of people thinking Farkle's smarter than I am."
"Here comes fun." Riley muttered.
"Name one thing about the Statue of Liberty that you know that I don't." Maya challenged Farkle.
"She was a gift of friendship from-"
"Cathy."
"We got her right after-"
"Cathy didn't want her anymore."
"What does she stand for?"
"Because Cathy took her chair."
"Boy, that Cathy, huh, what a hoot."
"She's not real, genius. I made her up. I'm so smarter than you."
"You are. You really are."
Lollie smiled at the two and Mr. Matthews brought the attention back to him.
"Welcome to Cultural Week, people. The school is throwing a cultural fair to celebrate who we are and where we came from." Mr. Matthews said, "Anybody here taking part?"
Nigel spoke first, "My grandma's gonna have a booth at the fair, Mr. Matthews."
"That's great, Nigel. What culture will you be celebrating?"
"She was originally from Cambodia, she escaped and lived in the Philippines, then she came here."
"Did you know that about him?" Riley asked Maya.
"It surprises me when any of these guys talk."
"And that's exactly what makes America so unique." Mr. Matthews said, "We all come from exotic locales with fascinating traditions."
"Well, where are we from?" Riley asked.
"Philly."
"What's our fascinating tradition?"
"Cream cheese."
"So I'm the great lady of cream cheese? I want a better tradition, please." Riley said.
"Funny you should say that."
"Funny, "haha" funny, or funny, ugh, "yay" funny?" Riley asked.
"Here's your assignment." Mr. Matthews said.
The class groaned and Farkle cheered.
"Everybody look around. Do we know each other's stories? Do you know your own? Our stories are what makes us part of a community. I want you to come in tomorrow and share your heritage with us. Share your story."
"Do I even have a story?" Riley asked.
"You have a wonderful story, Riley. It's time you found out what it is."
﹏﹏﹏﹏
Lollie and Noah sat in the living room as they worked on their project.
"Have you ever seen them so quiet?" Bailey asked.
Finn shook his head, "They're plotting."
Mariah came downstairs and sat beside her parents.
"Do you know what they're doing?" Finn asked.
"A project about their heritages. Don't know why they're doing it together though."
Bailey looked at Mariah, "What do you mean?"
"They don't have the same heritage. Noah and I do, but not them. If they are working on it together and doing the same research, it's not going to be accurate."
The two adults looked at each other and back at the two teens in the living room.
"Maybe... they should know that right?" Bailey asked.
"They should. They're smart."
﹏﹏﹏﹏
"Once upon a time." Riley said.
The class was presenting their projects today.
"Nothing." She continued, "I'm completely American. My people never even left the house. I'm not even cream cheese. I'm American cheese. I'm individually wrapped."
She grabbed a stack of cheese and threw it some to each person.
"Here I come."
"Oh, that's the worst report I ever heard." Mr. Matthews said.
"Oh, you don't want one?" Riley asked.
"No, I do want one."
"You made me this!"
"Great news, Maya. Your report couldn't possibly be any worse."
"You don't know me." Maya said, "Turns out Clutterbucket is Irish!"
Maya placed a green hat on her head.
"I'm Irish."
She faced Lucas, "Know why I'm a short stack of pancakes, Huckleberry? Cause I'm a leprechaun!"
"Wow." Lollie whispered.
"Here have a potato!" Maya said, chucking it towards Yogi.
"That's what you brought? Potatoes?" Mr. Matthews asked.
"No, that would be a stereotypical ignorant cliché." Maya said, "I also brought our national soap."
"Maya, Ireland has a rich, deep cultural history. You show us something authentic right now!"
Maya walked over towards Yogi's desk and hopped onto it.
"What are you doing?"
"I'm gonna Riverdance all up on Yogi's head."
Yogi smiled, "Do it!"
"Sit down! Both of you have just squandered an opportunity to show us who you are." Mr. Matthews sighed, "Lucas, Zay, show us who you are."
"You sure about this?" Lucas asked Zay.
"We look good."
Lucas looked at Lollie, "We look good?"
Lollie smiled back, "You want the truth?"
He shook his head.
"You look great."
The two of them stood up, "Texas!"
"Sit down."
Lucas faced Zay, "You lied to me!"
"Don't mess with Texas." Zay said.
Mr. Matthews sighed, "You're not from Texas."
"He lived right down the street from me." Lucas said.
"You're not from Texas either." Mr. Matthews said.
"He lived right down the street from me." Zay said.
"Sit down."
"Okay, back to us." Riley said.
Maya grabbed the bagpipes from under her desk and started to play it but it was off-key.
"No! Bagpipes are Scottish, not Irish."
She stopped immediately.
"Potato potato." She said and threw one at him.
"What a bunch of jerks." He said.
"Daddy?"
"Leave me alone!"
"Daddy?"
"No!"
"Daddy?"
"What?!"
"You gave me a stupid story, Daddy."
"You all have great stories." Mr. Matthews said, "That's what makes this world such a peaceful place."
"No, it's not. There's conflicts everywhere." Noah said.
"You mean cultures clash with each other?"
"Yeah. All through history." He said.
"Good boy, Noah."
"Good boy, Noah." Maya said.
She threw a potato on his desk.
"Maya."
She then threw the soap.
"Maya!"
Then the bagpipes.
"Hey, everything but the bagpipes are useful. Take them home." Lollie whispered towards him.
"There's conflicts 'cause we live in a world full of different kinds of people." Zay said.
"Right. Unfortunately, people have always feared the other." Mr. Matthews said.
"The other what?" Riley asked.
"The unknown. Anybody who isn't like you. From a different country, a different religion, a different look." Mr. Matthews said, "And our first reaction to the unknown has always been fear. Farkle, Lollie, and Noah."
"Yes, sir?" Farkle said.
"Did you do the assignment?"
"I did, sir."
"Did you find the story of your ancestors?"
"I found something out, sir."
"Well, Farkle, at least you have a heritage. I'm Riley McCheese. What could be worse than that?"
"There are worse things than that, Riley."
"You ready to share something with us, Farkle?" Mr. Matthews asked.
"Not yet, sir. I don't have it all yet. I need to dig deeper."
"More to discover?"
"A lot more."
"Parker siblings. Have something to share?"
"We've been working on this project together." Noah said.
"But-"
"It's easier if we do." Lollie said, "If we don't. We won't learn."
Mr. Matthews smiled, "That's the only authentic thing that's been said today. We all need to dig deeper than potatoes and soap and stupid hats."
"How are they stupid hats?" Lucas asked.
"They just don't understand us." Zay answered.
"This is a week about discovering who you are. This is a week to understand that culture isn't found at a souvenir shop. Riley, what's culture?" He asked.
"Our stories."
"Find yours."
Mr. Matthews faced Farkle, "Find yours. Learn from each other. Otherwise, we don't stand a chance."
﹏﹏﹏﹏
The group excluding Zay, all sat at Topanga's working on their projects.
Lollie sat alone in a booth.
Noah sat with Maya and Farkle.
Lollie placed her hand on her face and rubbed her eye with the other.
Lucas sat down in front of her, "I bought you food."
"Not hungry."
"Thirsty?"
She looked up at him as he pushed the glass of juice to her.
"No."
"What's up with you?"
"This project is more difficult than what I thought."
"I thought you and Noah were partners?"
"Can I ask you something?" Lollie asked.
"Anything."
"Was it dumb to say that Noah and I were working together?" She asked, "Be honest."
"Kinda. Why are you two working together anyways?"
"He's doing his project on, Nona. I'm doing mine on his Grandma Jordy."
"I don't see why he didn't do his grandmother."
"He doesn't like talking about her. So I suggested that I do Grandma Jordy and he wouldn't have to worry so much, and technically, technically she's my grandma too."
"Why not talk to Finn or Mariah?"
"I don't want to bring it up with them. My mom should know a little bit about her."
"Understandable." Lucas said, "What do you know about her?"
"I know that she was born in Australia in nineteen fifty-four. She flew a lot and she met- Micheal, who is Finn's dad, when she visited Michigan for the first time. They got married and he packed all his things and moved to Australia with Jordy. Finn was born in Australia but they all moved to Georgia when he was two. Finn grew up and met, Alyssa."
"Noah and Mariah's mom?"
"Yeah." She answered, "Finn wanted to move back to Australia when Noah was born. So he did, his mom came though, Micheal didn't want to."
"So?"
"So, they compromised. Micheal would fly out every so often to visit everyone. Finn happy in Australia, but then he got divorced."
"So he moved."
Lollie nodded, "To all the places, New Mexico. Of course, Grandma Jordy followed, and finally so did Micheal."
"And all that time they were in New Mexico, you never met them?"
"I was born in Santa Fe. They moved to Santa Rose."
Lucas nodded, "It wasn't long after, Grandma Jordy wasn't feeling like herself she also wasn't looking like herself either." Lollie said, "She passed when Noah turned three. Micheal did also but Noah was never as close to him as he was Jordy."
"Finn's grandma was born also born in Australia so leading my story with her."
"What about, Nona. Where was she from?"
"Flushing, New York. Surprised she hasn't told you the story. She was something else when she was younger."
"What about her mom?"
"Her name was, Margaret. We called her Grandma Marg." Lollie smiled, "And even though I met her once she was so nice. She was born in nineteen twenty-eight, in New York. She's been through a lot in her lifetime."
"Like?"
"Women could vote. She was two when the Great Depression happened. She was eleven when World War Two happened. She was twenty-six when Rosa Parks had the Montgomery Bus Boycott and was fifty-five when Sally Ride went to space."
"That is a lot." Lucas smiled.
"Yeah, Noah has the easy stuff. Figuring more out about Grandma Jordy..." She sighed, "is really hard."
"You'll figure it out." Lucas said.
He grabbed her hand and held it.
"You always do."
They heard the door open and Zay walked inside, "Oh, he did? I didn't know that."
He removed the phone from his ears and smiled at his friends.
"My grandmother's telling me a story about my grandfather." Zay said, "I just find that terribly-"
He couldn't finish the rest of his sentence as the phone was removed from his hands.
Riley sighed, "I am so sorry that I ate the cookie! I know that you only made one for Zay and I ate it. Please make him another one."
She panicked and spoke the sentence quickly.
"What?" She looked at Zay, "This is your other grandmother."
"I knew that." He said.
"She says that she doesn't like the cookie bribe, and you should love them both the same. You need to calm her down right now."
"Stay away from my grandma's, Riley." Zay said and took the phone, "Hey, that's a lot of words. Hey, gotta go. Yeah, love you, too. Yes, just as much as the other one. No, I don't think that's okay to say, Grandma. Thanks for telling me where I'm from."
He walked towards us and sat down beside Maya; Lollie and Lucas following behind.
"We're from Africa!" He said.
"Oh."
"Yeah. Feels good to do the research." Zay said, "No, for real. I'm learning my story. We started out in Ghana. My grandma says we're lucky to know where we're from. Not everyone does. My family was brought from Ghana to Jamaica before we came to America. We lived in Texas, and now we live in New York. Now I'm friends with you."
"Well, I look forward to seeing you every day." Maya said.
"Thanks, Maya. Happy to be here."
"Well, Zay, my family comes from America, America, America, and then America. And once, I went to the International House of Pancakes." Riley said.
"What'd you eat?" Noah asked.
"I had a hamburger."
Riley looked up and saw her mom along with Bailey coming over, "Mom, do you think it's important to know our history?"
"What's that you're eating?" Topanga asked.
"Bulochki." Riley said.
"Is there a story behind it?" She asked.
"Well, it makes me think of Ms. Svorski."
"That's why I will always sell them here." Topanga said. "It helps to remind us of those who came before us. Riley, your family may have been from America for a long time, but we have lived in every part of America, and we've gotten to experience all kinds of different cultures."
"Where? Who?" She questioned.
"Well, your great-grandparents, they lived in San Francisco. They got to experience the Chinese culture. Your grandparents lived in Philly, and we used to go to Pennsylvania Dutch country. Respect the people who came before you. Always listen to what they have to say." Topanga said.
She smiled down at the group and walked away.
Bailey sat in between Lollie and Lucas.
"Finish your project?"
Lollie nodded, "Totally."
"Great. Nona is wonderful, so it should be easier to understand what she went through."
"I didn't do, Nona."
Bailey furrowed eyebrows, "Oh, Grandma Jordy. She was wonderful."
Her attention went towards Noah.
"She was one of nicest people I've ever met. When Finn and I starting dating I was terrified of meeting her. I was scared to even meet you, Noah."
"Why?" He asked.
"The only experience I had with children was Lollie. So meeting you and Mariah was scary. If you didn't like me. I would probably have never married, Finn."
"Lollie didn't like dad when they met."
"We all have different stories." Bailey said, "We have different views. Noah, Grandma Jordy was amazing and she really did love you, it's okay to talk about it. We're always there."
Bailey smiled at him and stood up.
She kissed the top of his head and headed back with Topanga.
The door opened up and Mr. Matthews, Auggie, Ava, and Raffi walked in.
"Mets, Phillies... who won the game?" Topanga asked.
"We lost." He said.
The younger ones cheered, "We won!"
"Ava, you caught a foul ball?" Topanga asked.
"It was coming at us like a rocket. I saved his life." She explained.
"Auggie?" Topanga questioned, "Cory. Do what you did when the ball came at you."
He bent down and screamed as Ava held the ball in the air.
"Ava has quality I like." Raffi smiled.
"You're kidding me?" Topanga asked.
"She's just like my friend, Marisol." He said.
"No. There is not another one like Ava out there. God would not do that to us." Topanga said.
"You like the game, Raffi?" Noah asked.
"Yeah, I met my cousin there." Raffi said.
"Oh, where is he from?" Zay asked.
"Also Cuba."
"Where is he now?" Noah asked.
"Leftfield." Raffi said.
"Your cousin is Yoenis Céspedes?" Lucas asked.
"Your cousin plays for the Mets?" Zay asked.
"God bless America!" Raffi said.
He blew kisses in the air.
"He signed my ball." Ava said. "He also gave me his number... 52."
"So, the Statue of Liberty is from France, we have a Ukrainian bakery, and the New York Mets are from all over the world." Riley said.
"Nice country you got here." Raffi said.
﹏﹏﹏﹏
"All right, guys, we got the whole joint scoped out." Maya said.
The gang was at the Culture Fair that was held at school.
"Every country in the world, all over the school. Where do we go?" Zay asked.
"To the one with the most free stuff! Let's go." Maya said.
She grabbed Noah's hand and began to tug but he didn't budge.
He faced her, "No, we're all staying together, Maya."
"Okay."
Riley faced a booth, "Oh, Cambodia. Anybody interested in learning about a new culture?"
"Yeah, that's been on my mind lately." Farkle said.
Riley, Maya, Noah, and Zay sat down on the bench as Lucas, Lollie and Farkle stood.
"Hi. My name is Riley and these are my friends. What was Cambodia like for you?"
"Cambodia is a beautiful country. I lived there in a very bad time." She said.
Riley smiled, "Oh, Well, have a nice day."
"What's your story?" Maya asked.
"Maya, you can't just ask." Riley said.
"We're supposed to hear stories." Lollie said.
"Yes, it's okay. I have a story." She smiled, "I haven't spoken of this for a long time."
"We don't mean to intrude." Riley said.
"Not intruding if you really want to hear." She said.
"We do."
"Please." Lucas said.
"It's a very hard thing to decide you must leave your own country." She said.
"Can you guys even imagine that?" Riley asked.
"I can imagine it, Riley." Farkle said.
Lollie looked up at him, "Farkle?"
He ignored her.
"Why did you need to leave your country?" He asked.
"When I was little, my country was run by an evil man. Very cruel. Millions imprisoned, tortured." She explained, "My family, many relatives, planned for months. Wait for right moment. One night, we leave. I was not even supposed to go. They thought I would cry. Bring soldiers. I only cried inside. Went to Philippine Islands. Now here. Not all of us make it out."
"I'm sorry." Farkle said.
"You live in a good country, you know that?" She said.
"Hi, guys."
They all turned and faced Nigel.
"Hey, Nigel." Maya said.
"Grandma talking your ears off?" He asked.
"Oh, this is your grandma." Zay said.
Nigel smiled and spoke to them in Cambodian.
"You speak two languages?" Lollie asked.
"I speak English, Cambodian, and Filipino." He said.
"Why would you want to do that?" Maya asked.
"So I can understand what everybody has to say." He said.
His grandma smiled, "You have very nice friends. Thank you for taking the time to listen to an old woman."
"I'm glad you made it here." Farkle said.
"So am I."
Lollie smiled at her, "Thank you for sharing your story."
﹏﹏﹏﹏
The group had went their separate ways and went to all the different booths.
"I am in love with Ireland." Maya said.
She came back hand in hand with Noah.
"Not about potatoes and soap anymore?" Lucas asked.
"Nope. It's about how proud I am to be from there. From the music to the poets. I just never wanted to leave that booth."
"Well, you and me will go to Ireland the next St. Paddy's Day. We'll hang out with the Clutterbuckets." Riley said.
"Yeah. The booth was real easy to find, but where exactly is Ireland?" Maya asked.
"I think it's up and over there."
"Okay, why are you being so quiet, Farkle? It's making me really upset." Zay said.
"Really?"
"No. Like it. Peaceful."
"Don't you wanna tell us what you found out at your booth?" Lollie asked.
"Yeah, talk, Farkle. This isn't like you." Lucas said.
"I'm not really sure anymore what's like me." He said.
"What's the matter with you?" Maya asked.
"No, I get it." Riley asked, "It's just hard when you look at all of these booths to not picture yourself living a different type of life, right? That's what you're talking about."
"Okay."
"Well, while all of you guys were at your booths of your countries, I went looking for the America booth. Guess what? They don't have one." Riley said.
"Why would they?" Lollie asked.
"What do you mean?"
"We live here. We know it. No need to have an America History booth and your dad teaches it every day."
"That's the end of today's Cultural Day celebration." The man over the PA said, "We hope you learned something about somewhere else. Arrivederci, Sayonara, and for all you native New Yorkers... get outta here!"
"Last chance, Farkle. You want to go find the Denmark booth?" Lucas asked.
"Yeah, let's give Farkle a chance to hear some stories about his people." Zay said.
"Might be really interesting." Lollie added.
"No, that's okay. I think I know too many stories already." Farkle said.
He sent a smile towards the others and headed out.
﹏﹏﹏﹏
The class watched as Maya stood up and presented her project the next day.
"I never knew much about the Clutterbucket side of my family. My mom's Katy Clutterbucket because that's how she rolls. We're from Galway, Ireland." Maya smiled, "My relatives were fishermen, mostly. And I've been looking up pictures of Ireland, and it's so beautiful. So is my mother. So I'm going to take her there one day because we're part of it. Because the best thing about being alive is to feel part of something. So, thank you for making me find out."
"Great work, Maya. Thank you for sharing your story with us, Noah, Lollie?"
The two of them stood up and faced the classroom.
"I know that it sounds dumb to work together due to the fact we have different backstories, but we felt like it was important to understand our past by understanding each other in a way." Lollie said.
"Our, Nona's mother was born in New York in nineteen twenty-eight. Even though she was born in New York. She went through a lot in her lifetime. Some good some bad. I only met her a few times and she was extraordinarily happy and nice." Noah said, "She was a person I can understand. I'm glad I got to meet her."
Lollie smiled at her brother, "Jordy Parker was a person I didn't really get to meet and I regret that. She seemed to be a really sweet lady. She was born in Australia and lived an amazing life. She moved and traveled a lot but Australia was always her home, so was her son. She loved everyone she came in contact with. I know that because she took her love and put it into others."
"Great job, guys. Thank you for sharing your stories. Riley?"
The two of them sat down.
Riley stood up and walked towards the front of the class, "I'm going with all of them."
"Duh-hurr."
"All through Culture Week I've been searching the school for the America booth. And they don't have one. And then I found something that made me understand why. Field trip."
The class followed her out of the classroom and into the hallway.
"You don't need an America booth when you come from here. Lollie told me that." Riley said, "This country is one big cultural fair. Every day, I walk through different neighborhoods, different communities, and becoming a part of them is as easy as stopping by to say hello. I am this girl right here. We all are. A combination of everybody we see every day. Once upon a time, Riley Matthews lived in New York City, and because of that, she lives everywhere. That's my story. I have a story."
"Thank you, Riley." Mr. Matthews said, "I'm sure the Great Lady of New York is smiling even bigger today. I know she holds a torch for all of us. Go on. Get out of here."
The class had left. They had left the gang by themselves.
"You know, Farkle, you're the only one who hasn't told us anything today." Zay said.
"Yeah. We know everyone's story but yours." Maya said.
"And that doesn't work in this group." Lucas added.
"Farkle?" Riley said.
"I know you like to share." Lollie said, "You love learning even if you already know it. You know us, we want to know more about who Farkle Minkus is."
"My great-grandfather left Denmark and came to America right after World War Two." He explained.
"That's not all is it?" Lollie asked.
He sighed and sat down, "I think he was the only one left."
"Well, what about the others before him?" Riley asked.
"I don't think they were named Minkus." He said.
"Well, who were they?" Noah asked.
"I don't know." He said, "I don't know if I'll ever know. There aren't birth records. All I know is that during World War II, he was adopted by a Christian family named Minkus in Denmark who wanted to help him."
"Help him what?" Lucas asked.
"Help him live." Zay said.
Lollie sat on the other side of Farkle.
"Your great-grandfather was Jewish. He lived through World War Two and the Holocaust." She said.
"Sometimes it's real hard when you find out your story. My whole family-" He said, but didn't continue.
"Yeah. I'm here if you ever want to talk." Zay said.
"Me, too." He said, "I found out about these wonderful people called "Christian Rescuers." They saved babies by taking them in when they were-"
He cut himself off as Lollie held his hand.
"You're my best friend. I know it's hard talking, whether it's small things or big things. You've seen a lot of my hardships, but you've always been there and I will always be there for you. I want you to know that you can talk to me too. You don't even have to talk, you can just sit there. You're important to me, Farkle."
"Thanks. You're important to me too." He said, "I'm glad you found your story, Riley. I'm happy you all did. My story will be about how lucky we are to live in a place that allows you to come here so you can be whoever you are. But that's all I can really tell you about my heritage right now. Because I'm still finding out who I am."
﹏﹏﹏﹏
Noah walked through the front door of his home and saw Bailey sitting on the couch.
"Hey, sweetie. Where's your sisters?"
"Um, Lollie went with Farkle, Zay, and Lucas to the movies and Mariah is with Josh." He said, "Where's Dad?"
"Grocery store. Is there something wrong?"
"No. Just wondering. I'm in my room if you need me."
Bailey nodded and Noah headed upstairs.
Moments later he came back down and sat beside her.
"Guys cry right."
Bailey nodded already seeing tears running down his face.
"I know it's been a long, long time but I miss her."
Bailey pulled him into her side and hugged him.
"I know bub, she was really great."
He continued to cry into her shoulder, "And you know that she's always with you."
The two of them sat there until he fell asleep in her arms.
﹏﹏﹏﹏
Word Count: 4503
Episode: Girl Meets The Great Lady of New York
Pages: 69
hello! how are ya?
there isn't much of lollie in the episode and i hate that...
i also love noah with all my heart like uwu
farkle and lollie will get more friendship type things soon and i promise.
also also i've decide to go back and add chapters but i will definitely let you know when the episode is a past episode when the chapter starts.
see ya soon!