"Hey honey, how was school today?" "School was wonderful" "Did you guys have a good day?" "It was okay" "Yeah, it was just fine" "You're making your famous stroganoff" "That's my favorite" "Are you in trouble or do you want something?" "I knew the stroganoff was going too far" "Last time I tried to feed it to the dog" "And we don't even have a dog" "Mom, you know, mom, dad, I'm 14 now" "And I have a lot more needs" "And I don't want to bug you guys every single time that I need to buy something" "So I want a raise on my allowance" "How can you argue with that?" "No" "I guess that's how" "But all of my friends got raises" "Give 'em the sad eyes" "That can't say no to the sad eyes" "Enough with the sad eyes" "Listen, if there's something you really need, just ask us, and we'll get it for you" "You know, that's just it dad!" "I don't want to have to ask anymore" "I'm not a little kid." "I need freedom" "Well, when you start earning money of your own, then you can be free with that" "But until then, you have to manage with your allowance the way that it is" "Fine" "Yeah, well your stroganoff tastes like an old shoe" "An old smelly burnt shoe" "And they just said "no" about raising my allowance" "Just like, just like that." "Like, "No"" "Well, did they say why?" "I think it's because they want complete and total control over my life." "Forever" "Not forever." "Just until you turn eighteen" "You've got four years to go" "Four more years?" "Don't I get time off for good behavior?" "I just hate running to my parents for every little thing" "Lizzie, you could get a job" "When I'm at the mall, and I want a pair of jeans" "I want to buy them" "Lizzie, you could get a job" "I need independence and freedom" "But no, they won't let me have that" "Lizzie, you could get a job" "A job?" "What a great idea!" "I could get a job" "I'm sorry." "Were you saying something Miranda?" "No." "I think getting a job is a great idea" "I think they're looking for a new busboy" "I can clear plates." "I do that at home for free" "I could be the new busboy" "How do I look?" "You look like a busboy" "Go get 'em!" "Looks like there's a new busboy in town" "McGuire's batting a thousand on the job front" "So when do you start?" "I start tomorrow" "But I thought we were all supposed to hang at the mall tomorrow?" "Well, we can hang here instead It'll be fun" "Are you sure?" "We don't want you to get in trouble" "No." "I think it'll be fine" "Plus, I think I can swing for some free drinks for my friends" "Free?" "Free is my favorite number" "Matt, is something up with you?" "You didn't even notice I threw the ball" "Dude, I know something's wrong" "Even Lanny said you've been awful quiet lately" "It's just..." "Reggie, I don't think Melina wants to be friends with me anymore" "I thought things were good" "She hasn't gotten you in trouble for days" "Exactly." "And Jered Ferguson has been in detention for nearly a week now" "It doesn't take a genius to put two and two together" "Melina's moved on" "You're better off without her, man" "It's just, I don't understand girls" "Nobody understands girls" "Except, maybe a girl" "Talk to me" "Maybe you need to talk to a girl" "But I don't know any" "What about Lizzie?" "Lizzie's not a girl." "She's my sister" "But she's the closest thing you've got" "So this is what rock-bottom looks like" "Hey Matt." "Hurry up, honey or you're gonna be late for school" "Sweetheart, leave all that" "It's no problem, mom" "That's okay." "I was nearly done anyway" "You've been good for two days in a row" "What have you done?" "Okay, I got a job" "A job?" "!" "I am the new busboy at the Digital Bean" "Honey, I think you should've talked to us before getting a job" "But now I don't have to ask you guys for money and now you don't have to raise my allowance" "It's a win-win situation" "But Lizzie, work is a huge responsibility" "Yeah, you have your homework and your friends and your chores" "I mean, it's a lot to handle" "But, mom, it's just a busboy job" "I mean, I'll clean some tables." "I'll see Gordo and Miranda and I'll do my homework in between time" "I still think it's a lot to take on" "But, you know what, you're old enough to make your own decisions, so" "Thanks mom, thanks dad." "I can totally handle this" "Welcome to the rat race" "Mom, mom, where's Lizzie?" "She just left" "I really needed to talk to her" "Well, you can talk to me sweety" "Sorry, Mom." "But I need to talk to a girl" "This job thing rocks" "I'm free!" "I'm independent" "No one tells me what to do" "Lizzie, front and center!" "I need you to roll silverware" "Impressive." "Now you can turn pro" "What now?" "You're done for the day" "Really?" "No." "But that gets them every time" "Now you're going to take all the rolled silverware and put in on the floor" "Great" "Lizzie, just a hint." "When I said, "put it on the floor" I didn't really mean "the floor"" "Yeah." "I got it" "Good." "And I'm gonna need you to roll some more silverware" "Juice." "No ice." "And keep 'em coming" "Excuse me, worm, I don't pick after you at home and I don't plan on picking after you here" "Okay?" "So don't make a mess" "Lizzie, I can't believe I've sunk this low but I really need to talk to you" "Matt, what's it about?" "You see, it's about Melina, she's" "Lizzie?" "What are you doing?" "Talking to my little brother Can I have a second?" "What do you think?" "I think that I'm not being paid to talk to my brother" "You're psychic" "So you already know the ketchup bottles need to be refilled" "I'm free!" "I'm independent" "I just have Dragon-Boss breathing down my neck" "Hey Matt" " Where's Lizzie?" " Over there" "How's her first day?" "Pretty much like that Juice me" "You're hitting the juice pretty hard there, aren't you, Matt?" "You wouldn't understand." "You see I need to talk to a girl but Lizzie's the only one I know and she's busy" "Matt?" "I'm a girl" "You are, aren't you?" "!" "Nothing gets past you, does it?" "You see, it's about Melina" "She's getting someone else into trouble Someone who's not me" "And?" "Juice me" "I think she's moved on" "I'm gonna let you handle this one" "Y'know, Melina doesn't realize how good she has it" "What do you mean?" "Matt, you're a great kid" "I am?" "Totally" "You really think so?" "Absolutely." "And if Melina can't see that then she's not worth it" "Not bad" "Wow, you really think I am a great kid?" "Yeah, I really do" "And there are plenty of other girls out there who'd be lucky to go out with you" "Wow, thanks" "Sure." "No problem" "Maybe we should catch up with Lizzie later when she's not so... tomatoey" "You could come over after dinner?" "Cool, tell Lizzie we'll see her then." "Bye" "It's a date" "So how was your first day in the working world?" "Besides sticky" "Totally busy." "I didn't stop working the whole time I was there" "Isn't that the definition of a job?" "Yeah, but I didn't think it would be so much" "Work?" "Yeah, but when payday comes around you'll be swimming in cash" "Exactly" "Lizzie, mom wants you in the kitchen" "Don't ever do that again, Matt" "I'll be right back And don't bug my friends" "Here" "Thanks" "I think Matt's over Melina" "I know, I give such good advice" "No, no, you're missing my point, Miranda" "He's over Melina because he's got a crush on you" "Please." "This is Matt" "He's just giving me a thank-you card" "Yeah" "I hate being right all the time" "So, when you and Matt get married are you two gonna move in here or you gonna get an apartment or... what?" "I'm off in fifteen minutes" "So just sit over there, and don't order anything" "And Gordo, will you please stop this." "Okay?" "You're gonna knock something over and I'm gonna have to clean it up" "Guess we can't talk to the new working Lizzie" "Probably not" "But you've got the next best thing" "Your boyfriend" "He's not my boyfriend" "But he hearts you, MRNDA" "Fancy meeting you here Gordo" "Like your button, man" "Thanks" "I made it myself" "Something wrong, sunshine?" "I..." "I just need a drink" "One drink, two straws Coming right up" "You could be a little more helpful Gordo" "What?" "I said I liked his button" "I'm sorry, it's just so... funny" "Okay, which one of you did it?" "It's called an accident, Lizzie" "Around Kate and Claire, there is no such thing as an accident" "Sure it was an accident" "It'd be really nice if there was a busboy around to clean this up" "Look who's here" "But they did it on purpose" "Honestly, it was an accident" "Lizzie, get a rag, and clean this up and apologize to these customers" "But, but" "Apologize to Kate and Claire?" "I don't think so" "Or I can put the "busboy wanted" sign back up?" "I'm free." "I'm independent." "And" "Sorry" "I don't know which is grosser, having to apologize to Kate and Claire or cleaning melted smoothie off the floor" "Look, you missed a spot" "Come in" "Honey, Don't you have to work today?" "Yes" "Let me rephrase this." "Are you planning on going to work today?" "I don't really have a choice" "Here it comes, the responsibility lecture" "Of course you have a choice" "You could always quit" "Who are you and what have you done with my real dad?" "Dad, I'm not gonna quit" "Earning my own money makes me happy" "You don't look happy that's because it's called a job" "Because it requires a little bit of work" "Lizzie, the great thing about being a kid is that your only job is to get good grades to hang out with your friends and be a good kid" "You've got those covered" "Dad, this is what I really want to be doing" "I mean I hate running to you guys for every little thing" "I want to be independent" "Okay." "But independent is harder than it looks" "Listen, I'm your dad." "You're supposed to ask me for stuff" "Well then, can I ask you for a ride to work because I'm gonna be really late" "Gordo!" "Good!" "You're home" "Matt's crush on me has gone totally loco" "Isn't that great?" "No." "It's horrible" "Maybe for you" "But for me, it's endlessly entertaining" "Hang on, that's my other line" "I love the way you say hello" "Matt." "Hey, can you hang on a second?" "'Til the end of time" "It's Matt!" "What do I say?" "I dunno, he's your boyfriend" "Talk about what you usually talk about" "Not helping, Gordo" "So, uh, why don't you tell him you just want to be friends" "Friends?" "I can do that" "Matt, I'm so glad you called" "I was wondering maybe if you wanted to go bike riding later" "Like on a date?" " Yes?" " Can you hang on?" "He just asked me out on a date" "I guess the let's just be friends thing didn't work?" "Gordo, what do I say?" "Well, if you don't do something quick you're gonna be Mrs Matt McGuire" "So will you go?" "Well..." "I..." "I mean... sure" "Yes" "Could you get me another spoon, please?" "Why?" "Because this spoon is dirty" "Sir, you're eating a bagel" "You don't need a spoon to eat a bagel" "I need a clean spoon" "Okay, sir, I'll be right back" "Isn't he a cute kid?" "Here you go, sir." "There's your clean spoon" "You just touched that spoon after cleaning the floor" "That spoon is dirty." "I need a clean one" "Lizzie, the garbage won't take itself out" "I'll be there in a second, okay?" "Now" "Now I know why no one else applied for this job" "There you go" "You just touched the garbage and didn't wash your hands" "That spoon is dirty." "I need a clean one" "Sorry" "Accidents happen" "You know what?" "No" "I've had all I can stand, and I can't stand no more" "Listen up, that was not an accident!" "All right?" "And my job is hard enough without you two brats making it worse" "Lizzie" "And you see this mess?" "I'm not cleaning it up" "I'm not cleaning after anybody in this whole room" "And you!" "Little muffin boy." "You see this right here?" "You eat this muffin or you put it in the trash can, but keep it off my clean floor and Mr Spoon Boy!" "You don't need a spoon to eat a bagel!" "You just don't" "I came here trying to do my job so I didn't have to ask my parents for money anymore" "I want to be free and I want to be independent" "But no!" "Obviously, that's not gonna happen" "Lizzie" "And you!" "You're always telling me what to do and always asking me for things" "And that's not being free or independent at all!" "Now, is it?" "You're absolutely right You done?" "Yes." "I feel a lot better now" "I am so glad." "You're fired" "Fired?" "I'm fired?" "Don't feel too bad." "I go through three busboys a month" "Just like we practiced" "Matt, you're a really great kid but I think we should just be friends" "I can't believe you're gonna break Matt's heart" "You know what?" "You just want to keep this going for your own sick amusement" "Well, yeah" "Miranda, you're early." "I thought we were going bike riding later" "I mean, I haven't even had time to wrap your present" "Yeah, well, we need to talk" "Is something wrong?" "Well, kind of" "Is it someone else?" "No." "Don't worry, she's all yours" "Gordo!" "Matt, no, there's no one else" "That's good, cause I don't think I can return these" "What do I say to that?" "I say you go out with him." "Those shirts are pretty cool" "Matt, you're a great kid but, I think" "So the rumor is true" "Hello, Melina" "Listen, just because you can't find a guy your own age doesn't mean you can steal mine" "You're just a rebound girl So keep your distance" "'Cause if anybody's gonna get Matt in trouble, it's gonna be me" "Got it?" "You really do like me" "Let's go" "Sorry things didn't work out" "NOW" "Coming, my angel" "Look, I made these" "Well." "That was really easy" "You do realize that you just got dumped by Matt" "We're not talking about this ever again Especially to Lizzie" "All right." "Rebound Girl" "That was talking about it" "Hey you guys." "What are you doing here?" "Y'know, it's a funny story" "So how was your day?" "It was great... until I got fired" "Well, what happened?" "You were caught drinking straight from the shake machine, weren't you?" "What?" "That's what I would've done" "No." "I wasn't as polite as I should've been to the customers" "I think that qualifies for the understatement of the year" "It wasn't pretty" "So, I guess the money train has stopped rolling" "Gordo, I don't think the money train ever took off from the station" "Besides, if I'm always working, how am I gonna have time to spend the money?" "Good point" "So, what's up with you guys?" "I feel like I haven't seen you in days" "What's been going on?" "Nothing." "Nothing at all" "You guys hungry?" "Keep it zipped" "Cake" "Milk?" "Yeah" "Frosting's the best part"