11:03 PM. That was the time it was when the yelling started. It could be heard from every room in the house, even in the garage. There never seemed to be a time when the loud family wasn't, well, loud.

The children shifted on their beds, trying to find a position that could help them sleep, even through the loud yelling coming from the kitchen. It was like clockwork. Every night, there would be a fight their mother and father, their voices echoing throughout the home where ten children were dying to get sleep. But it wasn't just the noise that was keeping them up. It was the constant fear.

Lynn Loud Sr. wasn't the type to hit anyone. In fact, neither was Rita. They were only interested in seeing who could be the loudest. Their arguments were never the same topic. The last time it was bevause of how late her husband had shown up. This night, it was of something much, much worse.

"Honey, I've spent money on myself before. And for some reason, I go out and buy another gadget and suddenly you're on my ass about it?" The father exclaimed.

"Yeah? Well that 'gadget' cost our vacation savings! What was it anyway?" The blonde mother yelled.

Lynn Sr. whispered something under his breath.

"What?"

He repeated, this time louder but not enough to be heard.

"What was it, damnit?!"

"It was a video camera for Lola!" he screamed.

The woman laughed, the laughter containing no humor whatsoever. She clenched her fists.

"That's it..." she breathed.

The children tossed and turned, hearing every word of the argument and choosing to ignore it. But every time a new word was added, they winced with fear. Whenever it went completely silent, one of them had something extra to say. They were finally happy when they heard the footsteps of their mother walking away. That was until they heard Lily crying.

"You know what, you bastard? If you care so much about getting overly expensive gifts for the children, you raise them. I'm taking the baby!" Rita screamed, her voice breaking down with every word.

"You can't just leave! What about the others?"

"You can take care of them can't you!"

All of the kids were listening in, hearing the front door open, the car start, and driving away. As the car's noises dissipated, so did Lily's cries. What did they do? One of the only things they felt like doing: sleeping.

They all soon drifted into sleep, where that would be the only thing that comforted them as the nights would go on.