Michael shows off his new ‘light spin’ moves while trying to convince Mama Nadine to dance with him.
Mama Nadine: Oh no…I’ve never been much of a dancer.
After some convincing from the rest of us…she finally sways her body a bit to the music, but we can tell that it’s not really her thing.
Cutting the cake is enough to distract us from the dance floor for a while. Mama Nadine and Molly head towards the couch to eat their cake. I take the opportunity to fill Michael in on what I’ve been up to in Strangerville. I tell him how close we are to having a place to live. I even casually mention that I ran into Q again.
Michael: That fine kid at the gym?
Alida: He’s definitely not a kid anymore.
Michael: Please tell me you got his number this time.
Alida: No, but I’m pretty sure he lives in Strangerville.
Michael: Nice! It’ll be my mission to hook the two of you up.
Alida: Don’t you dare! I’m not even into him like that. I’d just really like to apologize for being mean to him that day.
Mama Nadine soon finds a convenient excuse to leave the party…although I’m very sure that she appreciated our efforts. The rest of us stay and dance for a little while. Eventually, I grab the leftover cake and leave the garage as well.
Molly is there in the kitchen, which surprises me because I didn’t even realize that she had left the garage. She must have slipped out behind Mama Nadine. She’s standing there looking a little sad, so I walk over to check in on her.
Alida: You okay?
Molly: Yeah…
Molly is always ready to share her feelings, so it doesn’t take any prodding from me to get her to continue…
Molly: It’s just that everyone is aging up and pretty soon nothing will be the same. First Raul moved out and now you’ll be moving out too. It gives me the saddies.
Alida: Awww…if I promise that I’ll still visit, will that make the saddies go away?
Molly nods.
Alida: Then I promise.
I kneel down to give her a hug.
Molly sits down at the counter with me and I tell her all about Strangerville. I promise her that if she ever gets a chance to come and visit me…I’ll take her to the restaurant that serves nothing but ice cream. That puts a big smile on her face.
I’m sitting on the bed thinking about what the next few days might hold for me when I get a text from Hali’a from the Alliance for Independent Living…
Hali’a’s Text: Good news! The house is yours. I just need you to come and sign paperwork first thing in the morning.
My heart is pumping fast, but this time it’s the good kind of anxiety. Michael and I have a house! I text her back right away letting her know that I’ll be there first thing.
If I want to meet with her on time, I figure I should already be in town so that I’m there when her office first opens. I need to move out right away.
Michael is the first person I tell…
Alida: Guess what?! We have a house!
Michael: *excited* What? Really?
Alida: Yeah…I need to leave for Strangerville tonight so I’m there in the morning to sign the paperwork.
Michael: So…you’re leaving me?
Alida: Just for one day. You’ll be aged up and ready to move in very soon.
Michael: I’ll still miss you!
We hug…
Alida: I’ll miss you too!
Next, I approach Mama Nadine, realizing that saying goodbye to her will be just as difficult as saying goodbye to Michael.
Alida: The Alliance for Independent Living helped me find a house. It’s in Strangerville!
Mama Nadine: That’s great news. I’m so happy for you.
Alida: Thanks…but, *hesitates* I’ll be moving out tonight. I need to be there in the morning to sign the paperwork.
Mama Nadine: Oh…well, I guess this has turned into a going-away party.
Alida: Yeah, but it’s not a goodbye. I promise I’ll be back to visit.
Mama Nadine: I’ll hold you to that. I hope you’ll always consider this a place where you’ll be welcomed.
Her words touch me because I know she means it from the bottom of her heart.
I say my goodbyes to Darwin and Emily. Darwin and I have never been on hugging terms, so we settle for a handshake and a hip bump. He tells me that he’ll miss me and I return the words.
A few hours later, I arrive in Strangerville once again. This time I check into the Inn above the 8 Bells bar. I’m on my own now. I stand by the window and look out over the new town that will now become my home.
(Generation 1a Chapter Summaries)
