Banks Dynasty – Day 39

Plumbob Studios 9am…

Leinani (makeup artist): *applies makeup and begins working on Michelle’s hair* I just need to apply product and fluff it up in a few places.

Michelle: Wait…so I’m not playing a male character?

Leinani: Apparently not. There were some last-minute changes. Your character is now a woman honey.

Michelle steps out of the wardrobe room…for the first time playing a female character. This is a dream come true for her. The camera crew and director prepare for her scenes.

Michelle performs her scenes for the sitcom‘Growing Up Crumplebottom’. She delivers and reaches a new level in her acting skill.

The director and crew are pleased with her work. At home, Michelle receives a call from her agent telling her that she’s been promoted! The director wants to make her a regular guest star on ‘Growing Up Crumplebottom’.

Michelle returns home, sees that my bags have been packed, and gives me a big hug.

Michelle: I love you so much!

Alida: I love you too…from the bottom of my heart!

After our embrace…

Michelle: *excited and emotional* You have been an incredible friend over the years. I don’t know where I would be without you. Thanks to you…I didn’t give up on my acting career and today it paid off!

Alida: It did? What happened?

Michelle: I played a female role for the first time. I was finally able to do what I’ve wanted to do for so long…and babe, listen to me when I tell you – I was absolutely brilliant!

Alida: Am I supposed to be surprised? You’ve always been brilliant…and I’m so proud of you!

Q arrives to pick me up moments later. I stand there and look back and forth between the two people that I love the most and I almost panic because it feels like I’m closing the book on one chapter in my life and opening up another. I know what I’ve been through…what Michelle and I have both been through, but I have no idea what’s coming next. That terrifies me.

Quincy: You ready?

I inhale deeply…then exhale to keep myself together.

Alida: Yeah, let’s go…

A half-hour later, Q and I pull up to his place…which is now our place. Q and I get out. He walks to the trunk to get my things, but first hands me my own set of keys.

Quincy: You can head on up…I’ll grab your bags.

The heat is too much and I’m happy to get out of it. I head up the stairs and enter my new home.

Q takes my stuff to the bedroom. Then comes out and grabs my hands.

Quincy: I’m so glad you’re here. *kisses my hands*

Then he kneels down and places his hands on my belly.

Quincy: *to the baby* And I’m glad you’re here too! *stands up* I have something to show you downstairs. It’s what I was working on all day yesterday.

I’m eager to see what it is…so I follow him down to the ground floor. As soon as I step down and peek around the wall…I can see that Q has had his bottom floor partitioned into rooms.

Quincy: There are two bedrooms down here now…and a bathroom. I’m thinking we’ll use one for the baby’s room…and the other can be my music room and an office for you.

Alida: That would be amazing.

Quincy: Yeah, and this last room…

Q walks through a set of double doors straight ahead. I enter behind him…

Quincy: I still have space for a small photography studio.

Alida: I can’t believe you did all this!

Quincy: It’s something I’ve been planning on doing. But the only thing missing in that plan was you. You can decorate the rooms down here any way you want to. We can even hire someone if you want.

Hiring someone to decorate is still a foreign concept for me. I already know who to call…there’s no decorator in the world that would do a better job of helping me out than Michelle.

Quincy: I was wondering…if I could take a few pictures of you – the way you are right now.

Alida: What? Humongous?

I chuckle, but Q is serious.

Quincy: No…you look beautiful, and I’d like to capture that if it’s okay with you.

I’m touched. I step in front of the camera.

I’m exhausted by the time we’re done. I head upstairs for a nap. Q has a client waiting for some fashion photography submissions. Q thinks my photos would be perfect. He submits them…and they get approved by the client. Who would have thought that I’d gain 30 pounds…and then become a model?

Q moves his music equipment to one of the empty rooms and begins to work on a new beat while I rest.

I’m up again close to the middle of the night…starving. Luckily Q has a few things prepared in the refrigerator. I grab a sandwich and sit down to eat.

Q finishes up his newest track and joins me upstairs. We eat together, then go to bed.

(Generation 1a Chapter Summaries)