It’s Egg Day, but we really don’t have any plans to celebrate it. Q leaves for his morning jog and I’m greeted by a smelly diaper and a hungry, fussy little girl.
Q gives Peri a quick kiss when he returns from his run, then he joins me at the table.
Quincy: Good morning, ma.
Alida: Morning
Q sits down.
Alida: I’ve been thinking about your mother’s offer…you know, to have us stay with them in Sulani for the summer.
Quincy: What about it?
Alida: I want to do it. I think it would be good for Peri…and I’ve never even left the desert before. It might be fun.
Quincy: Well, I don’t know if I’d call living with my parents again – fun…even for a short amount of time. But, it would make them very happy. Yeah…let’s do it! We’d be crazy to pass up a free trip to Sulani.
I get up to clean my plate. Q doesn’t sound as enthused about spending the summer with his parents as I thought he would, but I’m happy he agreed.
I go into the bathroom to shower and change. While I’m in there…there’s a knock at the door. Q answers it. It’s my mother.
Lea: Hi there handsome…you must be the baby’s daddy. My daughter has good taste.
Quincy: Uh…hi. I’m Quincy. Ummm…come in.
Lea steps inside and looks around.
Lea: This is a real nice place. Leelee is really moving on up in life.
Quincy: Thanks…*awkward pause* she’s in the shower. She’ll be out in a minute.
I step out of the bathroom when I hear her voice.
Alida: Mama…what are you doing here? *gives her a hug*
Lea: I came to meet my granddaughter. I figured she’d been born by now since I hadn’t heard from you.
Alida: I was going to get around to it. *steps over to the bassinet* Here she is…this is Prosperity. We call her Peri.
Q excuses himself and heads downstairs to get started on his next freelance photography job. Mama and I sit down in the living room.
Alida: So…why are you really here? Did something happen with your living situation?
I don’t hide the slight edge to my voice. Mama picks up on it immediately.
Lea: I’m not here to ask for anything, but since you asked…remember how I told you that I’d be moving in with one of the ladies from the halfway house?
Alida: yeah
Lea: Well…that fell through. Her probation officer found alcohol in her system and she’s back in jail.
Alida: That’s too bad. Do you have a plan B?
Lea: Not yet, but I’m working on it.
Alida: I actually might be able to help you with that…and you’d be helping us at the same time.
Lea: How? I’d do anything.
Meanwhile… Q gets a text informing him that the model for the big fashion spread that he’s supposed to be photographing is on her way. When Rieko Okado finally arrives, Q has her change into the outfit requested by his client…then begins his work.
After the work is done, Q places the photographs on the wall and chooses the best one to submit. Rieko, who’s been in a flirty mood the whole time, watches him closely as he looks over the finished photos.
Rieko: All of them look amazing. How will you choose?
Quincy: Thanks…I’ll just have to do my best to predict what the client will like.
Rieko: Well, I like all of them. You can call me up and I’ll pose for you at any time…and I mean any time!
Q catches the meaning behind her words but does his best to deflect her without being rude. He never knows when a client will request her for photographs again. He can’t afford to burn any bridges.
Quincy: Thanks, but I pick models based on what the client is looking for. You can change now. I’m sure you have a busy schedule today…I don’t want to hold you up.
Rieko can tell by his overly professional tone that he’s not interested in her advances. She changes clothes and leaves immediately.
(Generation 1a Chapter Summaries)
