After getting off the phone with Peri, Alida greets her birthday guests…including her foster sister, Claudia, and Claudia’s husband, Theo. But the party doesn’t get started until Michelle arrives.
Alida: There you are! Long time no see.
Alida gives Michelle a big hug.
Michelle: I know…I’m sorry. Getting this stylist business off the ground is almost more work than acting.
Alida: At least you can work from home.
Michelle: True…and Roni is an excellent little assistant.
Alida: You’re grooming her early. Before you know it, she’ll be taking over the business.
Michelle: I’d love that!
Claudia insists on taking a selfie with Michelle’s equally famous husband, Tamati.
Alida: *joking tone* When you’re done fangirling, I’ll go ahead and blow out these candles.
Alida steps over to her cake.
The candles are blown out, and Alida ages up to an elder.
Merit is glad that he’s not the only kid at the party this time. He and Roni try to decide what to watch on TV while everyone else starts in on the birthday cake.
Alida walks over to Michelle…
Alida: You think you can help me out with this grey?
Michelle: I got you, sis!
Alida takes a few more bites of her cake before she realizes that birthday cake requires an equally sweet drink. She mixes up a batch of Citrus Punch.
Alida serves the punch while Claudia watches.
Claudia: Citrus punch reminds me of Mama Nadine.
Alida: Right! It was her favorite.
Claudia: I miss her so much!
Michelle gets up and begins to help by clearing the dishes.
Alida: Michelle, you are a Starlight Accolade winner. You should not be clearing dishes.
Michelle: That doesn’t make me better than anyone else. An award-winning actress can get her hands dirty, too!
Claudia: That’s why people love you! So humble!
After Michelle has cleared up some of the dishes, Alida walks over to check in with her.
Alida: Are you going to tell me what’s going on with you? You have not been your usual happy self.
They walk over to have a seat away from everyone else…
Michelle: *long exhale* I guess it’s just the fact that we’re getting older. I age up in a few days myself.
Alida: Getting old isn’t so bad.
Michelle: Getting old is the worst. Especially for me! I have hair growing in places you’ll never have to worry about. You should see my electrologist’s bill. I’m pretty sure I’m paying her mortgage.
Alida: Aging is the one thing that happens to all of us. We can’t avoid it, so why not embrace it?
Michelle: But I’m a stylist! Who’s going to come and see an old ass stylist?
Alida: Anyone who’s interested in only working with the best. And old ass people like me! Cause I’m not about to live out the rest of my days with all this grey.
Michelle: Come on by first thing tomorrow. You’ll be my first appointment.
Alida: Thanks. Anyway… I’m sure you’ll be the best dressed and prettiest older stylist anyone has ever seen!
Michelle: You’re just saying that because you love me.
Alida: What’s love got to do with it? I’m saying it because it’s the truth!
Alida: *continues* Even if you’re older…you’ll still be Michelle f*cking Blu! And you’ll always be a bomb ass stylist and award-winning actress.
Michelle: And I’ll still have you as my friend and sister!
Alida: Until I take my last breath…and even after that, I’m going to haunt your ass if you ever doubt yourself again.
Michelle: I love you!
Alida: I love you, too!
Michelle and Alida finish off the evening with a selfie before the party ends. After everyone has left, Alida reflects on her life and the people she’s been blessed to have in it. She realizes that this final stage of living is all about continuing to nurture those relationships because it’s only a matter of time before she’ll have to say goodbye to some of the people she loves the most. The thought of that leaves a sinking feeling in her belly.
(Generation 2 Chapter Summaries)
