Ma arrives home from work while I’m in the middle of watching the comedy channel on TV.
Prosperity: Kai, where’s daddy?
Kai: He went to Willow Creek with some woman named Gladys.
Ma sits down quickly.
Prosperity: What? Is she cute?
I don’t really want to talk about this. I’d rather get back to my show.
Kai: *annoyed* I guess, ma. She was old.
Ma is not about to just let it go that easy.
Prosperity: Kai!
I turn to face her.
Kai: Yes, ma.
Prosperity: Tell me more! So my daddy – your Pop-pop took a woman to Willow Creek?
Kai: Yes, ma – to bury Aunt Sophia.
Prosperity: Oh. Why didn’t he ask us to go with him?
Kai: I don’t know. You’d have to ask him.
Prosperity: *prying* So, are they coming back tonight?
Kai: No. He said it would be an overnight trip. The woman seemed pretty pleased with that.
Prosperity: So, daddy might finally get some!
I jump out of my seat. Pop-pop and woohoo is something that I’m not interested in discussing or thinking about.
Kai: *disgusted* Ewww, ma. Bye! I’m going to the gym.
Ma calls after me.
Prosperity: Older people woohoo, too, you know. It’s not something reserved for just the young.
I walk faster before she gets a chance to say anything else.
I’m not going to lie; I’m slightly offended that my Pop-pop has more of a social life than I do. I’ve never dated. I’ve never kissed anyone, and woohoo is entirely out of the question. But, at least for now, exercise seems to be a good way to work out some of my frustration.
The only problem with being at the gym all the time is that it’s mostly full of men. If I were interested in men, that would be a good thing, but I need to find out where all the women in Windenburg hang out. Hopefully, I won’t feel so isolated once I enroll at Foxbury.
One more day, and I’ll be moving into campus housing. After that, my life will change – hopefully. I remember ma being really busy while attending college. Will that be my fate, too? Will I be too busy for a social life even then? Nope, I refuse to let that be the case.
The closest hotel is the NOLA Inn & Cafe in Magnolia Promenade. Q and Gladys go there after they leave the cemetery. Q can tell that Gladys is pissed at him, and rightfully so after the way he behaved at the cemetery. That was not his finest moment.
They stand in front of the Inn.
Quincy: I’ll go ahead and book two rooms.
Q doesn’t know if it’s just his imagination, but he thinks he can hear Gladys grumbling under her breath as they enter the hotel lobby. Q proceeds to secure the rooms.
There are only two more rooms available; one upstairs and one downstairs. He leads Gladys to the downstairs room. The place is dated but still has that Magnolia Promenade charm.
Quincy: You’ll be okay here, right?
Gladys enters and takes a look around. She doesn’t seem very impressed – or maybe she has something else on her mind.
Gladys: I guess I have to be.
Q was married long enough to know when he’s in trouble with a woman. So he takes his leave by hurrying out the door.
Q can almost imagine his parents rolling around in their graves at his mistreatment of Gladys. His parents weren’t perfect, but they raised him right and taught him to be a gracious host – which is ironic because his mother wasn’t always gracious herself, but that’s neither here nor there. He invited Gladys on this trip, so that makes her his guest. He goes up to his room and reflects on that for a moment. He has to make this right.
Q pulls out his cell and calls Gladys.
Quincy: *on the phone* Hey, Gladys. Did you happen to bring something dressy to wear?
Gladys: *on the phone* I always pack for any occasion. Why?
Quincy: I’m sorry for my behavior earlier, and I want to make it up to you.
He reveals what he has in mind. Gladys agrees to meet him downstairs in about an hour – enough time to shower, change, and get ready to go out.
(Generation 3 Chapter Summaries)
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