Banks Dynasty – Day 17.3

My day starts with a brief morning jog and a class at 11. After that, I take a break to have lunch with Me-Me and my friends at the Commons and then attend my 3 o’clock class. After all of that, I receive a text from ma.

Prosperity’s Text: Stop by if you can and meet your cousin.

I haven’t been back home in a while. And it sounds like Uncle Merit is in town with his daughter. So I respond to ma’s text with a message saying that I’m on my way.

I wish ma would have warned me about the weather. Britechester and Windenburg are neighbors, but today’s weather couldn’t be more contrasting. I arrive in a full-blown thunderstorm. And to make things even stranger, a toddler is standing outside alone when I get there. Could this be my new cousin?

Meanwhile…

Merit: *panicked* Where is she, Roni?

Veronica: *equally panicked* I don’t know. I took my eyes off her for one second, and she was gone.

Merit: Can she open the door by herself?

Veronica: I didn’t think so. Oh my Watcher, Mer. We have to find her! It’s dangerous out here, and she could get struck by lightning.

Roni enters the house is relieved to see her daughter safe and sound.

Veronica: *relieved* Oh my Watcher, Kai! You found Terra! Where was she?

Kai: She was standing out front.

Veronica: Thank you! Meri and I were worried sick. You blink your eye, and they come up missing. *guilty* I swear this is the first time she walked away like that.

Kai: Who am I to judge? I don’t know what it’s like to have kids.

I greet Ma and uncle Merit in the living room. Then we sit down on the couch.

Kai: *to Merit* How long are you all in town?

Merit: We’re here to stay, nephew.

I’m glad to hear that.

Kai: Seriously?

Merit: Yeah, we needed a change of pace.

Prosperity: They’re staying in the guest house until they find a place of their own. However, I’ve been trying to convince them to stay here with me permanently.

Merit: *to Peri* We appreciate that, but you’ll change your mind once we’re here breathing down each other’s neck long enough. And Terra won’t stay little. She’ll need her own bedroom soon.

Prosperity: First, my son is abandoning me and now my little brother. I bought this house for the family, but I’ll be here alone.

Kai: We aren’t abandoning you, ma. And you won’t be alone for long. Aren’t you and Mr. Washington talking about moving in together?

Prosperity: Son, he’s been living with me since daddy died. I just didn’t tell you. But if you came around more, you would have figured that out a long time ago.

Kai: So, it’s like when I caught you two sneaking around when you first started dating?

Prosperity: Boy – you may be grown, but you’re not that grown. Don’t get hurt.

Kai: *laughs* I was just playing, ma.

Prosperity: Don’t play with me, Kai.

Kai: I’m sorry, ma.

It’s still funny, but I know I’m very close to straddling the line and getting myself in trouble, so I add something that I know will make her happy.

Kai: And I promise that I’ll come by more.

Prosperity: I won’t hold you to that. You’ll be too busy with Melisa for your old mama soon.

Merit: Wait, who’s Melisa?

Kai: My future wifey. Did ma tell you that I’ll be moving to Henford after I graduate? I inherited a house from my dad.

Ma gets up and leaves the room – probably feeling some kind of way about my news. I probably should have told her my decision before bringing it up to Uncle Merit.

Merit: That’s dope, nephew. So I’m guessing this Melisa will be moving there with you.

Kai: That’s the plan.

Suddenly, I have a great idea.

Kai: If you and Roni are looking for a place – you should consider Henford, too.

Merit: I don’t know, Kai. It might be a bit too rural for us. And I don’t know anything about farming.

Kai: Well, what are you thinking of doing for work?

Merit: I was working on a degree in history before I quit school. I thought about teaching, but I’ll probably end up substituting without a degree.

Kai: Have you considered becoming a teaching assistant? It would still put you in the classroom but on a more permanent basis. A few more classes and I bet you’d qualify.

Merit: I never thought about that. It might be something to consider.

Kai: You could do that in Henford.

Roni enters the room at that moment.

Veronica: Do what?

Merit: *to Roni* How would you feel about moving out to the country?

Roni joins us on the couch.

Veronica: To where?

Merit: Henford-on-Bagley

Veronica: I never heard of it. Could it possibly be more country than Strangerville?

Merit: Good point. *to Kai* It might be something to consider.

Prosperity: And you’d still be close enough to visit.

I have a presentation that I need to start on, so I leave Uncle Merit, Roni, and ma in the living room to discuss the possibility of finding a home in Henford. I decide stay the night to avoid traveling back to campus in the middle of the storm.

My old room is just as I left it. But my bathroom needs repair, so I take care of it with my newly learned handiness skills before I get to work.

I complete the draft of my presentation and climb into bed once I’m satisfied. Being back home helps to calm my nerves and temporarily forget that tomorrow is the big day – when I meet Me-Me’s family for the first time.

(Generation 3 Chapter Summaries)

Thanks for reading! Please hit the “like” button below to let me know you were here! Keep scrolling if you’d like to leave a comment. 🥰