Death visits the Banks Homestead early the following day, but he’s not there for Peri. Instead, he’s there to claim the soul of the oldest chicken – Ebony. Death takes care of his business and leaves as quickly as he arrives.
Moments later, little Dray wakes up from a nightmare.
Dray still hasn’t learned which door leads to his parent’s bedroom, so he tries the one next to the bathroom. Unfortunately, it’s the wrong room. He cries out in frustration, waking his big brother Dub.
Wade: What are you doing here?
Drake: *whines* Scawed!
Dub doesn’t appreciate being awakened from his sleep, but he can still remember what it’s like to be little and afraid. So he climbs out of bed and leads his smallest brother to the hallway.
Wade: We need to get you back in bed.
Drake: *pouts* Too scawey!
Dub can see that Dray is not about to go to sleep anytime soon, so he gets an idea.
Wade: How about if I read you a story?
He can do two things at once – soothe his little brother to sleep and stay up reading the latest book in the Peter Barker series.
It works for a while, Dray listens intently, but eventually, Dub is so engaged with the story that he forgets that he’s supposed to be reading out loud. Dray gets bored of just sitting there watching his brother as he silently mouths the words to the story, so he pulls out his tablet and begins playing a game on it, which doesn’t help him wind down enough for sleep.
I enter the nursery and see Dub reading a book while Dray wanders around the room.
Kai: What are you doing this early?
Dub is so engrossed with his story that he doesn’t even look up.
Wade: Dray had a nightmare, so I’m reading to him.
I don’t hear any reading, at least not out loud. But I guess it’s the intent that counts.
Kai: Thanks for keeping an eye on your brother.
I get Dray ready to return to his bed and instruct Dub to get dressed and ready to blow out his candles because ma and Me-Me are downstairs waiting on him.
Baking Dub’s cake takes a while, and by the time Mase is up and ready – it’s already time for him to leave for school. So there’s no time for him to celebrate with us.
Kai: *heading downstairs with Mase* Will you be okay at school without your brother today?
Mason: I made lots of friends. I’ll be fine, daddy.
Kai: I’m proud of you! Have a great day at school.
Ma lights Dub’s candles, and he hurries over to blow them out. Then he ages up to a teen.
(Teen Aspiration: Admired Icon/Relatable Old Traits: Happy Toddler, Squeamish New Trait: Childish)
Dub pulls out his phone for a few selfies.
Prosperity: Don’t take one of me – I look terrible.
Wade: No, you don’t, Gran!
Dub snaps a photo anyway. Then he does a few by himself.
Ma can’t stop watching Dub, and there’s no denying the pleasure on her face. Based on our conversation yesterday, I’m sure she’s glad to be around long enough to see him becoming a young man. But unfortunately, he’s around the age I was when my gran passed away. History does repeat itself.
Wade: Are you coming with us to the mirror maze later?
Prosperity: Am I invited? Who wants an old lady tagging along?
Wade: Of course, and you’re not old, gran.
Prosperity: Tell my body that.
Just overhearing their conversation, I realize I’d better have that talk with the boys soon – very soon!
After the cake, Me-Me walks over to give Dub his gift.
Melisa: It’s from your dad and me.
It’s a laptop. Dub is pleased but has one important question.
Wade: I don’t have to share this with Mase, do I?
Melisa: No, this is just for you! You can even add a password so that no one can get in it but you.
Wade: Sweet! Thanks, ma.
It’s Peri’s turn to give her gifts. Dub opens it but isn’t quite as pleased as he was with the computer from his parents. It just looks like a ratty old camera and some earbuds.
Prosperity: You might not appreciate it now, but that camera has been in our family for over a generation. It once belonged to my father.
Dub doesn’t want to hurt his gran’s feelings, so he hugs her and thanks her for the gift.
(Generation 3 Chapter Summaries)
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