It’s another one of those mornings for Peri. Things are getting harder and harder for her, and waking up is beginning to feel like a chore. But none of what she’s feeling is new. Everyone goes through it if they live long enough. She’s finally beginning to accept it.
Peri decides she can approach this day feeling sorry for herself, or she can fill it with doing things that give her joy, like cooking and caring for her family.
I wake up early enough to prepare breakfast before the boys leave for school, but when I get to the kitchen, I see that ma is already on it. So I wash a load of laundry instead. By the time I’ve loaded the washer, ma has already given Dray his breakfast, and Dub and Mase are at the table, ready to eat.
Dub glances at his class schedule when he arrives at school. Today is exam day. He grabs his notes from yesterday’s classes and seeks a place to study before his first exam. He passes Bongani on the stairs on his way to the library. She’s looking cute in her school uniform, but Dub decides to play things out much cooler than he did yesterday. He nods hello and keeps up the stairs without saying anything.
Back in class, he has no choice but to come up with something to say when she plops down at the desk next to him. He feels that ignoring her would be a bad look.
Wade: So, are you ready for the test?
Bongani: I think so. I spent several hours studying last night.
Wade: Oh really? With your boyfriend?
Dub’s heart begins to pound once the words have escaped his mouth. Why did he say that? It came out before he could stop himself.
Bongani: *chuckles* I don’t have a boyfriend.
Dub is glad and feels less foolish now that he’s heard her response. But before he can respond, he’s interrupted by the teacher.
Miss Coombes: Good morning, class! Please clear your desks. It is time to begin your exam.
Dub makes his way to the cafeteria at lunchtime. Unfortunately, Bongani disappears into the crowd in the hallway, so Dub ends up sitting down to lunch with Molly Prescott and the Tanaka brothers.
Molly: So, Wade – how do you like it here at Copperdale?
Wade: It’s cool
Molly: Well, my mom’s the principal here, so I know all the ins and outs. Just let me know if you need anything.
Wade: Actually, I do have a question.
Molly: Shoot
Wade: Do you know anything about that girl, Bongani?
Molly fills Dub in on what she knows about Bongani, which isn’t much. Pablo and Jeff also chime in, but they don’t know much either. So it seems that Bongani is a mystery that Dub will have to unravel on his own.
Another class, another exam, but Dub doesn’t get to sit next to Bongani. It helps his concentration, not being able to see her every time he turns his head. As a result, he does well on his exam and ends the day with high marks.
Back at home, Dray finds himself unsupervised, so he makes his way to the garage, where there are all sorts of things to explore. But, it’s the music that draws his attention. Someone left the radio on, so Dray moves to the beat – at least until he’s distracted by the little kid in the mirror. He waves and begins to hold an entire conversation with his reflection.
Drake: Who you? Do you wan to play?
The other Banks boys arrive home from school. Dub is feeling pretty good about his progress in class. He wants to keep it up, so he decides to get a head start on his homework, even though it’s the weekend. It turns out it’s good that he’s giving himself plenty of time because he checks the social bunny app for new messages from Bongani every five minutes and can barely concentrate on his work.
Meanwhile, Mase decides to occupy himself with some farm work – something he’s been looking forward to all day.
Mase starts with the chickens, but one of the roosters seems to be in a bad mood. Mase leaves the chicken coop to avoid an inevitable attack. He spends time with the calmer animals on the farm instead. He brushes Cocoa Puff’s coat and attempts to teach Belle a new trick.
While Mase is keeping Belle busy, I send a group text to Stef and Mo to ask what time they want to get together to train. Mo responds by telling me that his daughter, Perla is sick, so he has to stay with her. And Stef tells me that Jamelia insists they go on a date tonight, so he can’t make it either. So at this rate, I’ll be climbing Mt. Komo alone.
Dub is not ready to give up on convincing his parents to let him move into the spare bedroom. Last he checked, they had locked the door, determined to keep him out of it. However, his dad said he could have the room when he acts like a teen. Dub isn’t sure what that means, but he figures it won’t hurt to begin helping with some household chores without being asked.
He cleans up the dirty dishes from his and Mase’s bedroom, then helps with the laundry that has begun to pile up in their laundry basket. Now he needs to figure out how to make sure his parents notice the extra work he’s been doing. A quick text to his mom might do the trick. And to add icing to the cake, he also sends the scores from his exams today. So it’s a waiting game from here.
(Generation 3 Chapter Summaries)
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