It’s the morning of Winterfest. Mo and Stef are counting on me, and I feel I’m letting them down. We leave to climb Mt. Komo tomorrow morning, and I have yet to find a 4th guy for the trip. Desperate, I search for a climbing forum, hoping to find anybody willing to drop everything and come with us on a journey up the mountain.
Luck is on my side! I find a forum specifically for climbers of Mt. Komorebi, and there is a thread for those looking for climbing teams. I see a few potential climbers, but most are looking to climb during specific periods. There’s one that has some promise, though. The username is natethegreat, and he’s willing to climb at any time. He might be exactly who I’m looking for, so I send him a DM, hoping he’ll get back to me soon.
Now I’m ready to prepare for Winterfest.
As I enter the kitchen to prepare a special breakfast, I hear the house coming alive as everyone begins to wake up and prepare for the day.
Upstairs, Dub groans as he wakes up to the strange sensations of puberty. His face is full of new breakouts, and his energy feels low, making him want to crawl back into bed.
Dray wakes up feeling the exact opposite. He’s practically bouncing on his bed.
Drake: Wake up, Mase! Wake up! It’s Winterfest. We get presents today!
Me-Me turns on some holiday music and gathers the boys around the tree to help her decorate.
Melisa: It was a tradition in my family to decorate the tree together. But the most memorable time was when the lights went out just as we lit up the tree.
Drake: *excited* Ohhh! Will the lights go out for us, too, mommy?
Melisa: It wasn’t a good thing, Dray.
Despite his ma’s last statement, Dray seems slightly disappointed when they light up the tree, and the lights remain on.
Dray redirects his excitement by opening up the holiday popper waiting for him on the kitchen counter. The sound of it bursting open and the sweet treat inside makes him forget his disappointment.
Breakfast is ready. I pull out my dinner bell just as Merlin did when we visited a few days ago. Secretly, it’s part of our holiday breakfast that I’ve been looking forward to the most.
Kai: *rings bell* Dinner’s ready!
Melisa: *protesting* We’re all standing right here, Kai. Why so loud?
Kai: Allow me this moment of joy, woman.
Breakfast is delicious, but I soon realize I cooked too much. I can barely move when I get up from the table to gather the dirty dishes. It’s not a good look for the day before a climb. If I keep this up, I’ll have to be rolled up the mountain tomorrow.
Everyone else is still chilling at the table. So it’s up to me to remind them of the realities of living on a farm.
Kai: Chores don’t stop because it’s a holiday. Let’s get it all done before the family starts arriving.
Dray is the only one with no chores on the farm yet. So while everyone else is busy, he takes an opportunity to sneak a present from under the tree. He’s not disappointed in what he gets, but even better – he gets away with it without getting caught.
I help Me-Me out in the kitchen before going into the orchard to harvest a few trees. I pass Dub and am glad to see he’s beginning to embrace his responsibilities on the farm. I haven’t even heard him complain much about it.
Just as I step out among the trees, my phone rings. It’s an unknown number, but I answer it anyway. I’m glad I did. It’s Nate from the forums. He gives the news I’ve been hoping to hear. He’s going to join us for our trip up the mountain. We talk briefly, and I give him the basic information he needs. He sounds young, which makes sense because only someone with few responsibilities can jump up and take a last-minute trip like this. Either way, I can’t wait to meet him.
Mase finishes his chores and hurries over to join Dray, playing on the monkey bars.
Mason: You’ll get in trouble if ma sees you upside down like that.
Drake: But she doesn’t see me.
Mase shrugs his shoulders at Dray’s response but is glad when he eventually climbs down.
Mason: I’ll race you to the other side.
An hour before the Winterfest guests will begin to arrive, Dub gives Cocoa Puffs one final brush, and Me-Me finishes up a beautifully baked ham for the party. Her cooking skills have improved exponentially from when she almost burned to death trying to prepare breakfast for Kai. She looks down at her perfect meal and smiles.
(Generation 3 Chapter Summaries)
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