Our family and friends have been waiting around long enough. It’s time to serve the drinks and call everyone over for food. I lead the charge by grabbing a plate and sitting at the table. Mo goes outside to gather Dray and Mabel.
Drake: *to Mo* Mr. Crews, I don’t think Mabel likes me very much.
Maurice: Aw, I’m sure she likes you. Just give her some time; she’ll warm up to you.
Just as we’re all preparing to eat, Me-Me arrives home from work, dressed and ready to party.
I hurry over to her as soon as I see her, and she greets me with a kiss.
Melisa: Look at my Kaby – still as handsome as ever.
Kai: Thanks, babe.
Melisa: I’m sorry I missed you blowing out your candles. Did you make a wish?
Kai: No need. All of my wishes have already come true with you and the boys.
Melisa: Awww – still as sweet as ever too.
Dub finally has Perla’s full attention.
Wade: So I guess that’s a no.
Perla: No to what?
Wade: I was about to ask you out to a movie, but then you shut me down.
Perla: Oh – sorry about that. I was just happy to see Mase. I’ll ask my parents, and if they say yes, it’s yes for me too.
Mo sits down next to them as soon as Perla finishes talking.
Maurice: Ask us what?
The last thing Dub wants is for Perla to ask her dad right there in front of him. But luckily, she seems to be thinking the same thing.
Perla: Nothing, dad. We can talk about it later.
Me-Me joins me at the table to talk to Shay, who used to be her roommate in college.
Melisa: I miss our old carefree college days.
Shania: Me too. We should hang out more – which I realize is much easier said than done.
Melisa: Right? Now we’re old with jobs and kids. Going out seems like a chore.
Shania: Yep, it’s all work, come home, take care of the kids, sleep – rinse and repeat.
Kai: Ya’ll make family life sound so dull.
Shania: It’s not dull. These kids keep us on our toes.
Melisa: *agrees* Amen to that.
Shania: But we can liven it up by hanging out more.
Melisa: True, we’ll have to put it on our calendars.
Mase is exhausted, so he departs the party early for some sleep. Perla and Dub also escape the party but for a different reason.
Wade: Why’d you tell me to meet you out here?
Perla: My dad is nosy – and I want to dance with you without him staring at us.
Wade: Oh, got it
Dub doesn’t hesitate to step over for a private dance with Perla.
Wade: Since we have some privacy, there’s one more thing I wanted to ask you.
Perla: What’s that?
Wade: Have you ever been kissed before?
Perla: No
Wade: *slight hesitation* Can I be the first?
Perla: Shouldn’t we save that for our date?
Wade: Maybe, but what if your parents say we can’t go out?
Perla: Good point
Wade: So?
Perla never thought Dub would ask for a kiss. She always figured it would just happen. But she appreciates the gesture. Perla answers with a shy nod. Dub moves quickly and kisses her softly on the lips before she even has a chance to close her eyes. Again, it’s not what she expected, but it’s nice and puts a smile on her face.
Inside, Me-Me and Shay try to relive some of their college days with some dancing.
Melisa: Remember this one?
Me-Me sways her hips seductively from side to side.
Shania: Yeah, you used to lure the guys in with the slow sweet dancing, then I’d hit them with the -*shows off some more aggressive moves* bang, bang, bang!
Melisa: *laughs* That would either scare them off –
Shania: Or keep them coming back for more.
I laugh as I overhear Me-Me and Shay, reminiscing. Those were some fun times, but being older doesn’t mean we can’t have more fun times. So it might be time for us to take an elder trip together. Maybe for Me-Me’s birthday.
Everyone disappears after the party ends, and it’s time to clean up. I catch Dub as he tries to slip past me and asks him to help me get all the dirty dishes in the dishwasher. He reluctantly agrees.
The last thing Dub wants to do is clean. He’d rather go upstairs and daydream about his first kiss – but a full cup of juice, the kind only adults are allowed to drink, on the table captures his attention.
Dub waits until his dad turns away before he sneaks back out the door with the cup hidden in the waistband of his pants. He has to walk slowly to keep it from spilling, but his dad doesn’t notice.
Once Dub gets to the gazebo, he pulls it out – curious to know what it tastes like. He hesitates only momentarily before putting it up to his mouth and taking a big gulp of it. He knows why drinking is off-limits until young adulthood, but that only makes it much more appealing.
(Generation 3 Chapter Summaries)
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