I wake up feeling good about my decision to spend some time back home in Henford. But the tough part is I need to let Tami know. Hearing about me moving out hurt her enough, but now I have to tell her I’m also going away for a few days.
I shower, grab my packed bag, and prepare to head out. To my surprise, Tami’s cat, Majesty, is in the hallway outside the bedroom. I kneel to pet her.
Wade: How did you get in here?
I’m still not a cat fan, but this one isn’t so bad. Seeing her leads me to another conclusion.
Wade: This whole thing started when I brought you home, right?
One of my biggest mistakes purrs softly under my touch.
I step away from Majesty and head outside, hoping to catch Tami before she leaves for school.
Tami is standing outside. I hurry over.
Wade: Good morning, princess!
Tambara: Hi Daddy.
Wade: I need to tell you something.
A panicked expression flashes across her face.
Tambara: Are you moving out already?
Wade: No, not yet. But I need to go away for a few days.
Tambara: Oh. Where?
Wade: I’m going to Henford to visit your gran and Pop-Pop.
Tambara: Can I come too?
Wade: I wish you could, but you have school.
Tambara: Oh, right.
The conversation is awkward, and I can’t shake the need to invent a reason for going away that Tami will understand.
Wade: But guess what? Your Uncle Mase and Aunt Zoe finally had their baby! I’ll get to see them too. Want me to tell them you said hi?
Tambara: Yeah, and take pictures of the baby.
Wade: I will. I’ll be gone before you get home. But I hope you have a great day at school today. Okay?
Tambara: Okay, daddy.
This time it’s Tami who rushes to give me a big hug. I squeeze her extra tight and whisper into her hair.
Wade: I’ll miss you and I love you—always!
Tami arrives at school and goes straight to her locker. There are always other students standing around in the hallway, but this time she turns and runs into a boy she didn’t see yesterday.
Male Student: How’d you avoid the dress code today?
Confused, Tami looks around at the other students and notices everyone else wearing blue shirts today. She must have missed the memo, but she can’t stand there looking stupid. She has to play it off.
Tambara: I do what I want to do.
The guy stares at her as if what she said is a foreign concept. Then he smiles slightly.
Male Student: That’s what’s up!
Male Student: Maybe I should too. These shirts ain’t it.
Tambara: For real though
Tami steps away, leaving the guy standing there without asking his name.
Tami walks into the cafeteria and sees that almost everyone at school is there. She looks down at her outfit and immediately becomes self-conscience. She’s a neutral stepping into a sea of blue. Maybe she should run and hide out in the library again. Or she could call her mom and tell her to bring her a blue shirt. But then she thinks about what she said to the boy in the hallway. If she wants to play it off, she needs to pretend she wore the wrong thing on purpose. She straightens her back, lifts her chin, and sits at a table.
But her confidence wavers when she glimpses the Austin kid being bombarded by another student begging for his autograph. Tami smirks at herself. Her outburst about Austin yesterday didn’t have a lasting effect. She’ll have to remedy that and knock him off his high horse.
Another student passes her as she’s sitting and studying.
Male Student: You don’t have the required gear today.
Tami doesn’t even look up from her page.
Tambara: Keep stepping if you know what’s good for you!
Tami isn’t in the mood and the guy seems to sense it. He walks away quickly.
The morning bell rings and Tami heads to her first class, checking her social bunny as she walks. She doesn’t have many friends there yet. Mostly just family. She’ll have to remedy that soon as well. She steps into the class and her eyes immediately spot the guy from the hallway this morning. If only she knew his name. Maybe Miss Gaston will call it out and she can find out what it is without asking him. Tami sits in the back row to watch him without him seeing her.
The lunch bell rings and Tami heads out the door immediately as Miss Gaston calls out behind her.
Miss Gaston: Miss Banks! I haven’t dismissed…
That’s all she hears before she lets the door close.
Tami steps into the mostly empty cafeteria and again considers leaving when she realizes she’s alone with the principal, Mr. Tanaka. She takes a deep breath and walks over.
Mr. Tanaka: Where’s your uniform, young lady?
She can’t respond like she did with the guy in the hallway, so Tami comes up with another excuse.
Tambara: I spilled coffee all over it.
Mr. Tanaka: Well, don’t let it happen again.
Without missing a beat or responding, Tami turns to the cafeteria worker.
Tambara: Can I please get the senior lunch special? Thanks!
The cafeteria fills as Tami turns to find a table. She sees the guy from the hallway again and pretends to ignore him. She secretly hopes he’ll sit next to her, but he sits across from Mr. Tanaka instead. She’s at a table all by herself. But soon, another girl comes and stands next to her.
Female Student: Is anyone sitting here?
Tambara: Not unless they’re invisible.
The girl giggles, taking it as a joke.
Female Student: Okay, thanks!
Female Student: What’s your name?
Tambara: I’m Tambara, but my friends call me Tami.
Ariana: Nice to meet you. I’m Ariana. People can’t stop talking about you defying the system and wearing what you want today.
She didn’t do it on purpose. But if the other students think she did, she’ll let them.
Tambara: Really?
Ariana: Everyone hates these blue shirts. I definitely won’t be wearing mine next time.
The guy sitting across from them chimes in.
Gabriel: Me either! ‘Club shirt’ day sucks. I’m Gab.
Before Tami can respond to Gab, another girl sits next to her.
Freya: I’m Freya. You’re like a hero today! Has Principal Tanaka said anything to you?
Tambara: He asked where my shirt was and I told him I accidentally spilled coffee on it.
Freya laughs.
Freya: Nice! The spilled coffee movement! I’ll pass that along.
Tami is riding high on the admiration of the other students until Miss Gaston comes over and sits next to her.
Miss Gaston: Miss Banks, just a quick reminder—I dismiss you after class, not the bell!
Tami’s cheeks turn red. How does she keep up her cool persona without getting in trouble in front of everyone?
Tambara: Noted
Miss Gaston: Good, please keep it in mind.
Tambara: Isn’t that what noted means?
Miss Gaston grits her teeth and turns to Austin, giving Tami an escape. It’s already been a long day, and she’s exhausted from a lack of sleep last night. Maybe she can find someplace to take a quick nap before class.
(Generation 4 Chapter Summaries)
Thanks for reading! Please hit the “like” button if you’ve enjoyed what you read! Keep scrolling if you’d like to leave a comment. 🥰
Be First to Comment