The morning starts with bad news and worsens when Maia hears the front door quietly open, making a soft creaking sound. Maia can hear somebody moving around downstairs. She knows it’s not Dub because she just got off the phone with him as he tells her about the death of her mother-in-law. Maia isn’t a stranger to home break-ins. It happened more than a few times in her old neighborhood where she grew up. The underprivileged are often victims of these types of things.
The difference between where she lived then and now is that she doesn’t have to defend herself from the thief. Cops will be much more responsive here. Maia calls the cops, and moments later, an officer arrives at the door.
Suddenly, there’s a commotion downstairs as the officer attempts to subdue the thief. Maia immediately thinks of Tami and hopes the noise will not wake her.
The altercation continues, and the officer soon realizes that the thief is strong and in great shape. The officer regrets not calling for backup as the thief gets the best of him and scurries out the door. After the noise stops, Maia hears the police call for her.
Officer Zhu: Miss? He’s gone now.
Gone? Maia comes down hoping to see the thief in cuffs.
Maia: Where is he?
Officer Zhu: I’m sorry, He got away.
Maia looks around.
Maia: So he’s still out there somewhere?
Officer Zhu: Afraid so. I’d recommend installing a security system.
The officer says more, but Maia tunes him out.
There’s no way she’s going back to sleep. Bad news, fear, and disappointment are not conducive to restful nights. Maia needs something—anything to improve her mood. She goes into the kitchen to work on a simple new family recipe she’s had in mind. She calls it a morning pick-me-up. But it’s made of French toast sprinkled in powdered sugar… something she knows Tami will love. She’ll also sell it at her food stand if she ever gets the chance to open it. Death has become a constant tune in her life and has an interesting way of laughing at her plans.
Maia dresses for the day, thinking about Me-Me. They were getting closer, and now she’s lost another mother figure. Maia descends the stairs to check on the new security system. It’s armed, and Maia immediately feels safer.
Maia heads outside and collects from the money tree. Tami, dressed for school, finds her there. Maia considered keeping the news of Me-Me’s death to herself until Tami came home from school, but one look in her daughter’s eyes reveals she already knows. Did Dub tell her, or did she find out from a Social Bunny post from one of the family members? It doesn’t matter. Maia pulls Tami into her arms, not sure which one of them is more in need of comfort.
Maia: You can stay home today.
Tambara: No. I have to go. We have exams tomorrow.
Maia: Are you sure?
Tambara: Yeah, I’m okay.
Maia examines her daughter and can see that Tami is emotionally much tougher than she is.
Tami arrives at school after telling her mother a half-truth. Exams take place tomorrow, but that’s not enough of a reason for Tami to insist on going to school. Her real reason has a name, and he’s kind of cute. Tami sits in her first-period class, trying to avoid looking back and staring at that reason. She barely hears anything Miss Gaston is saying.
Everyone cheers at the news of second-period classes being canceled for special programming in the school gym. It’s career day. That’s where everyone goes after lunch. Tami arrives at the gym and looks around for an interesting career, but they’re all boring. She stops to listen to a presentation given by some athlete from Britechester University, but only because that’s where Enzo is. The presenter drones on and on about how great the university is, even after students walk away. After some time, Tami is the only one left standing there. Enzo is also standing near the table, and Tami suspects it’s not because of the presentation. She keeps her back to him, pretending to listen to the boring guy continue his overly excited speech. But Enzo doesn’t leave.
Tami can only pretend to be interested for so long. She finally turns to walk away and comes face to face with Enzo. Tami inhales and stands there, waiting to hear what he has to say.
Enzo: So, what do you think about Britechester?
Tambara: It sounds boring. I was listening because I felt sorry for the guy.
Enzo: Really?
Tambara: I’m not interested in anything here. These are all boring careers. Why do teachers think everyone wants to be a doctor or businessperson? Where are the social media influencers and competitive horse riders?
Enzo: Right? Or the professional gamers?
Tambara: Yeah, exactly. This school is so outta touch.
Enzo: We should leave.
Tambara: And go where? Principal Tanaka is probably guarding the exit doors with his life.
Enzo: Well, we can find something else to do here. Have you seen the weight room or the pool?
Tambara: There’s a pool?
Tami and Enzo leave the gym and maneuver their way through the crowd in the lobby, doing their best to avoid being noticed.
Tambara: If anybody asks, we’re trying to find the restroom.
Enzo agrees, and they quickly ascend the stairs to the weight room.
Enzo: This is where the athletes come after school, when we don’t have football practice on the field. The cheerleaders use it too.
Tambara: *unimpressed* Nice. But where’s the pool?
Enzo: Downstairs, follow me!
Enzo leads the way down the stairs, beckoning Tami to hurry. They quickly go down a second set of stairs to the basement pool.
Tambara: Why didn’t anyone tell me that this was here?
Enzo: Liability or something stupid like that. Do you swim?
Tambara: I’d like to, but we don’t have a pool at home.
Enzo: Neither do we. But maybe we can sneak down here for a swim sometime… if you bring a swimsuit.
Tambara: Yeah, that would be cool. But it’ll have to be next week. We had a death in the family, so I have to deal with that first.
Enzo: Sorry to hear that. Who died?
Tambara: My gran.
Enzo: Oh, mine is dead too.
Tami blinks, wanting to avoid the subject.
Tambara: I’ll bring my suit next week.
Enzo: Okay, I will, too.
Tambara: I’d better go.
Enzo: Okay, I’ll look you up on Social Bunny.
Enzo pulls out his phone as Tami walks away, too embarrassed to admit that she’s already been stalking him on Social Bunny.
(Generation 4 Chapter Summaries)
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