SEASON 1 PART 7

It’s 6:30 am and the alarm clocks have just gone off. Malachi unplugged his alarm clock and closes his eyes, “five more minutes?” Deja came in his a moment later reaffirming the sound alarm informing him that it’s time to get up. Aundrea was already at the kitchen table for breakfast when her brothers, still fighting sleep, arrived.
“Be glad that today is Wednesday and that Friday is right around the corner” Deja said looking at Malachi and QJ as their heads nearly fell into their bacon and eggs. “You two may want to go wash your faces with hot water, that should do the trick”

“I’d like one more day”-Malachi said as he was getting up

“Yesterday was that one more day” Deja confirmed “Now go wash your face, so you can eat”. After eating breakfast they grabbed their book bags and headed out the door. “Don’t forget your class schedules!”

At school, Malachi and Aundrea met up with Nate, Carson, and Caleb outside. “Remember man, you’re the guide” Nate reminded Carson.

 “Works for me, I guess, though I don’t know how good I’ll be” Carson replied, “Our hallway is thataway”

As the bell rang and the kids ran off to homeroom, Aundrea had already begun scanning the halls for boys. “Now c’mon, didn’t dad already talk to you about that?”

“Malachi, do you cling on to dad’s every word?” Aundrea asked. “I’ll see you in 3rd period”

Meanwhile in Deja’s classroom after she calls out the row, she issues out the first assignment.  “I would like each of you to take the time to write a reflective essay about a significant event in your life” She then went on the talk about her last week of summer and how she began to reconnect with her Lake Area family. “My mother is from Louisiana, she came here at a young age during a period when black people were migrating from the south to other regions of the United States. She’s of Louisiana Creole descent; she grew up in the Lake Charles area which is in the southwestern part of the state. When she left, she left for a better life. This summer, this past week actually, I got to reconnect with some of my family. I grew up going down there as a child and had not been for a few years until an aunt of mine passed away, it was significant to me as it encouraged me to start writing a book, I would like for you all to think of an even that left an impact on your or was a turning point in your life. The essay should be at least three pages, double spaced. I want to hear YOUR voice, I don’t want two essays to sound the exact same, I will consider that plagiarism.”

 The bell rang shortly afterwards while Deja sat down to prepare for the next set of students. Back at the middle school, Malachi and Caleb were discussing extracurricular activities. Caleb suggested that Malachi try out for the track team. “Bro, you’re pretty fast.”

 “I think I’m gonna go for basketball” Caleb said. “It’s in my DNA”.  Malachi stood there for a little while and asked when tryouts were. “In a couple of weeks” Caleb replied.  “Gotta get to my next class”

 Back at home Quincy was sitting at his computer with a letter by his side from the pharmacy that he interviewed for. It was a rejection letter. He sat at his laptop continuing to apply for a state job with the housing authority. Once he completed his application, he began to make phone calls for some of the other jobs that he had applied for. At school, lunch time came about Malachi and Aundrea met up. “So how’s the school life treating you brotha”
  
“Ummm……..it’s okay”

 “Better than what I can say” Aundrea said, “I have a book report due already due in three weeks, plus a quiz at the end of the week, all in the same class! My reading teacher told me that this was only the beginning”

 “Plus we’ve got a workbook assignment in ELA”

 “Don’t remind me”

After eating lunch, they went outside; Aundrea asked her brother if he had found anything to get involved in.

 “Maybe track or basketball”

“You know dad’s side of the family is all athletes, we gotta keep it going”

“Of course” Malachi responded apathetically, “Though I might be better in track than bball”

 “Tryouts are in a couple of weeks. I might do go for the volleyball team, or maybe tennis.”

 “It’s probably time to get ready for the next class-I’ll see you at the end of the day?”

 “You live with me, or did you forget?”

 At home Quincy was cleaning some meat to put in the grill. It’s not that he’s struggling financially, but he’s just not used to having the role of a SAHD (stay-at-home dad). He didn’t grow up that way and he had concerns about what others in the community would say. The phone rang, he answered it and Deja was on the line.

 “Any news?”

 “Other than not getting the job at the pharmacy, no”

“Honey, you need to relax, you of all people probably need the break. You were wise enough with your money, plus the pension is coming”

“Yea, I should get my first check Friday”

“At least you were smart with your money, plus free health care, and the kids are on your insurance so enjoy the fruit of your labor”

“I will…for now, but this can get old really fast”

“Hey, I have a meeting with a publisher about my book at the end of the day, I should be home by 6:00pm, do you need me to stop at the store?”

“No, I went by the grocery store earlier, so we’re good.”

Deja returned to her classroom to complete her school day.  While she was wrapping up her school day, Aundrea was relieved to have reached the last period of the day. She was in her math class when the teacher began talking about classroom etiquette. While calling row, she got to Aundrea’s name, and then asked Aundrea what her mother’s name was, when she confirmed it, the teacher said “I know your mother; we were both student workers at the same department in college. How is she?”

“She’s good, she actually teaches high school English”

“I knew she would” she said prior to continuing on with her class.

“You will receive your books on Monday, in the meantime, each of you grab a workbook, you will have an assignment due every Monday. As the bell rang, the teacher informed the students, pages 1-3 of the workbook would be due Monday evening. After the last class, Aundrea met up with her brother. “How was the first day?”

“Mine was okay, ELA assignment, plus a study guide to start in social studies” 

“A book report, language homework, plus math homework! This is going to take some time to adjust to.”

“Let’s head outside, dad should be out there, mom’s meeting with somebody about her book”

“You mean about her country family?”

“Stop that, I think it’ll be neat to see that side of the family, we don’t know them, plus it’s a chance to broaden your horizons.”

“You read too damn much.”


Malachi just shook his head and lightly chuckled while looking for their ride home.

TO BE CONTINUED WITH EPISODE 8