Love Notes

22- Ready or Not

It's been about three weeks since the family returned from their trip. So many things have transpired but all were good. Michelle has been preparing herself and the kids to get back into school mode. The school year officially starts August 21. That day was just around the corner and time was waiting for no one. Almost every day since returning from the trip Michelle had been at the school in her classroom decorating and rearranging things to best suit her and her students this year. This school year she would be teaching fifth grade English/Language arts to all four of the fifth grade classes. So that meant a different seating chart and different personality group to deal with. She was both looking forward to it and dreading it. This would be a totally new experience for Michelle as her school would be implementing a new schedule and all classes from third to eighth grade would be changing classes.

Beyoncé went right into work full time as the trip signalled the end of her leisure time for the year. Now it was non-stop projects and designs until around Christmas time. She was thankful for the come to Jesus moment she experienced with her sister and mother while in the Bahamas. She knew that it was beyond time for her to stop calling her mother by her first name but she didn't know how to approach the subject. Thanks to Solange she didn't have to do it by herself and it was a pivotal moment in the relationship between all three women. Since then she's made it a point to spend some time with both Solange and Tina together and separately. She sees Solange about once a week and Tina almost everyday since she's still living with them. It's actually fun to have Tina around and the kids love her. It will be a little hard when she finally moves out which will be soon. She recently told Beyoncé she'd gotten the call that her townhouse was ready and she could move in by the end of the month.

As the start of school approaches the kids and Michelle become more and more anxious. So to curb their anxiety Beyoncé decides to take them all shopping.

"All right kids and my future wife, and mother if you want to come. We're going shopping so get on up kids and let's go." Beyoncé called through the intercom system in the house.

Within a half hour everyone was gathered in the kitchen sitting down to eat a quick breakfast. Beyoncé knew that her mother, Michelle and Brielle could not resist a shopping trip. She and Kaleb on the other hand could take it or leave it. She knew that today was going to be a long day and decided to take her customized Suburban along because they would need the extra room it had for all the bags they would acquire. First they drove to Gaffney, South Carolina to the outlet mall. Beyoncé, Brielle and Kaleb hit all the sneakers stores first then, circled back for clothes. The clothing stores that they went to were J. Crew, Polo Ralph Lauren, Rue21, American Eagle and met Michelle and Tina in the Chico's store. After leaving the outlets they stopped for lunch at Outback Steakhouse. Leaving Outback they headed to SouthPark Mall where they went to Abercrombie, Burberry, Dillard's, Express, Gap and tons of other stores. They ended their day eating dinner at The Cheesecake Factory. Dinner was a fun experience for all.

"So are we all ready for school to start?" Beyoncé asked as she drove towards their home.

"No, I still don't want to go to school." Kaleb complained.

"Hmmm, so I can take all the clothes and shoes I bought today back because there's nowhere for you to wear them if you aren't going to school."

"I can wear them in the house and to walk the dogs. You don't have to take them back."

Everyone in the car laughed at Kaleb's slightly flawed logic.

"I think I'm ready Mommy but I'm a little nervous too."

"Well that's to be expected. GiGi has something to tell you guys."

"Way to put me on the spot Beyoncé." Tina said with a smile and a huff.