Chapter 22: Homecoming Madness

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November 27, 1997, Thanksgiving Day

The next morning, everyone is surrounded by the aroma of many different meals. Kenya and her mother woke up early to start cooking. "Hey Mom, I thought Kendra was supposed to help out this year" Kenya asks, taking out a pot to cook some macaroni. "You know how your sister is, Kenya. She would find some way to sneak out of any heavy work. 'I'm too tired'. 'Mommy, I can't do this as well as you and Kenya'. " Aminata says of Kendra. Both women continue to prepare food for the evening, Aminata mashes some potatoes to make sweet potato pie, while Kenya chops some onions.

"Mom, these onions are really strong" she tells her while wiping her eyes. "There no stronger that the last time you peeled some. You never got use to peeling them". Kenya finishes chopping one and moves to the next. "So, Rob seems to be a nice man, hopefully he's not like Andre". "Mom, I don't want to talk about Andre and Rob is nothing like him". "I just don't want you to be hurt like last time". Kenya sighs. Kendra finally appears. "Look who decides to show up. Are you actually going to help out this time?" Kenya says. "I don't know , you and Mom look like you got everything under control, so I'll be in the living room, if you need me". Kendra is about to walk out when Kenya stops her. "Oh no, you won't. Here". She gives Kendra a bag of stuffing. "Just read the instructions on the bag and make sure you don't burn the stuffing". Kendra huffs and makes the stuffing.

In the living room, the men and Malcolm are watching the football game between the Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears, with the Bears leading 20-17 at halftime. "It looks like the Bears are in rare form today, they are actually winning" Denzel says. "For now they are, there's still the second half. Rob, how long have you and Kenya been dating?" Abdou asks him. "About 6 months now". "Have you scored any 'touchdowns' lately?" Denzel asks, looking at Rob. 

Rob gets Denzel's meaning, but puts out a confused expression

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Rob gets Denzel's meaning, but puts out a confused expression. "Touchdown?". "He means have you been 'getting it on' lately" Malcolm says. "Malcolm!" the three men yell in unison, shocked.  "You know better than to talk like that!" Abdou says to his grandson. "Malcolm, where did you hear something like that from?!". "I heard it from of one of Mom's friends, when she was talking about her new boyfriend". Denzel pauses and takes a beat. "New boyfriend?...Well, whatever it was about,  you are not to ask that question to anyone, especially to someone older than you, now apologize!". Malcolm says sorry. "When we get home, your mom and I are going to talk about who can be trusted and what can be said around you. For now, you are going upstairs to think about what you said and we'll call you down when we are about to eat". "But dad?". "Upstairs, right now" Denzel concludes sternly. Malcolm does as he's told.

"Unbelievable! He's not even 10 and I'm already about to lose my hair" Denzel says, still incredulous. "Times have changed a lot since you and Kenya were kids, they've changed since Kendra was a kid too" Abdou states. "Yeah, but we didn't ask any questions like that to those older than us. We would still be on punishment by now". Rob thinks about himself as a rambunctious youth growing up. While he was not a model student, he didn't cross the line like Malcolm had, his teenage years were a different story.

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