Every generation of every family
wants its children to have a better life.
For many black families in the '60s,
a better life simply meant being able to walk a dog
instead of being chased by them.
For my family, a better life meant a better education.
I talked to your guidance counselor.
He said that volunteering for the Big Sister, Little Sister program
could help your college application stand out.
I've spent 12 years as Dean's big sister.
Shouldn't that count towards community service?
Spent the first two years trying to send him back.
Kept wasting good stamps.
I went to all his stupid baseball games.
You went to one game, and the one game that you actually went to,
- you thought I was another kid. - You all wear the same color shirts.
This is a good thing, and you're doing it.
You might enjoy having a Little Sister.
I'm sure there's an underprivileged girl out there
who could learn a thing or two from you.
Like what? How to hog the bathroom?
Or how to fake?cry to get yourself out of trouble?
Shut up, Dean. You know, that just shows how out of touch with women you really are.
Hey! I'm not out of touch with women!
Okay, now that Keisa and I are friends again,
my three?year plan to get her to like me is back on track.
You poor, delusional bastard.
Three years? Are you out of your mind?
By then, you'll be...
"just a friend."
Why? Is being friends bad?
Girls don't fall in love with their friends.
Yeah, my mom and dad aren't friends at all.
Are you going to ask her to the Valentine's Day dance?
- Not as a friend? - Check this out.
Music. Dancing.
The opening refrain to "When a Man Loves a Woman".
Then I'll reveal my true feelings for Keisa.
- No? - Don't listen to them, Dean.
I'm on the dance's planning committee,
and this year's theme will be perfect for your plan.
I could tell you the theme now,
but I'd hate to give away the surprise.
Fine, it's "Under The Sea." Happy?
There she is.
Here goes nothing.
Not just a friend.
- Hey, you wanna race? - No.
Don't worry. I'll give you a head start.
- That's not why. - Then why not?
Because I race with Cory and Brad and those guys all the time,
and, you and I can do other stuff.
Like, I don't know, maybe...
Wait, you don't want to race me because I'm a girl?
Well, kinda, yeah.
- I throw better than you. - So?
I kick the ball better than you.
We don't have time to go through the whole list.
C'mon, let's race.
On your mark, get set...
Dang.
I was just about to beat you, too.
Do you want me to carry your books?
Do you want me to carry yours?
A?Allow me.
Anyway, so,
Keisa, I was wondering,
- do you have any plans for the... - I almost forgot.
My parents signed me up for Big Sister, Little Sister,
and I picked Kim as my mentor.
What? Wait, my sister? Why would you do that?
I don't know.
Whenever I saw your sister with you, she always seemed so cool.
Keisa thought Kim was cool?
Maybe she wasn't as smart as I always thought.
She even invited me over after school today to meet.
So, guess I'll see you at your house later?
Right. My house.
- So, what'd you want to ask me? - Nothing. Nothing.
Wait, she's gonna be in my house?!
With my sister?!
You got my books, remember?
Kim, please promise that you won't do anything
to embarrass me when my friend Keisa comes over.
It's that Keisa?
Sure, I won't even mention you.
I'll leave the embarrassing part up to you.
Great. Thanks.
With Kim on my side now, I just had to ensure my home field
was wiped clean of any other embarrassments...
like a naked photo of me as a baby.
And another... Did my parents ever bother to dress me?
Even the pictures I drew of myself were naked.
What kind of a freak was I?
Great. Nothing embarrassing left.
Okay.
Hey, Keisa.
Sorry, I completely forgot you were coming.
- C'mon in. - Dean!
Why is your dinosaur underwear in the oven?!
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So, do you have any brothers and sisters?
Yeah, I do. I have a older brother.
This is actually his jacket.
Well, how are you liking school this year?
It's been fun. I have a lot of fun classes.
Don't mind me. Just...
gettin' in my daily pump.
Yeah.
One million and one, one million and two...
Hey, Keisa, look. I'm about to set a new record.
Okay, I know what this is about.
Dean is clearly jealous
that I'm spending time with you instead of him.
The one time I've ever benefited from Kim's narcissism.
C'mon, let's go to my room.
As they entered the abyss that was Kim's room,
I knew I'd have to wait before I got my moment alone
with Keisa to ask her to the dance.
So, Keisa...
will you go to the dance with me?
No.
So, Keisa...
will you, go to the dance with me?
Keisa.
Will you go to the dance with me?
Nailed it.
I knew I shouldn't eavesdrop, but I couldn't resist the temptation.
For all I knew, they could be talking about
how much Keisa liked me.
This closet is outta sight.
I wish I had clothes this cool.
Where do you like to shop?
You know, like, wherever.
Two words... swap meet.
Wow, really?
They got great stuff. We should go this weekend.
We only buy new clothes when school starts.
Gotcha.
Sometimes, my mom makes my clothes.
- Do you like that? - No.
I didn't think so.
She wants me to dress all girly, like her.
Some things you can always count on...
like mothers having different tastes than their daughters.
And...
And little brothers being creeps.
Maybe you don't have to wait until next school year.
Believe it or not, I was your size once.
At dinner, I eagerly awaited my opportunity.
- What's the matter, boy? You okay? - What do you mean?
You aren't feeling constipated again, are you?
Sorry for the wait.
We just wanted to freshen up before dinner.
I didn't think Keisa could get any more beautiful,
but, boy, was I wrong.
Nothing in the world could give me the confidence
to talk to someone that gorgeous.
Keisa, you look lovely.
Yes, very... lovely.
Very in?indeed.
He ain't right.
Then the worst thing in the world happened.
Mama and Daddy's parental intuition kicked in,
and they figured out I had feelings for Keisa.
Dean, doesn't Keisa look pretty?
Say something.
What I was going to say is, I like dresses.
I mean, I?I like that dress.
O?On you. Pretty.
Stop saying something.
Dean, didn't you mention something about
a dance at your school?
Well, I,...
Haven't I seen you practicing your Hully Gully in the mirror?
He's a bad man on the dance floor.
Sweepin' or moppin'?
But school dances are solid.
- Are you going? - I can't.
My parents won't let me date boys until I'm older.
I remember those stupid rules.
They aren't stupid. I respect her parents for that.
Boys ain't nothin' but trouble.
Be cool.
- Father... - Jesus, please kill me.
Dang, man, you missed your shot.
Now every guy's gonna be asking her.
That there's an eighth?grade boy, too.
They already have their man voices.
- You're doomed. - Doesn't matter.
Her parents won't let her go to the dance anyway.
My parents have the same rule,
but they're okay with me going to the dance
as part of the committee.
Hampton, that's a great idea.
Hey, Keisa.
My mind had never worked so fast.
- Hey, what's up? - I was thinking about what you said
about your parents saying you couldn't go to the dance,
but how you really wanted to go.
And then I realized that Hampton and I
are on the dance committee.
- We are? - Yes.
We are.
Right. We are.
You should join. Then we... I mean, you can go to the dance.
While Hampton secretly prayed for forgiveness for lying,
I prayed for a miracle.
Got it. Sounds like fun.
I'll ask my parents after school if I can join.
Thanks for the idea. See ya.
- Hampton, that was amazing! - What did I do?
If Keisa joins the committee, she can still go to the dance,
and I can still reveal my true feelings to her.
It's perfect.
Y'all are serious?
Well, y'all two have fun with that.
Hey, Little Man.
Perry Barlow...
the most perfect boy in all of junior high.
Man, he had it all.
So, what's the deal with that girl you was talking to back there?
Anyone taking her to the dance yet?
Nice try, Perry,
but only a man with a plan can get to Keisa.
Sorry, her parents won't let her date boys.
- They're real religious. - Got it.
Thanks for the skinny.
Keisa's parents decided she could join the committee,
but they still wanted her under their watchful eye
if she was going to work after school with boys.
Great job on those waves, Keisa.
You clearly studied the references I gave you this morning.
Look, guys! I'm a walrus!
If you're gonna play around, use a flat?top,
not our Filberts.
Everything was going to plan.
What in the Barlow is he doing here?
- Hello. Are you Keisa's mother? - I am. And you are?
My name is Perry Barlow. I go to school with your daughter.
May I please speak with your husband?
Lucious, there's a young man from Keisa's school at the door.
Sorry. We don't want anything.
I'm not selling anything, sir.
I'm here because there's a Valentine's Day dance coming up at school,
and I'd like to ask for your permission
to go to the dance with your daughter.
Kid. You're in for it now.
I understand you have concerns with your daughter going out with a boy,
so I wanted to speak with you face?to?face.
My father, Dr. Barlow, will be taking us.
He drives a 1964 Lincoln Continental.
Keisa will be home by 10:00, or even earlier, if you'd like.
If you have any questions about me,
I believe you know Reverend Tucker?
I babysit his children.
Well, you're right, son.
It is our rule that Keisa can't date
until she turns at least 13.
But you seem like a polite young man,
and it's nice to see kids that are respectful to their elders
and know how to talk to grown folk.
- Good teeth, too. - Thank you.
I noticed that.
Maybe...
we'll leave it up to Keisa to decide.
Keisa! There's a young man that want to ask you something.
Keisa, will you go to the dance with me?
Yes, I'd love that.
Great. I'll be here by 7:00 to pick you up. I can't wait.
Thank you.
I understood why her parents would fall for his charade,
but I couldn't believe Keisa fell for it, too.
Why would she want to go to the dance with that guy?
Just because he was tall and handsome and loved the Lord.
Who was I kidding?
I would have loved for my daughter to have dated someone like Perry Barlow.
So, guess I can't be a part of the committee anymore.
But don't worry, I'll still help you guys finish up tonight.
It's getting late. Y'all need to be going.
Keisa, c'mon.
Sorry, guys.
Poor Keisa.
Can you believe she's gonna miss out on all this fun?
My man. First dance tonight.
You know what? Your curfew's extended until 10:00.
Cool.
You meeting Keisa there, or are you guys picking her up?
Actually, I'm not going with Keisa.
I never asked her, and now she's going with an eighth grader.
- Then who are you going with? - I'm on the planning committee.
Be home by 8:00.
Don't laugh.
This is all your fault for giving Keisa a makeover.
Now all the other guys like her.
Do you have a problem with a girl feeling good about herself
and not being dependent on you for her self?esteem?
No.
Well, all I did was give Keisa a dress and a bit of makeup.
As her friend, you should be happy for her.
Okay. I don't have time for this, all right?
Hampton asked me to go to the drug store
and get him some last?minute decorations.
Apparently, our ocean backdrop isn't turquoise enough
to match the Atlantic.
- Hey, Dean. - Perfect.
As if I hadn't been embarrassed enough already.
Hey, Keisa. What are you doing here?
Just looking for some stuff.
But I couldn't find it.
She couldn't even look me in the eye after what she did to me.
Must have been her guilty conscience.
Thank you.
C'mon, I'll walk you out.
Stop right there.
I saw you steal that makeup.
What are you talking about?
What? She would never do something like that.
What's this?
You're both coming with me.
Let's go.
Okay.
You two sit here and wait for your parents to show up.
I'm sorry.
I don't get it. W?Why were you stealing?
Was it 'cause of the money?
All of the years I'd known Keisa,
I didn't notice that she never wore new clothes
or always had to borrow my comic books
instead of buying her own.
People kept saying the new things made me look pretty.
Well...
I?I always thought you were pretty the way you were.
My dad's gonna kill me when he finds out.
They're right back here.
Caught the girl stealing makeup. The boy served as a decoy.
Let's go.
I am so incredibly sorry for what they put you through today.
I assure you, they'll get a thorough talking?to when we go home.
Come on, let's go.
I can't let two kids go with another kid.
They can either wait for their parents or the police.
Sir, I really appreciate your concern,
but our parents will be working late.
- I can save you the trouble. - They'll just have to wait, then.
As Kim fought to get us out,
it became clear to me that, in a way,
she felt responsible for what had happened.
When this started, it was just a line on a college résumé.
But now she realized she was in over her head,
and it was her job to make this right.
This is all my fault.
I was responsible for them today,
and I wasn't paying enough attention.
And now look at them.
They're felons.
Our parents work so hard to keep us out of trouble,
and they were relying on me to be a good big sister.
But instead, I disappointed everyone.
Now I had seen enough of Kim's fake tears to know what she was doing,
but everyone else seemed to be buying it,
so I was fine just shutting up and nodding along.
I'll be happy to pay for what they took.
Fine.
But y'all are never allowed back in this store again.
- You hear me? - Thank you for understanding, sir.
Thank you, Kim.
Were my parents mad when you told them?
Girl, I didn't tell anyone anything.
So, Mom and Dad don't know about this, either.
Nope. I just pretended to be Mom on the phone
when the store clerk called.
- They have no idea. - Thanks.
But that doesn't mean I can't tell them later about what you did.
Please don't punish Dean.
He didn't do anything wrong.
This is all my fault.
This probably means you won't be my Big Sister anymore, doesn't it?
No. This doesn't change anything.
Just, next time you need something, make sure you come to me.
It's what big sisters are for.
But don't you ever do that again.
Kim saved us from real trouble that day.
That was the first time I remembered being thankful
to have a big sister.
Thank you, Kim. It was really cool how you fooled that guy back there.
You're welcome.
And by the way, strong women should never resort to crying
unless no one was there to see it.
Right?
Now c'mon. Dance starts in two hours, and you gotta get ready.
And, Dean, you need a bath bad.
_
Have fun.
Well, look who it is.
Hi, Dean. Nice to see you again.
Have you met my boyfriend?
Anyway, it looks like you have a busy night,
so we won't keep you.
We'll just be off, you know, movin' and groovin'.
Isn't it magical?
All of our hard work has finally paid off,
and you've got the best job in the house.
You get to see everyone's faces as they first lay eyes
on our underwater fantasy.
"Fanta?sea."
That would have been a good one.
Hampton was right.
As crazy and exhausting as the last couple of days had been,
tonight was turning out to be not so bad after all.
Hey, Little Man.
Until now.
- Hey, Dean. - Hey, Keisa.
You really did a great job with these decorations.
Thanks.
Hope you dance your socks off.
Wanna race?
Thanks again for your help, Little Man.
Let's go.
The sad part was, as I looked around the gym that night,
I realized my plan had been a good one.
This dance was the perfect place
to tell Keisa how I felt about her.
The back room at the drug store wasn't nearly as romantic
or picturesque as this,
but I couldn't deny that we did have a moment.
And maybe that was better than whatever this could have been.
Nope. Never mind. It wasn't.
But the good thing about the long game is,
it's long.
There's been a spill by the punch bowl,
and that hardwood is warping fast.
If you can lean, you can clean.
Don't take that turtle! It's for the raffle!
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