Family Reunion

By Joedy Barnes and James Hislope

Malcom, Ebony, Dad, Mom and Sword embark upon

a once in a decade Family Reunion Event. Malcom

learns about the rich history of his family, the 

importance of not talking across the spades table,

the legacies of Black Greek Letter Organizations,

and so much more. All while attempting to find his

"twin" cou

• Language: English
• Publisher: Malcom Explains
• Release date: Jul 30, 2022
• ISBN: 9781959101000

Joedy Barnes

Joedy Barnes is the author of the Malcom Explains Series and an educator of 12 years. He is a strong advocate for positive, uplifting, images and families within the black community. He is also a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated and graduated from Alcorn State University. He obtained his Master of Arts in Teaching from Louisiana Tech University and has dedicated most of his adult life to education. Malcom Explains is the culmination of his dream to spread positive, black imagery to the masses and an attempt to spread a joy of reading, culture, and history.

Book preview



Black and White Malcom Explains Logo.jpg

Copyright © 2021 by Joedy Barnes

Interior Illustrations by James Aaron Hislope

Interior Illustrations © 2020 by Malcom Explains, LLC.

All rights reserved. Published by Malcom Explains, LLC

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without expressed written permission of the publisher.

Write Malcom or have him read at your school:

[e-mail]

Educators and librarians, for a variety of teaching tools, visit us at www.malcomexplains.com/education

ISBN-13: 978-1-7373508-2-8

Third edition, May 2023, Made in the U.S.A.

Dedication:

Dedicated to my wife. It is impossible to imagine a person that is more loving, caring, motivating, and wise as you. Thank you for believing in the vision.

Dedicated to my son. You are the inspiration for Malcom and I smile just thinking about your inquisitive nature, desire to obtain knowledge, and innocence. Thank you for being you.

Dedicated to my daughter. You are the inspiration for Ebony. Your personality shines through everything you do and I will create Ebony Tales to try and share your spirit with the world.

Special thanks to my Mother and Aunts for volun-tolding the time to help with the synopsis. Thank you Megan Twyman for proofreading. Thanks you to my mother, Connie, for providing the final edits and truly bringing the story of Malcom to life.

Chapter 1

What’s a Reunion?

Some families have big family reunions.  Sometimes there are games of Dominoes or Spades or prizes like t-shirts and gift cards that really make the entire event interesting.  However, that isn’t my family.  My family doesn’t have big family reunions.  We have Call Guinness World Records; This Is About To Be The Most Amazing, Stupendous, Exceptional Family Reunion You Are Going To See in Your Entire Life.  I call it G. W. R. T. I. A. T. B. T. M. A. S. E. F. R. Y. A. G. T. S. Y. E. L. But I’ll just say Family Reunion for short.  But just know, it is of the Guinness World Records quality and that this is about to be the most amazing, stupendous, and all the rest of those letters.

My Mom says if you stand in the family eating area and look in every direction, you will see family members as far as your eyes can see. Large family reunions only take place every ten years and typically last two days. Mom said they have family area parking camps, a common eating area, a play area for the kids, an adults-only area (apparently, I have to wait until I’m 25 to enter), and a stage to acknowledge the oldest family members.  The last time my family had a large family reunion, I was two and I really don’t remember anything about it.  Ebony wasn’t even born then, so this is something special for both of us.  I can only imagine how cool this is going to be.  My Dad says that my uncles like to bring their horses for everyone to ride.  I just want to meet some of the cool family members I have. Some of our family members are famous for athletics. Some are famous for their musical career. Some are famous singers.  

     Ebony said that we have a cousin that’s the same age as her that is a model!  She is homeschooled so she can travel all over the country to model at her shoots. Ebony thinks she will be on a cereal box one day soon. We will also be celebrating my Great Great Grandmother Connie this year. G.G. is over 104 years old! (G.G. isn’t a name anyone else calls her, but I like to call her that).  I can’t imagine how many stories G.G. has to tell.  There is so much to do and so many people to meet. I just know this family reunion is going to be A-mazing!

    I am so excited to get going that I wake up an hour before my alarm goes off.  My Dad wants to leave later this afternoon so we can sleep the entire way and be there first thing in the morning. But, how can I sleep when there is so much to do?  First, I have to make a list of all the relatives I want to find. Then, I have to practice for the big family Bingo game. (How do you practice for Bingo, you ask?  Well… that’s a great question! I love it when you ask great questions. They really get me thinking.) I have to cook with my Aunt Jean.  Then, I have to foot race my Cousin Shawn again (he beat me at the smaller reunion last year).  I still have to pack my clothes and games.  I have to give our dog Sword a bath, brush his teeth, trim his nails, groom his fur, and prepare his food.  I need to record a farewell video for my YouTube fans. I’m up to 8,000 subscribers now. 

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    Wow, I’m sitting here thinking about all the things I need to do and the hour just flew by. *buzz* *buzz* *buzz* My alarm catches me in the middle of my planning. It’s time!  

CHAPTER 2:

TWIN BROTHERS COUSINS

    Wake up! Wake up! Wake up! WAAAAAAKKKKKEEEEEEE UUUPPPPPP! 

    I’m up, Ebony!  Why are you in my room? 

    Mom and Dad kicked me out of their room and said to come and check on you. 

    Of course, Mom and Dad did.  Well, you can help me pack then.  Come on. 

    Nope. She hopped off my bed and started to run out of my room.  I have my own packing to do. 

    THANK YOU! 

    It takes my sister forever to wake up, but she goes from ‘sleepy’ to ‘full energy Super Saiyan’ as soon as she does finally wake up.

    Okay, let’s get to packing.  It’s just two days at the family reunion, but we will be on