Can I have a bit of clarification? I don't completely understand.
The verb in the sentence is, to follow (his father's footsteps). This verb is used as an infinitive. An infinitive is a word in the verb form that functions as a noun, adjective or adverb. Infinitives are generally introduced by the word "to".
The "two parts ABCs" allusion refers to the fundamental school setting. The author wants the readers to understand how the school system prioritizes planned lessons and have students memorize information that they believe will most likely not be utilized later in life. The author expresses that this is a small part of the school experience. They also use the allusion "Where Do I Stand in the Great Pecking Order of Humankind" to refer to how teenager worrying about where they fit in. The author states that part of the majority of the school experience is finding your place in it socially.
Answer B. (Future perfect tense is used, as the sentence refers to something that will be completed by some point in the future.) is correct.
B is correct because the event which will happen in the future (the baking of the cakes) will also have ended.
I will have baked is a correct form of future perfect, because future perfect is made with the following construction:
Subject + will have + past participle