“Ah. A peaceful harpoon. Those must be hard to find.”

She shrugs. “I just hope it’s strong enough. Jamals are a particularly hairy species, you see.”

“Oh, really,” I say, cracking up. I ball up my shirt, toss it into the grass.

“Keep it steady now,” Autumn calls out. “Steady. Steady. Fire!”

Her arms recoil, and I wait a beat, then clutch my chest.

“You’re right, no pain,” I say, grinning. “In fact, this spear kinda tickles.”

Because why worry about your former friend when your person is right in front of you?

“Get over here,” Autumn says, tugging her pretend rope.

And I fall in.

97

JAUNCY IN THE STREETS	TuberOne
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Jamal: So, guys, you already know what time it is.

Q: So, we’re just gonna get right to it. Stay tuned for another episode of . . .

Jamal & Q: JAUNCY IN THE STREETS!

CUT TO: a queue outside a movie theater

Q: What movie are you seeing?

Girl with Dreads: Challenger’s Crossing

Q: Oh, nice. So, you like Carla Thomas?

Girl with Dreads: Love her. She’s the best.

Q: Between Yolanda’s Choice, Paper or Plastic . . .

*NOT A REAL MOVIE flashes on the screen*

Q: And Carwash Cliff Gets Down in Idaho . . .

*NOT A REAL MOVIE flashes on the screen*

Q: Which one was your favorite Carla Thomas performance?

Girl with Dreads: Oh, definitely Paper or Plastic.

Q: Yeah, what was it about that one you liked?

Girl with Dreads: She’s so versatile and, like, she just made you feel every scene.

CUT TO: inside a small coffee shop

Jamal: So, this is a segment called “Tables Turned,” where you get to ask us any question you want.

Barista: Hmm. I don’t know.

Jamal: Literally, anything.

Barista: Are you gonna buy coffee?

CUT TO: standing outside a bookstore, with books prominently displayed in the window

J: Name one book.

Middle-Aged Man in Windbreaker: What kind of book?

J: Any book ever written.

Windbreaker: Umm . . . let me think.

J: Could’ve been a book you read as a kid.

Windbreaker (laughing): I was too busy having girlfriends, man. Books are for people who can’t get dates.

*Zoom in on Jamal’s confused face*

J: Okay, but just any book, doesn’t have to be one you read. Literally, any book.

Windbreaker: I don’t know, the Bible?

J: You’re going with the Bible?

Windbreaker: Is that a book? That’s not a book. It’s one of those scroll things, dammit. This is making me look bad.

*A chime plays and CORRECT flashes on the screen*

96

By rule, all Hills parties migrate to the beach.

This party’s easier than normal. At the back of the yard, buttressing the hillside, wind-worn stairs spiral toward the sand.

I dry off inside, small-talking, as kids descend to the shore and squirt too much lighter fluid into a woodpile—a mega bonfire is also a Hills party requirement.