@WhitePowerCord: Sure, play the black card. She was BLACK, she couldn’t have done anything wrong. He’s a WHITE COP, he’s obviously evil. STFU. #BacktheBlue

@UnderhillSCORE: Where are the politicians? Where are our leaders? It must stop. It must change. Who will take us where we need to go? #YouthRiseUp

@WesSteeleStudio: When Police come under attack, none of us are safe. The cop-baiting traps the mainstream media won’t show you out of Underhill. Unbelievable video footage!! #HeroCop #MakeItKnown

@Momof6: Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God. #BlueLivesMatter

@UnderhillSCORE: We don’t retreat. We don’t back down. We demand answers. We demand our rights. #TodayForShae #TomorrowForAll

DAY FOUR:

THE FUNERAL

PEACH STREET

We have been here before. Black bodies have lain in the street, with white men standing over them, in uniform. We have been here a thousand times before.

This stretch of land has known tragedy and grief. It has known deep and fleeting joy. This stretch of land has known sun and snow and rain, cleats and Jordans and clicking Mary Janes. The joyful slap of double-dutch rope, the colorful chalk squares of hopscotch, the blood of skinned knees and shards of afternoon Coke bottles.

This stretch of land remembers when it was earth, longs for something out of reach.

WITNESS

You shave carefully in front of the mirror. No nicks. There is no such thing as smooth enough today.

You lotion up while your wife fusses with the iron. She clatters the thing more than necessary. She does not approve. But she can do in two minutes what would take you an hour, and she is gracious.

She holds out the shirt on one finger.

“Are you sure?” she says, not for the first time.

You roll your shoulders. The white fabric is still warm.

You are sure of nothing.

Her kiss offers either judgment or permission. Hard to tell. You only smell shaving cream.

You button your good black suit. You promise yourself closure.

TINA

No.

I don’t want to go.

Mommy says WE ARE GOING.

When she speaks in capital letters she means business

I mean business too

NO.

NO!

No

more

funerals.

ZEKE

Alone in the office, I practice my move. “Kimberly, would you like to have dinner with me?”

It’s all hypothetical, of course. I wish I could turn this particular setting off in my brain. I don’t want her to feel weird, or like I’m putting pressure on her. I’m not her boss, not exactly. But sort of. And that makes it weird. And possibly inappropriate. I’m not sure. I think I get a vibe off her that says she won’t hold it against me. But I don’t want to be one of those guys who thinks he’s the exception and end up making her uncomfortable.