ALMA: I’m getting dressed and Odelia comes into my room and takes one look at me and grins. (ODELIA) “Oh ya getting up dere now. We gots ta git ya a trainin’ bra”–

EUGENE: I’m staring at all these girls–I’m aware of them–I’m aware of them physically–so much so it is overwhelming. I am sixteen. I’m sixteen thinking I’m gonna die if I don’t touch a girl. I’m aware of the way they smell–the sweat that is on their skin and how it mingles with them–how it mingles with themselves and rises to the surface–

ALMA: “Trainin’ bra?–what am I trainin’ for?”–

EUGENE: Wyce and I are “boys.” (Pause) Alton and I are long gone–our days of being friends are gone. So Wyce and I are “tight”–are “boys” and we check out girls together. (WYCE) “I fucked this bitch last night, man–had her screamin’ ALL night long. See that girl over there, man? Man, she wanted to get down with me but I didn’t want her, man–she ain’t fine enough for me.” (EUGENE) I knew he was lying but it’s okay-it’s okay because we’re “boys”–we are each other’s “boy.” Wyce–he says, (WYCE) “My boy Gene!”–

ALMA: So Odelia buys me this “training bra” and begins to monitor my looks. (ODELIA) “Alma you don’t be need to be eatin’ all dat candy you an no lil’ chile–ya fourteen years old–ya big enough as it is”–

EUGENE: I’m looking at all kinds of girls–dark, light, skinny–not too skinny–and big, not too big mind you. Wyce always looks at thin, light-skinned girls. If I point out a girl that is bigger or darker and go “Man, don’t you think that girl is fine?” he looks at me and says, (WYCE) “Gene, are you crazy?”

ALMA: I’m fourteen–I have these budding breasts but I’m still fourteen. Blood fills me then leaves me every month but I’m still fourteen. I am supposed to eat candy.

EUGENE: I begin to look at Alma differently. Once we were talking and I accidentally brushed against her breast. (To her) “I’m sorry” but I really wasn’t.

ALMA: He touches my breast by accident and then he looks me in the face–

EUGENE: I’m aware of how soft her breast is–how warm it is–

ALMA: I want him to touch me. I can’t look him back in the face but I want him to touch me.

EUGENE: I want to kiss her breasts.

ALMA: He’ll be the only one to ever touch me.