ALMA: I fill up on hate–I totally fill up on hate. I close my eyes and see them kissing. I close my eyes and see these two butter-colored people kissing. (To Eugene) “Is her hair long?”–

EUGENE: (To Alma) “Her hair is long. When I was with her I ran my hands through her hair”–

ALMA: I touch my hair. I touch my short, nappy hair. I push back tears–I push them way back. I will not dog pant–

EUGENE: (To Alma) “Wyce set me up with this girl and we hung out. It didn’t mean anything. You know the girl/you’ve seen her around.”

ALMA: The following week I see her in St. Stephen with her mother. I watch her as she walks. Her hair swings and caresses her back as she walks. I want to cut off all her hair/I want to rip her hair from the root/I want to cut her across her face but her mother’s there. Her mother smiles at me and says hello. The girl then looks at me and smiles–a real smile, a friendly smile. She smiles wanting to connect–I look at her and realize that she knows nothing about me and Gene. She smiles a real smile, a genuine smile. She and her mother. I almost smile back–almost. Then I think of Eugene and her kissing. I think of them kissing and it burns me.

EUGENE: Wyce and I are in my backyard drinking/smoking. (WYCE) “Man, I can’t believe you said you didn’t like light women. What’s wrong with you? Hey you feel guilty for bein’ light? You see how darker dudes have always called us pussies.” (EUGENE) “Man I don’t know why I said it. I don’t know.” (WYCE) “I don’t feel bad about bein’ light, man, and I ain’t gonna let no darkassed Geechie mess with me. (Pause) For instance notice how your friend Alton White hasn’t been around lately?”

(EUGENE) I look at Wyce and get a chill. “Yo, Wyce. What did you do, man?” (WYCE) “Naw, I put that dude in his place, man. That nigga/Geechie spook got all big and bad.” (EUGENE) “What did you DO Wyce?” (WYCE) “You know how he was trying to sell those two puppies of his?” (EUGENE) “Yeah.” (WYCE) “Well, let’s just say I helped him out. I see him–Alton–and I say, ‘Hey bro, what’s up?’ and he looks at me–fucking white of his eyes–ugly blackassed nigga lookin’ at me. (ALTON) ‘I ain’t none o’ ya bro ole red punk nigga.’”