(WYCE) “Gene, I’m looking at this nigga tryin’ not to laugh–Yo, man can’t you see how black and ugly he is? (Frowns)– goddamn. (Beat) Anyway I say, ‘I think all of us need to stop this cause all of us got to get together. All of us are black no matter what and we shouldn’t be holdin’ each otha down.’ (Wyce begins to laugh) Gene this nigga starts grinning and I say Yo, Alton, why don’t I come after school to check out the puppies you sellin’?’ and he’s saying, (ALTON) ‘Yeah, Wyce, yeah bro.’ (WYCE) So during recess, I bum a Kool cigarette off somebody and give it to him and he’s thinking that we’re tight, right? I mean this boy swears WE ARE TIGHT. So after school we go to his house and the two puppies are in the yard and I reach for the dark one–Midnight–of course the black one is named Midnight–and I play with him and I say Yo, Alton let’s take a walk.’ So we walk past Georgia Pacific and we turn down the dirt road near Alma’s house and we walk toward some Geechie juke joint–all these nonworking pitch-black motherfuckers with no job hanging around drinkin’ beer and listenin’ to some old-time music. We walk past this shit hole and I say, ‘You know Alton, I changed my mind. I don’t want to buy this dog and I don’t want to be your friend–UGLY BLACKASSED NIGGA.’ He goes to jump on me but I jump back still holding the dog and I reach for my pocketknife and Alton begins to drool. (Laughs) I mean this black motherfucker is drooling, man. I hold the dog up and slit its throat–I slit it slow and easy man and I say–calm, cool, collected–I say, You and this dog look a lot alike except that you’re living and it’s dead. If you ever call me a punk again or get bad with me, I’ll do you just like this dog.’” (Beat) (EUGENE) I make an excuse to get Wyce to leave–I can’t be around him–I have to see Alma.

ALMA: “Gene I’m afraid. I get afraid a lot–I don’t want to hate anybody Gene”–

EUGENE: Alma’s the best person I know.

ALMA: “People think because I’m bigger and darker that I have all the answers”–

EUGENE: The kids always say “Man Alma ain’t nobody to mess with”–

ALMA: “… but I get confused all the time”–

EUGENE: Wyce won’t say so but I know he’s afraid of her–

ALMA: “What I want to say is, can you take care of me Gene? Can you make me feel pretty? Do you think I take up too much space?”

EUGENE: I wish I could touch her.

ALMA: “I’m afraid you’ll make me dog pant.”