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Back Yellowman
Chapters (17)
  1. Cover
  2. About the Author
  3. ALSO BY DAEL ORLANDERSMITH
  4. Title Page
  5. Dedication
  6. Part 1 - Yellowman
  7. PRODUCTION CREDITS
  8. CHARACTER NOTES
  9. PART I
  10. PART II
  11. PART III
  12. PART IV
  13. PART V
  14. Part 2 - My Red Hand, My Black Hand
  15. PRODUCTION CREDITS
  16. CHARACTER NOTES
  17. Copyright

EUGENE: Not just kiss her–touch her–REALLY touch her.

ALMA: His shoulders are broad–his teeth are even–even teeth under thin lips–

EUGENE: I kiss her–I kiss her and she tastes sweet–more than sweet–she tastes CLEAN–

ALMA: So he puts his tongue in my mouth. It’s not like I think it would be–being kissed. It feels funny–this tongue in my mouth–somebody else’s tongue in my mouth–

EUGENE: I’m beginning to relax–I’m beginning to relax because Alma’s holding me–

ALMA: He tastes like wine or beer and gum–

EUGENE: I smell/feel her sweat and she tastes good–she’s clean-so clean–

ALMA: I think I like it–being kissed–I think I do–Is this all there is to being kissed?

EUGENE: She’s so strong–real strong. Kissing Ama, I was home–I knew I was finally home.

PART III

ALMA: Graduation day is just around the corner. I doubled up on my credits to graduate early I’m seventeen and–walking pretty. I’m starting to walk pretty. I get a job in Woolworth’s for the summer. I begin to get my hair straightened and buy makeup. When people come in the store, they look at me and say “Alma you look just like new money.” I’m seventeen and I’m floating down St. Stephen’s streets reading about New York and other places, buying lipstick–pursing my lips with lipsticks bearing fruit names like “Wildberry” or “Boysen-berry.” I paint my eyelids with “Angel Blue” eyeshadow and “Come Hither” green. I’m seventeen–hear my voice–watch me walk.

EUGENE: I’m in my room listening to music and Daddy comes in. (ROBERT) “Well, Gene, graduation day is almost here–what plans do you have?” (EUGENE) “Well, what do you mean–‘what plans,’ Daddy?” (ROBERT) “What do you want to do with your life?” (EUGENE) “I don’t know Daddy.” (ROBERT) “Eugene, you’re nineteen years old and don’t know what to do with your life–you’re pathetic–you really are.”

ALMA: I hear Odelia’s voice shooting me down. Trying to shoot shoot–shoot me down. She’s trying to shoot down my new walk/talk. She says (ODELIA) “Wearin’ all dat ole mess on ya face an still don’t look lak nuttin’–you ain’t NEVA gon look good.” (ALMA) I turn on her/I shoot her down, “Yeah but I betcha I ain’t neva ran behin’ no man dog pantin’ an beggin’ him to stay like you, ain’t it?” I shudder, hearing my/her Gullah/Geechie voice. I shudder.