Page 37 of Beneath the Fame

What was he like?

Kami

(taken aback by the question—this outing was supposed to be about ice cream, not feelings.)

My brot—your dad? Oh, girl. He was just…the best. My best friend when we were growing up. He protected me from a lot.

Shannon

Why did he have to protect you? Didn’t you have your mom and dad?

Kami

Honestly? Not really. They were kinda all over the place. More like…grown people who came around sometimes than parents.

Shannon

Weird. My mommy and daddy were always around for me. Except that one day.

Kami

What day?

Shannon

(Just looks at her Aunt Kami, waiting for her to remember she had to make her way home from school alone, found her parents slain.)

Kami

Oh, shit. Uh…

(Looks around for help that isn’t coming, then lets out a deep sigh.)

You know what? I’m not surprised to hear that about Kaleel—like I said, he was a natural at the protector thing. And you look a lot like I did when I was a little girl.

Shannon

Does that mean I’ll look like you when I grow up?

Kami

Maybe. If you get lucky. And I think you will. Good looks run deep in our family, and that’s what you are. Family. No matter what your mom’s people try to say.

Shannon

They say the same thing about you.

Kami

Who? You talking about your uncles?

Shannon

(nods, continues eating ice cream.)

They told me they were gonna bust heads for me.

Kami

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