Page 14 of Damian & Jun: Episodes 5-8
That sounded like a lot. Then again, city planning wasn’t Jun’s area of skill.
“Are you helping build the train?”
“No, except for getting contracts in place with suppliers. Collin is helping him, though. Making spaces function better is his specialty.”
That actually sounded interesting. “Maybe you should get Collin to help you plan what to do with the property.”
“I’ve never shown him the place.” Damian tilted his head in the way he did when he was considering a thought. “It’s not a bad idea. You should tell him what you were thinking.”
“You mean about singing there?”
“Yes.”
There were bars on most windows for the first floor of homes, apartment buildings, and storefronts and sometimes on second floors for the buildings not boarded up. Yards lacked the plants and landscaping Jun expected in American neighborhoods, if there were the resources to create them. There were fewer cars parked around, and the roads were cracked. Sidewalks slanted unevenly in places.
“How much has it changed?”
“It’s worse than it was. The population has gotten older. That comes with challenges.”
“The children left, like you?”
“A lot of them.”
A cool gust of wind rushed past. Damian motioned Jun to turn at the next corner, putting the church behind them and moving down a residential-only street. It was mostly single-family homes or duplexes made of what looked like had once been single-family homes.
A man shuffling along the sidewalk, a beanie on his head and a large blue coat hanging off his shoulders, squinted at them. He paused and turned toward them as they approached. He waved his hand toward Damian. “My man, my man, got any change? Just need a dollar.”
Damian shook his head. “I don’t carry cash.”
The man eyed him up and then back. The moment he saw Cedric, his face changed. He looked back at Damian and then spat at his feet. “You’re that Kramer kid.”
Kramer? That wasn’t Damian’s name. This man must have the wrong person.
But Damian didn’t seem surprised. He hooked his thumbs into his pockets. “Robert.”
Robert scowled. “What brought you back here? Looking to buy up more property?
“No.” Damian shrugged. “Just visiting.”
“Oh, finally gonna man up?”
Damian shrugged again. “Just visiting.” He turned as if to walk past.
Robert grabbed his arm. Cedric moved, but Damian raised his hand, stopping him.
He put his hand over Robert’s. “Let go, Bert.”
Robert glared. “You think you can just come back here and walk around like you own the place?”
Damian said nothing.
The skin around Robert’s eyes tightened. Jun sucked in air and held it. He knew that look. But Damian looked unaffected.
Robert pushed Damian away, making Damian rock back on his feet. “Wait till your old man hears of this.” He flicked a finger across his nose and stepped back, his eyes running over Jun. “Who are you?”
Damian stepped toward Jun.
Jun shook his head. He looked Robert up and down and shook his head. “No one.”
