Page 55 of Damian & Jun, Episodes 9-12
“When were you going to get community involvement?”
Damian opened his mouth, feeling quicksand under his feet, but Jun was quicker.
“Last week, he was supposed to visit the alderman’s office, and two weeks ago, he talked to a few of the homeowners nearby. We ran into Pastor Doyle, if you can call that engaging community. But then this happened.” Jun rubbed Habibi’s back gently.
“So, it’s new.” May looked at Damian again.
“As of January, we started talks.” Damian nodded. “We have commitments from a few local and locally connected investors at the moment, as well as our own money. I’m trying to meet with Kalisha Brown. Miss Jozie said she was involved in community development.”
May tapped her fingers on the table. “Are you making it a church again?”
“No.”
May inclined her head. “That’s not going to sit well with some, but they wouldn’t have lost the church if the revenue was there to keep it.”
“It’s too much property and too centrally located.” Damian leaned forward, a little excitement coming back to him. “We’re looking at mixed use, housing, shops, services, and some sort of transit to the new train line that’s going in.”
“We need a grocery store. Do you know how far I have to go just to get Betti fresh vegetables?”
“Seventeen minutes,” Damian replied.
May’s surprise showed in her eyes.
Damian spread his hands. “The neighborhood needs a locally owned grocery store, but we have to actually keep it secure enough that it can stay in business. If we offer a chain grocery store a space, they could leave at any time.”
“It’s happened in Chicago before, recently.” May’s scowl communicated what she thought of that. “The city gave them tax breaks and everything, and they just upped and left when corporate decided.”
“Know anyone who wants to own a grocery and won’t mind slim margins?”
May laughed. “Wants to? Not really.”
“If you think of anyone, let me know.”
A few minutes later, Habibi woke up. Jun handed him over to Damian and slipped away to change. He came back in blue sweats with a matching hoodie. Habibi made himself known as Jun came back, and Armada broke away from Betti and Ruby to take him from Damian.
They all ended up in the hotel room with pizza for dinner. Howser’s face flushed with rage as soon as he saw May. He grabbed his food and retreated to the far corner of the adjoining room.
“You two got history?” Damian asked.
May pressed her lips together. “Not personally. More like a whisper campaign in the neighborhood.”
Damian could surmise without May telling him what kind of whispering she was referring to.
After the pizza had been demolished and Rue had fallen asleep against Ruby’s leg on the bed, May announced that they should go.
Damian offered to walk her and Ruby out. Jun joined them, leaving Armada with Habibi, who needed another diaper change. She slipped into Damian and Jun’s room to do it as Jun had forgotten the diaper bag in there.
May left, promising with her last handshake at the front of the hotel to stay in touch and giving her final wish that Betti would come and stay with them.
“Please,” Ruby said, reinforcing her mom’s assertions.
“We’ll do our best,” Damian promised.
Damian held Jun’s hand as they walked back up the stairs. It was only a couple flights, and both of them needed the exercise.
“Howser, no!” Betti screamed from somewhere above in the stairwell.
“We’re going back to Gramps, you promised!”
