American Street

It is Saturday in Matant Jo’s house. Loud music plays. Matant Jo is dressed in a nice shirt and sitting with four men in the living room. Donna has picked out a tight dress for Fabiola to wear to a birthday party. Pri asks Fabiola about her voodoo items. Fabiola says that ever since her uncle Phil—her cousins’ father—was killed, Fabiola and her mother have been praying to lwas to protect her family. Donna puts heavy makeup on Fabiola and gives her a hair extension. Chantal disapproves but drops off Fabiola, Pri, and Donna at the party at a nightclub. Fabiola sees a boy in a blue cap—the one who helped Bad Leg get up the other night after Donna’s boyfriend punched him. Fabiola smiles at the boy.

Fabiola sees the young man who punched Bad Leg; he tries to dance with Fabiola. He wears an eyepatch over one eye, and his posture gives Fabiola the impression that he has been through some hard crime. Dray puts his arm around Donna. The boy in the blue cap comes over and introduces himself as Kasim. Kasim gives Fabiola the nickname “Fabulous.” Pri starts doing a fast dance called the “Detroit Jit,” and Fabiola tries to imitate her.