Dear Martin Read online

  Sometimes he thinks they’ll never fade.

  “Yeah, they’re all right. Mel gave me this weird ointment from Norway. Smells like Altoid-covered feet, but it’s doing the trick.” Manny’s quarterback throws a deep pass, but it’s short. Justyce’s free safety intercepts. “We got back together last night.”

  Manny presses Pause. Turns to his boy.

  “Dawg, you are not serious right now.”

  Justyce reaches over and hits the triangle button on Manny’s controller. Jus’s QB tosses the ball to his running back—who is unguarded since Manny’s stare is burning a hole in the side of Jus’s face. The virtual player runs it in for the easy touchdown.

  The kick is good.

  Manny pauses again. “Jus.”

  “Let it go, man.”

  “Let it go? That ho is the reason you sat in handcuffs for three hours, and you want me to let it go?”

  “Stop callin’ my girl a ho, Manny.”

  “Bro, you caught this girl wrist-deep in another dude’s pants. Helloooo?”

  “It’s different this time.” Justyce starts the game again.

  His team kicks off, but Manny’s players don’t move because he’s still gaping at Justyce like he just confessed to murder. “Hold up,” Manny says, stopping the game and tossing his controller out of Jus’s reach. “So you mean to tell me that after this girl sat there and watched this cop brutalize your ass—”

  “She was scared, man.”

  “Unbelievable, Jus.”

  “Whatever.” Justyce stares at the football frozen in midair on the massive flat-screen. Girls don’t flock to Justyce like they do to Emmanuel “Manny” Rivers, Bras Prep basketball captain and one of the best-looking guys Jus knows. There’s a lot of stuff Manny has that Justyce doesn’t—two parents with six-figure salaries, a basement apartment, a badass car, crazy confidence…

  What does Justyce have? The hottest girl in school.

  “I don’t expect you to understand, Manny. You run through girls like underwear. Wouldn’t know true love if it kicked you in the nuts.”

  “First of all, true love wouldn’t kick me in the nuts. Considering how many times Melo has figuratively kicked you in yours—”

  “Shut up, man.”

  Manny shakes his head. “I hate to break it to you, homie, but you and Melo’s relationship puts the ick in toxic.”

  “That’s some girly shit you just said, dawg.”

  “You know my mom’s a psychologist,” Manny says. “You got Codependency Syndrome or something. You should really take a look at that.”

  “Thanks, Dr. Phil.”

  “I’m serious, Jus. I can’t even look at you right now. This thing you’re doing? This always-running-back-to-Melo thing? It’s a sickness, my friend.”

  “Shut up and play the damn game, man.”

  Just then Manny’s mom appears at the foot of the stairs.

  “Hi, Dr. Rivers,” Justyce says, rising to give her a hug.

  “Hey, baby. You doin’ all right?”

  “Yes ma’am.”

  “You sleeping over? Dinner will be ready in a few. Chicken cacciatore.” She winks.

  “Aww, you know that’s my favorite,” Jus says.

  “Dang, Ma, how come you don’t never make my favorite?”

  “Don’t ever, Emmanuel. And hush.”

  “Don’t be mad cuz your mom likes me more than you, Manny.”

  “Shut up, fool.”

  Dr. Rivers’s cell phone rings. “This is Tiffany Rivers,” she says when she answers, still smiling at the boys.

  Doesn’t last long. Whoever’s on the other end of the phone, it’s obvious from her expression they’re not bearing good news.

  She hangs up and puts her hand over her heart.

  “Mom? Everything okay?”

  “That was your aunt,” she says. “Your cousin’s been arrested.”

  Manny rolls his eyes. “What’d he do this time?”

  Dr. Rivers looks from Manny to Justyce and back again. “He’s been charged with murder,” she says.

  Manny’s jaw drops.

  “They say he killed a police officer.”

  Justyce has a lot on his mind as he steps into his Societal Evolution class on Tuesday. For one, yesterday a Nevada grand jury didn’t return an indictment on the cop who killed Shemar Carson. Since being arrested, Justyce has spent all his free time following the case, and now it’s just…over.

  Speaking of cops and arrests, yesterday Justyce also learned that the cop Manny’s cousin confessed to shooting was none other than Tomás Castillo.

  What Jus can’t get over is that he knows Manny’s cousin. His name is Quan Banks, and he lives in Justyce’s mom’s neighborhood. Quan’s a year younger than Justyce, and they played together back when the only thing that mattered was staying outside until the streetlights came on. Like Justyce, Quan tested into the Accelerated Learners program in third grade, but when elementary school ended, Quan started running with a not-so-great crowd. When Quan found out Justyce was headed to Bras Prep, he mentioned a cousin who went there, but Jus never put two and two together. And now Quan’s in jail.

  Justyce can’t stop thinking about it.

  Yeah, Castillo was an asshole, but did he really deserve to die? And what about Quan? What if they give him the death penalty?

  What if Castillo had killed Jus, though? Would he have even been indicted?

  “Come here for a second, Jus,” Doc says as Justyce drops his backpack on the floor beside his seat. Dr. Jarius “Doc” Dray is the debate team advisor and Justyce’s favorite teacher at Bras Prep. He’s the only (half) black guy Jus knows with a PhD, and Jus really looks up to him. “How you holding up, my man?” Doc says.

  “Been better, Doc.”

  Doc nods and narrows his green eyes. “Figured as much,” he says. “I wanted to let you know today’s discussion might hit a nerve. Feel free to sit it out. You can leave the room if need be.”

  “All right.”

  Just then, Manny comes into the room with Jared Christensen at his heels. Justyce isn’t real fond of Jared—or any of Manny’s other friends for that matter—but he knows they’ve all been tight since kindergarten, so he tries to keep a lid on it.

  “What’s up, Doc?” Jared crows as he crosses the room to his seat.

  “Oh god, Jared. Sit down somewhere.” That would be Sarah-Jane Friedman. Lacrosse captain, future valedictorian, and Justyce’s debate partner since sophomore year.

  “Aww, SJ, I love you too,” Jared says.

  SJ glares at him and pretends to shove a finger down her throat as she approaches the seat to Justyce’s left. It makes him laugh.

  The rest of the class trickles in, and the moment the bell rings, Doc pushes the door shut and claps his hands to begin class:

  Doc: Morning, peeps.

  Class: [Multiple grunts, waves, and nods.]

  Doc: Let’s get started, shall we? Discussion prompt of the day…

  [He makes a few taps on his laptop, and the words all men are created equal appear on the classroom’s digital chalkboard.]

  Doc: Who can tell me the origin of this statement?

  Jared: United States Declaration of Independence, ratified July Fourth, 1776. [Smiles smugly and crosses his arms.]

  Doc: Correct, Mr. Christensen. Twelve of the thirteen colonies voted in favor of severing all ties to the British throne. The document known as the Declaration of Independence was written into being, and to this day, one of the most oft-quoted lines of said document is what you see there on the board.

  Everyone: [Nods.]

  Doc: Now, when we use our twenty-first-century minds to examine the quote within its historical context, something about it isn’t quite right. Can anyone explain what I mean?

  Everyone: [Crickets.]

  Doc: Oh, come on, y’all. You don’t see anything odd about these guys in particular making a statement about the inherent “equality” of men?

  SJ: Well, these were the same g
uys who killed off the indigenous peoples and owned slaves.

  Doc: Indeed they were.

  Jared: But it was different then. Neither slaves nor Indians—

  Justyce: Native Americans or American Indians if you can’t name the tribe, homie.

  Jared: Whatever. Point is, neither were really considered “men.”

  Doc: That’s exactly my point, Mr. Christensen. So here’s the question: What does the obvious change in the application of this phrase from 1776 to now tell us about how our society has evolved?

  [Extended pause as he adds the question to the digital chalkboard beneath the quote, then the scrape of a chair as he takes his regular seat in the circle.]

  Jared: Well, for one, people of African descent are obviously included in the application of the quote now. So are “Native American Indians.”

  Justyce: [Clenches jaw.]

  Jared: And women! Women were originally excluded, but now things are more equal for them too.

  SJ: [Snorts.] Still not equal enough.

  Doc: Expound if you will, Ms. Friedman.

  SJ: It’s simple: women still aren’t treated as men’s equals. Especially by men.

  Jared: [Rolls eyes.]

  Doc: Okay. So there’s Women’s Rights. Any other areas where you guys feel like we haven’t quite reached the equality bar?

  Everyone: […]

  Doc: Feel free to consider current events.

  SJ: You would make a terrible lawyer, Doc.

  Everyone: [Nervous laughter.]

  Doc: I know y’all know what I’m getting at here.

  Manny: I mean, we do….But you really wanna go there, Doc?

  Doc: Hey, this school prides itself on open dialogue. So let’s hear it.

  Everyone: […]

  Doc: I’ll come right out with it, then: Do you guys feel we’ve achieved full “equality” with regard to race?

  Everyone: […]

  Doc: Come on, guys. This is a safe space. Nothing said here today leaves this room.

  Jared: Okay, I’ll bite. In my opinion, yes: we have reached full equality when it comes to race.

  Doc: Expound, please.

  Jared: Well, anyone born here is a citizen with full rights. There are people who claim certain “injustices” are race-related, but if you ask me, they’re just being divisive.

  Justyce: [Inhales deeply and rubs his wrists.]

  Jared: America’s a pretty color-blind place now.

  SJ: Of course you would say that.

  Manny: Oh boy.

  SJ: It never ceases to amaze me that guys like you have your heads so far up your entitled asses—

  Doc: Sarah-Jane.

  SJ: Sorry. It’s just—you’re completely oblivious to the struggles of anyone outside your little social group.

  Jared: Whatever, SJ.

  SJ: I’m serious. What about the economic disparities? What about the fact that proportionally speaking, there are more people of color living in poverty than white people? Have you even thought about that?

  Jared: Dude, Manny drives a Range Rover.

  Manny: What does that have to do with anything?

  Jared: No beef, dude. I’m just saying your folks make way more money than mine.

  Manny: Okay. They worked really hard to get to where they are, so—

  Jared: I’m not saying they didn’t, dude. You just proved my point. Black people have the same opportunities as white people in this country if they’re willing to work hard enough. Manny’s parents are a perfect example.

  SJ: Seriously? You really think one example proves things are equal? What about Justyce? His mom works sixty hours a week, but she doesn’t make a tenth of what your dad ma—

  Justyce: S, chill with that, man.

  SJ: Sorry, Jus. What I’m saying is Manny’s parents are an exception. Have you not noticed there are only eight black kids in our whole school?

  Jared: Well, maybe if more people were like Manny’s parents, that wouldn’t be the case.

  Justyce: [Takes another deep breath.]

  SJ: Ah, okay…so you’re saying people just need to pull themselves up by their bootstraps?

  Jared: Exactly.

  SJ: In order to do that, they have to be able to afford boots.

  Manny: Dang. Point for SJ.

  Jared: Whatever. There are people on welfare strutting around in Air Jordans, so there’s obviously some footwear money coming from somewhere. And don’t get all high and mighty, SJ. Your ancestors owned slaves just like mine did.

  SJ: Wrong, numbnuts—

  Doc: Ms. Friedman…

  SJ: Sorry, Doc. As I was saying, my great-grandparents immigrated to this country from Poland after narrowly escaping Chelmno.

  Jared: What?

  SJ: It was a Nazi death camp. And you just proved my point again. You’d spew a lot less asininity if you were willing to see beyond the eighteenth hole of your country club golf course.

  Doc: Reel it in, SJ.

  Jared: Just so you know, Manny’s parents have been members of our country club longer than we have.

  Manny: Bro!

  Jared: Just sayin’, dude.

  SJ: God. This country is headed to hell in a handbasket with people like you at the helm, Jared.

  Justyce: [Chuckles.]

  Jared: Anyway, to those unfamiliar with the US Constitution, thanks to the Fourteenth Amendment, every person in this country has the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness—

  SJ: Bullshit.

  Doc: SJ!

  SJ: It’s true!

  Justyce: You need to chill, S.

  SJ: Are you serious?

  Justyce: Yeah, I am.

  SJ: You of all people know I’m right, Jus—

  Justyce: Leave me outta this.

  SJ: Fine. Bottom line, it’s been over two centuries, and African Americans are still getting a raw deal.

  Jared: Coulda fooled me.

  SJ: Oh my god. Do you watch the news at all? The name Shemar Carson ring a bell, maybe?

  Jared: Ah, here we go. Not every white person who kills a black person is guilty of a crime. Pretty sure the courts proved that yesterday.

  SJ: All the courts “proved” yesterday was that a white guy can kill an unarmed teenager and get away with it if the kid is black.

  Doc: Conjecture, SJ. You know better. You two need to tread carefully here.

  Jared: Dude, the kid attacked the cop and tried to take his gun. And he had a criminal record.

  Justyce: Hold up, man. The attack was alleged. There weren’t any witnesses—

  Jared: I thought you were staying out of it?

  Doc: Watch it, Mr. Christensen.

  Jared: He said it, not me.

  Justyce: [Grits teeth.]

  SJ: Maybe if you actually followed the case instead of getting your information from social media—

  Jared: Doesn’t change the fact that the guy’d been arrested before. You don’t get arrested if you’re not doing anything wrong. Bottom line, he was a criminal.

  SJ: The charge on his record—which is public, so you can go look it up—was a misdemeanor possession of marijuana.

  Jared: So? Do the crime, do the time.

  SJ: Jared, you bought an ounce of weed two days ago—

  Doc: Don’t make me write you up, SJ.

  SJ: I saw it with my own eyes, Doc!

  Jared: What I do with my money is none of your or anyone else’s business.

  Justyce: [Snorts.] Course it’s not. But what Shemar did with his is everyone’s, right?

  Doc: Y’all better get back on topic before I start handing out detentions.

  SJ: My point is I’ve seen you commit the same crime Shemar Carson had on the “criminal record” you mentioned.

  Jared: Whatever, SJ.

  SJ: I know you’d prefer to ignore this stuff because you benefit from it, but walking around pretending inequality doesn’t exist won’t make it disappear, Jared. You and Manny, who are equal in pretty much every way apart from r
ace, could commit the same crime, but it’s almost guaranteed that he would receive a harsher punishment than you.

  Manny: Why do I keep getting pulled into this?

  Jared: Obviously because you’re black, bro.

  Everyone: [Snickers.]

  SJ: Numbers don’t lie.

  Justyce: [Rubs his wrists again.]

  Jared: Yeah, yeah. We get it. Your mom’s the big-shot attorney. You have alllllll the facts.

  SJ: Deflect all you want, but you can’t deny that you get away with stuff Manny could never get away with.

  Manny: I swear I’m changing my name.

  Jared: Maybe I get away with it because I’m not dumb enough to get caught.

  Justyce: Wow.

  SJ: You get away with it because you’re white, asshole.

  Doc: Sarah-Jaaaaaaane—

  Jared: You looked in a mirror lately, SJ? You’re just as white as I am.

  SJ: Yeah, and I recognize that and how it benefits me.

  Jared: Do you? Sounds like you’re jumping on the White Is Wrong bandwagon to me.

  Justyce: [Cracks his knuckles and shakes his head.]

  SJ: Whatever, Jared. Bottom line, nobody sees us and automatically assumes we’re up to no good.

  Everyone: […]

  SJ: We’ll never be seen as criminals before we’re seen as people.

  Everyone: […]

  Justyce: I’m going to the bathroom. [Gets up and leaves.]

  Due to the restaurant-like setup of the Bras Prep senior lounge, Jared, Manny, and their “crew”—Kyle Berkeley, Tyler Clepp, and Blake Benson—don’t see Justyce sitting in the back booth when they come in.

  True to form, Jared disregards Doc’s “everything stays in this room” directive, and since he’s obviously under the impression that he and his bros have the lounge to themselves, he doesn’t bother to keep his voice down once the five of them are seated:

  Jared: Can you believe that asshole? What kind of teacher has the nerve to suggest there’s racial inequality to a classroom full of millennials?

  Kyle: Seriously, bro? He said that shit?

  Jared: I kid you not, bro. The dean should fire his ass. I seriously might have my dad give the school a call.

  Tyler: Damn, homie.

  Jared: And of course SJ jumped right on it. I think the fact that her mom has to constantly defend all those thugs is starting to screw with her head.