My paternal grandparents lived in a small town on the north side of my island. Seven miles away. We went there a lot when we were kids. Especially in the summer. They lived in a white, two-story house. Despite my grandfather’s wizardry with wooodworking, the floors in the back of the house — both stories …

She always applies her perfume with her eyes shut. Kisses feel better in the dark. She dresses as if someone is watching.  She undresses as if she’s being chased. She believes she’s more open to possibilities when her hair is up. Her hair is up. She knows what she does to men. Sometimes she even …

“But I don’t HAVE an accent,” she said.  With an accent.  “Tell him I don’t have an accent, y’all.” Looking from one friend to another. Messy ponytail bouncing. I just stared. I may have blinked. A couple times. Every syllable dripped with sweetness. But not too much.  You know? It was barely above a whisper, …