Page 51 of Beyond The Stars

“Qamar!” they shouted once his face became clear.

A little boy who looked to be about the same age as Noodle trekked over, tugging on his jeans. “I ain’t seen you on TV yet.” His boyish face scrunched as he reached his hand inside the vehicle to dap Qamar up. His upturned eyes looked around Qamar to see who was on the passenger side. “Hey, miss lady.”

Siasia waved, bashfully.

“I ain’t seen you in a while and that’s the first thing you say to me?” Qamar faked hurt with his hand on his heart. “I thought we was better than that.”

“We is but I’m trying to see you on TV before I let my ma put me on the soccer team. Nigga, ain’t no Black folks on that field.”

“It’s plenty of Black people, Bu.”

Bu twisted up his lips. “They ain’t Black like us. Them niggas speak Spanish and shit.”

“They still Black though.” Qamar snickered at his young friend’s assessment and foul mouth. It reminded him of how reckless he used to be as a youngin.

“Move yo’ dirty self out the way, Bu.” Tootie, another neighborhood kid, shoved. “Qamar, give me some money.” Her small hand was out and all the way in the car. “Hey, girl.” She waved at Siasia.

“Tootie, what you need money for?” Qamar asked, opening the glove compartment to remove a few twenty-dollar bills. Placing the money in her hand, he made sure to pass one out to the other kids crowding around his car.

Tootie patted her head like she saw the other women in the neighborhood do when their scalp itched. “Ain’t no telling. Mama said you can’t be a little lady with no money in your pocket.”

“She told you right.” Qamar shook his head.

No matter how much money they put back into The Jig, the people were still the same. He loved his city, but his neighborhood was where his heart resided. He had it tatted across his chest and made sure to take the lessons of The Jig with him everywhere he went. No matter how much money he got, it would always be home to him.

Slapping hands with a few more of the little neighborhood boys, he pulled off headed to the park they got built in Lunar’s name. It had state-of-the-art equipment with a rec center that cost over five million. The city loved Luna and Javen for all they’d done to upgrade a worn and abandoned neighborhood. All the houses had been torn down and replaced with newer ones. The corner store Luna once worked at had also been replaced.

Although it didn’t look the same, it was still The Jig.

“Two-hour ride for you to bring me to the park?” Siasia asked, looking out at the beautiful landscape.

Qamar cut the engine to his truck. “That’s all you see, a park? Mama, this is me… this is who I am. Where I’m from.” He looked out with pride. “Shit wasn’t always like this. My people fed the neighborhood that never let us starve. My brother died here so I like to believe his spirit is still running these same streets.”

“I didn’t mean it like that… I want to see everything that makes you, you. I’m ready for the rest of the tour,” she laughed, mimicking a line from one of her favorite movies.

“Bring your ass on.” He got out the car before opening the door for her as well.

There was only a small group of boys at the basketball court which meant they pretty much had the park to themselves. The breeze in Sapphire City was cooler than the ones in Lynn Beach. Their spring evenings were breezy and often required a jacket to keep warm. Luckily, Siasia had on one of his large sweatshirts, so she was comfortable.

“How you look so good in my shit?” He twirled her around before catching her in his arms. Her back to his chest, he walked her to the benches. “I wish I would’ve met you years ago.” His mouth moved faster than his mind

“Why, Qamar?” Siasia rolled her neck, pretending to not be fazed when he blurted cute shit to her like that. Qamar was a lady’s man.

“Feel like I ain’t been myself until I laid eyes on you, mama.” He hugged her tighter, making sure she felt what he was saying.

Siasia hugged him back. “Our timing don’t matter. I’m here and you’re here. All that matters is what we do with our time together.”

“You say that shit like this temporary. You already planning your escape?”

Siasia put his hand over her heart for him to feel how rapid it beat. “Ready to run for my fuckin’ life.”

“Aye, little boy!” someone called out from a porch not far from the park. “Come here, nigga!” the person called over again with their hands in the air.

Seeing the house the person was at, Qamar knew exactly who it was. “Come on so I can introduce to someone. He ain’t family like that but I fuck with him heavy.”

“You just be draggin’ me from place to place. Do you have a home?” Siasia joked, not knowing her joke held some truth.

Qamar didn’t have a primary home outside of the condo in Lynn Beach. He literally jumped from house to house depending on his mood. Most of the time, he was at his ma’s house, but he wasn’t above crashing at one of his sibling’s houses. He preferred being under French more than anyone else, though.

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