Page 56 of Hot to Trot

"Can we act them out in front of Ms. Cox?" Julio asked. "She'd like that. She likes books and stuff."

"Who is Ms. Cox?"

“The old lady that teaches us GED stuff,” Tito said.

"That's a great idea. We can invite Rick and Kate, too. Maybe a few other members of the community who protested the removal of the book."

"I don't know about standing up and acting out shit," Juan said, looking more like a kid than a gang member.

"I won't force you, but I bet you'll like it." She reminded herself that, as tough as these guys were, most of them were little more than kids. "Let's take it slow. I've got three weeks to spend with you and you'd be amazed at what we can accomplish in that time. We could make it our last performance. Maybe even put up signs and charge a small admission fee."

"And have, like, cakes and stuff afterward," Tito said, his expression showing a smidgen of excitement. "My grammar school did that one time. It was cool."

Marco shrugged. "Whatever. Let's get this over with. I want to watch TV before lights-out."

Scarlet looked at Adam. He'd remained silent but attentive during the discussion. Unlike the center's clients who all wore gray, black, or white since no hint of gang colors was allowed, Adam wore a deep green button-down shirt that enhanced his eyes, making them more prominent against his tanned skin.

He gave her an encouraging nod. "Sounds like a nice conclusion to this class."

"Would you like to participate? Maybe do a scene or two with us?" Scarlet asked, hoping he might agree. She knew she'd gotten him here tonight by appealing to his sense of duty, his need to make some tenuous connection with the clients of the center, but maybe-

“I don't think so. This is your thing. I came tonight for moral support as your-”

“We don’t need him,”Miguel Two said. “He ain’t the kind to hang, you know?”

"What do you mean I can'thang? You still in a gang? You still breaking the law?" Adam crossed his arms. He didn't seem defensive, merely inquisitive.

"No, dude," Marco said, sinking into his chair. "But that’s crazy, man."

Adam gestured between himself and Marco. "It's crazy for me and you to be in a play together?"

"Si,"Tito said.

Adam looked at her. "Well, in that case, count me in. I've learned that if someone doesn't want you around, there's usually a good reason. I'd like to find out what that reason is."

"Dude, we ain't doing nothin' wrong. We're in this program. Doin' what it takes," Marco said. His muscular shoulders bunched beneath the white Phoenix T-shirt he wore, his posturing defensive, angry. It struck Scarlet at that moment that while these guys were scared boys, they were also dangerous. They'd seen and done things she could only imagine. It would make for interesting acting.

"Again, we're off task. Chief Hinton can join us for a couple of scenes. I see nothing wrong with trying to improve community relations with the law enforcement.” She was met with snorts that she ignored. “I'll stop by tomorrow and talk to Kate andRick about our plan. I might even visit my first drama teacher, Mrs. Nolan, to see if she might be interested in helping with the production."

Adam nodded but didn't move. Marco shrugged and the other guys followed suit.

"Good, now pair off for the repetition exercises. Just don't leave this room."

As the clients paired off Scarlet motioned Adam toward the door. He gave a perfunctory glance about the room as the guys started the exercise with comments such as "You look like a dog's ass," then followed her to the door.

Scarlet stepped onto the porch and clasped her hands behind her back. "I wanted to thank you for coming tonight. I know it was-"

"No problem."

"Don't interrupt me. I'm trying to be-"

"And you are dressed more appropriately," he said.

“I wasn’t dressed inappropriately before. But you had a point. Wasn’t a good one, but it was one. Whatever.” She looked down at the blousy navy shirt and loose cargo pants she'd borrowed from Meg. She looked stupid, unattractive, and fashion-challenged. "I'll be lucky not to end up in the back of theUSmagazine in the What Not to Wear section.”

He shrugged. ''It's got mystery. Makes a guy wonder what you're hiding underneath there."

"That sounds like something a father might say," Scarlet groused. "Just not my father. He never gave a flip what I wore out."

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