Bison

Lance returns to the Roseland neighborhood on Chicago's South Side later that evening. He enters an apartment building. He walks up the dimly lit stairwell to the apartment door. He sighs deeply.

Lance pauses before entering the apartment to reflect on the day. He had just embarrassed himself at basketball tryouts earlier this afternoon. Lance, disgusted with himself, shakes his head. He begins to wonder if Coach Saunders is correct. Lance had never played organized basketball before. What business did he have trying out for a professional basketball team with no experience and competing against men who began playing at the age of five?

Lance finally enters the apartment, and the first thing he notices is LaWANDA CAMPBELL in her nightgown sitting on the sofa. LaWanda is a black woman in her early thirties with a medium-dark complexion, long braids with extensions, brown eyes, and a curvaceous build.

LaWanda's gaze shifts to a startled Lance, and the sight of him enrages her. Lance stands there staring at her, unsure of what to do.

LaWanda- (yells) Boy, what the hell you lookin' at?! Don't you got somewhere you need to go?!

Lance remains deafeningly silent. He has no idea why he is being yelled at now, especially after such a long day. He'd just been humiliated in front of everyone on the basketball court, and now his girlfriend's older sister is yelling at him.

LaWanda- Why you just standing there lookin' dumb?! Go on somewhere!

Lance- Sorry. I just got home. I had a bad day.

LaWanda- You need a tissue, boo?

Lance walks into the bedroom, shaking his head in disgust at LaWanda. LaWanda continues to watch Maury, her favorite talk show. She laughs at the action on television.

LaWanda- (laughs) You a damn fool! You know damn well that's yo' kid!

Lance steps out of the room. LaWanda, now interrupted by the sight of Lance, scowls at him.

LaWanda- (yells) Nigga, what you want?!

Lance- Have you heard from Tiffany? I tried to reach her.

LaWanda- She busy! Nigga, I'm tryin' to watch Maury! Go do something!

Lance, unwilling to engage in further conflict, exits and returns to the bedroom. LaWanda returns to her snacking and her television show.

LaWanda- I don't know why Trin bothers with his lame ass anyway... Lame ass, corny ass, broke ass nigga.

Later in the evening, Lance is writing a short story. He checks his phone while writing and begins to feel anxious. Trinity has not responded after three hours. Lance begins to suspect something is wrong. Trinity should be home now. Her shift should have ended hours ago, and she should have been home by now.

Lance tries to contact her again. The call is routed to voicemail once more. Lance is becoming increasingly irritated by Trinity's failure to respond.

Two more hours later, Lance is seated by the window of the bedroom. He looks out the window and sees TRINITY CAMPBELL outside with another man! Trinity is a curvy black woman in her late twenties with a medium-light complexion, long braids with extensions, and light brown eyes.

This large and muscular man, dressed in jeans, a white tank top, a flat-billed cap, gold chains, and very expensive basketball shoes, has his arms wrapped around Trinity's waist and is holding her from behind. Trinity leans in for a kiss, and the man kisses her.

Lance looks out the window, heartbroken. As he looks away from the scene, he begins to sulk. His day has just taken a turn for the worse. First, there was the humiliation at the basketball tryouts. After that, LaWanda insulted him. To make matters worse, he discovered his girlfriend had been unfaithful to him.

Lance is still in bed, brokenhearted and unsure of what to do next. He doesn't show much emotion. His entire world has just been turned inside out. He wants to confront Trinity, but he lacks the necessary energy. Lance is much younger than Trinity, and this isn't even his place. Lance, on the other hand, has nowhere else to go. He is trapped, and he feels compelled to accept this treatment.

... To Be Continued.