Street Love

Over the phone, Junice tells Damien that she visited her mother. She indicates her mother was sad, but this is to be expected. Damien says Junice sounds strange, and she insists she feels a cold coming on. She promises to dress warmly and take care of herself.

After the call ends, Damien worries about Junice. He thinks about what he should have said to her and regrets not saying it.

At a court hearing, Junice pleads with Ms. Davis to let her and Melissa stay with their grandmother, insisting she can overcome their family’s mistakes. Ms. Davis counters that the decision is not hers to make and that efforts will be made to place the sisters in the same foster care facility.

Junice speaks to Damien, who was present for her court hearing. He notes Ms. Davis said the court’s decision will not be enacted for 12 days and wonders if this is enough time to change the order. Junice is again certain that her fate was sealed by the women of her family.

Junice leaves, but Damien remains on a street corner to think. He notes he has always been able to use logic to find solutions, but for the first time, he feels hopeless. He thinks about Junice and Melissa’s separation from their grandmother and possibly each other and knows he cannot ignore the problem.

Sledge asks Damien why he has not competed against him in basketball yet. When Damien explains he is in love, Sledge says cruel things about Junice, implying she engages in sex work. The boys fight, and Sledge cuts Damien with a knife. Damien then sees Junice going home with groceries.

Damien tells Junice of his fight with Sledge, explaining he wished to silence his claim that she engaged in sex work. He wants her to tell him that this is not true, but she cannot. He leaves and, at home, climbs into bed with conflicted thoughts.

Damien’s mother says she heard from Kevin’s mother that he is in love. They speak of Junice, and Ernestine, aware that Leslie is incarcerated, insists she is the wrong girl for Damien. She reminds him of her and Avery’s plan for him, certain that Junice will thwart it. When Damien reiterates he loves Junice, Ernestine insists his feeling is not love, but infatuation.

Damien wakes at night and realizes he not only loves Junice, but the idea of them together.

Damien calls Junice, wishing to tell her that he wants to be with her forever. The phone rings, but no one answers.

Damien goes to Junice’s house and Ruby says she is absent. She speculates Junice is at church. Damien leaves, but as he walks home, worries she and Melissa were already taken by Social Services.

Kevin heard about Damien’s fight with Sledge and asks what it was about, before voicing relief at Damien’s injury being minor. He then informs Damien that Junice plans to leave for Memphis, Tennessee by bus that night. There is a relative there whom she hopes will allow her and Melissa to live with them. Damien insists on going to Memphis to find her, but Kevin cautions him against this, reminding him of his parents’ plan. Damien is adamant, so Kevin voices support.

Damien goes to the bus station and finds Junice and Melissa.

Junice tells Damien that she left without saying goodbye because she could not bear to do so. She urges him to go home and forget about her. He insists on going to Memphis with them. Junice protests, as she does not know if her relative will be of help. Damien is adamant, and the three board the bus together.

Damien sleeps while Junice thinks about what he told her: He brought all of his money and left a letter for his parents. She, too, left a letter for her grandmother and hopes to secure care for her. Damien worries he doesn’t have enough money to help them get by, but Junice finally feels hopeful.