Summary

Alone onstage, Juicy addresses the audience directly. He recalls asking for a Black Barbie as a child, which his mom bought for him. His dad Pap, took it away from him and burned it, complaining that Juicy should be like other boys. Tedra enters. She is aware that Juicy has been talking to the audience. He asks him what he’s been saying about her and complains that she doesn’t want the audience to think she’s trashy for marrying her dead husband’s brother. Indirectly, Tedra asks Juicy if he’s gay, but his answer is equivocal, leading Tedra to conclude that he is “not a whole punk, you just half a punk” (78) offending Juicy.

Tedra’s friend Rabby (mother of Larry) and her daughter Opal (roughly the same age as Juicy) enter. Rabby complains that a young woman from their church...