Summary

Melissa and Ria prepare for a day of multicultural celebration that is being organized by Ria’s school. Melissa explains to Ria that Ria’s ancestors were from Jamaica and Nigeria, but that Ria was born in England. As Ria and Melissa converse, Ria alludes to some historical tragedies that she read about while doing a project for school. Melissa thinks of the time that she and Ria drove by a crime scene at which someone had been shot and killed. The narration exposits upon the emotional distance placed between Michael and Melissa by Michael’s work, as Michael works fairly long, regular hours and commutes to work every weekday. At work, Michael talks to Rachel more and begins to entertain the idea of flirting with her. After work, he has an unusually long and arduous journey home by public transportation. He makes it...