The novel publishes Sept. 1 and isavailable for pre-order.
First, trains heading uptown will forever be late, no matter what.
Its as if the MTA decides anyone going past 125th Street must not be worth the trouble.
Credit: Vanessa Acosta
So what if you thought the train you got on downtown was an express 5?
Right now, its a local.
No, wait, scratch that.
Bloomsbury
Who cares if you have things to do?
Trains heading uptown are bound to be cut off.
Its like living back in the Middle Ages when people thought the world was flat.
Youve got to wait for the four or transfer to the bus, says the conductor.
I wonder how many times hes had to explain this.
He gives me the shrug.
I give him the shrug back.
What else is there to do?
Its Saturday morning, and Im bound to be late no matter how early I am.
Moms hounded me last night right in the middle of my writing session.
I had the dopest hook for this new song.
It sounds a little like Romeo Santoss Imitadora, but way more sensual.
I already have the first verse down.
Its got the perfect combination the girls likea little vulnerability, a little roughness.
Throw in some Spanish, and its de lo mio.
This summer is going to be me working on this new song until it feels right.
Shine them words until they glisten like gold.
Pero donde tengo que ir?
An old lady sitting across from me talks to herself.
Who knows how long shes been planning this excursion?
Tienes que ir afuera e tomar el bus, o puedes esperar aqui por el cuatro, I say.
She does a slight double take; its subtle, but I notice it.
Some people see my skin color and think, he must be Black.
Im the best of both worlds.
Just ask Melaina and all them girls uptown Im about to smash this summer.
The old lady thanks me for helping her figure out how to get to her stop.
I start my own journey and head aboveground with the rest of the sad passengers.
Sometimes I wish I drove a car, blasting AC and my own music.
A summer with wheels.
Why cant I be about that life?
I strap my guitar to my back and head out.
El viejo decides to provide his own musical accompaniment.
He turns up the volume on the song playing on his phone.
I recognize the tune right away.
Its a song my pops likes to play when hes feeling melancholy.
Donde Estara by Antony Santos.
Pops taught me to sing that song when I was six.
It didnt matter where we were.
In front of the apartment building I grew up.
After a few Presidentes he would inevitably hoist me up on his shoulders and I would sing.
I feel sad, too, whenever I hear the song.
A reminder of the fam when we were a fam and not this disjointed thing.
He holds a large cooler.
I ask after giving him the dap.
I met Jaysen seven years ago when we were about ten.
It was my first summer with Pops after the separation, and he was depressed.
He didnt want to do anything, just stare at the wall and listen to boleros 24-7.
I couldnt take it, so I headed to the handball courts, bored out of my mind.
Jaysen was the only boy my age out there.
I acted aloof until Jaysen asked if I wanted to play.
We spent the whole summer beating all them suckers.
His father works for the Department of Parks and Rec like my father did before he got on disability.
You coming, right?
He rubs the back of his neck, trying to squash the heat.
His latest tattoo on his arm is the Puerto Rican independence flag.
Its coming in nicely.
First trip to Orchard, I say.
Not missing it for the world.
Im probably going to be
Late.
Bro, you always late, Jaysen says.
I turn to follow his gaze.
Ive known Penelope for as long as Ive known Jaysen.
She lives in the same building as my pops.
Penelope is smart and funny.
Shes definitely wifey material.
Penelope pulls luggage from the trunk of her parents car.
I cant really make out who shes with.
I guess its family.
We seeing you today?
Youre not missing it?
Jaysens been bugging everyone via text, making sure we show up.
Sometimes I have to tell him to chill the hell out.
It never really works, though.
Hes a hype man when no one really needs one.
Cant you see Im busy?
Ill see you tomorrow.
Penelope turns to the car and holds the door open.
A girl about our age steps out.
She has a thick curtain of long coily hair that practically engulfs her.
Ive never seen her before.
Penelope hugs the girl and they walk into the building.
**
Related content:
