Fast Life by Cassandra Carter

statement.
    Kyra redirected her focus and looked directly at her mother and said, “It is.”
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    Kyra hung back while her mom walked ahead along the dirt road. She was in no rush to do anything. She made painstaking efforts not to dirty or crease her shoes. She kept her head down, watching for every hole and puddle while contemplating the fact that she had gone from a city to an island in a matter of hours. Oh, what time could do.
    The market was busy with chatter that was audible from around the corner and aromas that filled the air. There were stands overflowing with an array of fruits and vegetables in every shape and color one could imagine. Kyra had never seen anything like it in her life. It was almost fascinating. Almost.
    Kyra wandered around glancing at things, stopping to pick up carvings and beaded jewelry to admire their craftsmanship. Her mother headed off in search of food items. But Kyra didn’t mind making her way through the market alone. She was exhausted from thinking and was still in no mood to entertain her mother in conversation. The reality of her move weighed on her, and she was helpless to do anything about it. She was on the island now. But she was miserable in paradise.
    After discovering a tobacco stand, Kyra bought two Cuban cigars, wondering if they would live up to their reputation. Then she slowly drifted to another stall that caught her attention. Her eyes roamed over all the candles. No two seemed to be the same. She picked up several, smelled them and set them down only to pick up yet another. As she sniffed each candle, she couldn’t help but feel uneasy. Someone was watching.
    Kyra lifted her eyes and spotted a group of boys standing in the shade of a neighboring tree. They appeared to be her age, maybe a little older. One had butterscotch-colored skin and a freshly cut head of hair. From his posture alone, she could tell he was muscular underneath his white T-shirt. Another one, tall and lean, had long cornrows and a light brown skin tone that was reminiscent of walnut.
    Of the three guys, only one had dreadlocks, and he was the culprit. His skin was the shade of milk chocolate. He had a mustache, and a thin beard ran along the edge of his face and chin. Their eyes locked. And no matter how hard Kyra tried to turn away, she couldn’t break his stare.
    â€œHow are you doing today, miss?” He spoke with a slight accent and was very polite. He blew all of Kyra’s prejudices out of the water.
    â€œI’m fine.”
    â€œSo are you new to the island? I’ve never seen you before. What is your name?”
    â€œNone of your business.” For the first time in their conversation, Kyra looked the stranger in the eye. She clutched the things she had bought as she gave him the once-over from head to toe.
    â€œWell, None of Your Business, I’m Justin. And over there is my brother, Quentin, and my best friend, Michael.” Justin smiled at her feistiness and pointed in the direction of his friends. “The one with braids is my brother and the one in the white shirt is Michael.” Kyra could instantly see the resemblance between Justin and the boy he said was his brother.
    â€œLook, that’s nice and all, but if you came over here to get my number or somethin’, then you’re wastin’ your time. You might as well walk over to your friends and make up a lie to tell them to keep you from bein’ embarrassed.”
    Without another word, Justin smiled and rejoined his boys. They exchanged words for only seconds before heading in the opposite direction. As they walked down the dirt road laughing, talking and kicking up dust, Kyra stared at them curiously.
    â€œHey, are you ready to go?” Her mother’s gentle tap on her arm made her jump.
    â€œYeah.”
    â€œWhat are you looking at? Uh-oh, I see. You like one of those boys, don’t you? Which one?” She poked fun at her daughter.
    â€œNone of ’em.