Tight

The next Friday, Bryan’s mother takes him to the movies as a special treat. Bryan cherishes these little trips with his mother to a peaceful place, far from their tension-filled neighborhood, and after the movie is over, she “reads” his mind and takes him to the Promenade, a place where they have gone before to talk and “chill.” On a bench on the Promenade with his mother, Bryan feels like he can finally relax, be himself, and sit in any posture he likes, without being judged or teased. His mother listens closely to him, as if everything he says is “important.” He wishes he could somehow bring the “chillness” of moments like this back to his “drama”-filled neighborhood so he could feel it all the time.

Back in the apartment, Bryan’s feelings of peace and tranquility are shattered when he hears his parents arguing loudly in the next room. His father, who has been relatively calm and amicable since his parole, is now reverting back to his usual angry self, and Bryan’s mother is exasperated, saying that all he does is “fight,” whether in the streets or at home. She blames this pattern partly on the influence of his shady new friend, Alex.