A Good Neighborhood

Xavier talks to Dashawn about his feelings for Juniper. Xavier feels like he made a mistake by kissing Juniper at the housewarming party. He is moving across the country for school soon, so he does not want to get involved. However, he likes Juniper and does not want her to think that he is a “player.” Dashawn tells him it isn’t a big deal, but he also argues that Brad would not like Juniper dating Xavier because he is Black. Xavier counters by saying that he is white, too, but Dashawn replies that it “isn’t even a debate” (73). Dashawn says that Xavier is white because he does not fit Black stereotypes.

Xavier reflects on his time with Juniper at the housewarming party. He was drawn to her by her intelligence, her appearance, and her smell. He wanted to know everything about her, and he asked about her dad and her name. She explained that she did not know who he was, but she sometimes thinks about him. She was named after juniper trees, which are “some of the most resilient plants there are” (76). She asked about Xavier’s light hair, and he said it is light because his father was white.