LaTrice emerged from the basement covered in dust and soot.

 

"Ooh if my mama could see me now," LaTrice cackled, taking the bottle of water Travell offered. "She used to whoop me so hard for not cleaning the house."

 

"This for our future though," Travell said, wrapping his arms around her. She slapped him away.

 

"Uh uh, I am all dusty and gross. You ain't touching me."

"Get a room you two," Tyler teased coming from the garden unit.

 

"Ooh TyTy, when you think we gonna be able to move in?" LaTrice asked excitedly.

 

"Well we got at least three more units to renovate. And the way things went at the benefit last night, I don't think we'll have enough for the contractor as his team."

 

"Y'all didn't make enough money?"

 

"Unfortunately not. And if the grant for this transition program doesn't come through..."

 

"Couldn't we, you know, the folks that live at Haven, couldn't we like help with the build?" Travell asked. "Some of us are already helping with the clean up. It could be like, what do you call it? Work study. We could learn a trade and y'all could save money on a construction crew."

 

"That's a great idea, Travell," Tyler said, the wheels already turning.

 

"Well next time someone tells you ain't no way, come to us, we got plenty," LaTrice said. "This gonna be the start of our future. Ain't nothing gonna get in the way of that."

 

"From your mouth to God's ear," Tyler said.

###