That's Crazy

Giselle is running behind schedule after underestimating the traffic on Landover Road at 7:15 on a weeknight. She is due to meet her friends Christine and Stephanie at Jasper's Restaurant at 7:30 for drinks and conversation, and she knows she will arrive at least half an hour late.

Christine is Giselle's closest friend, the one who kept her steady when her marriage to Leroy, a heavy drinker, fell apart. Stephanie, who is white and grew up in Prince George's County, a county with a predominantly African American population, has a confident, street-smart manner that Giselle teases her about. Stephanie has stayed by Giselle through the ups and downs of her business, including the closing of CGS.

When Giselle finally reaches the restaurant just before eight, the three women trade jokes and settle into a booth. Stephanie soon spots a man at the bar watching a game and insists he looks like Tyrone. Giselle sees a few resemblances in the dim light but dismisses the idea, and the evening's story is set in motion from there.