Summary

The Prologue takes place in the barbershop. Though there are usually only men here, there is a young woman seated in front of the barber. The woman meets the eye of a young man waiting his turn. They are never identified in the novel, and are referred to as the dancer and the photographer in this guide. The barber, whose name is Leon, comments on the look that passes between them. He says it might be friendship or love, but it is certainly “something.” The dancer and the photographer are Black. The narrator notes that their shared ethnicity allows them to be themselves when they are together. Considering that the word “flexing is being able to say the most in the fewest number of words,” there is no greater flex than love (7). The narrator says the photographer will give an honest account...