Monterey Hamilton rides with her parents to the funeral of her best friend, Emako Blue, who was recently murdered in a drive-by gang shooting. Inside the church, Monterey sees her friend and crush, Eddie, who sits down in front of them, and Monterey puts a hand on his shoulder in greeting. The preacher begins the service and states that Emako’s death is a “Tragedy! Outrage! Atrocity!” (3). He also notes her innocence and compares Emako to a lamb.

Monterey sees that her friend is beautiful inside her pink casket, even in death. She recalls the first time she met Emako. In a flashback, Monterey describes meeting Emako earlier that school year during choir auditions. Emako’s talent is immense: “She had a voice that could do tricks [...] a voice that’s a gift from God” (5). Monterey senses the jealousy and attraction of everyone in the room toward Emako as she finishes, and she hears her classmate, Jamal, tell Eddie, “I’m gonna havta get with that” (6).

Emako and Monterey both make it into the choir and become acquainted. Monterey goes outside to wait for her father to pick her up, wondering why she has never seen Emako before today and why someone as cool as her would talk to Monterey, who describes herself as “a nobody” (7).