Of Women and Salt

(Jeanette, Miami, 2002)

Jeanette and her friend Sasha, both in high school, are spending the night out on the town in Miami Beach. First, they take advantage of a deluxe car wash to smoke marijuana in Sasha’s car; next they go to IHOP; and now they’re at a gas station trying to flirt with older men to get the men to buy them cigarettes. After one failed attempt, a man named Johnson agrees to buy them cigarettes in exchange for a favor, which Jeanette recognizes as a come-on. He takes a flyer out of his car and invites them to an all-ages foam party. Sasha refuses to go with him, and she and Jeanette have their first argument over it. Eventually, Sasha leaves, and Jeanette goes with Johnson to the party. Jeanette lies and tells Johnson that she’s 18, that her name is Caro, and that she’s been to clubs and foam parties before (although she did go to a club once before). Johnson is confused by her—he doesn’t seem to understand why she’s going with him or what her “end game” is. They spend most of the ride in silence.

The party isn’t quite like Jeanette had expected.