Black Boy Joy by Black Boy Joy (retail) (epub)

Author:Black Boy Joy (retail) (epub)
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Published: 2021-08-03T00:00:00+00:00

FIVE THOUSAND LIGHT-YEARS TO HOME

BY SUYI DAVIES OKUNGBOWA

Keziah loved puzzles.

He loved the cryptic ones best—the ones where you had to look hard to find something that wasn’t obvious at first. But really, he loved anything that allowed him to think hard and find a solution: picture puzzles, jigsaws, crosswords, Rubik’s cubes, riddles, trivia. The rush he felt when he solved one was second to none.

Except math puzzles. Keziah hated math.

But even puzzles didn’t make up for the fact that his family was moving to one of the tall, lifeless buildings in Willow Island, Lagos, where he had zero friends. Keziah sighed and tucked the puzzle he had been working on—a word search—into the front seat pocket as his mom pulled into the parking lot of their new building. They were going to check out the apartment today, and his parents had wanted him to come along, but Keziah couldn’t muster any enthusiasm. He scowled as he slammed the car door shut, and his parents gave him a warning look. At the elevator they met a lady who introduced herself as an estate agent. Keziah had never been in an elevator before, and despite his grumpy mood, he was instantly fascinated by it. How fast could it go? What caused it to make that little bump when it stopped?

It all ended quickly, though, as the doors opened and his parents got out with the estate lady.

“Come on, K,” Mom said.

“Can I just keep riding the elevator?” Keziah asked, remaining inside.

“We have to see the apartment,” Dad said, standing in the space between the doors to prevent them from closing. “Come on.”

“Why do I have to come?” he asked. “It’s empty and boring. I’m not going to make any friends here.”

“Keziah Anietie,” Mom said. She always said his full name whenever she considered his behavior improper. “You come out here right this instant.”

So he did. They walked the narrow corridor to the new apartment, which was as bare and boring as he had imagined—how could they be so excited about a place that had nothing in it? The lady kept using words he didn’t understand and pointing at things he didn’t care about, but Mom and Dad just kept going ooh and aah. The elevator aside, Keziah wasn’t interested in anything about the apartment. Not even when Mom pointed and said, “That’s going to be your new bedroom, K, you like it?”

“It’s smaller than the old one,” he said.

Afterward, the grown-ups went to a corner of the empty living room and began to discuss things in low tones, pointing at one sheet of paper or the other. They were so engrossed, they soon forgot about him. Keziah found his chance and tried the front door. Unlocked.

Slowly, stealthily, Keziah Anietie slipped out of the apartment and made for the elevator.

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