I hurried through the cemetery digging my gloved hands into my hoodie pockets. The February cold was no joke. The cold air tore through my layers as I walked thought rows of tombstones lugging my backpack.  

Don’t worry. I’m not one of those kids who hang out in cemeteries for fun. The reason I’m out here is because its going to get dark soon and while I consider myself to be brave, I’m not ready to walk in the city in complete darkness with the streetlights making it even worse. Plus, the last thing I want is for a cop to see a kid in a hoodie running with his hood up. The cemetery is the shortest short cut I know.  

You, dear reader, are probably wondering what I’m doing out of my house when school ended three hours ago. I was at my best friends Mathew’s house to study for the for the huge ap test we had in two days. So we were studying and then after I missed another vocab word he made a comment I couldn’t let slide. “Dang dude your almost as bad with definitions as you are at Smash.”     

“Man, I could beat you any time.” I responded even though I’ve never beaten him at Super Smash in the eight years we’re known each other. 

He raised his eyebrow giving me that are you sure you want to do this to yourself look. “Is that a challenge” He asked. I nodded “Bet. But just one game.” 

“For sure,” I said. “One and done.”  

36 games and a bunch of snacks later we forced ourselves to stop. “This is what happens when you lie about your skills man.” Mathew said with a grin. 

“What do you mean lie. I beat you a couple of times.” I said defensively. 

“Yeah, out of the 36 times we played you won 4 times.” 

“Exactly, I’ve improved.” I picked up my backpack and walked up the stairs out of his basement, to the front door. 

“How was your studying,” Matthew’s mom said coming in from her room. 

“It was really… informative,” Mathew said coming from behind. “Ade needs to head home.” 

“You need a ride home, Ade,” his dad yelled from his study  

“I’m good” I responded. He asked one more time, but I quickly refused. I knew how high gas prices were and I hated it when people spent money on me, no matter how close I was to them. I waved goodbye and left.  

And here I am. Walking in a cemetery as the world grows darker by the minute.  This would be a perfect place to get kidnapped, My brain chirped. I quickly shook the thought away and when I was thinking I wouldn’t get much worse it started snowing. I hurried a little faster and it wasn’t till a couple of minutes till I noticed something weird.  

The falling snow was green and glowing. 
 I slowed down. To be honest it was kind of pretty. I stood still to examine the snow when a thought struck me. What if this is some kind radiation? Not going to lie, my first thought was about getting superpowers, but reality took hold and I sped up thinking about what could actually happen. The last thing I wanted was third arm sticking out of my butt.  

The snow picked up and I walked faster. The snow seemed to fall heavier until I could barely see where I was going. As I ran blindly, I tripped on a tombstone. I glanced at the name, Samuel Smith, and picked myself up. Because it felt right, I said, “Sorry Sam,” And ran home. Luckily, I got home without any mishap. 

I knocked on the door. For some reason the snow had stopped falling leaving the ground white. Some how the color had changed. Definatly radiation I thought. I was probably going to wake up with another ear.  

My dad opened the door and I walked in. “How was the study session” he asked. I had told my parents I was studying so they wouldn’t blow up my phone. 

“We studied,” I told him. I didn’t feel the need to tell him that most of the time was spent playing video games. “What’s for dinner,” I asked. 

“You must mean ‘what are we making form dinner.”  
I sighed and used my go to excuse which doesn’t work as much as it used to. “I have homework.” 

“When I was your age-” I groaned inwardly as he went on about how he was making meals for his parents and if I didn’t start then he would’ve never known how to cook for us. I’ve heard it all a million times.  

Their was no point of arguing so I gave in. “fine what are we making.” He smiled and told me what to do. We were making jollof rice and I cut the onions and boiled the water. Mom didn’t help because even after all the years of being married to dad she still didn’t know how to make a single African dish. 

“Can you cut the onions,” dad asked.  

“Sure.” As I walked over to the pantry, I saw that the window was uncovered. “Did you see anything wrong with the snow,” I asked. 

“No, I don’t think I did. Why?” 

“No reason,” I said. Was it my imagination? The snow was green and glowing.  

“Don’t worry, I doubt it will stick. I know how much you love school.” 

“Ha-ha,” I said getting the onions and quickly cutting them. We spent the rest of the time focusing on the food.     
 
The water finished boiling and I poured it into a pot careful not to let any splash. I did whatever dad asked me to and a few minutes later the food was ready. I quickly ate and went to my room try to finish my calculus homework and sleep the day off but before I could make it my mother called me into her study. I sighed and walked in. She looked dead tired which made my annoyed at myself for not wanting to talk to her.  

“How was your day Ade,” she said plastering on a smile. She’s a nurse which means late nights and early rising. Even with her job she still tries her best to be there with us when it matters. When I a child (wait I’m still technically a child) she missed a recital of mine I was pouting for the whole day. Now that I’m older I regret wasting energy on a little thing like that. Even now I still feel like I’m taking her for granted. “Why did you take so long to get home.” 

“I was at Matthews house studying for a test.” I explained even though I had texted this to her. “It took a little longer than expected.” 

“Oh, right you texted me about that. Sorry, I completely forgot. So how was your-“She was cut off by the ring of her phone. She picked it up and sighed. “Its Janice. She needs a report. I’m sorry, can we talk some other time?” 

“Its fine,” I said, trying not to sound disappointed “I have homework anyway.” I walked away and as I closed the door and walked to my room. I got my homework out, finished it reviewed notes and for ready for bed. I went to bed feeling like a responsible student which  doesn’t happen often.  

I turned on the fan even though it almost freezing outside, I covered myself with the sheets and closed my eyes.  
 

I heard a sound that every high schooler hates. A morning alarm. I groaned but didn’t move. It was a repeated beeping tone that got more annoying as it went on. My phone was on my table across the room. I had done this so I wouldn’t press snooze the second it went of. I hate my past self. I opened eye to see the room still dark. Or almost dark. Their was a green light somewhere. I reached over to the nightstand and turned on the lamp.  

I looked around. Nothing was out of place. My desk in the corner of the room, my dresser next to the wall, a green glowing middle-aged man staring right at me. A green glowing middle-aged man.  A green glowing middle aged….  

I screamed. 

The man jumped and screamed. 

I screamed more. 

My dad barged into the room wielding a spatula. “What’s wrong Ade?!” What’s wrong? What’s wrong. Did he not see the green man in front of him making as much noise as me. I pointed. He looked at me, where I saw pointing and looked right at me. “What is it,” he asked more concerned than urgent. He was looking right at him. How did he not see him? He lowered his spatula. “Was it a nightmare?” I was about to say it wasn’t but then I saw that the man was gone. Was it hallucination? No, it wasn’t. I heard him scream. Wait, can you hallucinate sounds?  

I had seen movies and read books. I knew that if I tried to explain what I saw it would lead to someone thinking I just wanted attention or me in a shrink’s office. “It’s nothing” I said. 
“Are you sure?” I nodded. “Ok then. I’m off to work. Breakfast is on the kitchen. Make sure to leave some for your brother. Your mother's already at work. Make sure you don’t miss the bus, none of us can come back for you. Got that? Good.” He walked out the door and a few minutes later I heard the front door shut. 

“What the flip just happened” I said out loud. I got out of bed and walked past my brother’s room. I have no idea how he is still asleep after that. The kid could sleep through a tornado, but somehow wakes up to an alarm every morning. I went to the bathroom and splashed water on my face. 
“Sorry for before. I didn’t mean to frighten you.” I looked up from the sink and there he was. This time I didn’t scream. A gave a manly squeak and backed away from him. He was a black man in suspenders and looked around thirty something. “Can you please tell me where I am?” 

“Who are you,” I asked ignoring his question. 

“Sorry. Let me introduce myself. My name is Samuel Smith. It’s nice to meet you.” He put his hand out for a shake. Instinctively I put my hand out too. I recognized that name from somewhere. My hand went right through his and I suddenly remembered the name. Everything was starting to make sense.  

Last night I tripped on a tombstone while green snow was falling. The name was Samuel Smith who is right in front of me and also glowing green. Coincidence? I highly doubt it. 
My family isn’t a superstitious family. Not curses or horoscopes or things that I’m dealing with now. But when you see something like this in real life you have to wonder. Is this a curse for tripping over his tombstone? Am I being haunted? 

The man cleared his throat. “Excuse me, would you mind telling me where I am.   
How do you tell someone that they’re not alive? I figured it would be kind of offensive to tell someone they died around seventy-five years ago. Not to mention earth shattering.  I should tell him I thought He deserves to know. I steeled myself ready for whatever reaction he might make. I opened my mouth and said “You are currently in my house. My father made breakfast if you want any. You’re probably starving follow me.” What? You expected me to just come out and say

"Hey you died 82 years ago." Would you do it? I didn’t think so. 

I led him down the stairs hoping he wouldn’t try to possess me when my back was turned. He seemed like a nice person, but you could never be to sure with a spirit of the dead. I entered the kitchen with him three steps behind me. He was looking all around asking what something was.

“What’s that?” he asked. 

“Its computer.” 

“What does it do?” 

“It finds things to watch a listen to by connecting to the internet.” 

“What is the internet?”  

“Never mind” I said. It would take to long to explain. I really hope I won't have to explain everything he doesn’t know.  

Dad made us bacon and eggs. Only when I was putting it into a plate and toasting bread did I wonder if he could even eat. When I went to shake his hand, it went right through. Sure, enough, when I gave him the food, he couldn’t hold the utensils to eat it or his hands. Everything he tried to touch went right through him. He looked disappointed and confused.  

I sighed and figured it was time to tell him. “Excuse me, Mr. Smith- 
“Please, call me Sam. Its what’s my friends call me.” 

“Ok. Sam, I have bad news. I’m afraid you died around seventy years ago.”He stayed silent for some time.  

“ I thought so,” he said. I let out a sigh of relief. I was afraid I was going to explain everything to him. “ I still remember everything. The cold press of death. The world, fading. I had hope it dream but it wasn’t.” 

“May I ask how you died?” 

“We was at a protest. King and the other NAACP members were-” 

“Wait, you knew Martin Luther King Jr?” 

“Of course, he was a good friend of mine. We had him for dinner a couple of times.” A forlorn look crossed over his face as he remembered how it was. “We were at the protest and the police came. The officers started hitting us with batons and let the dogs loose. I believe was beaten to death. After that, everything want dark.” 

So this man was an activist. If I remember correctly, the grave said he died in 1940. Around 20 years before the Civil Right Act was passed. “Can I asked you a question… Sorry I don’t think I caught your name.” 
“My name is Ade.” 

“Can I ask you a question Ade? 

“Shoot,” I said.  

He looked at me strangely. “Shoot what?” I sighed had to remind myself that he probably doesn’t know these slang. 

“Sorry, go ahead and ask the question.” 

“Did we do it.” 

“Do what?” 

“Did we pull it off? Are we treated the same as the whites? Is discrimination and segregation over? Do are children get the same education?” 

I looked into his eyes. They looked hopeful and full of light. “Yes it has.” I responded. “We go to the same schools have the same rights and understand each other.” The look on his face was the purest thing I had ever seen. The look of someone who fought for what he believed in and after years of struggle, they met their goals.  

“I’m very glad to hear that.” I suddenly had an idea. I pulled out my phone and searched up March on Washington. I gave him the phone. “What’s this he asked,”   
It would take to long to explain. “Science and a bit of magic.” I showed him the video. It was of the famous I Have a Dream speech. Sam stared, entranced and at the end there were tears in his eyes.  
“King always had a way with words. Thank you for showing me this.” 
“No problem-“ 
“Ade, is that you?” A voice yelled from the top of the stairs. “Who are you talking to?” 
Mark was awake already? What time is it. I glanced at the clock at the stove. 7:52. I had eight minutes before the bus arrived. I stood up ran upstairs threw on clean cloths brushed my teeth and put on deorrant. I got everything together in my bag and was out the door.  
I ran to the stop not caring if I got sweaty. If I got one more tardy, I would get my first detention which would stay on my permanent record. When I arrived the last kid was boarding the bus. The driver waited for me and I quickly boarded the bus. I walked to my usual place on the back of the bus. 
“I thought you said we got the same privileges as the everyone else,” Sam said, appearing out of nowhere and making me jump. “why are you sitting in the back of the bus?” 
I cringed. I didn’t feel like explaining to him that what was where the cooler older kids sat. “I choose to sit here cause some of my friends sit here.”  
“Ok, I’ll be in the front of the bus using my newfound privileges.” He sounded annoyed that I was wasting his brethren’s hard worked so hard to get for the future generation. He walked to the front of the bus and sat right thew some poor freshman. The boy shivered and moved seats. 
At the next stop one of my other friends, Ben, boarded the bus. He walked to the back and sat next to me. I pulled out my math homework and handed it to him. “Wow,” he said in mock shock. “Not even a hello.” He took the paper and looked over my answers. “I should be getting incentives for checking your homework.”   
“C’mon man” I said grinning.” Its Black History Month. Show some love. Plus, I know you love it. Your Asian. Math is in your blood.” He raised and eyebrow and rolled his eyes. 
“When May rolls around, you owe me.” He handed my paper back. “You missed questions 4, 6 and 13. 
” Dang, I thought I had it all down. I pulled out a pencil as Ben pointed out my mistakes. I met Ben in freshman year. If it wasn’t for him, I would’ve flunked algebra 2. Since then, he’s helped me with all math. Whenever he’s around I’m more productive. 
“Sorry I couldn’t make it to the study session yesterday. Did you and Matthew get anything done?” My hesitation was an answer in itself. “You guys didn’t get any work done?! The test is coming up and we both know you and Mathew could use a good grade.” 
“We studied a little bit.” 
“C’mon Ade. Junior year is when collages start searching. Our GPAs are at stake.” By “ours” he means mine. And too be honest my GPA isn’t bad. In the whole of high school, I only got two b’s. One in freshman year when I was still on middle school mind frame. I thought I could make it with minimal effort. The second one was last semester. And that was because the teacher couldn’t teach. 
“Yeah, I understand.” I said giving in. “I’m taking it seriously. I’ll study.” We pulled up to the school and the bus stopped. We got out of the bus and walked into the school. 
“You better.” He spoke. “See you in fourth.” He walked to his first period. I sighed already wish the school day to be over. I walked to Me. Crawford’s chem class. I sat down and got out my phone. 
“You were right.” I screamed and jumped out of my chair. The kids looked at me first with shock and concern and then with laughter in their eyes. Ashley, who Mathew currently has a crush on outright laughed and pointed at her girlfriends. I have no idea what he saw in her. She only had black hair soft brown eyes you could just melt into and a wonderful smile… still annoying. 
“Sorry, didn’t mean to startle you,” he said for the second time today. “I’m just really happy. I never thought I would see it happen. Thank you.” 
“Why are you thanking me? I didn’t do anything. I’m just reaping the benefits of your hard work,” I muttered. Surprisingly, for the first time since Sam appeared, I wondered if this was permeant. I mean I liked him, and he seemed like a nice person, but I didn’t want to be that kid at school who talked under his breath and jumped at random times. “I’ve got class,” I whispered to him. “Would you mind not talking to me?” The second after I said it I felt bad. It sounded way nicer in my head. 
“Of course,” Sam said, sounding a little disappointed. I thought about it from his point of view. Just being awakened from the dead and being able to talk to only one person who isn’t willing to talk.  
During the rest of the class I thought about how it even started. I know it had something to do with the green snow and maybe Sam appeared before because I touched his gave stone. That kind of explains why I’m the only one who sees him.  
I couldn’t pay attention and during most of the school I was dazed. When fourth period came along, I forced myself to look attentive. I didn’t want Ben nagging me anymore.  
I sat in my usual seat in the second row. Ben and Matthew were already seated. I was to the left of Ben and right behind Matthew.  Before I could even take my binder out Ben was talking.  
“We should do a study session after school.” 
“We would be more than happy too but unfortunaly, Ade has Jazz band, and I don’t feel like working.” Matthew said. I smiled. 
“Jazz band doesn’t take up the whole afternoon and you need the most help of all of us.” 
Matthew was about to make some witty comeback, but I interjected. “We’ll be there. Is six good?” 
“That’s perfect,” Ben said. “its good to know some of us care about our grades.” He said shooting a look at Matthew. 

“You have good friends,” Sam said. This time I didn’t jump. I tensed up and gave a barely audible squeak. I glanced over and saw his eyes linger on Matthew. Their was a mix of emotions on his face. I could only imagine what he was feeling.  

He was obviously happy about it being possible for me to be friends with a white kid, but it was the same race that caused him so much oppression. When he saw me looking he smiled. “I am truly happy. They weren’t all bad. Some even joined for protests. I don’t harbor any hatred toward that boy. He didn’t do anything wrong.” I smiled back at him. 

“Ade, is their something you would like to share with the class?” This time I did jump. I looked up to the front of the class where Mr. James was walking us though a couple equations. 

“No sir. Sorry,” I said. People snickered as looked directly to the board. 
 
School finished and instead of going to the band room for jazz band like I usually do, I walked out the school and towered downtown Shortsville. I called on Sam and told him the plan. I was going to give him the time he should have by giving him a tour of a city with no racism. 

I showed him places where my friends hung out restaurants my family has eaten in and places I loved being in. He saw how many people of color there were mingling talking and even shouting at the whites. Once again came the confusion of “what’s that, what’s that? “How does it work?” At one point I gave up and just said “that’s a (insert object) that can (insert object function) that runs on magic. I’m pretty sure he knew what I was doing but he just smiled and shook his head at my explanations. 

 It was all hunky-dory until an we passed a police cruiser. Without thinking I put of my hood of my coat and   left my hands outside their protective warm homes of my pockets. I tensed up and as we passed, I saw that there was nobody in it. I let out a small sigh of relief and put my hand in my pockets. Unfortonaly, that whole episode didn’t go unnoticed. Sam looked at me with questioning eyes.  

I carried on as if nothing happened until Sam said, “I didn’t think you’ve told be everything.” I winced and thought about my next course of action. He deserved to know. I thought to myself. He deserved to know that racism isn’t gone, he should know that it never left and is still hurting not only black but of all people of color. But how would he react? I shook my head. It doesn’t matter how he reacts. It’s the truth.  

So I told him about while everything he and other activist did to make our world as it is today, it didn’t take away racism. I told him about police brutality and how black kids like me are being shot by white people who think we aren’t human. Are lesser then them. Like some sort of subhuman. Told him about people like Emmet Till. I told him about other races that have the same problems like antisemitism and even getting treated wrong for just being an immigrant. I told him all the messed up crap going on in the world right now and he listened intently. 
Whenever I’m with my friends we always treat race and racism as a whole as a joke or as a figment of the pass. Its something that most kids do. When we find something that troubles us, we joke about it as if that makes less real. But when I was talking with Sam, passion that I didn’t know was in me started flowing until my fist were in tight balls and my nails were digging into my palms.   

After I finished Sam said something that made me regret saying anything. “I’m sorry. We should have done more,” he said his eyes dull and void of any light he had before. 

“No,” I yelled getting looks from pedestrians. “You guys did enough. You guys gave us rights to do things that would be impossible to do in your time. You and everyone who worked for it opened now door like organizations like Black Lives Matter and opportunities black kid collages. You gave us things like education and a chance to befriend whites. I couldn’t imagine Mathew not being my friend.” 

“But it wasn’t enough- “ 

I cut him off “Your job is done. You are like the pioneers going through hardships to give us the life you didn’t have. But it's time you gave us the torch to make the world a better place like you did so long ago. Its time for you to stop worrying about what you can do to help. Just leave in the hands of the next generation.” I looked at him in the eye. “You got that Sam?” 

He smiled and tears welled up in his eyes. “Thank you, Ade. You don’t know how much that means to me. I entrust my job to you. I give you the torch.” I smiled and then as the sun started to set snow started to fall then. Green snow. Everyone went on and no one noticed.  

I looked at Sam to see that he was fading. No not fading. It was more like scattering in the wind.

He looked up at the sky. “I gauss that means my time is up.” 

“What do you mean-“and then he was gone. Green particles in the wind flaying towards the sky. “Thank you, Sam., I won't disappoint you.” A tear rolled down my cheek. I checked the time and started walking to Ben's house for the study session.