YahuwahSaves

Chapter 5: Shadows of a Hidden Legacy

The streets of Queens were quiet as Yehoshua and Reggie walked side by side, the dim streetlights casting long shadows on the pavement. They strolled silently for a while, each step echoing softly, until Reggie glanced over, noticing the distant look on Yehoshua's face.

"What's on your mind, son?" Reggie asked with a gentle chuckle. "Did I overwhelm you with all those tales of the '60s?"

A small smirk tugged at the corners of Yehoshua's mouth. "Nah, Mr. Bell," he replied, looking down at his hoodie and jeans, "but I think I'll stick to what I've got on now. Those big old suits and hats? Not really my style."

Reggie chuckled, his deep voice echoing down the street. "Can't say I blame you. You pull that look off better than I ever could."

They walked in comfortable silence, but Reggie could sense something weighing on Yehoshua's mind. His tone softened as he asked, "But really, something else bothering you?"

Yehoshua hesitated, his gaze fixed on the sidewalk beneath his feet. He finally spoke, his voice quieter. "It's just... everything you told me about my grandfather. I never even knew his name. My relatives, always told me my father left me. And... that my mother died in a car crash."

Reggie stopped abruptly, his face hardening as he looked at Yehoshua with an intensity Yehoshua had never seen before. A flash of sadness and anger filled Reggie's eyes. But after a moment, Reggie's expression softened, and he took a steadying breath, looking Yehoshua squarely in the eye.

"Yehoshua," he said quietly, his voice carrying a gravity that made Yehoshua's heart pound. "Your father never left you, and your mother never died in a car crash. They both laid down their lives for you."

The words sank in like stones, settling deep within Yehoshua's heart. He looked up at Reggie, speechless, feeling a mix of emotions he couldn't quite describe. The truth felt heavy and powerful, opening a part of him that had long been hidden away.

They continued walking, the quiet between them carrying more meaning than words ever could.

As they approached Yehoshua's home, he unlocked the door and stepped inside. But before he could even take off his shoes, his uncle's voice echoed down the hallway, sharp and biting. "Where ya been, ya little nig–" He froze mid-word, his eyes widening as he caught sight of Reggie behind Yehoshua. "Oh, Mr. Bell, what ya doing here?"

Reggie, his face calm and composed, nodded politely. "Just ran into Yehoshua, wanted to check on him – see how he's doing with school, talk about his goals. This young man's bright, you know. Might even be mayor someday."

William and Theresa exchanged an awkward glance, forcing laughs that sounded hollow. Reggie's gaze lingered on them for a moment before he turned back to Yehoshua.

"Goodnight, Yehoshua," he said with a nod. Then, with a more serious look, he turned to William and Theresa. "Mind if we step outside for a word?"

As Yehoshua climbed the stairs, he caught a glimpse of his cousin, Kevin, playing on the Wii, completely absorbed in his game. Heading up to his room, he closed the door softly, welcoming the quiet that settled around him. He sat by the window, staring out into the night as Reggie's words echoed in his mind.

My father never left me... and my mother didn't die in a car crash... They laid down their lives for me.

The memory of his grandfather's name, Thomas Adeyemi, stirred something within him – a curiosity, a longing to know more about the man who had given him his name. And the Shamayim Branch... was there a hidden world out there, waiting for him on the continent of Africa? A legacy he had never known, stretching back generations?