This Way Home Page 20

  “Don’t say anything,” said Banks. “People talk too damn much as it is. Take the whole box. I made two of them—one for you and one for me.”

  Banks took a step toward the garbage can and picked up a discarded ball with half its cover torn off. He spun it lightly in his hands. “You know I used to play a little.”

  “No kidding,” said Elijah.

  “Back in the day. Want to shoot a few? Unless you’re still all done with basketball.”

  “Are you serious?” said Elijah.

  “Of course I’m serious. I have no sense of humor.” Banks stepped onto the court and tried to dribble the ball, which was nearly flat.

  “Okay, then. Twenty-one, win by two,” said Elijah. “You go first.”

  Banks’s touch was surprisingly light; he nailed his first three shots, before banging the next one off the front of the rim.

  Elijah dropped six straight before he was distracted by Kerri, who stood against the fence, watching them play.

  “How about dinner?” she said. “All three of us.”

  Banks kicked the ball away. He found himself standing next to Elijah, his hand on the boy’s shoulder as they watched Kerri approach.

  “I don’t know if it means anything to you,” said Banks. “Or if I have the right to say it.”

  “Go ahead,” said Elijah, the tight feeling returning.

  “You did good, son.” Banks gave a quick squeeze. “I’m proud of you.”

  Elijah tried to speak, but the words got caught up somewhere between his hopes and dreams, between his boyhood fantasies and the dark uncertain future of a seventeen-year-old. He wanted to let Banks know that he did have a right to say it, and it did mean something to him. Because he’d waited so long to hear those words, and the words had come to mean everything.

  He wanted to say thank you, but he never got the chance. Because his eyes filled up with hot tears that began to spill over…with the sadness and fear and love and understanding of a boy who finally felt like he was home.

  Wes’s Acknowledgments

  AS EVER, MY THANKS begins with my God, through whom all blessings flow. He guides everything I do. Shawn Goodman, it is a true joy working with you. One does not often find such a combination of talent and heart, and you have both in spades. To Beverly, Krista, and the entire Random House team, you helped to bring forth the idea and give it life. You are tremendous to work with. To Linda Loewenthal, thank you for always believing in me and my words. To my dear friend Seth Bodnar, you are more appreciated than you know. Your support and friendship are extraordinary. Thanks for your continued service! To my wife, Dawn, you motivate and inspire me. I could not be more grateful for you. Thank you for always standing by me and believing in me. To my kids, Mia and James, my world is better because of you. You give me point and direction. I could not be more in love. To Mama Win, thank you for being the matriarch and guide of our family. We all love you dearly. To my mom, words can never express what you mean to me. If I can be half the person and parent you are, I will be just fine. Nikki, Shani, Jamaar, Earl, and Rita, you are amazing in every way. Thank you for pushing me and inspiring me. To Uncle Howard, thank you for always motivating me. To my uncles Ralph, Bobby, Phil, and David and aunts Donna, Pam, Evelyn, Dawn, Tawana, Michelle, and Valerie, THANK YOU! You supported me before I knew how to support myself. Bless you. To all of my younger nieces, nephews, and cousins—Holley, Noelle, Earl, Bryce, Michael, Elijah, Tenai, Marcus, Erin, Jaelin, Emory, Keston, Josi, Daniel, Anahi, Sebastain, Markie, and Ava—you represent the best in all of us. I adore you and am eternally proud of you. To my military brethren, thank you for the motivation and foundation. Veteran is one of the most important titles I own, and I could not be more proud of our fraternity. All the Way! To all of my friends who support me and push me every day, this book is a tribute to you. Thanks for everything you have done for me and mean to me.

  Shawn’s Acknowledgments

  THANKS TO MY WIFE, Jennifer Goodman, who is as lovely and mysterious as when we first met. And thanks to Krista Vitola and Beverly Horowitz at Delacorte Press and Seth Fishman at the Gernert Company.

  About the Authors

  WES MOORE is an army combat veteran, a social entrepreneur, and the bestselling author of both The Other Wes Moore and The Work. He is also the host of Beyond Belief on the Oprah Winfrey Network and was executive producer and host of Coming Back with Wes Moore, which was broadcast by PBS.

  Wes earned a Master of Letters in International Relations from Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar. Upon graduation, he served as a paratrooper and captain in the U.S. Army, participating in a combat tour of duty in Afghanistan with the 82nd Airborne Division.

  Wes founded and is CEO of BridgeEdU, an innovative educational platform that addresses the college completion and career placement crisis by providing freshmen with real-world internships and service learning opportunities. He lives in Baltimore with his wife and their daughter, Mia, and son, James.

  SHAWN GOODMAN is a writer and high school psychologist. His experiences working with teens inspired both Kindness for Weakness and his first book, Something Like Hope, which won the Delacorte Press Prize for a First Young Adult Novel. Shawn lives in Ithaca, New York. Visit him at shawngoodmanbooks.com.

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