Boy 2.0: Chapters 3–4

Coal settled into a tall stool in front of a chameleon’s terrarium.

Coal settled into a tall stool in front of a chameleon’s terrarium.

Facts about chameleons:
- They are a kind of lizard.
- There are about 180 different species, but many are endangered.

Facts about chameleons:
- They have a prehensile tail that wraps around things like an extra limb.

Facts about chameleons:
- Their skin changes color in response to their emotions, or shifts in their environment like light, temperature, or humidity.

Facts about chameleons:
- Chameleons have two layers of iridophore cells in their skin. These iridescent cells have pigment (color) and reflect light.

Facts about chameleons:
- Chameleons have two layers of iridophore cells in their skin. These iridescent cells have pigment (color) and reflect light.

Facts about chameleons:
- A chameleon in a relaxed state has iridophore cells that are very close to one another, so the cells reflect short wavelengths of light like blue and green.

Facts about chameleons:
- It is a misconception that chameleons can blend into their background at will.

“Why do you sign your drawings ‘Coal’?” she asked.
“It’s my alias.”
“Why do you need an alias?”
“Maybe I’m a spy,” he said.

This time when the app opened, a small Indian woman in a bright orange sari greeted him and reminded him that he made his own happiness with his choices. Message received.

Weeds grew up everywhere, through cracks in the pavement, asphalt, and patches of dry, stony soil.

Weeds grew up everywhere, through cracks in the pavement, asphalt, and patches of dry, stony soil. The entire block looked feral. Right on cue, a single orange cat showed up and mewed.
“I’m not taking over your neighborhood, friend.”

The sun was behind the lowest of the tree limbs when Coal started on the colors. He preferred vibrant, jewel tones. Allana, he decided, would be a study in yellows and pinks except for the shirt she was wearing. That would be shades of orange and red. Color was the only bit of fantasy he allowed himself.

“You!”
Both Coal and Oscar looked up.
A thin man with scraggly gray hair and a dirty white T-shirt stood on the porch of the closest house. The one with boards over the windows. “What are you doing there?” he asked.

“I asked what you’re doing there.” This time the question was gruffer, like gravel scraping along rusted metal.
Coal scooped up the chalk that spread out on the asphalt as he balanced on his toes.
The man pulled the rifle across his body.

Coal stopped mid-reach toward another piece of chalk. He teetered a bit on his toes, then caught himself with the heel of his right hand, messing up part of the work he’d just done.

“I said don’t move.”
But Coal had to. He was balanced on his toes. The position was unsustainable. He dropped backward flat on his feet, and stepped on the cat’s tail. It screeched.

Coal looked back. The cop ran toward him. All Coal could think was go. He kept moving. There was nowhere to hide, and he was still naked from the waist up. A shirtless Black boy on the run from police was never a good look. He desperately didn’t want to seem like exactly what he appeared to be just then: a stereotype.

The cops had split up, going up and down the rows of cars. It was only a matter of time before they got to him. Coal moved toward the dumpster. It smelled of rotting food and the tang of dog poop. Whatever else was in there, it was better than what was out here.

The cops were walking straight toward him. He was a specimen on an examining table. Pinned. Alive. Awaiting dissection.

Coal had never felt absolute fear before. Not that he remembered anyway. There must have been moments when he was being taken from one family to another, but he might have been too young then to understand what was happening. Now he knew that every pore in his body could constrict with terror. He was prey.

The cops were right in front of Coal. He could smell their sweat over the dumpster stink. Or maybe that was his own sweat. He opened his eyes. One of their shoes was right next to his face. Black. Orthopedic. Beat shoes. He looked up. The man was looking everywhere but at him. What kind of game were they playing?

His heart eventually slowed. He caught his breath. His skin started to tingle, like a light electric current was using him as a conduit. He watched as his body came back in patches. It looked like fire eating through paper in reverse. It wasn’t a trick of the light. His skin was changing back to its usual deep brown, regaining color and texture. A few seconds later, Coal was back to normal.