The following version of this story was used to create the guide: Adichie, Chimamanda Ngozi. "Apollo." The Best American Short Stories. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company, 2016. Pages 1 - 11.

In Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's short story "Apollo," first person narrator, Okenwa, had learned how to play the part of the devoted son. He faithfully visited his elderly parents twice a month. During these visits, he maintained a cool and detached manner. His parents had changed in their old age. Not only had they shrunk in size, and begun to look more alike, they had become obsessed with fantastical tales. Though Okenwa did not understand their new way of thinking and seeing the world, he humored them by listening to their stories. Neither their outrageous accounts, nor their nagging questions, bothered Okenwa any longer. He knew they would soon die, and that these visits were his way of giving them something in their old age.

During one such afternoon at his parents' apartment, Okenwa's mother and father began talking about a rise in armed robberies. Okenwa was distracted, barely listening. He expected the story to quickly become ridiculous. However, when his mother suddenly revealed that their former house boy, Raphael, had been the ringleader of one of these incidents, Okenwa was alarmed and awakened. His mother repeatedly said he probably did not remember Raphael, but Okenwa did. He was overtaken by memories of his childhood, and transported out of the room with his parents.

As a boy, Okenwa always felt isolated and alone. His parents were both professors and intellectuals. They loved competing with each other, reading books and exchanging ideas. Okenwa, by contrast, had no interest in books. He was constantly worried about not being clever enough for either of his parents. Their manner was cold and dismissive, making the house feel like an inhospitable environment.

In order to escape, Okenwa would spend most of his time in his room practicing kung fu. One day, not long after Raphael was hired, Raphael noticed Okenwa imitating scenes from a Bruce Lee movie in his bedroom. Instead of scolding Okenwa, Raphael told him how much he loved kung fu and Bruce Lee, too. Okenwa felt seen and understood for the first time.

Over the weeks and months following, Okenwa and Raphael rapidly became close. They not only practiced kung fu, but watched and rewatched Bruce Lee movies together when Okenwa's parents were not home. Instead of staying in his room, Okenwa started playing in the yard, where Raphael often worked.

Then one day, Raphael contracted the Apollo, an infection of the conjunctiva. Okenwa's parents demanded he stay in his room and use eye drops until he was better. Though he had been forbidden to go near Raphael, Okenwa snuck into Raphael's quarters every day he was sick, and helped him administer the drops. Afterwards, the boys would sit and talk. Their conversations felt private and intimate.

Shortly thereafter, Okenwa contracted the infection. During the week he spent in his room, Raphael never visited. Okenwa was confused and hurt. One day his parents left the house together. Okenwa snuck outside in search of Raphael. He found him conversing intimately with the neighbor's house help, Josephine. Jealous, Okenwa began yelling at Raphael for food. Okenwa's parents returned home, and Josephine and Raphael parted ways. Okenwa knew he had no power over anyone. As he tried moving away from Raphael, he tripped and fell. His parents appeared. Still lying on the ground, Okenwa accused Raphael of pushing him. His parents yelled and told Raphael to leave at once. Okenwa knew he had time to retract the lie, but chose not to.