Summary

After six weeks of maternity leave, which “counted as generous” (75) in the U.S., Emma had to return to work at the library so Apollo took baby Brian to an estate sale to meet Patrice. While alone with his son in the basement Apollo orated the tale of his absentee father and the Maurice Sendak book he had left behind in an ersatz time capsule. Apollo explained to his child he now sympathized with his father: “If I was trapped on Saturn, I’d still find a way to send a message and let you know you were loved” (80). In that basement, he made a groundbreaking find: a signed first edition of To Kill a Mockingbird. He withheld the new of the find from Patrice.

The following morning, Apollo took Brian to the park, where he met the...