Ace of Spades

Devon wants to go back inside to find Terrell, and Chiamaka has to physically restrain him from running back into the burning school. Suddenly, Terrell arrives, unhurt, and Devon hugs him. The three of them leave before the police arrive. They all go back to Terrell’s house and puzzle over who started the fire. Terrell asks Devon if he hates him because of his actions. Devon assures Terrell that he does not hate him and never could. The three of them spend the night at Terrell’s.

The next morning, the fire at Niveus is being broadcast on all the news channels. Chiamaka, Devon, and Terrell learn that there were three fatalities in the fire: a girl Chiamaka knew named CeCe, a boy in Devon’s music class, and Jamie. Chiamaka is overcome with emotion and wonders why she cares when “these people wanted to ruin [her] life” (406). She is especially angry with herself for crying over Jamie’s death. Devon asks her if she wants to go someplace quieter.

They go to a beach together. Devon explains that he used to come to the beach a lot whenever he felt overwhelmed when he was younger. He also admits that the beach is where he attempted suicide a few years earlier. Chiamaka asks what stopped him, and Devon tells her that someone followed him to the beach and pulled him out of the water; he implies that his savior was Andre. Devon tells Chiamaka that grieving for Jamie does not make her a bad person. Chiamaka insists that she is not grieving him but privately thinks that she might be grieving the Jamie that she thought she knew. She also realizes that she has felt alone all her life, but with Devon, she does not feel alone at all.

Later, when Devon is at home. he looks at his tweet again. Even more people have seen it and have voiced their support for him and Chiamaka. He also has a message in his inbox from a Black journalist at a major publication, asking him if he is interested in speaking with her. Her news company is “known for their unapologetic articles and fearless takes” detailing the lives of those who have been “wronged by the systems” (410). He decides to show Chiamaka the message before he replies, but he thinks that he knows what she will say. Devon reflects that while dreaming can be dangerous, he will allow himself to dream for now, because he and Chiamaka “deserve a happy ending” (410).

Sixteen years later, Chiamaka and Devon send a letter to a Mrs. Richards, warning her against enrolling her son, Rhys, in a school called Pollards Private Academy. The letter warns that the school “systematically targets its Black students, practicing a form of social eugenics” (411). As an alternative to Pollards, the letter invites Rhys to attend the Ruby Bridges Academy, a school set up by the Underground Society, whose stated goal is “to tackle the systemic inequality in schools across the country” (412). Chiamaka and Devon are the co-founders of this society.

Devon watches Terrell sleep. It has been 16 years since the events at Niveus. Devon is a music teacher, and he and Terrell are married. Devon’s mom lives with them. It took Devon many years to forgive her for not telling him that his father had died, but they have since repaired their relationship.

Devon visits Chiamaka, who is now a doctor. He asks her how Mia, her partner, is, and Chiamaka replies that she is “good, very pregnant, but good” (415). They discuss Rhys Johnson, whose parents still insist on sending him to Pollards Academy despite their warning letter. They decide that they will assign someone to watch over Rhys so that they can ensure that no other “Black kid[s] get hurt by places like Niveus again” (416).

Chiamaka leaves her office to check up on her last patient of the day. On her way, she thinks about Rhys Johnson and reflects that “many Black spirits have been killed by white supremacy and lies” (417), including women like Henrietta Lacks. She arrives at the room of her last patient. It is Headmaster Ward. He is dying. He is shocked to see her.