Our story begins in a small home in Croydon, a rather large town in South London, England. A teenage boy & his mother are having a conversation at the kitchen table about what's next for her 16-year old son.
--
"I'm sorry, Jozif.. With the path you're going down as road, with all of your brothers & sisters, I'm just not able to keep up anymore.. Your father's offered to let you move in with him to help things out."
"Blimey, Ma. I don't do road! &t I don't want to move to Kentucky. Besides, I barely know Dad." Jozif rebutted to his mother.
"Did someone say Kentucky Fried Chicken?" Jozif's youngest sister, Carmen, said as she entered the kitchen.
"No, C. Proper Kentucky. Ma tells me I have to move to the states to live with my Dad. Apparently I'm growing up as a gangsta n'that.."
"Is that true, Mom?" Carmen asks with a puzzled look.
"It's true, C. Your brother is moving in with his Dad in Kentucky."
"This is mental.. But what about my friends? What about my school?"
"You'll just have to make new friends across the pond, yeah. Now you'll have that chance to play american football like you've always wanted." Jozif's mom said as she tried to lighten the mood.
The truth is, that did seem to pique his interest in moving stateside.
"Yeah, yeah.. I'm supposed to see me mates tomorrow so I'll tell them the news. How long do I have left in Croydon?"
His mother looked at him & calmly said, "Your flight is in two days."
--
The next day, Jozif finds his two friends, Donnie & Ernie, outside of their usual hangout spot to tell them he's moving in one more day.
"Your mom's clapped, mate." Ernie said after hearing the news.
"Man don't have much of a choice. She's moving a bit strange lately.. she also won't let me live on my own.. I'm gonna miss it here in London."
"What are you going to do about that one ting in class, bruv?" Donnie said.
"Ah, that's a bit dead. Chanel & I stopped talking a few days ago.. I'm sure the last thing she wants to hear from is me right now.."
"Never know, mate! You best leg it over to her space before you run out of time." Ernie told Jozif.
"We'll always be mates, bruv. Here have some quid & give dat ting a proper goodbye."
Jozif accepted the money & stuffed it into his pockets before looking at his watch to see the time.
"Bloody hell. I'm gonna miss you boys. Bring it in lads. I'll facetime you from Kentucky when I get there."
Jozif dapped up his best friends & headed for the train. He pulled out his cell phone & sent a text to his ex-girl.
"Can we talk? I'm hopping on the train now."
--
Jozif arrived at Chanel's door step without a response to his text. After a few knocks, he hears some stumbling around inside the flat. Her father answers the door & tells Jozif that Chanel isn't home.
"Well I guess that settles it. On to Kentucky." he said to himself.