Bob Learns His Nephew, Part Ii

...When Jamal broke windows at a protest the police arrested the youth again, his college had no choice but to expel, Jamal got off with probation and then found himself back at his uncle’s restaurant, not really sure what he was gonna go. Bob said,”Maybe I have a job for you here, but first I think I have some words for you. “You think marching around, acting all pissed, will somehow bring about your ideal world? You think people who don’t look just like you is why your ‘great vision’ hasn’t unfurled? “You think hating someone for mistakes long past will somehow make this world a better place? That college has made you an idiot, made you a bigot, a god-damned disgrace. “You want to improve the lives of others? Then get a job, that’s how you’ll serve their needs, providing a service they can’t do themselves, to help simplify life’s taxing scene. “Hell, just look at this very restaurant, how may people have come here and ate? How may have shared some beers with their friends, how many people have gone on first dates? “How may people have had joyous birthdays, or just grabbed a quick on-the-road meal here? And how many people now have an income because my restaurant remains top-tier? “I have done more good with this restaurant then any damn fool marching ’round with stones, and certainly never did get locked up for breaking windows when those rocks were thrown. “And don’t give me that recycled garbage of how it’s ‘immoral’ since I’m profiting, a man deserves reward for his labor, that has never been an immoral thing. “Now if you still want to make things better, if your life you still desire to fix, then put on this apron and get going, they need services over at table six.” But Jamal did not take what was proffered, in fact he appeared quite ready to fight, and stormed angrily from the restaurant, still utterly convinced that he was right. But hunger really brings things into focus, and homelessness has a whole lot to say, within two weeks Jamal was back at Bob’s, waiting tables every night for his pay. Two years passed and the college came to him, willing to give Jamal another chance, but he did not apply for another term, did not send in acceptance in advance. It was too late for them to make him useless, since Jamal had grown up and realized he stood a better chance of making the green helping his uncle set up a franchise.