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“That’s because white men can’t jump.” Finn snickered.
The teens looked blankly at each other. Not one of them got the reference. He suddenly felt old.
“So, you guys are getting scholarships?” Cal asked.
At last he was engaging. About time. He’d barely spoken two words the whole evening.
“It’s not a guarantee,” Peetie said. “But we’re working our asses off to be eligible. We need scholarships, otherwise we might as well start practicing ‘Would you like fries with that?’”
It made Finn’s heart ache when these kids were down on themselves. “Going to university isn’t the only option out there,” he reminded them. “There’s community college, you can take classes at night, or maybe you could work for a bit and save some money, then reapply. There’s a lot you can do before giving up.”
“That’s what I’m doing,” Cal said. “I got into Western but I haven’t decided if it’s what I really want, so I’m taking some time and working for Chef Finn.”
“Oh, man,” Peetie said in disbelief. “As soon as I get my acceptance letter I am out of here. No more sharing a room with a baby. No more SpaghettiOs for dinner.”
“Me, too,” Evan said. “I can’t wait to play on a real wood court that’s actually taken care of. Do you know how many splinters I have on my ass from being knocked down onto the crap floor at our high school?”
Cal looked on, and although he was trying his best to keep his reaction under wraps, his shock was pretty obvious.
“Hey, Finn.” Brenden Gibb ran up with a big grin, his backpack in his hands. “Thanks for writing my reference letter. I got the job.” Brenden held out his fist and Finn bumped it, returning his grin.
“I knew you could do it.”
“Well, I think the letter was the clincher. What restaurant owner wouldn’t hire someone with a personal reference from one of the Madewoods?”
The other kids pelted Brenden with questions about the job, then Finn about everything else under the sun that was on their minds. When the talk died down and his students were satisfied they’d picked his brain enough, they trickled out one by one, leaving him and Cal alone.
Cal climbed up on the front counter, letting his legs dangle over the edge. “Those guys have to work really hard to go to school, huh?”
Finn nodded. “You worked really hard, too. You caught up from behind and graduated sooner than expected, with good grades, too.”
“But I didn’t have to work or rely on a scholarship. I just assumed everything was going to be taken care of for me.”
Step one accomplished. At least the kid was now aware he had it easier than others. And that maybe he should be a little more grateful for what he was given, and to those who provided it.
They sat in silence for a few moments, but curiosity eventually got the better of Finn.
“How are things at home?”
Cal scowled. “Tense. Mark hasn’t left yet. I don’t know why he’s hanging around. No one wants him here.”
“That’s not true. I know Veronica loves him being back.”
Cal’s mouth curled up in disgust. “She’s the only one, then.”
“I liked having him back, too.” Finn clasped Cal’s shoulder. “It was nice to have my friend around again. Even though we had a disagreement or two.”
Cal jumped down, flinging his arm off, and headed toward the door.
“You’
re pissed off at Mark for leaving, aren’t you?” Finn called after him.
Cal stopped short at the first workstation, but didn’t answer.
“Because he abandoned you, right? Just another person on the long list of people in your life who have abandoned you. You’re thinking if you go away to school, then Veronica will move on, too. And you’re afraid she won’t want you in her life anymore. Isn’t that right?”
The kid didn’t turn around, but he didn’t walk away, either.
