“Hell yea I was scared to leave the city, that was where it’s at - son can you imagine a, ‘scuse me, a white boy like you walkin' down a south side street? You ever been up there?”
“Well once we went to the museum on a church trip -”
“So you’ve seen it then?”
“I saw it through the van window”
“Ok, that’s good, that’s good...but can you imagine if the van had stopped and you had to get out and walk the rest of the way?”
Nick thought for a few seconds.
“Well there you go. but you know what? it’s been amazing, it really has, i mean, it worked. I guess i needed a quiet place to work and think, and after a while it all clicked. sure it was hard at first, had to prove myself out, you know, junior partner granted a favor, try it and see...man, i have surely been blessed”
“Cool”, Nick offers with an agreeing nod.
---------
“Tell you what, Nicky, when you turn 18 we’ll have to get a beer.”
“Isn’t it 21 now?”
“Oh yeah, right, I always forget, here i am a lawyer. Commie bastards.”
“That sounds like something my dad would say, if he cussed i mean.”
“Your daddy don’t swear?”
“Nope, he doesn’t drink, either.”
Deke thinks for a minute, draws a breath. “Hmm, don’t take this the wrong way, I mean no disrespect, but - never mind”
“What?”
“Well, Nick....I always had a hard time trusting someone never drinks or swears.”
“Well, Dad has a beer now and then after work, but my parents don't get drunk or anything."
Deke stands up, “I gotcha, and I was really just kidding, I-"
“Oh no problem, sometimes I say things...you know, it’s OK, we’re good"
“Good.”
“So, how’d you end up here?”
“Well my dad got momma got pregnant and...”
Nick laughs.
"Seriously, are you old enough to remember Lew Meyer?”
“Sounds familiar, I think”