Ecie & Esme III: Forever and a Day

Five

'So what did you do before you retired?' Esme asked sitting on the roof with Melvin, Verity, Verde and Taylor.

'I worked in the Supreme Court,' Melvin replied. 'Those were some of the best years of my life.'

'No way,' Esme exclaimed. 'Really? That's so cool. What was that like?'

'It was very interesting and exciting,' Melvin grinned as he sat forward in his seat. 'At the time there were hardly any black people in office so of course it would seen as a big deal.'

'How did you find being one of the few black people?' Esme asked interested.

'I was very honored,' Melvin replied. 'This is why having a good education will never let you down. You will always have a job no matter what happens and you can always prove yourself to your superiors if they look down on you because of your race.'

'Where did you go to college?'

'I went to Harvard Law School,' Melvin replied. 'I was in the graduating class of sixty eight.'

'That's incredible,' Esme nodded mesmerized. 'That really is so awesome.'

'But surely not in all cases are you guaranteed a job because of your education,' Verde said looking at Melvin. 'Some people get overlooked anyway and further still some people are denied the privilege to go to school and get an education in the first place.'

'You're right,' Melvin nodded. 'But if you can get an education, then by all means do so, instead of wasting such an opportunity. All this business of "dropping out" is nonsense. For what? What for? What is the point in dropping out? There is no point.'

'Different people obviously have their different reasons,' Verde said. 'It's not right to pigeonhole everybody. They all deserve the same respect.'

Melvin looked at Verde a little confused.

'And it's not just your race which people will look down on you for,' Verde went on. 'What about religion, sexuality, creed?'

'Employers can choose who they want,' Melvin replied. 'It is at their own digression.'

Esme nodded. 'Of course they're going to want somebody whom they don't have to necessarily train up so much. They'll be looking for someone who already embodies what the company or profession is looking for.'

Melvin looked at Esme and smiled nodding. 'Exactly.'

'That doesn't make any sense,' Verde said looking at Esme. 'It really doesn't. How does being of a different religion mean anything?'

'I didn't mean like that Verd,' Esme replied. 'I meant in terms of creed and beliefs...'

'What about sexuality?'

'I've got this one,' Melvin said. Verde looked at him waiting. 'All this business of lesbian and homosexuals is so silly. If they want to go on living a life of damnation that is their issue. We can only help them and pray for them as much as possible.'

Esme and Taylor looked at Verde as he pressed his lips together.

'You remind me of my parents,' he chuckled. 'It's absolutely uncanny.'

'Well then your parents brought you up correctly,' Melvin said.

Verde laughed as he shook his head. 'You've got no idea.'

'So anyway,' Taylor said changing the subject. 'What do you do now?'

'I'm a reader in our local church,' Melvin replied. 'I've been going there for well over thirty years.'