***
Brothers, I needed to do some good deeds this week- you know, help cancel out the bad stuff I did last week, so I went to volunteer at homeless center on Saturday. Of course, I knew it would be awkward to run into Phaedra, but I was also curious about how she would react. I wonder if she still found me boring?
As I entered the dining room at the homeless center, Phaedra glanced in my direction and looked away.
I stood behind the buffet table next to Phaedra. We didn’t even exchange hellos or anything nor did I look at her the whole time we served the needy.
The train of homeless men formed a line. Phaedra placed noodles on a plate while I drenched a chicken gravy with vegetables over the top. Then I added a piece of corn bread to the side and passed the plate to an opened hand.
We served the homeless people for over hour. I took my lunch break and grabbed a plate of food and formed a mountain of noodles and chicken gravy. Then I built a small pyramid of cornbread at the side. Then I sat down across from a scav while Phaedra ran into the kitchen.
“Hey, that’s not fair,” he said.
I looked at him, “What’s not fair?”
“You got four pieces of cornbread.”
“Well, I work here, so I’m allowed extra portions.”
“That’s not fair?”
I picked up my fork and stabbed some noodles coated with gravy and plopped it into my mouth. “Because I took a day off from my busy schedule to volunteer here. The center does not pay me for my time, so I think I earned that extra portion of cornbread.”
“What does college have to do with fairness or my cornbread?”
“You think you’ve better than us.”
I sighed. Then I pushed my plate towards him and turned the plate so the pyramid of cornbread was closest to him, “Help yourself then.”
The homeless guy smiled. He pulled out a plastic bag and grabbed all my cornbread and placed it carefully into the bag. Then he slid the bag into his jacket pocket.
“Thanks for leaving me some cornbread.” I scooted my plate towards me and started eating my noodles and gravy.
“You work here. You can always get more. You’re entitled to it.”
I returned to the buffet line and grabbed a slice of cornbread from a large cookie sheet while Phaedra returned.
“Jax, I need to speak to you?”
“I don’t know. I’m not liking the tone in your voice. Plus, I’m trying to enjoy my cornbread.”
“It’s important.”
I bit into my cornbread, chewed, and swallowed, “Okay, go ahead.”
I looked Phaedra straight into her eyes, “No, I didn’t. Besides, he’s rich. He can always buy another one.”
“Not this one. It was a gift from his grandfather.”
I picked up another piece of cornbread and started eating it.
“Do you know anyone who could’ve done this?”
“No, I don’t but don’t worry. I’m sure it was a childish prank. Why don’t you ask Steve? Where was he last weekend?”
Phaedra looked away.
“We already know he has a history of stealing.”
“I was with Steve all weekend.”
“Oh. I see he has an ironclad alibi. Like I said, don’t worry. I’m sure your dad will get his chess set back.”
Phaedra looked at me, “What happened to your eye and cheek?”
I rubbed my eye for emphasis, “Oh, this? It’s nothing. Don’t worry about it.”
“Oh no. A few days ago, I was walking downtown and slipped on the sidewalk and crashed to the ground.”
“You sure you weren’t in a fight.”
“Oh please, I’ve got no enemies in this town, except maybe your father.”
Phaedra stormed away and left me by myself to clean the whole dining room. So I took my time and cleaned everything until it sparkled.
I strolled into the kitchen and saw the tray of cornbread with three slices left.
Raymond came out of the tiny kitchen office, “Help yourself to some cornbread. Otherwise, I have to throw it out.”
“You know it’s not Christian-like to waste food especially with the numerous homeless people in town.”
“And don’t forget the hungry students. Help yourself to some cornbread.”
“Amen, brother.” I grabbed the last slices and piled them on a napkin and slipped them into my jacket pocket. I would eat these on my long walk back to campus.