The black rises and goes to the stove. He reaches down plates and stirs the pots and ladles out the dinner. He takes down a loaf of white bread and puts four slices on a plate and brings the plate of bread to the table and sets it down.
Black Yeah you tough.
The black brings the two plates to the table and sets them out and takes his seat. He looks at the professor.
Black You see yourself as a questioner, Professor. But about that I got my doubts. Even so, the quest of your life is your quest. You on a road that you laid. And that fact alone might be all the reason you need for keepin to it. As long as you on that road you cant be lost.
White I’m not sure I understand what you’re saying.
Black Well, Professor. I have got some very serious doubts about you not understandin anything I say. Now I’m goin to say Grace.
The black puts his hands on the table at either side of his plate and bows his head.
Black Lord we thank you for this food and we ask that you keep us ever mindful of the many blessins we have received from your hand. We thank you today for the life of the professor that you have returned to us and we ask that you continue to look after him because we need him. (Pause) I aint sure why we need him. I just know we do. Amen.
The black looks up. He smiles at the professor.
Black All right. You tell me if you like this.
White It looks good.
They begin to eat.
White This is good.
They eat.
White This is very good.
Black Supposed to be good. This is soul food, my man.
White It’s got what in it? Molasses?
Black Mm. You a chef, Professor?
White Not really.
Black But some.
White Some, yes. Bananas, of course. Mangos?
Black Got a mango or two in there. Rutabagas.
White Rutabagas?
Black Rutabagas. Them aint easy to find.
White It’s very good.
Black It gets better after a day or two. I just fixed this last night. You need to warm it up a few times to get the flavors right.
White Like chile.
Black Like chile. That’s right. You know where I learned to fix this?
White In Louisana?
Black Right here in the ghettos of New York City. They’s a lot of influences in a dish like this. You got many parts of the world in that pot yonder. Different countries. Different people.
White Any white people?
Black Not if you can help it.
White Really?
Black Messin with you, Professor. Messin with you. You know these French chefs in these uptown restaurants?
White Not personally.
Black You know what they like to cook?
White No.
Black Sweetbreads. Tripe. Brains. All that shit they dont nobody eat. You know why that is?
White Because it’s a challenge? You have to innovate?
Black You pretty smart for a cracker. A challenge. That’s right. The stuff they cook is dead cheap. Most folks throws it out. Give it to the cat. But poor folks dont throw nothin out.
White I guess that’s right.
Black It dont take a lot of skill to make a porterhouse steak taste good. But what if you cant buy no porterhouse steak? You still wants to eat somethin that tastes good. What you do then?
White Innovate.
Black Innovate. That’s right, Professor. And when do you innovate?
White When you dont have something that you want.
Black You fixin to get a A plus. So who would that be? That aint got what they want?
White Poor people.
Black I love this man. So how you like this?
White It’s very good.
Black Well let me have your plate.
White Just a small portion.
Black That’s all right, Professor. You need to eat. You done had yourself a pretty busy day.
The black puts more of the dish on the professors plate and comes to the table and sets it in front of him.
Black You want some more coffee?
White Yes. That would be great.
He brings the pot to the table and pours his cup and sets the pot on the table and takes his seat and they continue to eat.
White You dont think a glass of wine would have been good with this?
Black Oh no. I think it might of been good.
White But you wouldnt drink it.
Black Oh I might. One glass.
White Jesus drank wine. He and his disciples.
Black Yes he did. Accordin to the bible. Of course it dont say nothin about him hidin it in the toilet.
White Is that really a favorite hiding place?
Black Oh yes. I’ve knowed drunks to lift the tops off of toilet tanks in strange places just on the off chance.
White Is that true?
Black Naw. It could be, though. Wouldnt surprise me none.
White What is the worst thing you ever did.
Black More jailhouse stories.
White Why not?
Black Which why not you want to hear?
White Is bludgeoning the man in the prison cafeteria the worst thing you ever did?
Black No. It aint.
White Really? What’s the worst?