He walked inside the building with his son and Alani.

“The bathroom is right down there to the left,” she said, pointing.

“Go ahead, Eazy. Handle your business, big man. I’ll be right here, waiting for you, and don’t forget to wash your hands,” Ethic stated. “He’s charming until you find out he forgets to wash his hands.”

She laughed aloud at that, as Eazy turned around and held up a balled fist, letting his father know he had overheard.

“I’m glad you find your tardiness funny!”

The stern voice that cut into their conversation was one that made her cringe - her boss…Mr. Taylor.

Alani turned, embarrassed that her boss was about to chew her out in front of Ethic. “I’m sorry. My car is broken down and I told you about the situation that is going on with my family. I got here as soon as I could.”

“And you can walk right back out those doors,” Mr. Taylor replied.

Alani’s mouth fell open, as she shook her head in disbelief. “Mr. Taylor, my daughter just died. I can’t even afford to bury her. I need this job,” she said, lowering her voice so that Ethic didn’t over hear.

“Well, you should have thought about that before you let your shift start uncovered. Mrs. Smith has been laying in a soiled diaper for over two hours. Her family came here to find her soaked through the damn bed sheets. You know the policy. If you’re going to be late, you get somebody else to cover you. You didn’t even call. This is the third time you’ve been late this month. I’m sorry, I’ve got to let you go. This is, exactly, why I don’t like to hire girls like you.”

“Mr. Taylor!” Alani shouted, in protest, as he began to walk away. She glanced back at Ethic and could tell he was, purposefully, trying to appear as if he hadn’t overheard. She wanted to walk away, unbothered. She wished she was too proud to beg, but she needed her job. She was already in a financial bind. This would only make matters bleaker. “You can’t do this to me. Please.” Tears were stinging her eyes, as desperation filled her. “I’ll do anything.” Mr. Taylor stopped walking and turned around. Alani knew the old, white man would respond to that. He liked his girls fraught and vulnerable. He had taken advantage of plenty, young nurses, by threatening them with unemployment or worse. Alani still remembered how one of her co-workers had sold her food stamps at work only for Mr. Taylor to find out and threaten to report the girl for fraud. The young girl had thrown Mr. Taylor some pussy, just to buy his silence. Alani hadn’t understood why, but she could more than relate now. She was willing to do anything just to keep her job.