They did have a point, however, the school did look like hell. The next afternoon Hammermeister got on the p.a. and told the students of W. E. B. Du Bois High School that while the year was off to a great start, food, candy, and pop were not permitted in the halls and classrooms. The following afternoon he repeated the message, shifting from the insouciant Donald Sutherland to the rather arch Donald. When Hammermeister continued to notice litter in the halls and classrooms, he ordered the pop and candy machines shut down for an unspecified period.

Hammermeister called the head custodian into his office and told him of this decision. “I want to help you guys out. We couldn’t run this school without the custodians,” he said with an ingratiating smile. “Anything you need in the way of supplies, or whatever, just let me know. And one other thing, the district has asked me to address the problem of sick-leave abuse. Du Bois is the worst school in the district in this regard.”

No sooner were the words out of Hammermeister’s mouth when Mike, the head custodian, proceeded to tell Hammermeister that his daughter had chicken pox and that he needed a sub for the rest of the week—moreover, Ralph, the day man, needed a sub for Monday because he was going in for some blood tests. And, oh, somebody else, too—he wasn’t sure, well, yes, it was Ray. Ray had tickets for a rap concert and wanted to take a vacation day.

“So…Mike…at least talk to the guys. Can you do that much?”

“Yo,” the head custodian piped as he turned and walked away. For a head custodian, Hammermeister felt the man had a very bad attitude in regard to chain of command. Well, wait a minute. Mike. Come on back here, my friend. Perhaps that’s too much to lay on you all at once. Maybe you ought to go home and rest. Take a year off for mental health. I’ll watch your area for you and make sure all your checks are mailed…r’hat on time, bro. Izzat cool or what? I mean, I’m hip to all the problems you guys go through. I know your job…ain’t no day at th’ beach. I’m in full sympathy. Really. You don’t think I got a heart? I gotta heart. I got a heart.