Dirty

I am 16 working at
The concession stand
At the YMCA on Sunshine
Ranch Road in San Antonio
When I notice a group of teens
Gathered on the concrete patio
Pick nick tables all around Mr. Kiel
Whose whistle hangs from his neck
Resting on his sweatshirt as his
Badge of authority by the pool
Or gym but he is distraught
Close to tears so I leave
My post to see what is
Wrong and as I near
I hear him angrily
Complaint about
Those dirty Jews
Who live in dirty
Houses never
Cleaning up
So I say to
Him that
My mother
Is Jewish and
She makes my sibs
And I clean up all the
Time so he hesitates as
He knows me from weight
Lifting and my work at the Y.
I understand he has been
Reprimanded in some
Way by someone
Higher up about
Something to
Do with a
Jewish
Child
At the
YMCA and
He looks me
In the eye as a
Good leader knows
To do and says that I am
An exception then mumbles
His comment on cleanliness was
Wrong and as I clap him on his
Back trying to reassure him
We all admire his work to
Make the Y a haven for
Swimming fun and
Gymnastics but I
Realize it will be
Awhile before
He recovers
His hurt
Feelings
So I go back
To running the
Concession stand
And the incident fades
Though I never forget how
Even the best leader can make
Mistakes then name call and
It surprises me because my
Father has never blamed
A scapegoat for his rare
Mistakes a standard I
Had expected of Mr.
Kiel but with the
Rich and those
In authority,
Always a
Little
Patience.
And caution.