“I didn’t give you permission to speak, Darien.”

“I’m sorry, Mr. Smith.” Darien looked down at the floor and clasped his hands together.

“If you are you wouldn’t have responded.” John Smith swiveled around in his office chair and turned to face Darien. It was only late in the afternoon, but John’s normally pasty white face was flushed a soft pink — Darien’s eyes furtively flickered to the glass of honey-colored liquid on the man’s desk. “Sit down, Darien.”

Darien looked at the seat offered, pulled it out and then sat down in silence.

“Do you know why you’re here, Darien?”

Darien shook his head.

“You were told not to use ebonics when interacting with customers. And no, I don’t care if they use ebonics with you first. While you work in an official capacity at this establishment, you are to adhere to the guidelines you were given.” John laid a cheek on a clenched fist as he looked at Darien. “But then again, I see I wasn’t clear enough with you the first time. I doubt my English is poor, so is it a matter of your comprehension abilities?”

Darien stared back at John with his lips pressed tightly together.

“You may speak.”

“I just thought that the customers would feel more cared for and that I could better establish rapport if I responded to them in —”

“Darien, Darien, Darien. You aren’t answering my question.” John leaned back in his chair, holding a finger to his chin as he glanced at Darien with a perplexed face. “I didn’t ask about your reasoning for doing what you did. I asked if you have comprehension difficulties and gave you permission to answer that, but at this point it is evidently clear, is it not? Or…” John shifted and leaned forward, “Are you unable to understand because I don’t speak ebonics?”

The blood rushed to Darien’s face and he hoped that his dark complexion gave nothing away as he stared back into John’s eyes, unwilling to rise to the bait. “No sir, I understand you perfectly well.”

“And can your fellow African Americans understand you perfectly well without ebonics?”

“But it’s about the sense of familiarity —”

“Again, that’s not what I asked. Answer the question.”

“Yes sir, they can.”

“And can you adhere to company guidelines Darien?”

Darien nodded. “I can, Mr. Smith.”

“Good. Then hopefully this is the last time we have this conversation, Darien.” John leaned back into his chair with a satisfied smile. “Worry not, there won’t be any penalties. We do things differently around here than Plantation Inc. — but I’m sure you would know better than I do. That being said, this is your final warning. If I need to summon you back here again for this subject, you may as well polish up your resume for Plantation, understand?”

“I do.”

“Good. The wonders of capitalism — being given a third chance to be responsible for your own actions. Dismissed.”