Chapter 252

Steve took Naomi’s hand and walked into a small diner near where he had parked his bike. He saw that his friends were going into various businesses up and down the street as locals pointed at them and spoke excitedly to each other.

Steve led Naomi up to the counter and offered her a seat before taking one himself. At older black man watched him from behind the counter and nodded when Steve took his seat.

“We’d like to get something to eat,” stated Steve calmly. “I understand there are some problems here. Do you have any trouble serving lunch to Naomi and me, sir?”

“Are you kidding? I’d be proud as hell to serve you both. I was in the Navy in Vietnam and I appreciate what you folks are doing for veterans. What would you like?”

Steve and Naomi ordered, and as they waited for their lunch, they questioned the old man about the situation in the area. He was a fountain of information and wasn’t shy about expressing his opinions.

“The real problem, as I see it