“Funny guy, Mr. Harris.” Dr. Wall continued to look in the
mirror.
“You got to admit, you don’t look like this very often,” Nick said. He paused. “Do you?”
“For your information, I have been a clown since high school. I always wanted to make kids laugh.”
Nick smiled and took a seat on the office loveseat. “So why’d you become a doctor?”
“Had to find a way out of poverty. I joined the Navy and became a doctor. Later, after my hitch, I switched my focus from sailors to pediatrics. Figured I would rather keep children alive and healthy than kill adults.”
“Must have been tough for you, trying to become a doctor back
then,” noted Nick.
“Not many people trusted the black guy, that’s for sure. But I was lucky. I was able to find a commander who believed in me. I worked hard in medical school. And now here I am. Besides, it’s hard to make a dead person laugh, Mr. Harris.”
“So, every clown has a name,” Nick said. “What’s yours?” “Take a guess.”
“Hmm. Patches?” Doc Wall stared. “Bobo?”
“Bobo? No. It’s Popcorn.”
“Popcorn? I would have never guessed. Why Popcorn?” “Because I like popcorn, and it’s good for you,” Dr. Wall said.
“That’s why.” “Works for me.”
Nick sat back and watched the man work his artistic fingers, applying makeup like a pro. One last red line and his new smile was complete. He turned away from the mirror and began to pack up his supplies.
“So, Mr. Harris, the big speech is in a couple of weeks, right?”
he asked.
“Yes, sir, it is.”
“I had a talk with some of the Board members, and I must admit you impressed them with your enthusiasm. You have your heart in the right place. The more I think about it, what you’re suggesting, if done with class, could be very special. The Foundation wins no