Raul’s lessons 5: Be strategic

Raul arrived home from work that night with Betty. He met Virgil sitting outside the house listening to some music and playing hand-held video games. On seeing him he remembered what Ella had told him the previous day. He allowed Betty into the house while he spoke with Virgil.

“Hey Virgil!” he tapped him gently on the shoulder to call his attention. Virgil took off the earpiece and smiled at Raul.

“When did you get back?” Raul asked with a straight face.

Virgil replied still smiling. “Oh, not too long ago.”

“If I asked you what you’ve been up to, would you tell me the truth?” Raul went straight to the point.

“Sure brother. What’s going on?” Virgil took off the earpiece, turned off the music, and dropped it on the bench beside him. He knew something was wrong but he didn’t know what it was.

“You tell me.” Raul was leaning on the pavement behind Virgil.