The conversation shifted to another subject as they continued down the road.

The next thing they knew another driver had joined them both on the road and in conversation. The one thing that Sam and Kiernan both noticed however was that the man seemed to be prejudiced against Blacks.

“Yeah, those g—- niggers make me sick!” He said.

Both Kiernan and Sam handled themselves with honor and remained quiet.

Sam did suggest they stop for a few minutes so that he could call home to check on his wife. Kiernan agreed and the three men pulled into a small dusty truck stop lot in the middle of northern Nevada. Kiernan couldn’t resist having a bit of fun with this new bigoted stranger.

“Hey Sam! Tell Doris that Uncle Kiernan is becoming impatient waiting on Sam, Junior!”

Sam picked up on his gag.

“Okay, Uncle Kiernan, I’ll tell her!”

“What’s going on guys?” The stranger asked.

So, Kiernan explained about the baby and added that he and Sam were second cousins.

“Oh really? Well, that’s cool!” He replied.

Now Sam got in on the fun.

“Yeah, we are but I’m the smart one in the family…I’m in the Household Division!”

Kiernan laughed.

“No way Sam! I’m the smart one in the family…I’m in the Electronics Division!”

All three drivers had a good laugh but Sam and Kiernan knew they’d have the last laugh.

All three parked away from each other and met at the front door of the restaurant.

Kiernan was the first to arrive and waited for the other two. Next to arrive was the new stranger and then they both waited for Sam.

Kiernan couldn’t wait to see the look on this guy’s face when Sam walked up to join them.

This guy’s an absolute jerk! He thought.

A few minutes later here he came.

“Hi guys, sorry to keep ya’ll waiting…” He said with a smile.

The new stranger looked at Sam and then turned to look at Kiernan before looking down at his watch.

“Holy cow! Will you look at the time! … I had no idea that it was so late! …. Sorry guys but I’ve got to get!”

As both Kiernan and Sam said that they understood the stranger didn’t hang around to listen, he literally ran back to his truck and took off out of the tiny dusty lot.

Now Sam turned to Kiernan and laughed.

“Man, you’re so bad!”

Kiernan just laughed and patted Sam’s back.

“I hate a racist, Sam!”

Sam couldn’t help but resist asking just one thing.

“Kiernan, how would you feel if we ever found out that we really were related?”

Kiernan smiled warmly at his new friend.

“Sam, I’d be proud to call you my cousin!”

That was good enough for Sam.

The two men went inside so Sam could phone home.

His wife finally had the baby and he was strong and healthy with ten fingers and ten toes!