Siaosi Tusitala

Cue Balls Siaosi Tusitala

Will Morgan is a returning Viet Nam Era Veteran faced with attempting to find employment at the waning end of the Viet Nam War. Due to military cutbacks and the war's unpopularity not many jobs are available. Ultimately Will finds himself lucky enough to be hired as a Manager Trainee for the largest discount drug chain in So. Calif. Concluding that he was simply hired due to being white, single and ex-military, making him the ideal candidate for ghetto store locations. The realizations, attitudes and aspects of readjustment are central to the theme of this story. The life experiences related are all based on actual events that occurred. Hopefully sensitive and insightful and encouraging to those suffering similar fates in our seemingly constant economic turmoil? Issues range from the assumed need to carry concealed weapons, racial and interracial evaluations, blue and white collar, low grade crime and basic tenants of people in general. Their attitudes and viewpoints, in those situations at that time. The other primary issue is the treatment and misunderstanding toward Veterans, especially; but not exclusively of that Era. The "ghetto experience" and the "street experience"! The struggles for self improvement, while contending with the day to day. Generously endowed with humor and self, as well as cultural, awareness. The story, in reality, speaks to the life lessons I learned and want to share, concerning people, interracial motivations, inclusiveness and a fierce anti-gun bias. *All just the opposite of what you might assume? Rich men/corporations elect to build a "box" in economically distressed areas (ghettos). They then fill it with drugs, liquor, cigarettes and the basic necessities and niceties. Not to mention the money derived from the sales. Why wouldn't they select the best possible candidates to protect their interests? That; is the advice, solace and warning I intend in the telling of this story. Veterans in the best of times have difficulties in acclimating back to civilian life. At that time, in those circumstances - the winding down and post-Viet Nam Era experiences were more severe. In a backhanded way; this is a story lauding the indomitable spirit and effort to achieve, that so many strive for. I was very close and involved with multiple police departments at that time. I know their thinking and I know the thinking of the poor young youth that have never known anything but their own circumstances. Their frustrations, their attitudes and their circumstances. The ultimate goal is to prevent any more George Zimmerman type characters. To prevent any more victims due to poor and incomplete thinking on the part of those that would take up a gun; concealed or open carry, assume the mantel of authority and execute so thoughtlessly. I was fairly close to many of the officers in those departments and I know that I've related their mutual attitudes as well. We have made tremendous strides over the decades. We still have further to go. "What God has determined clean, let no man call common". The New Testament.