Be Reasonable

No doubt she was pretty,
And very well dressed.
18 years old and anxious.
She really wanted the job.

New York in 1961 was an integrated city.
Betty was a negro,
Applying for the receptionist job.
But we had a negro in the company.

My boss, the corporate controller,
Was from Georgia.
I had no such excuse.
“Maybe we should interview Betty”, I said

We had spoken to 7 applicants.
One of those certainly will be acceptable
This was not a racist outfit, our buyer was negro.
What would we be prove by hiring another?

It was late in the afternoon.
“Why not go through a fast interview”, my boss suggested.
“That way we wont have to ask Betty back
And take more of her time knowing the out come.”

I raised no objection,
Went through the motions of screening,
Telling Betty I’d get back to her.
Two days later I called to tell her someone else got the job.