CHAPTER 63

"Teachers have less credibility than the mayor," said Brownsville's only uncircumcised Jew Mort Hienman as he took a break from another hot day with a cold beer at The Kraken. "They are constantly complaining. They could rule Brownsville, but they are so damn apathetic that they don't bother to vote. 

"I consider them the most pathetic group of professionals I have had the misfortune to know. They suffer from inferiority complexes. They aren't happy being teachers. They think they should have been doctors or lawyers. That's why so many become administrators after only a few years in the classroom in order to fulfill their delusional need to be somebodies. You actually enjoyed the job. I never heard you complaining."

"Teaching was a pleasant experience," Dr. T.S. Murphy-Sullivan commenced with a long burp following his pizza and beer. "The kids keep you on your toes, but they're fun. You have to live within your economic limitations. If you suffer from keeping up with the Joneses, you will have to find a second income. We may have the intelligence of doctors and lawyers, but we will never command their salaries. 

"For those who aren't pleased with their current pay, a reality check in the merciless business world might improve their appreciation for their present occupations. Things could be worse. I could be without a steady check and insurance, but the BISD provided me with a substantial retirement. As long as I have these two, there's hope."

Heinman was short. Murphy-Sullivan-Scully paid the bill.

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