“That Hawaiian Punch” by, Doug Stankiewiecz 2/06/05

I was talking to my friend Shoal yesterday on the telephone.

"Black people don't like Hawaiian Punch. I don't know why." Shoal said. Shoal was a good friend, one of my best friends, and I was always interested to hear his take on things.

"And the thing is," Shoal said between bone-rattling coughs "is that they will never tell you they don't like it. They'll always say something like 'I'm not thirsty' or 'Not right now'."

Shoal worked at a welding factory with many African-Americans.

"Why don't you try something." I said. "Get a six-pack of Hawaiian Punch and put it in the refrigerator at work and . . ."

All of a sudden Shoal cut me off, "I already HAVE tried it! That's what I'm telling you."

"Why do you think they don't like it?" I asked.

"I don't know. They like Kool Aid." Shoal said.

We both laughed a little. Then we said goodbye and hung up.