Chapter 5

“Dad, I’m thinking about applying to seminary.”

His dad lowered his New York Times at the breakfast table. “I have one word for you: Deodorex.”

Marvin Cradleman, president and CEO of Deodorex, maker of urinal cakes, conceived the idea when he was much younger while serving as the private secretary for multi-millionaire Herbert Van Clief. He had made a prosperous career out of it.

“I’m thinking about the Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley,” said Jerry.

His dad sighed, “Do you even listen to me?” He brought the paper back covering his face, then he put the paper down again and leaned forward. “Look, I’ll make you a deal. Give me one summer working at Deodorex. At the end of the summer, if you still want to go to seminary, I’ll pay for it. And by the way, don’t ever say I never did anything for you.”

“Thank you.”

“How about Princeton?”

“Princeton Theological Seminary? How do you know anything about that? That’s conservative, isn’t it?”

“We supply it. You could at least fill out an application. What do you have to lose? It’s got more prestige than that other school, whatever it is, you suggested.”

“Well, OK,” Jerry said with little enthusiasm. How had this suddenly become dad’s project? 

Princeton accepted him despite its incoming class for that year already being filled.

“You can’t say no, can you?” Dad said back at the breakfast table.

“Well, I suppose.”

And it was done.