Ocean Vuong

And I'm not interested in the American dream so much as I'm interested in Americans who dream. Because him and I had two different dreams. Both of them are valid dreams.

And I'm not interested in the American dream so much as I'm interested in Americans who dream. Because him and I had two different dreams. Both of them are valid dreams.

Because you depend on each other. And no ideology is strong enough to withstand kinetic kinship. That's what I learned working at Boston Market.

Because you depend on each other. And no ideology is strong enough to withstand kinetic kinship. That's what I learned working at Boston Market.

Because you depend on each other. And no ideology is strong enough to withstand kinetic kinship. That's what I learned working at Boston Market.

Two very different places. But actually... Two very different places because they serve different communities. One was more upscale. Panera Bread was a little more upscale than Boston Market, but it was still minimum wage, $7.15. You still feel it. But you realize that People were kind of stuck. The shift was a trap.

Two very different places. But actually... Two very different places because they serve different communities. One was more upscale. Panera Bread was a little more upscale than Boston Market, but it was still minimum wage, $7.15. You still feel it. But you realize that People were kind of stuck. The shift was a trap.

Two very different places. But actually... Two very different places because they serve different communities. One was more upscale. Panera Bread was a little more upscale than Boston Market, but it was still minimum wage, $7.15. You still feel it. But you realize that People were kind of stuck. The shift was a trap.

And everybody knew that. But we didn't dare say it.

And everybody knew that. But we didn't dare say it.

And everybody knew that. But we didn't dare say it.

Absolutely. I'm so glad you mentioned It's a Wonderful Life. There's a moment that I've been thinking about that I didn't put in the book because it's a little too dramatic and I didn't know what to do with it. But there was this quintessential moment of these laborers coming together. There was a woman in her 30s, and we were closing up. This is at Boston Market.

Absolutely. I'm so glad you mentioned It's a Wonderful Life. There's a moment that I've been thinking about that I didn't put in the book because it's a little too dramatic and I didn't know what to do with it. But there was this quintessential moment of these laborers coming together. There was a woman in her 30s, and we were closing up. This is at Boston Market.

Absolutely. I'm so glad you mentioned It's a Wonderful Life. There's a moment that I've been thinking about that I didn't put in the book because it's a little too dramatic and I didn't know what to do with it. But there was this quintessential moment of these laborers coming together. There was a woman in her 30s, and we were closing up. This is at Boston Market.

We were closing up for the night, about 30 minutes to close. And she gets this phone call on the landline. No, we didn't really have iPhones. And the phone call basically said her brother had overdosed. He's in the hospital. They're trying to do everything they can. It was her ride. It was her aunt supposed to pick her up every day. And she's like, I got to go.

We were closing up for the night, about 30 minutes to close. And she gets this phone call on the landline. No, we didn't really have iPhones. And the phone call basically said her brother had overdosed. He's in the hospital. They're trying to do everything they can. It was her ride. It was her aunt supposed to pick her up every day. And she's like, I got to go.

We were closing up for the night, about 30 minutes to close. And she gets this phone call on the landline. No, we didn't really have iPhones. And the phone call basically said her brother had overdosed. He's in the hospital. They're trying to do everything they can. It was her ride. It was her aunt supposed to pick her up every day. And she's like, I got to go.

You got to stay there until I figure this out. And this is the early aughts. So our community in Connecticut was hit with the opioid crisis before it had a term. And it was like a bubonic plague. We didn't know what was hitting us. And there was so much shame because you had lunch ladies, gym teachers. Everyone was taken out overnight. And we finished the shift. We closed out.

You got to stay there until I figure this out. And this is the early aughts. So our community in Connecticut was hit with the opioid crisis before it had a term. And it was like a bubonic plague. We didn't know what was hitting us. And there was so much shame because you had lunch ladies, gym teachers. Everyone was taken out overnight. And we finished the shift. We closed out.

You got to stay there until I figure this out. And this is the early aughts. So our community in Connecticut was hit with the opioid crisis before it had a term. And it was like a bubonic plague. We didn't know what was hitting us. And there was so much shame because you had lunch ladies, gym teachers. Everyone was taken out overnight. And we finished the shift. We closed out.