I wash the curry fries down with some non-alcoholic Guinness.
"You really think that?" I ask.
"You know the show Vikings?"
"I've watched like six episodes."
"Okay, so Ragnar ends up conquering all of England. He lives this insane life. He's a legend."
"Sure."
"Then he goes home. After doing all that he has a conversation with his priest."
"The monk guy, right?"
"Yeah, Athelstan. Ragnar tells him he wished he just stayed home on his farm with his family."
The waitress comes by and delivers two more full glasses.
"Sounds like your family."
"Yeah." He chuckles. "My father just broke his wrist hauling in a net."
"So you think you'd have been happy if you stayed?"
He takes a swig from his pint.
"I'd probably be running things by now, which would have been cushy. And I'd make just as much money without paying San Francisco prices."
"And you would've been okay with that?"
He looks into his glass. "Eh, I don't know."
"And because of that you hated your time here?"
"Well, hate is a strong word. I'm not sure it was worth it."
I smirk and fork the last few fries into my mouth.
"At least now you know the Ivy leaguers ain't all that."
We both chuckle and go back to sipping.
"Do you have any big plans after school?" he says.
"I'm trying to get the most out of my classes right now. But I'm thinking about binding books in a monastery for a month or two."
"Dude, that's sick."
"Home's still there if you want it," I say as the waitress sets down the check.