Chapter XII Summary

In chapter twelve, the chef prides himself as a so-called mean, black nigger. The chef acts like a drill sergeant and is an excellent chef, feeding his passengers well and on time. He is known for being extremely honest and never stealing goods for his wife and child. Jake is quiet at his job as the third cook, but resents that the chef calls Ray the so-called Professor. The targeting of the chef starts when the chef keeps calling the fourth waiter a mule. One day as the train is waiting for its connection, the fourth waiter complains that the chef is giving him ice that is not clean. The chef is enraged and threatens this waiter. Finally, as a crowd gathers, the fourth waiter calls the chef a dirty rhinoceros. At this point the first waiter, also called the pantryman...