Bobby was a slender young man

Everyone has a story.

I met Bobby, 69, last weekend at my niece’s house in the Dallas suburb of Mesquite. He had recently started spending time with another family member, whom he met at a nearby dollar store.

Bobby lived in Lubbock as a child and graduated at 19 from all-black Dunbar High School in 1967.

During school the slender kid delivered newspapers at night and “only heard racist comments in certain parts of town.”

From 1967-76 he worked in maintenance at Texas Tech.

In 1973, after dating for a few months, Bobby married.

During the reception, his sister caught her kissing the apartment manager — and slugged her.

Bobby and his mother scolded his sister for “lying” — and Bobby didn’t talk to her for years.

Joining the Navy in 1976, he intended on retiring after 20 years.

While stationed in Virginia in 1985, “My wife didn’t want me touching her anymore,” Bobby said.

“I followed her to a ‘girls’ night out,’ and she drove to a motel where a guy came out and kissed her. They went into a room and spent the night.”

She later confessed, “I want a divorce.” He responded, “So do I.”

His wife wanted to marry the guy, who had kids, but finally realized he wasn’t serious about divorcing his wife.

After their divorce, Bobby quit the Navy after 10 years “because I didn’t want her getting half of my pension.”

He last saw his ex about 25 years ago at his mother’s funeral. She wanted to talk. “We don’t have anything to talk about,” he snapped.

Bobby now works from 4 a.m. to noon as a security guard for a package-delivery service.

“Employees get fired for stealing time or merchandise,” he said.

Smart phones are the most theft-prone. Employees have hidden them in their shoes, a second pair of pants, and even tossed one over the fence of their basketball court.

Depending on an item’s value, Bobby receives up to $150 per bust.

After catching them, he has heard racist terms muttered as they are led away.

Turning around, he dares them: “Say that to my face.”

Contact Wendel Sloan at: [email protected]