Arkansas State press. [volume] (Little Rock, Ark.) 1941-1959, 1942-03-20

| Somebody put hlekel III an
| automatic phonograph and they
listened to the music. Then Big
, ing away with her eyes upon Jan
and Mary. "TelI her u come over,
Bigger" Mary said.
Bessie had gone TO far tatle
and was sitting with another girl
"She's over there now" Bigger
said. The waitress brought the
beer and chicken.
ger felt hand grab his shoulder
ali. Bigger! Where you been?"
He looked up and saw Bessie
laughing in his face. Hi he
This is simply grand" Mary
excla med, "You got something
there Jan said, looking at Big
ger. Didn't ! say that right, Big
ger?" Bigger hesitated.
That's the way they say it,"
he spoke flatly. Jan and Mary
were eating, Bigger picked up a
piece of chicken and bit it. When
he tried to chew he found his
mouth any, It seemed that the very
organic functions Of his body Lad
altered; and when he realized why
when he understood the cause, he
could not chew the food. After two
or three bites, he stopped and sip
ped his beer. Eat your chicken"
Mary said. "lt's good!' I amt
hungry" he mumbled.
"Want some beer?" Jan asked
after a long silence. Maybe if he
got a little drunk it would help
him. ~ don't mind" he said. Jan
ordered another round.
do they keep anything strong
er than beer here? ?" Jan asked.
"They got anything you want
Bigger said. Jan order fifth ef
rum and poured a round. Big
ger felt the liquor warming him
/ After second drink Jan began
TO talk. {
| "Where were you born, Big
ger?" an the South" "Whert
abouts ?" "Mississ ppi.' GLOW fan
did you 60 in SCHOOL," ITO the
sth grade"
"Why did you stop" "Nt
money!" "Did you go to school
in the North or South ?" "Most.
ly in the South: | went TIVE
years up here" "How long have
you been in Chicago ooh about
five years" "You like it here?'
TtHl do" You live with YOU
people?" "My mother, brother
and sister, "Where's your ia.
ther?" Dead" GLOW long age
was that?" "He got killed in
riot when | was a kid in the
south" There was silence. Th'
rum was helping Bigger. ANT
! what WAS done about it?' Jan
$ asked. Nothing, far as | know.
S I"How do you feel about it?' :"
don't know" Listen, Bigger
o that's what we want to stop
That's what we Communists ar
$ fighting. We want to stop peopl'
from treating others that way
> I'm member of the Party
Mary sympathizes. Don't yo
r think if we got together W
e could stop things lige hiatt"
81 don't know" Bigger said
, he was feeling the rum risin,
| to his head. "There's lot O
? white people in the world "fo'
, have read about the Scottshpr
, boys?" 4 heard about them.
3 |"Don't you think we did goo'
job in helping to keep 'em from
o killing those boys?" 1T was al
right"
. "You know. Bigger said Mar,
"we'd like to Ire friends Of yours
I He said nothing, He drained hi
r glass and Jan poured anothe
{; round. He was getting drum
enough to look straight at then
n now. Mary was smiling at him
you'll get used to u.s." she said
Y Jan stoppered the bottle of rum
r "We'd better CO. lie said. Yes
y Mary said "Oh, Bigger, I'm go
4 ing to Detroit at nine in the NOR
/ ing and | want you to take m,
I small trunk down to the station
0 Tell father and he'll let you max
;. up your time. You better com
o for the trunk at $3.50.
on take it down.
, ITO be continued)