Arkansas State press. [volume] (Little Rock, Ark.) 1941-1959, 1942-03-13
Native Son


Reds? That was it, But none of
his friends We're Reds, What was
all this ? If Mr.. Dalton should ask
hm if ne had taken her to tie
University, he would have to say
that about her whole family, Was
her folks know Of lew she acted?
But if she were really crazy, why
did Mr.. Dalton let him drive her
out?
"I'm going to meet a friend Of
yes and depend upon her to back
him up, But suppose Mr.. Dalton
Lad someone watching, someone
who would tell where h had real
ly taken her? He Had heard that
rich people had detectives work
ing for them. If only he knew wat
this was all about he would feel
much better. And she had said that
she WAS going to meet someone
who was friend of his. He didn't
want to meet any Communists.
They didn't have any money. lie
felt that It WAS all right for a man
to go to Jail for robbery, hut TO go
to Jail for fool ng around with reds
was bunk, Well, he would drive
her: that was what he mad been
hired for. But he was going to
watca his step in this business.
The only thing he hoped was that
she would not make him lose his
job. He pulled the car eff the outer
Drive at Adams St, drove north
on NJ chigan Boulevard to Lake St.,
then headed west for two blocks,
looking for No. Ii.
'lt's right here, Bigger" Yes
sum" He pulled to stop in front
of a dark building. "Wait," she
said, getting out of the ear, He
saw her smiling broadly at him,
almost laughing. lie felt that she
knew every feeling and thought fe
had at that moment and he turned
his head away m confusion. God
damn tfat woman! Il won't be
long" she said, getting cat OF the
car. He saw her smiling broadly
Mt him, almost laughing. He 1elt
that she knew every feeling ana
thought he had at that moment ana
he turned his head ava YIN con1u-
sion. Goddamn that woman. !
won't be long" she said. She start
ed off, then turned hack,
take it easy Bigger. You Will
understand it better bye and bye. +
"Yossum,' he said, trying to
smile but couldn't.
Isn't there song like that
song your people sing?' Like
what mann ~
well understand it better bye
and bye" "Oh, yessum.
She was an odd girl, all right.
He felt something in her over ana
above the fear she inspired in h M
She responded to him as if ne
we're human, as if lie lived in the
same world as she, And he mad J
,eyer felt that before in a white
person. But why? Was tbs some
lind of a game? The guarded feol- I
NO Of freedom he had while MS .
,enng to her was tangled win tie /
card fact that she was white ana
.ich, part of tie world OF people
who told him what he could ana
could not do.
He looked at the building INTO
which she had gone; it was olo ,
and Imprinted; there were no h"'''s
in the windows or doorway. Maybe
she was meeting her sweetheart u |
that was all. then things would ,
straichten out. But if she had gone !
g. noat those Communists And
what were Communists like, any
wavq Was she one? What made
ueople Communists He rememner-
ed seeing many cartoons OF COM
munists in newspapers and always
they had flaming torches IN thelf
hands and wore boards and were
irving to commit murder or SET
things ON fire. People who ac'eo
that way were crazy. All he could
recall having heard about Commuh
lists was associated in his NINA
with darkness, old houses, people
spoaking in whispers, ana u4oe
unions on strike. Ard this was
something like it. He st'ifmed; the
door into which she lad gone cpen-
ed. She came ont followed by
Young white man They walked to
the car; but, instead Of getting
into the back scat, they came to the
side of the car and stood, facing
him. i
"Of. Bigger, this $ Jan. And
Jan. this is Bigger Thomas
Jan smiled broadly, then extend
ed m open palm toward him. Big
GERS entire body frightened with
suspense and dread. "How are you'
Bigger" Biruer's right hand grip
ned the st RIG wheel and he Won
dered if he ought to shake s1nds
with this white man. I'm fine" he
mumbled. Jams hand was stll eN-
tended. Bigger's right hand raised
itself about three inches, ten sop
ped in mid-air.