The Phoenix index., 1942-02-28
Friendly 0vertures Of Mary
And Jan Are Puzziing To Him

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comfortable, but his moving would
have called attention to himself and
his black body. And he did not want
that. These people made him feel
things he did not want to feel. II
he were white, if he were like them,
it would have been different. But
he was black. SO he sat still, his
arms and legs aching.
"Say, Bigger" asked Jan, where
can we get a good meal on the
South Side?"
WELL" Bigger said, reflectively.
1--WE want to go to a real place,
Mary said, turning to him gayly.
Bigger asked in a tone that indicat-
ed that he was simply mentioning
names and not recommending
places to go.
mo; we want to eat"
Look Bigger. We want one of
those places where cOlOred people
eat, not one of those show places"
What did these people want? When
he answered his voice was neutral
and tOneless. "Well, there's Ernie's
Kitchen Shack >"
THAT sounds good!' Lets go
there, JAM" Mary said.
80. K.," Jan said. 'Where is it?"
1T s at Forty-seventh Street and
Indiana" Bigger told them.
Jan swung the car off the Outer
Drive at Thirty first Street and
drove westward to Indiana Ave-
nue.. Bigger wanted Jan to drive
faster, so that they could reach
Armies Kitchen Shack in the
shortest possible time. That would
allow him chance TO sit in the
car and stretch out his cramped
and aching legs while they ate.
JAN TURNED onto Indiana Ave-
nue. and headed south. Bigger Won
dered what Jack and Gus and G..
H. would say if they saw him Sit
ting between two white people in
car like this. They would tease
him about such thing as long as
they could remember it. He felt
Mary turn in her seat. She placed
her hand on his arm.
"You know, Bigger, I've long
wanted to look into those houses, .
she said pointing to the tall, dark
apartment buildings looming to
either side of them, "and just see
how your people live. You know
what 1 mean? I've been to England,
France and Mexico, but / don't
know how people live ten blocks
from me. We know so little about
each other. just want to see.
want to know these people. Never
in my life have L been inside. Ne
gro home. Yet they must live like
we live. They're human. d. there are
twelve million of them. They live
in our country. In the same city
with us. =" her voice trailed off visit
fully.
There was silence. The car sped
through the Black Belt, past tall
buildings holding black life. Bigger
knew that they were thinking of
his life and the life of his people.
Suddenly he wanted to seize some
heavy object in his hand and grip
it with all the strength of his body
and in some strange way rise up
and stand in naked space above
the speeding car and with one blow
blot it out-with himself and them
in it. His heart was beating fast
and he struggled to control his
breath. This thing was getting the
better of him; he felt that he should
not give away to his feelings like
this. But he could not help it. Why
didn't they leave him alone? What
had he done to them? What good
could they get out of sitting here
making him feel so miserable?
'Tell me Where it is, Bigger,
Jan said. "Yessuh."
Bigger looked out and saw that
they we're at Forty sixth Street
'It's at the end of the next block
suh'. Can park along here some
Where?"
"Oh yessuh". Bigger, please!
Don't say sir to me. Il don't like
it. You're man just like i am;
Pm no better than you. Maybe Other
white men like it. But l don't. Look
Bigger )"
Eyes. bigger paused, swallow.
ed, and looked down at his BLACK
hands. 20. k, he mumbled, hoping
that they did not hear the chok,
in his voice.
You see, Bigger. -" Jan began
Mary reached her hand roun
back of Bigger and touched Jani
shoulder.
Lets get out" she said hurried
ly.
Jan pulled the car to the curl
and opened the door and steppeC
out. Bigger slipped behind tn
steering wheel again, glad to haY
room at last for his arms and legs
Mary got out of the other dool
Now, ne could get some rest. S
intensely taken llp was he with hi