The Phoenix index., 1942-02-28

would nave WOIlQeTeu lJ lie Ildu D66n
in their places. Mary touched his
arm.
Have you ever been here before,
Bigger" He CROPPED for neutral
words, words that would convey in
formation hut not indicate any
shade of his own feelings.
"a few times. "It's very nice,"
Mary said.
Somebody put nickel in an
automatic phonograph and they
listened to the music. Then Bigger
felt hand grab his shoulder. Hi,
Bigger! Where you been?" He
looked up and saw Bessie laugh
ing in his face. "Hi," he said
gruffly.
ooh, 'scuse me. I didn't know you
had company" she said, walking
away with her eyes upon Jan and
Mary "Tell her to come over,
Bigger" Mary said. Bessie had gone
to a far table and was sitting with
another girl. "She's over there
now" Bigger said. The waitress
brought the beer and chicken.
"This is simply grand!" Mary
exclaimed. "You got something
there" Jan said, looking at
Bigger. did I 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 dry
1t seemed that the very organic
functions of his body had altered.
and when he realized why, when he
understood the cause, he could not
chew his food. After two or three
bites, he stopped and slipped his
beer. Eat your chicken" Mary
said. "It's good!"
"I amt hungry" he mumbled.
Want some beer?" Jan asked af-
ter a long silence. Maybe if he got
a little drunk it would help him.
"I don't mind" he said. Jan order
ed another round.
do they keep anything stronger
than beer here?" Jan asked.
"They got anything you want"
Bigger said. Jan ordered a fifth of
rum and poured a round. Bigger
felt the liquor warming him.
After a second drink Jan began to
talk.
Where were you born. Bigger"
In the South
"Whereabouts?"
"Mississippi.''
How far did you go in schOol?"
"To the eighth grade"
'Why did you stop?"
"No money"
"Did you go to school in the
North or South?"
MOSTLY in the South. I went two
years up here
How long have you been in
Chicago?"
"Oh, about five years"
"You like it here?"
"Itll do"
"You live with your people?"
"My mother, brother and sister" 4"
where's your father?"
Dead"
How long ago was that?"
"He got killed in a riot when
was a kid-in the south"
There was silence. The rum was
helping Bigger. And what was
done about it?" Jan asked.
Nothing, far as 1 know"
How do you feel about it?"
Il don't know"
Listen, Bigger. that's what we want
to stop. That's what we Commu-
nists are fighting. We want TO
stop people from treating others
that way. I'm a member of the
Party. Mary Sympathizes. Don't
you think if we got together we
could stop things like that?"
Il don't know" Bigger said, he
was feeling the rum rising to his
head. There's lot of white people
in the world"
you've read about the Scots
boro boys?"
II heard about them."
Don't you think we did a good
job in helping to keep 'em from
killing those boys?"
1T was all right"
IOu huOW, DlSScI, Sdlu MdIy,
wed like to be friends of yours. p"
He said nothing. He drained his
glass and Jan poured another
round. He was getting drunk
enough to look straight at them
now. Mary was smiling at him.
You'll get used to us" she said.
Jan stoppered the bottle of rum
WED better CO." he said.
yes" Mary said. "Oh, Bigger,