Arkansas State press. [volume] (Little Rock, Ark.) 1941-1959, 1942-01-16

solHe h'Ai HHS "NHN "'' - 49,
don't stop running with that gang
of yours ana do right you'll end
up where you never thought you
would. You think ! don't know
what you boys is doing, but | do.
And the gallows is at the end of
the road you travelling, boy Just
remember that She turned and
looked at Buddy. Throw that box
outside, buddy"
"Yessum."
There was silence. Buddy took
the box out. The mother went be-
hind the curtain to the gas stove,
Vera sat up in bed and swung her
feet to the floor.
LAY hack down, Vera" the mo
Their said.
81 feel all right now, Ma. got
to go to my sewing class
well, if you feel like it, set the
table" the mother said, going be-
Kind the curtain again. Lord, |
get so tired of this | don't know
what to do" her voice floated
plaintiyely from behind the cur
tain. "All | ever do is try to make
a home for you children and you
don't care"
Jaw, Ma" Vera protested.
Don't say that
Vera, sometimes / just wan. to
lay down and quit
"Ma, please dent say that
81 can't last many more years,
living like this
II reckon III be dead then. l
"I'll be old enough to work soon,
Ma"
reckon Godll call me home,'
Vera went h hind the curtain
and Bigger heard her trying to
comfort his mother. He shut their
voices out of his mind. He hated
his llamily because he knew that
they were suffering and that he
was powerless to help them. He
knew that the mem Mt that he al.
lowed himself to feel to its fullness
how they lived, the shame and
misery of their lives, he would be
swept out of him with fear and
despair, So he held toward them
an attitude Of iron reserve; he
lived with them, but behind a
wall, a curtain. And toward him.
self he was even more exaeting.
He knew that the moment he al
lowed what his life meant to en-
ter fully into his consciousness,
he would either xiii himself or
someone else. So he denied him
self and acted tough.
lie got up and crushed his Gig
arctic upon the window sill. Vera
came into the room and placed
knives and forks upon the table.
Get ready to eat, you-all,p the
mother called.
lie sat at the table. The odor of
frying bacon and boiling coffee
drifted to him from behind the
curtain. His mothers voice float
ed to him in song.
Life il like a mountain railroad
With an engineer that's Grave
We must max, the run successful
From the cradle to the grace =.
The song irked him and he was
glad when she stopped and came
into the room with a pot Of cot
fee and plate Of crinkled ba-
con. Vera brought the bread in and
they sat down, His mother closed
her eyes and lowered her head and
mumbled.
Lord. we thank Thee for the
food You done placed before US for
the nourshiment Of our bodies.
! Amen" She lifted her eyes and
! without changing her tone of
voice, said, "You going to have
to learn to get up earlier TIA n
this, Bigger, to hold a job"
He did not answer or look up
You want me to pour you some
coffee?' Vera asked.
Yeah"
"You going to take the job amt
you, Bgger?' his mother asked.
lie lald down his fork and star
ed at her.
Il told you last night was go
ing to take it, How many times
you want to ask me-"
"Well, don't bite her head off,"
Vera said. "She only asked you
a question"
pass the bread and stop being
smart"
"You know you have to see Mr..
Dalton at five thirty" his mother
said.
"You done said that ten times"
81 don't want you to forget, SON."
"And you know how you can
CkhI M NV