?Nuthin',? the ex-ship welder said petulantly.
Socrates shook his head and stood up.
?I got to go talk to I,? he said.
?You gonna come back, Socrates?? Charlene wanted to know.
?Maybe in a little while. But first I got to see what I can see.?
Iula noticed Socrates' approach. Tony turned around following her gaze. The look in his eye reminded Socrates of Stony's.
he thought. The rhyme didn't make him smile.
?Hey, Tony,? Socrates said. ?I.?
Tony was of medium height and had dusky skin. His features were half the way between Negro and white. His most noticeable features were his eyes, which were both small and flat. Instead of responding he rose, kissing Iula on the cheek before walking off.
Socrates had never known Tony to be rude. He'd never seen him kiss Iula either. But he took the empty stool and slapped his hands together a couple of times to indicate that he had something to say.
?Meat loaf plate?? Iula asked.
This was also new. Iula always asked how he was doing before plying her trade.
?I wanted to ask you sumpin',? the big man grumbled.
?Well you know I'm pretty busy. This here is rush hour for the restaurant business.?
?Okay.? Socrates moved to leave but Iula put out her hand. She touched his hard forearm with three fingers. His muscles bunched together and bulged under the gentle pressure.
?Tony want me to get back together wit' him,? she said in a flat, accusing tone.
?He wanna get married again??
?That's what he said.?
The noise in the room became an irritating buzz in Socrates' ears. He flicked his powerful fingers at the side of his head and grimaced.
?You want that?? he asked.
?Ain't nobody else askin' me nuthin',? Iula said.
?That what you want? You want somebody t'ask you sumpin'??
?What I want don't matter.?
Looking at those hard lips Socrates knew he wasn't going to get kissed. He knew that she wasn't going to come over and help him plant Levering's tree.
?Well?? Iula's question was a concession to the passion she felt for the ex-con. He knew that. He knew what she wanted. He knew what he should say.
?You know how they say some folks ain't got a pot to piss in?? Socrates asked.
?Uh-huh.?
?Well I got me a pot okay,? he said. ?But it's old an' it's rusty an' it done sprung more'n one leak.?
?What you talkin' 'bout, Socrates Fortlow??
The diner didn't seem noisy any more. Now it felt as if they had all gone quiet to hear his sad excuse.
