?How do I plant it?? Socrates asked.
Socrates carried the tub from the bus stop to a phone booth on Central. He took a slip of paper from his pocket. On it he had written a phone number given to him by Bernie at Harold's Liquors the night before.
The phone only rang once.
?Hello,? she said.
?Charlene??
?Is that Socrates Fortlow??
?You recognized me, that's pretty good.?
?Stony's at home with his wife and kids,? she said.
?I really wanted to talk to you, Charry.?
?Oh??
Socrates could feel his heart beating. He took in a deep breath through his nostrils and exhaled through his mouth.
?Yeah, Charlene. I bought me a tree and I plan to plant it in my li'l yard here. An' ? well, it's kinda special.?
?Special how??
?It's for a friend. A friend that died. He died a long time ago but still I should, I mean I want to do this for him.?
?Uh-huh, I see,? Charlene said. ?But what you want from me? You wanna borrah a shovel or somethin'??
?Levering, that was my friend's name, he was a ladies' man but they had him in prison and he died there. Anyway he asked me to invite a beautiful woman over when I plant the tree and say some words. He wanted to know that a pretty girl was there for his last request.?
The phone was silent for a moment and then a moment more.
?Charlene, you there??
?Uh-huh,? she whispered.
?I don't mean to disrespect you now, sister. It's just that's what Levering ??
?You couldn't be disrespectful if you tried, Mr. Fortlow. No I don't believe that you could.?
Socrates' chest filled with air. The growing erection made him shift his position at the pay phone.
?I just meant that it would be a favor to me if you could come watch and then maybe drink a toast.?
?What time you want me??
?Tomorrah afternoon 'bout five'd be good. I mean if you ain't busy.?
?I'll be there at five.?
?I live at??
?I know where you live at. In that alley offa Central where them old boarded-up stores is, right??
?Yeah. How'd you know??
?Stony showed me once. He said how you was so poor that you just lived in a crack between two buildin's. He was makin' fun but I remembered just in case I had to come by one day.?
Socrates shifted his stance once more.
