like if they made me into a cartoon. A goddamned cartoon.?
?They fired you,? Marty Gonzalez said on the phone. Socrates had called to see if there was any fallout from his being in the papers. ?Mr. Ricci himself read the article that said you were a murderer and a produce manager in his store. Shit. I almost lost my own job. I'm sorry, Socco.?
?You don't have to be sorry, Marty,? Socrates consoled. ?I knew it couldn't last. You know some men just born to be fools. And they signt me up when I was only a child.?
Socrates moved in with Luvia Prine for a while after his incarceration. She shooed away reporters and served his meals at eight, one, and six thirty. He didn't ask her for the respite. She called Howard Shakur and told him to pass the offer on.
Their relationship was cold because Luvia would never approve of a man like him.
?But you did what you could and they treatin' you hard,? she told him on the first day he moved in. ?And Right would'a asked me to shelter you I know. And even if he's dead I will still respect his wishes in my home.?
Socrates was looking out of his window on Marvane Street while Hoagland Mars played his trumpet across the hall. The music was so loud that Socrates barely heard the weak knock at his door.
?Yeah??
?It's me. Darryl.?
?Come on in.?
He was an inch taller than the last time Socrates had seen him. His chest was wider too.
?Hey,? the boy said.
Socrates nodded.
?What you lookin' at??
?Just outside,? the ex-convict said.
?I went over your house to feed Killer and Mr. Malone said that you went here.?
?Yeah.? Socrates nodded again.
?Mr. Malone said that you could come back though. He said that you'n him could work sumpin' out on the rent if you ain't got a job.?
?He said that??
?Uh-huh.?
?Damn.?
?What you gonna do now?? Darryl asked. Socrates could see that he was worried.
?I lost my job.?
?I know. You gonna try'n work someplace else??
?Got to eat,? Socrates said. ?An' if you wanna eat then you got to work.?
?How you gonna get a job??
?Sit down, boy. Sit in that chair.?
Darryl obeyed and Socrates sat on the sill of the open window.
?I got some money put away. I got enough for a year or so if I don't eat too many steaks. You know, it was the money they give me for movin'.?
?Uh-huh.?
