The Mule-Bone

I don’t want to marry and leave Dave⁠ ⁠… yet awhile. Picking a chord. Dave And I ain’t gonna leave Jim. We been palling around together ever since we hollered titty mama, ain’t we, boy? Jim Sho is. Music of the guitar increases in volume. Dave shuffles a few steps and the two begin to sing. Jim

Rabbit on the log.
I ain’t got no dog.
How am I gonna git him?
God knows.

Dave

Rabbit on the log.
Ain’t got no dog.
Shoot him with my rifle
Bam! Bam!

Some of the villagers join in song and others get up and march around the porch in time with the music. Bootsie and Teets re-enter, Teets sticking her letter down the neck of her blouse. Joe Lindsay grabs Teets and Walter Thomas grabs Bootsie. There is dancing, treating and general jollification. Little children dance the parse-me-la. The music fills the air just as the sun begins to go down. Enter Daisy Taylor coming down the road toward the store. Clark Bawls out from the store porch. I God, there’s Daisy again. Most of the dancing stops, the music slows down and then stops completely. Dave and Jim greet Daisy casually as she approaches the porch. Jim Well, Daisy, we knows you, too. Dave Gal, youse jus’ as pretty as a speckled pup. Daisy Giggling. I see you two boys always playin’ and singin’ together. That music sounded right good floating down the road. Jim Yeah, child, we’se been playin’ for the white folks all week. We’se playin’ for the colored now. Dave Showing off, twirling his dancing feet. Yeah, we’re standin’ on our abstract and livin’ on our income. Old Man Um-ump, but they ain’t never workin’. Just round here playing as usual. Jim Some folks think you ain’t workin’ lessen you smellin’ a mule. He sits back down on box and picks at his guitar. Think you gotta be beatin’ a man to his barn every mornin’. Voice Glad to be round home with we-all again, ain’t you Daisy? Daisy Is I glad? I jus’ got off special early this evenin’ to come over here and see everybody. I was kinda ’fraid sundown would catch me ’fore I got round that lake. Don’t know how I’m gonna walk back to my workin’ place in the dark by muself. Dave Don’t no girl as good-lookin’ as you is have to go home by herself tonight. Jim No, cause I’m here. Dave To Daisy. Don’t you trust yourself round that like wid all them ’gators and moccasins with that nigger there, Daisy. Pointing at Jim. He’s jus’ full of rabbit blood. What you need is a real man⁠ ⁠… with good feet. Cutting a dance step. Daisy I ain’t thinking ’bout goin’ home yet. I’m goin’ in the store. Jim What you want in the store? Daisy I want some gum. Dave Starting toward door. Girl, you don’t have to go in there to git no gum. I’ll go in there and buy you a carload of gum. What kind you want? Daisy Bubble gum. Dave goes in the store with his hand in his pocket. The sun is setting and the twilight deepens. Jim Pulling package out of his pocket and laughing. Here your gum, baby. What it takes to please the ladies, I totes it. I don’t have to go get it, like Dave. What you gimme for it? Daisy A bushel and a peck, and a hug around the neck. She embraces Jim playfully. He hands her the gum, patting his shoulder as he sits on box. Oh, thank you. Youse a ready man. Jim Yeah, there’s a lot of good parts to me. You can have West Tampa if you want it. Daisy You always was a nice quiet boy, Jim. Dave Emerging from the store with a package of gum. Here’s your gum, Daisy. Jim Oh, youse late. She’s done got gum now. Chaw that yourself. Dave Slightly peeved and surprised. Hunh, you mighty fast here now with Daisy but you wasn’t that fast gettin’ out of that white man’s chicken house last week. Jim Who you talkin’ ’bout? Dave Hoo‑oo? Facetiously. You ain’t no owl. Your feet don’t fit no limb. Jim Aw, nigger, hush. Dave Aw, hush, yourself. He walks away for a minute as Daisy turns to meet some newcomers. Dave throws his package of gum down on the ground. It breaks and several children scramble for the pieces. An old man, very drunk, carrying an empty jug enters on left and staggers tipsily across stage. Mayor Joe Clark emerges from the store and looks about for his marshall. Clark Bellowing. Lum Boger! Lum Boger Eating a stalk of cane. Yessir! Clark I God, Lum, take your lazy self off that keg and go light that town lamp. All summer long you eatin’ up my melon, and all winter long you chawin’ up my cane. What you think this town is payin’ you for? Laying round here doin’ nothin’? Can’t you see it’s gettin’ dark? Lum Boger rises lazily and takes the soap box down stage, stands on it to light the lamp, discovers no oil in it and goes in store. In a few moments he comes out of store, fills the lamp and lights it. Daisy Coming back toward Jim. Ain’t you all gonna play and sing a little somethin’ for me? I ain’t heard your all’s music much for so long. Jim Play anything you want, Daisy. Don’t make no difference what ’tis I can pick it. Where’s that old coon, Dave? Looking around for his partner. Lige Calling Dave, who is leaning against post at opposite end of porch. Come here, an’ get warmed up for Daisy. Dave Aw, ma throat’s tired. Jim Leave the baby be. Daisy Come on, sing a little, Dave. Dave Going back toward Jim. Well, seeing who’s asking⁠ ⁠… all right. What song yo like, Daisy? Daisy Um‑m. Lemme think. Voice on Porch “Got on the train, didn’t have no fare.”