The Mule-Bone

lak a natural man. Sister Thomas Reverend, look like you headed de wrong way. It’s almost time for de trial an’ youse all de dependence we got. Simms I know it. I’m tryin’ to find de marshall so we kin go after Jim. I wants a chance to talk wid him a minute before court sets. Sister Taylor Y’think he’ll come clear? Simms Proudly. I know it! Shakes the Bible. I’m goin’ to law ’em from Genesis to Revelation. Sister Thomas Give it to ’em, Elder. Wear ’em out! Simms We’se liable to havea new Mayor when all dis dust settle. Well, I better scuffle on down de road. Exits, left. Sister Thomas Lord, lemme gwan home an’ put dese greens on. Looks off stage left. Here come Mayor Clark now, wid his belly settin’ out in front of him like a cowcatcher! His name oughter be Mayor Belly. Sister Taylor Arms akimbo. Jus’ look at him! Tryin’ to look like a jigadier Breneral. Enter Clark hot and perspiring. They look at him coldly. Clark I God, de bear got me! Silence for a moment. How y’all feelin’, ladies? Sister Taylor Brother Mayor, I ain’t one of these folks dat bite my tongue an’ bust my gall⁠—whut’s inside got to come out! I can’t see to my rest why you cloakin’ in wid dese Baptist buzzards ’ginst yo’ own church. Mayor Clark I ain’t cloakin’ in wid none. I’m de Mayor of dis whole town I stands for de right an’ ginst de wrong⁠—I don’t keer who it kill or cure. Sister Thomas You think it’s right to be runnin’ dat boy off for nothin’? Clark I God! You call knockin’ a man in de head wid a mule bone nothin’? ’Nother thin; I done missed nine of my best-layin’ hens. I ain’t sayin’ Jim got ’em, but different people has tole me he burries a powerful lot of feathers in his backyard. I God, I’m a ruint man! He starts towards the right exit, but Lum Boger enters right. I God, Lum, I been lookin’ for you all day. It’s almost three o’clock. Hands him a key from his ring. Take dis key an’ go fetch Jim Weston on to de church. Lum Have you got yo’ gavel from de lodge-room? Clark I God, that’s right, Lum. I’ll go get it from de lodge room whilst you go git de bone an’ de prisoner. Hurry up! You walk like dead lice droppin’ off you. He exits right while Lum crosses stage towards left. Sister Taylor Lum, Elder Simms been huntin’ you⁠—he’s gone on down ’bout de barn. She gestures. Lum Boger I reckon I’ll overtake him. Exit left. Sister Thomas I better go put dese greens on. My husband will kill me if he don’t find no supper ready. Here come Mrs. Blunt. She oughter feel like a penny’s worth of have-mercy wid all dis stink behind her daughter. Sister Taylor Chile, some folks don’t keer. They don’t raise they chillun; they drags ’em up. God knows if dat Daisy wuz mine, I’d throw her down an’ put a hundred lashes on her back wid a plow-line. Here she come in de store Sat’day night acts coy and coquettish, burlesques Daisy’s walk a wringing and a twisting! Enter Mrs. Blunt, left. Mrs. Blunt How y’all sisters? Sister Thomas Very well, Miz Blunt, how you? Mrs. Blunt Oh, so-so. Mrs. Taylor I’m kickin’, but not high. Mrs. Blunt Well, thank God you still on prayin’ ground an’ in a Bible country. Me, I ain’t so many today. De niggers got my Daisy’s name all mixed up in dis mess. Mrs. Taylor You musn’t mind dat, Sister Blunt. People jus’ will talk. They’s talkin’ in New York an’ they’s talkin’ in Georgy an’ they’s talkin’ in Italy. Sister Thomas Chile, if you talk folkses talk, they’ll have you in de graveyard or in Chattahoochee one. You can’t pay no ’tention to talk. Mrs. Blunt Well, I know one thing. De man or women, chick or child, grizzly or gray, that tells me to my face anything wrong ’bout my chile, I’m goin’ to take my fist rolls up right sleeve and gestures with right fist and knock they teeth down they throat. She looks ferocious. ’Case y’all know I raised my Daisy right round my feet till I let her go up north last year wid them white folks. I’d ruther her to be in de white folks’ kitchen than walkin’ de streets like some of dese girls round here. If I do say so, I done raised a lady. She can’t help it if all dese mens get stuck on her. Mrs. Taylor You’se tellin’ de truth, Sister Blunt. That’s whut I always say: Don’t confidence dese niggers. Do, they’ll sho put you in de street. Mrs. Thomas Naw indeed, never syndicate wid niggers. Do, they will distriminate you. They’ll be an anybody. You goin’ to de trial, ain’t you? Mrs. Blunt Just as sho as you snore. An’ they better leave Daisy’s name outa dis, too. I done told her and told her to come straight home from her work. Naw, she had to stop by dat store and skin her gums back wid dem trashy niggers. She better not leave them white folks today to come traipsin’ over here scornin’ her name all up wid dis nigger mess. Do, I’ll kill her. No daughter of mine ain’t goin’ to do as she please, long as she live under de sound of my voice. She crosses to right. Mrs. Thomas That’s right, Sister Blunt. I glory in yo’ spunk. Lord, I better go put on my supper. As Mrs. Blunt exits, right, Rev. Childers enters left with Dave and Deacon Lindsay and Sister Lewis. Very hostile glances from Sisters Thomas and Taylor toward the others. Childers Good evenin’, folks. Sisters Thomas and Taylor just grunt. Mrs. Thomas moves a step or two towards exit. Flirts her skirts and exits. Lindsay Angrily.