The Mule-Bone

o’ your old town. Now just let some of you old half-pint Baptists let yo’ wooden God and Cornstalk Jesus fool you into hittin’ me. Threatens to throw again. There are some frightened screams and the mob is heard running back. I’m glad I’m out o’ yo’ ole town anyhow. I ain’t never comin’ back no mo’, neither. You ole ugly-rump niggers done ruint de town anyhow. There is complete silence off stage. Jim walks a few steps with his coat and guitar, then sits down on the railroad embankment facing the audience. He pulls off one shoe and pours the sand out. He holds the shoe in his hand a moment and looks wistfully back down the railroad track. Jim Lawd, folks sho is deceitful. He puts on the shoe and looks back down the track again. I never woulda thought people woulda acted like that. Laces up the shoe. Specially Dave Carter, much as me and him done progue’d ’round together goin’ in swimmin’ an’ playin’ ball an’ serenadin’ de girls an’ de white folks. He sits there gloomily silent for awhile, then looks behind him and picks up his guitar and begins to pick a tune. The music is very sad, but he trails off into, “You May Leave An’ Go to Halimuhfacks, but My Slow Drag Will Bring You Back.” When he finishes he looks at the sun and picks up his coat. Jim Reckon I better git on down de road and git some where. Lawd knows where. Stops suddenly in his tracks and turns back toward the village. Takes a step or two. All dat mess and stink for nothin’. Dave know good an’ well I didn’t meant to hurt him much. He takes off his cap and scratches his head thoroughly. Then turns again and starts on down the road left. Enter Daisy, left, walking fast and panting, her head down. They meet. Daisy Oh, hello, Jim. A little surprised and startled. Jim Not expecting her. Hello, Daisy. Embarrassed silence. Daisy I was just coming over town to see how you come out. Jim You don’t have to go way over there to find dat out⁠ ⁠… you and Dave done got me run outa town for nothin’. Daisy Putting her hand on his arm. Dey didn’t run you outa town, did dey? Jim Shaking her hand off. Whut you reckon I’m countin’ Mr. Railroad’s ties for⁠ ⁠… just to find out how many ties between here and Orlando? Daisy Hand on his arm again. Dey cain’t run you off like dat! Jim Take yo’ hands off me, Daisy! How come they cain’t run me off wid you and Dave an’⁠ ⁠… everybody ’ginst me? Daisy I ain’t opened my mouf ’gainst you, Jim. I ain’t said one word⁠ ⁠… I wasn’t even at de old trial. My madame wouldn’t let me git off. I wuz just comin’ to see ’bout you now. Jim Aw, go ’head on. You figgered I was gone too long to talk about. You was haulin’ it over to town to see Dave⁠ ⁠… dat’s whut you was doin’⁠ ⁠… after gittin’ me all messed up. Daisy Making as if to cry. I wasn’t studyin’ ’bout no Dave. Jim Hopefully. Aw, don’t tell me. Sings. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, show me a woman that a man can trust. Daisy is crying now. Jim What you crying for? You know you love Dave. I’m yo’ monkey-man. He always could do more wid you that I could. Daisy Naw, you ain’t no monkey-man neither. I don’t want you to leave town. I didn’t want y’all to be fightin’ over me, nohow. Jim Aw, rock on down de road wid dat stuff. A two-timin’ cloaker like you don’t keer whut come off. Me and Dave been good friends ever since we was born till you had to go flouncing yourself around. Daisy What did I do? All I did was to come over town to see you and git a mouf-ful of gum. Next thing I know y’all is fighting and carrying on. Jim Stands silent for a while. Did you come over there Sat’-day night to see me sho nuff, sugar babe? Daisy Everybody could see dat but you. Jim Just like I told you, Daisy, before you ever left from round here and went up North. I could kiss you every day⁠ ⁠… just as regular as pig-tracks. Daisy And I tole you I could stand it too⁠—just as regular as you could. Jim Catching her by the arm and pulling her down with him onto the rail. Set down, here, Daisy. Less talk some chat. You want me sho nuff? Hones’ to God? Daisy Coyly. ’Member whut I told you out on de lake last summer? Jim Sho nuff, Daisy? Daisy nods smilingly. Jim Sadly. But I got to go ’way. Whut we gointer do ’bout dat? Daisy Where you goin’, Jim? Jim Looking sadly down the track. God knows. Off stage from the same direction from which Jim entered comes the sound of whistling and tramping of feet on the ties. Jim Brightening. Dat’s Dave! Frowning. Wonder whut he doin’ walkin’ dis track? Looks accusingly at Daisy. I bet he’s goin’ to yo’ workplace. Daisy Whut for? Jim He ain’t goin’ to see de madame⁠—must be goin’ to see you. He starts to rise petulantly as Dave comes upon the scene. Daisy rises also. Dave Looks accusingly from one to the other. Whut y’all jumpin’ up for? I⁠ ⁠… Jim Whut you gut to do wid us business? Tain’t none of yo’ business if we stand up, set down or fly like a skeeter hawk. Dave Who said I keered? Dis railroad belongs to de man⁠—I kin walk it good as you, cain’t I? Jim Laughing exultantly. Oh, yeah, Mr. Do-Dirty! You figgered you had done run me on off so you could git Daisy all by yo’self. You was headin’ right for her workplace. Dave I wasn’t no such a thing. Jim You was.