The Mule-Bone

lo⁠ ⁠… one! Jumping another checker. La, sol, fa, me, do⁠ ⁠… two! Another jump. Do, sol, re, me, lo⁠ ⁠… three! Jumping a third. Lo, sol, fa, me, re⁠ ⁠… four! The crowd begins to roar with laughter. Lum Boger returns, looking on. Children come drifting back again playing chick-me-chick-me-cranie crow. Voice Oh, ha! Done got the ol’ tush hog. Another Voice Thought you couldn’t be beat, Brother Mayor? Clark Peeved, gets up and goes into the store mumbling. Oh, I coulda beat you if I didn’t have this store on my mind. Saturday afternoon and I got work to do. Lum, ain’t I told you to keep them kids from playin’ right in front of this store? Lum makes a pass at the nearest half-grown boy. The kids dart around him teasingly. Another Voice Eh, heh.⁠ ⁠… Hambo done run him on his store⁠ ⁠… done run the ol’ coon in his hole. Another Voice That ain’t good politics, Hambo, beatin’ the Mayor. Another Voice Well, Hambo, you don’t got to be so hard at checkers, come on let’s see what you can do with de cards. Lum Boger there got his hands full nursin’ the chilluns. Another Voice At the table. We ain’t playin’ for money, nohow, Deacon. We just playin’ a little Florida Flip. Hambo Ya all can’t play no Florida Flip. When I was a sinner there wasn’t a man in this state could beat me playin’ that game. But I’m a deacon in Macedonia Baptist now and I don’t bother with the cards no more. Voice at Card Table All right, then, come on here Tony. To man with basket on steps. Let me catch your jack. Taylor Looking toward door. I don’t reckon I got time. I guess my wife gonna get through buying out that store some time or other and want to go home. Old Man On opposite side of porch from card game. I bet my wife would know better than expect me to sit around and wait for her with a basket. Whyn’t you tell her to tote it on home herself? Taylor Sighing and shaking his head. Eh, Lawd! Voice at Card Table Look like we can’t get nobody to come into this game. Seem like everybody’s scared a us. Come on back here, Lum, and take your hand. Lum makes a final futile gesture at the children. Lum Ain’t I tole you little Haitians to stay away from here? Children scatter teasingly only to return to their play in front of the store later on. Lum comes up on the porch and rejoins the card game. Just as he gets seated, Mrs. Clark comes to the door of the store and calls him. Mrs. Clark Drawlingly. Columbus! Lum Wearily. Ma’am? Mrs. Clark De Mayor say for you to go round in de backyard and tie up old lady Jackson’s mule what’s trampin’ aup all de tomatoes in my garden. Lum All right. Leaving card game. Wait till I come back, folkses. Lige Oh, hum! Yawning and putting down the deck of cards. Lum’s sho a busy marshall. Say, ain’t Dave and Jim been round here yet? I feel kinder like hearin’ a little music ’bout now. Boy Naw, they ain’t been here today. You-all know they ain’t so thick nohow as they was since Daisy Bailey come back and they started runnin’ after her. Woman You mean since she started runnin’ after them, the young hussy. Mrs. Clark In doorway. She don’t mean ’em no good. Walter That’s a shame, ain’t it now? Enter Lum from around back of store. He jumps on the porch and takes his place at the card box. Lum To the waiting players. All right, boys! Turn it on and let the bad luck happen. Lige My deal. He begins shuffling the cards with an elaborate fan-shape movement. Voice at Table Look out there, Lige, you shuffling mighty lot. Don’t carry the cub to us. Lige Aw, we ain’t gonna cheat you⁠ ⁠… we gonna beat you. He slams down the cards for Lum Boger to cut. Wanta cut ’em? Lum No, ain’t no need of cutting a rabbit out when you can twist him out. Deal ’em. Lige deals out the cards. Clark’s Voice Inside the store. You, Mattie! Mrs. Clark, who has been standing in the door, quickly turns and goes inside. Lige Y‑e‑e‑e! Spades! The game is started. Lum Didn’t snatch that jack, did you? Lige Aw, no, ain’t snatched no jack. Play. Walter Lum’s partner. Well, here it is, partner. What you want me to play for you? Lum Play jus’ like I’m in New York, partner. But we gotta try to catch that jack. Lige Threateningly. Stick out your hand and draw back a nub. Walter Thomas plays. Walter I’m playin’ a diamond for you, partner. Lum I done tole you you ain’t got no partner. Lige Heh, Heh! Partner, we got ’em. Pull off wid your king. Dey got to play ’em. When that trick is turned, triumphantly: Didn’t I tell you, partner? Stands on his feet and slams down with his ace violently. Now, come up under this ace. Aw, hah, look at ol’ low, partner. I knew I was gonna catch ’em. When Lum plays. Ho, ho, there goes the queen.⁠ ⁠… Now, the jack’s a gentleman.⁠ ⁠… Now, I’m playin’ my knots. Everybody plays and the hand is ended. Partner, high, low, jack and the game and four. Walter Give me them cards. I believe you-all done give me the cub that time. Look at me⁠ ⁠… this is Booker T. Washington dealing these cards. Shuffles cards grandly and gives them to Lige to cut. Wanta cut ’em? Lige Yeah, cut ’em and shoot ’em. I’d cut behind my ma. He cuts the cards. Walter Turning to player at left, Frank, Lige’s partner. What you saying, Frank? Frank I’m beggin’. Lige is trying to peep at cards. Walter Turning to Lige. Stop