Part 11 (1/2)
On leaving the cemetery, the procession disbanded and each car went its oay
Just before turning into the bridge back to Harleot held up by a traffic jaa with other well-heeled Harlem pimps, madams and nuer Morris aparteco the Polo Grounds, the Harlem River and the inclined streets of the Bronx beyond
It was seven o'clock when Johnny pulled his fishtail Cadillac before the entrance
”I've co way from an Alabama cotton chopper to lose it all nOW,” he said
Everybody in the car looked at hi about?” she said warily
He didn't answer
Maht
”Coet a taxi,” she said
”You're co up and eat with us,” Johnny said ”Baby Sis and Alamena can fix supper”
She shook her head ”Me and Baby Sis will just go on ho no trouble to nobody”
”It won't be no trouble,” Johnny said
”I ain't hungry,” Maet soood for you to be alone now,” Johnny argued ”Nohen you need to be around folks”
”Baby Sis'll be there, Johnny, and I just wanna sleep”
”Okay, I'll drive you hootta ride in a taxi long as I got a car that'll run”
No one et the hell out I didn't say I was taking you”
”I' atfroave her a warning look but didn't answer
Alaot in front with Johnny and put a hand over her closed eyes to shut out the terrible day
They drove to her apartone inside, Mamie said, ”Johnny, you're too hard on womenfolks You expects them to act like men”
”I just expect them to do what they're told and what they're supposed to do”
She gave a long, sad sigh ”Most wo it, and that's what you don't understand”
They were silent for athe crowds on the sidewalk drift past in the twilight
It was a street of paradox: unwed youngon a prayer; fat black racketeers coasting past in big bright-colored convertibles with their solid gold babes, carrying huge su up the buildings with their shoulders, talking in loud voices up there in Harlesters grouping for a gang fight, se; everybody escaping the hotbox roo respite in a street made hotter by the automobile exhaust and the heat released by the concrete walls and walks
Finally Mamie said, ”Don't kill him, Johnny I'm an old lady and I tell you there ain't any reason”
Johnny kept looking at the strea her or she's asking for it What do you want me to believe?”
”It ain't drawn that fine, Johnny I'm an old lady, and I tell you, it ain't drawn that fine You're splitting snake hairs He's just a show-off and she just likes attention, that's all”
”He's gonna look good in a shroud,” Johnny said
”Take it froive her no attention You got your own affairs, your ga, which takes up all your ti”
”Aunt Mamie, that was the same trouble with my ma,” he said ”Pete worked hard for her, but she wasn't satisfied 'less she was'round with otherher But it was , and I always knowed it”
”I know, Johnny, but Dulcy ain't like that,” Maotta be patient with her She's young You kne young she hen you ,” he said in his toneless voice, still without looking at Ma around with hi around with her-- there ain't no tays about it”
”Give her a chance, Johnny,” Mamie pleaded ”Trust her”
”You don't kno onna let her nor hionna fatten no frogs for snakes And that's final”
”Oh Johnny,” she begged, sobbing into her black-lace bordered handkerchief ”There's already been one killing too many Don't kill nobody else”
For the first ti too many?”
”I know you couldn't help it that tiot to kill nobody else” She was trying to dissemble, but she talked too quickly and in too strained a voice
”That ain't what you meant,” Johnny said ”You meant about Val”
”That ain't what I said,” she said
”But that's what youabout hiain ”I just don't want to see any more blood trouble, that's all”
”You don't have to pussyfoot about what you mean,” he said in his toneless voice ”You can call his naht over there on the sidewalk It don't bother me Just say what you mean”
”You knohat I mean,” she said stubbornly ”I s, Johnny”
He tried to catch her eye, but she wouldn't aze ”You think I killed hi,” she denied
”But that's what you think”
”I ain't said nothing like that and you know it”