These Polocks. Their heads have no occiput. They are flat behind. It is
why when they put on their American hats the things slip down about
their ears. The nigger's head isn't that way. You know how the bump goes
out behind in so many of them. The club sandwich on her plate kept
sliding apart, the top slice of bread would slip. Then she took the
pieces in her fingers and poked the lettuce in under the sheet. On her
breast was a black pin. It formed a circle. She looked up with her mouth
full of food and resting both elbows on the table chewed America
thoughtfully while she held the state of Maryland in her firm fingers.
The ends of each finger were stubby, the nails cut short and as clean as
well manicured nails could well be. Clatter, clatter, clatter. He could
see himself in the plate glass behind her. He was conscious of his hat
which he had not removed. He was at this table with these five
women--one of them young, ready--and he had not removed his hat. There
was in fact no place to put it.
I am begging, frankly. Ten cents a ticket. I have to raise fifty dollars
by the end of next week. We want to fit up a room in our hall where the
colored working girls can come and rest. On Thursdays we serve tea. Then
they go back to the office. When the impact is over the man must think.
I tell you I do not contemplate with relish seeing my children bred out
of all these girls. Is it wrong? Well, I thought you said you had an
appetite. Impregnate eighty of them, right and left as you see them here
in this room. It would not be impossible. I cannot think of my children
running about in the environment in which these have to live. My dear
sir, you are a fool. You are lying to yourself--As to the girls, I
frankly desire them. I desire many, many, many.
There she sat on the bench of the subway car looking idly about, being
rushed under the river at great speed to the kitchen of her mother's
flat. Malodorous mother. Or wrinkled hard-put-to-it mother. Savior of
the movies. After the impact his great heart had expanded so as to
include the whole city, every woman young and old there he having
impregnated with sons and daughters. For everyone loved him. And he knew
how to look into their eyes with both passion and understanding. Each
had taken him to her soul of souls where the walls were papered with
editorials from the Journal and there he had made himself father to her
future child. As they went upstairs he saw how her heels were worn--Who
will understand the hugeness of my passion?
But he had understood. The truth lay under the surface. Why then not--No
two can remain together without training. Who better than that one who
is practiced. The faithful husband of the clothing store madam is used
to her. They functionate well together. He puts his hat in the right
place. His money in the right bank. His arm fitted in just the posture
best suited to their mutual height and width. All their practices were
mated.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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