SISTER THOMAS. Evenin’, Sis Taylor. SISTER TAYLOR. Evenin’. (Returns to the notice) SISTER THOMAS. Whut you doin’? Readin’dat notice Joe Clark put up ’bout de meeting? (Approaches tree) SISTER TAYLOR. Is dat whut it says? I ain’t much on readin’since I had my teeth pulled out. You know if you pull out dem eye teeth you ruins’ yo’ eye sight. (Turns back to notice) Whut it say? SISTER THOMAS. (Reading notice) “The trial of Jim Weston for assault and battery on Dave Carter wid a dangerous weapon will be held at Macedonia Baptist Church on Monday, November 10, at three o’clock. All are welcome. By order of J. Clark, Mayor of Eatonville, Florida.” (Turning to SISTER TAYLOR) Hit’s makin’on to three now. SISTER TAYLOR. You mean it’s right _now_. (Looks up at sun to tell time) Lemme go git ready to be at de trial ’cause I’m sho goin’to be there an’ I ain’t goin’to bite my tongue neither. SISTER THOMAS. I done went an’ crapped a mess of collard greens for supper. I better go put ’em on ’cause Lawd knows when we goin’to git outa there an’ my husband is one of them dat’s gointer eat don’t keer whut happen. I bet if judgment day was to happen tomorrow he’d speck I orter fix him a bucket to carry long. (She moves to exit, right) SISTER TAYLOR. All men favors they guts, chile. But what you think of all dis mess they got goin’on round here? SISTER THOMAS. I just think it’s a sin an’ a shame befo’ de livin’ justice de way dese Baptis’ niggers is runnin’round here carryin’on. SISTER TAYLOR. Oh, they been puttin’out the brags ever since Sat’day night ’bout whut they gointer do to Jim. They thinks they runs this town. They tell me Rev. CHILDERS preached a sermon on it yistiddy. SISTER THOMAS. Lawd help us! He can’t preach an’ he look like 10 cents worth of have-mercy let lone gittin’up dere tryin’to throw slams at us. Now all Elder Simms done wuz to explain to us our rights … whut you think ’bout Joe Clarke runnin’round here takin’up for these ole Baptist niggers? SISTER TAYLOR. De puzzle-gut rascal … we oughter have him up in conference an’ put him out de Methdis’ faith. He don’t b’long in there—wanter tun dat boy outa town for nothin’. SISTER THOMAS. But we all know how come he so hot to law Jim outa town—hit’s to dig de foundation out from under Elder Simms. SISTER TAYLOR. Whut he wants do dat for? SISTER THOMAS. ’Cause he wants to be a God-know-it-all an’ a God-do-it-all an’ Simms is de onliest one in this town whut will buck up to him. (Enter SISTER JONES, walking leisurely) SISTER JONES. Hello, Hoyt, hello, Lucy. SISTER TAYLOR. Goin’to de meetin’? SISTER JONES. Done got my clothes on de line an’ I’m bound to be dere. SISTER THOMAS. Gointer testify for Jim? SISTER JONES. Naw, I reckon—don’t make such difference to me which way de drop fall…. ’Tain’t neither one of ’em much good.