8

-8.

needin—ah needs plenty stuff—but ah ain had no steady
work now for seven months. Las Job ah had ah worked for
a lady what had plenty money; ah mean ah worked full time,
and she ain paid me but five dollars a week. Collored
folks in dis town has to work for little or nothin."
"Well, when ya gits ready, lemme know," says Homer.
Bye Sugarfoots," he calls to Roberta as we drive away.
"Les stop somewhere fer a beer," Homer suggests, "my
bizness always picks up after a beer or two. We'll go
over here ta the Red Rooster Bar."
We enter the Red Rooster; it is a typical "jook joint";
there are the requisite nickelodian, booths, and small
dance floor. A placard over the bar reads:
WE DO NO BUSINESS FOR CREDIT
AND DAMN LITTLE FOR CASH
We sit in a booth and order beer. Several young Negro
men gathered at the bar talk boisterously to the light-
skinned waitress. The nickelodian breaks into a full-voiced
roar, playing a record that is currently popular:
"Hot nuts! Hot nuts!
I got the hottest nuts in town!
Anybody here wanna buy my nuts?
I got nuts for sale..."

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