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relaxed a little。
Instantly certain recollections came to him。 He couldn't
remember coming home with this man； but things that had
happened later were clearer now。 He had waked up soaking in
a tub of cold water； and afterward they drank coffee and
talked。 He had got a lot of things off his chest and the man had
listened。 He had talked himself hoarse； but he could remember
the expressions on the man's face better than anything that was
said。 They had gone to bed in the morning with the shade
pulled down so no light could come in。 At first he would keep
waking up with nightmares and have to turn the light on to get
himself clear again。 The light would wake this fellow also； but
he hadn't complained at all。
'How come you didn't kick me out last night？' The man only
smiled again。 Jake wondered why he was so quiet。 He looked
around for his clothes and saw that his suitcase was on the
floor by the bed。 He couldn't remember how he had got it back
from the restaurant where he owed for the drinks。 His books； a
white suit； and some shirts were all there as he had packed
them。 Quickly he began to dress himself。
An electric coffee…pot was perking on the table by the
47
time he had his clothes on。 The man reached into the pocket of
the vest that hung over the back of a chair。 He brought out a
card and Jake took it questioningly。 The man's name—John
Singer—was engraved in the center； and beneath this； written
in ink with the same elaborate precision as the engraving；
there was a brief message。
I am a deaf…mute； but I read the lips and understand what is
said to me。 Please do not shout。
The shock made Jake feel light and vacant。 He and John
Singer just looked at each other。
'I wonder how long it would have taken me to find that out；' he
said。
Singer looked very carefully at his lips when he spoke…he had
noticed that before。 But a dummy！
They sat at the table and drank hot coffee out of blue cups。
The room was cool and the half…drawn shades softened the
hard glare from the windows。 Singer brought from his closet a
tin box that contained a loaf of bread； some oranges； and
cheese。 He did not eat much； but sat leaning back in his chair
with one hand in his pocket。 Jake ate hungrily。 He would have
to leave the place immediately and think things over。 As long
as he was stranded he ought to scout around for some sort of
job in a hurry。 The quiet room was too peaceful and
comfortable to worry in —he would get out and walk by
himself for a while。
'Are there any other deaf…mute people here？' he asked。 *You
have many friends？'
Singer was still smiling。 He did not catch on to the words at
first； and Jake had to repeat them。 Singer raised his sharp； dark
eyebrows and shook his head。
'Find it lonesome？'
The man shook his head in a way that might have meant either
yes or no。 They sat silently for a little while and then Jake got
up to leave。 He thanked Singer several times for the night's
lodging； moving his lips carefully so that he was sure to be
understood。 The mute only smiled again and shrugged his
shoulders。 When Jake asked if he could leave his suitcase
under the bed for a few days the mute nodded that he could。48
Then Singer took his hands from his pocket and wrote
carefully on a pad of paper with a silver pencil。 He shoved the
pad over toward Jake。
/ can put a mattress on the floor and you can stay here until
you find a place。 I am out most of the day。 It will not be any
trouble。
Jake felt his lips tremble with a sudden feeling of gratefulness。
But he couldn't accept。 'Thanks；' he said； 'I already got a place。'
As he was leaving the mute handed him a pair of blue
overalls； rolled into a tight bundle； and seventy…five cents。 The
overalls were filthy and as Jake recognized them they aroused
in him a whirl of sudden memories from the past week。 The
money； Singer made him understand； had been in his pockets。
'Adios；' Jake said。 Til be back sometime soon。'
He left the mute standing in the doorway with his hands still
in his pockets and the half…smile on his face。 When he had
gone down several steps of the stairs he turned and waved。
The mute waved back to him and closed his door。
Outside the glare was sudden and sharp against his eyes。 He
stood on the sidewalk before the house； too dazzled at first by
the sunlight to see very clearly。 A youngun was sitting on the
banisters of the house。 He had seen her somewhere before。 He
remembered the boy's shorts she was wearing and the way she
squinted her eyes。
He held up the dirty roll of overalls。 1 want to throw these
away。 Know where I can find a garbage can？'
The kid jumped down from the banisters。 'It's in the back yard。
I'll show you。'
He followed her through the narrow； dampish alley at the side
of the house。 When they came to the back yard Jake saw that
two Negro men were sitting on the back steps。 They were both
dressed in white suits and white shoes。 One of the Negroes
was very tall and his tie and socks were brilliant green。 The
other was a light mulatto of average height。 He rubbed a tin
harmonica across his knee。 In contrast with his tall companion
his socks and tie were a hot red。
The kid pointed to the garbage can by the back fence
49
and then turned to the kitchen window。 'Portia！' she called。
'Highboy and Willie here waiting for you。
'
A soft voice answered from the kitchen。 'You neen holler so
loud。 I know they is。 I putting on my hat right now。
'
Jake unrolled the overalls before throwing them away。 They
were stiff with mud。 One leg was torn and a few drops of
blood stained the front。 He dropped them in the can。 A Negro
girl came out of the house and joined the white…suited boys on
the steps。 Jake saw that the youngun in shorts was looking at
him very closely。 She changed her weight from one foot to the
other and seemed excited。
'Are you kin to Mister Singer？' she asked。
'Not a bit。
'
'Good friend？
'
'Good enough to spend the night with him。
'
'I just wondered
'
'Which direction is Main Street？
'
She pointed to the right Two blocks down this way。
'
Jake combed his mustache with his fingers and started off。 He
jingled the seventy…five cents in his hand and bit his lower lip
until it was mottled and scarlet。 The three Negroes were
walking slowly ahead of him； talking among themselves。
Because he felt lonely in the unfamiliar town he kept close
behind them and listened。 The girl held both of them by the
arm。 She wore a green dress with a red hat and shoes。 The
boys walked very close to her。
'What we got planned for this evening？' she asked。
'It depend entirely upon you； Honey；' the tall boy said。 〃Willie
and me don't have no special plans。'
She looked from one to the other。 'You all got to decide。'
'Well' said the shorter boy in the red socks。 'Highboy and
me thought m…maybe us three go to church。'
The girl sang her answer in three different tones。 'O— K—
And after church I got a notion I ought to go and set with
Father for a while—just a short while。' They turned at the first
corner； and Jake stood watching them a momen