Let her go, Smith, she’s just trying to do her job.
Wha’d you say, Bandyman?
Keep yer fuckin’ nose out of this.
You heard me, Gus, let her go.
Ruthie got real still as Gus snaked his hand
out of her drawers, but kept his other
tight around her waist.
Brought the molesting paw
up to his nose and sniffed.
wiped it on her skirt,
smeared a greasy signature
with his oilfield grime
on the pale blue cotton.
You want some of this, Bandyman?
Smells like nigger ass,
I think she farted on me.
Henry got up slowly,
walked across the room.
Took the mop from Ruthie,
stood just out of Gus’s reach.
Stuck the handle in his chest.
I’m not asking, Smith.
Well, well, well,
I think ole four-eyes
Bandyman’s in love.
Why ain’t I surprised?
Gus sniffed his hand again
licked his finger, blew a kiss.
Shoved her into Henry
with his boot.
Go ahead ‘an take her.
Why’nt you take her out
to your piece of shit jalopy
and stick that mop up her ass.
Then you two shit birds
can have a shit party.
Henry staggered back
as Ruthie fell against him,
she’s just a little thing,
don’t quite reach his chin.
With a sheltering arm
light on her shoulders,
he led her out
of the emergency room.
They heard the hawk and splat,
when Gus spit on the floor
behind their backs.
You ok, miss?
Maybe you should go clean up
somewhere else for a while,
these boys are used to livin’
with a lot worse than
what’s on the floor here.
I’m sure this mess can wait a spell.
Ruthie quietly said, thanks.
Looked up from the floor to his face.
To see if he’s the other kind,
the ones with all their sweet talkin’,
thinking colored girls are easy.
He’s got nice brown eyes,
like a puppy she once had.
Maybe he’s okay, but even
puppies bite sometimes.
He handed her the mop.
She stood it up in the pail,
rolled it through the swinging doors
that didn’t block out the catcalls,
and whistles, the barking laughter.
Hey lover boy, big hero, got yourself a new gal?
Gonna get yourself some dark meat?
Better give’r plenty of gravy
before you give’r the corn.
an’ don’ forget to give the little monkey
your banana for dessert.
It was just like back in Oklahoma,
nothing ever seemed to change.
She’d come out here with Daddy and Mama,
Just like these men had.
Hoping for a job, a chance for something better.
No jobs for Daddy in the oilfields though.
They said they didn’t hire colored,
he should stick to pickin’ cotton.
Just like back in Oklahoma.
They had a little shack up in Teviston,
with outdoor water, and a beat up old stove.
So when her cousin Loretta
told her about this cleaning job
at the hospital and place to stay with her,
she jumped right on it.
MIght just be the stepping stone she wanted.
Anything was better than chopping cotton up in Teviston.
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