Page:The Blacker the Berry - Thurman - 1929.djvu/135

 “If you’re not goin’ to work ever, you might as well quit. I don’t see no sense in working two days and laying off three.”

“I’m goin’ to quit the damn job anyway. I been working steady now since last fall.”

“I thought it was about time you quit.” Braxton had stripped off his white full dress shirt, put on his bathrobe, and started out of the room, to go downstairs to the telephone. Alva reached across the bed and pulled up the shade, blinked at the inpouring daylight and lay himself back down, one arm thrown across his forehead. He had slipped off into a state of semi-consciousness again when Braxton returned.

“The girl said she’d tell the boss. Asked who I was as usual.” He went into the alcove to finish undressing, and put on his pajamas. Alva looked up.

“You goin’ to bed?”

“Yes, don’t you think I want some sleep?”

“Thought you was goin’ to look for a job?”

“I was, but I hadn’t figured on staying out all night.”

“Always some damn excuse. Where’d you go?”

“Down to Flo’s.”

“Who in the hell is Flo?”

“That little yaller broad I picked up at the cabaret last night.”

“I thought she had a nigger with her.”