at.
When dance is over, boy snatches the
lolly pop again and races away and the
girl runs behind him yelling "Johnny!
You gimme my candy! Johnny!" The music
stops and the crap game gets under
way. Furious side bets for 5 and 10
cents each. Loud calls on Miss "Daisy
Dice", snake eyes, "Ada from Decatur".
Somebody suggests a soft roll, others
object on the ground that it's too
easy for the experts to cheat)

Good Black
Gimme de dice! I'm gointer play 'em like John Henry.

Lonnie
John Henry didn't bother wid de bones. He used to play Georgy Skin.

Good Black
He shot crap too. He played everythin' and everythin' he played, he
played it good. Just like he uster drive steel. If I could whip steel
like John Henry, I wouldn't stay here and nowhere else.

Cliff
Whut would yo' do?

Good Black
I'd go somewhere and keep books for somebody.

Lonnie
I know how to play John Henry.

Good Black
Well, turn it on and let de bad luck happen.
(As Lonnie plays thru a verse warming
up, all the men get interested and
start to hum. Cliffert shouts out)

Cliff
Lawd, Lawd, what evil have I done)
(They sing John Henry. At the close,
the woman who came to borrow snuff
emerges from the house still talking
back at the woman inside)

Woman
He ain't no trouble. I tole him, I says, "yo' must think youse de man
dat made side meat taste lak ham." See yo' later.
(She exits hurriedly. The crap game
goes on until a band is heard
approaching)

Lonnie
Who dead?

Cliff
Nobody. Don't you know de Imperial Elks is goin' to New York to de Elks
Grand Lodge? Yeah, bo, and they's takin' they band. Dat's supposed to be
de _finest_ band in de United States.
(The band approaches followed by a
great crow. The crap game is instantly
deserted and all follow the band)