on' try to come dat over us, Daisy. You know who we talkin'
'bout all right ... but if you want me to come out flat footed ...
where's Jim and Dave?

DAISY: Ain't they playin' somewhere for de white folks?

LIGE: (To WALTER) Will you listen at dis gal, Walter? (To DAISY) When
I ain't been long seen you and Dave going down to de Lake.

DAISY: (Frightened) Don't y'all run tell mama where I been.

WALTER: Well, you tell us which one you laks de best and we'll wipe
our mouf (Gesture) and say nothin'. Dem boys been de best of friends
all they life, till both of 'em took after you ... then good-bye, Katy
bar de door!

DAISY: (Affected innocence) Ain't they still playin' and dancin'
together?

LIGE: Yeah, but that's 'bout all they do 'gree on these days. That's
de way it is wid men, young and old.... I don't keer how long they
been friends and how thick they been ... a woman kin come between 'em.
David and Jonather never would have been friends so long if Jonather
had of been any great hand wid de wimmen. You ain't never seen no two
roosters that likes one another.

DAISY: I ain't tried to break 'em up.

WALTER: Course you ain't. You don't have to. All two boys need to do
is to git stuck on de same girl and they done broke up ... _right
now_! Wimmen is something can't be divided equal.

(Re-enter JOE LINDSAY and CLARK with the groceries. DAISY jumps up and
grabs the packages.)

LIGE: (To DAISY) Want some of us ... me ... to go long and tote yo'
things for you?

DAISY: (Nervously) Naw, mama is riding her high horse today. Long as I
been gone it wouldn't do for me to come walking up wid nobody. (She
exits hurriedly right.)

(All the men watch her out of sight in silence.)

CLARK: (Sighing) I God, know whut Daisy puts me in de mind of?

HAMBO: No, what? (They all lean together.)

CLARK: I God, a great big mango ... a sweet smell, you know, Th a
strong flavor, but not something you could mash up like a strawberry.
Something with a body to it.

(General laughter, but not obscene.)

HAMBO: (Admiringly) Joe Clark! I didn't know you had it in you!

(MRS. CLARK enters from store door and they all straighten up
guiltily)

CLARK: (Angrily to his wife) Now whut do you want? I God, the minute I
set down, here you come....

MRS. CLARK: Somebody want a stamp, Jody. You know you don't 'low me to
bove wid de post office. (HE rises sullenly and goes inside the
store.)

BRAZZLE: Say, Hambo, I didn't see you at our Su