“By not paying my landlady, not getting my laundry out of Won Hong Low’s, letting my hair stay long, getting no pressing done, neither a shoeshine. And if I don’t spend this dollar tonight—which I am about to treat us to a beer with now—I will have One Hundred and Thirty-Four. I am going to send it off to Baltimore early Monday morning, which Money Order will change Divorce Pending to Divorce Ending—signed, gold-sealed, and delivered. When I get it, it will be like manna from heaven. If you see Joyce, don’t say nothing. I want to surprise her with them papers. No more talking.”

“Not a word will I say. In fact, I will believe it myself only when I see it.”

“You will see it,” said Simple. “I have sacrificed for that day.”

“So have I,” I said.

“You have treated me royal,” said Simple, “which is why I am happy to break this One Hundred and Thirty-Fourth Dollar to treat you tonight. What will you have?”

“A beer.”

“Since I’m busting this dollar, I might as well put a quarter in the juke box. What would you like to hear?”

“If they’ve got any old-time blues on it, play them.”

“Will do,” said Simple. “But there ain’t no Bessie these days. Do you remember Bessie Smith?”

“I certainly do. And Clara?”

“I bet you don’t remember Mamie?”

“Yes, I do—all three Smiths, Bessie, Clara, and Mamie.”

“Boy, you must be older than me, because I only heard tell of Mamie. I am glad I am not as ageable as you. You’s an old Negro!”

“Come now! Let’s see what else you might remember, before we start comparing ages. Speaking of blues singers, how about Victoria Spivey?”

“You’ve gone too far back now if you remember Victoria.”

“How do you know how far back she was if you can’t recall her?”

“I just recall my Uncle Tige had one of her records when I were born which he used to play called ‘The Blacksnake Blues.’ I almost disremembers it.”

“I see. I wonder if you recall when a boy had to be fifteen or sixteen to wear long trousers. Did you ever wear knickers as a child?”

“Knickerbockers,” said Simple.

“Then your life span dates back quite a way. Did you ever see Theda Bara in the nickelodeons?”

“My mama told me about Theda.”

“Did you ever see Uncle Tom’s Cabin?”

“Simon Legree, Little Eva, Eliza and the bloodhounds? My grandma told me about all them. But I remember Clara Bow.”

“The ‘It’ Girl of the flapper age.”

“She really had It. Also I remember Nina Mae McKinney.”

“Since your interest in women goes away back, I’m wondering if you remember when girls wore corsets instead of girdles?”