“They didn’t wear neither one in them woods where I came from. Besides I didn’t start investigating womens until I were eight. Up to then I was playing agates and yo-yo’s.”

“Oh, so you remember when each youngster had a yo-yo. That’s not exactly a recent toy. You were probably in your teens when boys were making crystal-set radios with ear phones.”

“If I were making them, I will not admit it,” said Simple. “But I do remember when folks didn’t have Frigidaires. My mama used to get her ice from an ice-man in town. And Aunt Lucy hung her butter down in the well in the country. In those days a kid would do an errand for a penny—because a penny was worth a nickel. Now it is hard to get one to do an errand for a dime. Damn was a bad word then—even without God in front of it. Ladies didn’t smoke. And Madam Walker’s would lay it down when nothing else would—so slick a fly couldn’t get his bearings. When a boy had a birthday, your uncle gave you a dollar watch—an Elgin. Them was the days!”

“Watch out, you’re giving yourself away if your memory goes back that far. You’re ancient, man, you’re ancient!”

“I only heard abut them things.”

“Anyhow, to get back to the blues. Let me ask you about one more personality we forgot—Ma Rainey.”

“Great day in the morning! Ma! That woman could sing some blues! I loved Ma Rainey.”

“You are not only as old as I am, you’re older! I scarcely remember her myself. Ma Rainey is a legend to me.”

“A who?”

“A myth.”

“Ma Rainey were too dark to be a mist. But she really could sing the blues. I will not deny Ma Rainey, even to hide my age. Yes, I heard her! I am proud of hearing her! To tell the truth, if I stop and listen, I can still hear her:

Wonder where my

Yee-ooo!

Easy rider’s gone …

Great day in the morning!

Done left me …

New gold watch in pawn …

Or else:

Troubled in mind, I’m blue—

But I won’t be always.

The sun’s gonna shine in

My back door someday …

“One thing I got to be thankful for, even if it do make me as old as you, is I heard Ma Rainey.”

Once in a Wife-time

Once in a Wife-Time

“I’M STILL hoping it will get here in time for Christmas,” said Simple.

“What?”

“My divorce. But I just got word from that lawyer in Baltimore that he had been held up until he got my money before completing the process. He also writ me concerning on what my wife bases our divorce, now that I have paid. And, don’t you know, that woman claims I deserted her.”

“Well, did you?”

“I did not. She put me out.”