“That’s what that old man said, and sat down. You could have heard a pin drop if ary one had dropped, but nary one dropped. Well, then Mrs. Maxwell-Reeves got up and tried to calm the waters. But she made matters worse, and that feather behind her ear was shaking like a leaf. She pulled at her glasses but she could not get them on.

“She said, “Doctor, we know you are a great man, but, to tell the truth, we have been kinder vague about just what you have done.’

“The old man said, ‘I ain’t done nothing but eat at banquets all my life, and I am great just because I am honored by you tonight. Is that clear?’

“The lady said, ‘That’s beautiful and so gracious. Thanks. It sounds so much like Father Divine.’

“The old man said, ‘Father Divine is a genius at saying the unsayable. That is why he is great and because he also gives free potatoes with his gospel—and potatoes are just as important to the spirit as words. In fact, more so. I know.’

“‘Do you really think so, Doctor?’

“‘Indeed, or I wouldn’t have come here at all tonight. I ate in spite of the occasion. I still need a potato and some meat—not honor.’

“‘We are proud to give you both,’ said Mrs. Sadie Maxwell-Reeves.

“‘Compliment returned,’ said the old man. ‘The tickets you sold to this affair on the strength of my name are feeding us all.’

“Mrs. Sadie Maxwell-Reeves came near blushing, but she couldn’t quite make it, being brownskin. I don’t know what I did, but everybody turned and looked at me.

“I said, ‘Joyce, I got to go have a smoke.’

“Joyce said, ‘This is so embarrassing! You laughing out loud! Oh!’

“I said, ‘It’s the best Six Dollars’ worth of banquet I ever had (Because I paid for them tickets although Joyce bought them.) I said, ‘If you ever want to take me to another banquet in honor, I will go, though I don’t reckon there will be another one this good.’

“‘You have a low sense of humor, Mr. Semple,’ said Joyce, all formal and everything like she does when she’s mad. ‘Shut up so I can hear the benediction.’

“Reverend Patterson Smythe prayed. Then it were over. I beat it on out of there and had my smoke whilst I was waiting for Joyce, because she looked mad. On the way home I stopped at the Wonder Bar and had two drinks, but Joyce would not even come in the back room. She waited in the cab. She said I were not the least bit cultural. Still and yet, I thought that old man made sense. I told Joyce, just like he said, ‘It is more important to eat than to be honored, ain’t it?’