“You never know anything important,” said Simple. “All you know is to argue about race problems. Tonight I would not care if all the race problems in the world was to descend right on New York. I would not care if Rankin himself would be elected Mayor and the Ku Klux Klan took over the City Council. I would not care if Mississippi moved to Times Square. But nobody better not harm Joyce, I’m telling you, even if she has walked out of my life. That woman is my life, so nobody better not touch a hair of her head. Buddy-o, wait for me here whilst I walks by her house to see if there’s a light in her window. I just want to know if she got home from work safe tonight.”

“She’s been getting home safely by herself all these years,” I said. “Why are you so worried tonight?”

“Please don’t start no whys and wherefores.”

“I sympathize with you—still, there are always ameliorating circumstances.”

“I don’t know what that word means,” said Simple, “but all that rates with me now is what to say to that girl—if I ever get a chance to say anything. If she does not come to the door when I ring this time, if I see a light I am going to holler.”

“Since she lives on the third floor, you can hardly play Romeo and climb up,” I said. “Still, I don’t believe Joyce would relish having her name called aloud in the street.”

“If she don’t let me through the door, I will have to call her,” said Simple. “I can explain by saying that I have lost my mind, that she has driv me crazy. And I will stand in front of her house all night if she don’t answer.”

“The law would probably remove you,” I said.

“They would have to use force to do it,” said Simple. “I wouldn’t care if the polices broke my head, anyhow. Joyce done broke my heart.”

“You’ve got it bad,” I said.

“Worse than bad,” moaned Simple. “Here, take this quarter and buy yourself a beer whilst you wait till I come back.”

“I have some affairs of my own to attend to,” I protested, “so I can’t wait all night.”

“I thought you was my ace-boy,” he said as he turned away. “But everybody lets you down when trouble comes. If you can’t wait, then don’t. To hell with you! Don’t!”

I started to say I would wait. But Simple was gone.

A Letter from Baltimore

A Letter from Baltimore