Read Online My Sister's Hand in Mine by Jane Bowles - Free Book Online Page B

said.
    â€œA dollar,” Mrs. Copperfield repeated after her. Mr. Copperfield, who had been standing nearby at the curb, came closer to them.
    â€œFrieda,” he said, “let’s walk down some more streets.”
    â€œOh, please!” said Mrs. Copperfield. “Wait a minute.”
    â€œA dollar is the best price I can make,” said the Negress.
    â€œIf you care to stay here,” suggested Mr. Copperfield, “I’ll walk around a bit and come back for you in a little while. Maybe you’d better have some money with you. Here is a dollar and thirty-five cents, just in case.…”
    â€œI want to talk to her,” said Mrs. Copperfield, looking fixedly into space.
    â€œI’ll see you, then, in a few minutes. I’m restless,” he announced, and he walked away.
    â€œI love to be free,” Mrs. Copperfield said to the woman after he had left. “Shall we go into your little room? I’ve been admiring it through the window.…”
    Before she had finished her phrase the woman was pushing her through the door with both hands and they were inside the room. There was no rug on the floor, and the walls were bare. The only adornments were those which had been visible from the street. They sat down on the bed.
    â€œI had a little gramophone in that corner over there,” said the woman. “Someone who came off a ship lent it to me. His friend came and took it back.”
    â€œTe-ta-ta-tee-ta-ta,” she said and tapped her heels for a few seconds. She took both Mrs. Copperfield’s hands in her own and pulled her off the bed. “Come on now, honey.” She hugged Mrs. Copperfield to her. “You’re awful little and very sweet. You are sweet, and maybe you are lonesome.” Mrs. Copperfield put her cheek on the woman’s breast. The smell of the theatrical gauze reminded her of her first part in a school play. She smiled up at the Negress, looking as tender and as gentle as she was able.
    â€œWhat do you do in the afternoons?” she asked the woman.
    â€œPlay cards. Go to a movie.…”
    Mrs. Copperfield stepped away from her. Her cheeks were flamed-red. They both listened to the people walking by. They could now hear every word that was being said outside the window. The Negress was frowning. She wore a look of deep concern.
    â€œTime is gold, honey,” she said to Mrs. Copperfield, “but maybe you’re too young to realize that.”
    Mrs. Copperfield shook her head. She felt sad, looking at the Negress. “I’m thirsty,” she said. Suddenly they heard a man’s voice saying:
    â€œYou didn’t expect to see me back so soon, Podie?” Then several girls laughed hysterically. The Negress’s eyes came to life.
    â€œGive me one dollar! Give me one dollar!” she screamed excitedly at Mrs. Copperfield. “You have stayed your time here anyway.” Mrs. Copperfield hurriedly gave her a dollar and the Negress rushed out into the street. Mrs. Copperfield followed her.
    In front of the house several girls were hanging onto a heavy man who was wearing a crushed linen suit. When he saw Mrs. Copperfield’s Negress in the lavender dress, he broke away from the others and put his arms around her. The Negress rolled her eyes joyously and led him into the house without so much as nodding good-by to Mrs. Copperfield. Very shortly the others ran down the street and Mrs. Copperfield was left alone. People passed by on either side of her, but none of them interested her yet. On the other hand, she herself was of great interest to everyone, particularly to those women who were seated in front of their doors. She was soon accosted by a girl with fuzzy hair.
    â€œBuy me something, Momma,” said the girl.
    As Mrs. Copperfield did not answer but simply gave the girl a long sad look, the girl said:
    â€œMomma, you can pick it out yourself. You can buy me even a feather, I don’t