Kevin Wade Johnson
I ordered staples and stores without any trouble, and went back outside to find a florid fellow questioning the wagon driver. The slave put his deed back in a pocket, and his questioner nodded and strolled over to me. "New in town," he observed. "Passin' through," I replied, pushing my hat back off my forehead. "Come in on that there train?" he said, lifting his chin to point. "Yep," I said. "Right nice," he observed. "Yep," I agreed. "Buyin' food?" "Yep." Why change a winning response? "Got any slaves aboard?" "Dunno," I said. "You don't know?" He seemed incredulous. "Nope." I grinned at him. "Don't go 'round askin' folks for deeds." "You gettin' smart with me, boy?" "Nope," I said equably. "Ma allus said, I ever get smart, that'll be a first." He stared at me awhile, then finally said, "Your ma was right." "Gen'rally so," I agreed. He stood with me while bags and barrels got brought out and loaded onto the wagon. "Quite a load," he said. "Yep," I said. "You ain't seen the half of it." "Gettin' more?" "Yep," I said. "This is 'bout half." "For a body as dumb as you, boy, you sure walk the edge o' smart." "Well, thank 'ee kindly, sir," I beamed. "Aw, go on," he said with disgust.
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