ANY DAY NOW
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Rufus said, with an astonishing and a menacing humility,
"I guess you don't think she's good enough for you."
"Oh, shit. You don't think she's good enough for
you."
"No,' said Leona, and both men turned to watch her,
"ain't neither one of you got it right. Rufus don't think he's
good enough for
me!'
She and Rufus stared at each other. A tugboat whistled,
far away. Rufus smiled.
"You see?
You
bring it up
all
the time.
You
the one who
brings it up. Now, how you expect me to make it with a bitch
like you?"
"It's the way you was raised," she said, "and 1 guess you
just can't help it."
Again, there was silence. Leona pressed her lips together
and her eyes filled with tears. She seemed to wish to call the
words back, to call time back, and begin everything over
again. But she could not think of anything to say and the
silence stretched. Rufus pursed his lips.
"Go on, you slut," he said, "go on and make it with your
wop lover. He ain't going to be able to do you no good. Not
now. You be back. You can't do without me now." And he lay
face downward on the bed. "Me, I'll get me a good night's
sleep for a change."
Vivaldo pushed Leona to the door, backing out of the
room, watching Rufus.
"I'll be back," he said.
"No, you won't," said Rufus. "I'll kill you
if
you do."
Leona looked at
him
quickly, bidding him to be silent,
and Vivaldo closed the door behind
him.
"Leona," he asked, when they were in the streets, "how
long has this been going on? Why do you take it?"
"Why," asked Leona, wearily, "do people take anything?
Because they can't help it, 1 guess. Well, that's me. Before
God, 1 don't know what to do." She began to cry again. The
streets were very dark and empty. "I know he's sick and 1 keep
