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.He had not the slightest difficulty in thinking of things for which tothank God; he found his life full of such tl)ings.He felt a visceralpleasure in the gleam of the mahogany dining table and the sparkle ofthe Waterford chandelier overhead, and in the heft of the sterling withwhich he now ate.He had chosen none of these things, but he had beenthrilled to be able to allow his wife to choose them.His greatestpersonal satisfaction came from his ability to provide for his family,for his church, and for a longline of Baptist preachers who had found their meager stipends swelledby clothing from his store or cash from his pocket shyly pressed uponthem.He was happy to have his family about him, his wife, hisstepchildren, and his daughter-in-law, but he was worried about Billy.There had been something of a void in his life since Billy had become aman and moved beyond his benevolence, and since he could no longer buyhim bicycles or send him to law school, he could only worry."Billy,I've been hearing some talk about this business with Marshall Parker.Eloise, will you pass the gravy, please?" "What've you been hearing,Mr.Fowler?" They all called him Mr.Fowler, even Carrie."I wasselling a man a suit yesterday, and I heard two women talking overbehind one of the dress racks.Emmett Spence's wife was one of them.Inever liked that girl much.Never liked Emmett much, either.Maybethey deserve each other." "What did Sylvia Spence have to say aboutit?" "Oh, she was going on about you having a 'nigger practice, as shecalled it." "Well, Sylvia's got a big chip on her shoulder, I guess.Emmett managed to stay out of the draft because he was a farmer--" "Afarmer's son, maybe.Not much of a farmer." "That's the truth.Buthe and Sylvia seem to be real touchy about veterans, and, Lord knows,they've got no love for colored people.Word is, Emmett's in the Klan.Could I have another biscuit, Mama?."I've heard that." "So Iguess Marshall Parker represents all the things they hate most--aNegro, and one with a good war record and a good business.You're notworried about my helping Marshall out, are you?" "Goodness gracious,no.I think Marshall's a good boy.His daddy's been working at thechurch for years, and I think he got brought up right.I let him havea charge account when he got out of the service, and he's paid his billbetter than most white folks.I'm glad to see a colored boy workinghard and doing well, too.It just bothers me to hear folks trying totear you down that way.Pass the chicken, Carrie." "Well, you can'tplease everybody, not even in politics.If I've got to have enemiesI'd just as soon Emmett and Sylvia SpenceCarrie Lee Fowler spoke up."Now, Billy, you shouldn't have I man foryour enemy if you can help it." "Mama, I feel the same way, but whatshould I do to make Spence my friend.What do you think I shoulddo?"Carried laughed wryly."Well, you've got me there.I guess anythingyou might do to make Emmett your friend might get you in trouble withthe Lord.Can I serve you some more corn, Mr.Fowler?" Patricialooked puzzled."I don't undrstand why the Spences hate blacks somuch." "Well," said Billy, "from what I hear, Hoss Spence di.d."t ::have much, came from a family of dirt farmers, folks that night I havehad to compete with Negroes for sharecropping.Folks like ii thatsometimes hate Negroes because they feel they're a threat to : theirvrosperity.I guess maybe Emmett just inherited that wew of thingsfrom Hoss.I expect his children will inherit it from ihim.It's ashame' that sort of feeling has to go on and on.There's no reason forit."Mr.Fowler spoke up again."Billy, what do you reckon thatWas all about, out at, Marshall's?"Well, it's pretty clear to me that somebody wanted to see if Marshallin a lot of trouble.""Who do you think?""Unless Marshall has a problem with somebody I don't know about, and Ithink he'd tell ma if he did, then it seems to me that;! MickeY Shelton would make a good candlate.Marshall's giving himsome unwanted competition, I guess.I think Sonny Butts could be mixedup in it, too.He and Marshall had some sort of argument, so Sonny'smad at him, and Sonny's in a position to handle the police side of asituation like this."Mr.Fowler nodded."I wouldn't be surprised.Sonny's always been alittle tOO slick for my liking.He knows how to butter folks up, but Iwouldn't trust him much.He ran up a big bill at the store, and I hadto stay on him to collect it
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