A Song Flung Up to Heaven - Maya Angelou [37]
Dolly grinned. I said, “I don’t want to put his whole business in the street, but I have to get him back for ‘She is an old American Negro who lets rooms...’”
Dolly said, “What about ‘She is very, very old but very intelligent,’ after whispering in my ear that I was very beautiful and that I had the skin of a young country girl?”
“He said that?”
“Many times.”
“Oh, we must make him sweat, if only for a minute. He’s got to sweat.”
Our plans were concluded among peals of laughter and squeals of satisfaction, and for the next few days we had broad smirks on our faces.
Jimmy and Sam Floyd came for drinks.
Jimmy asked, “What’s going on? You are the veritable cat who has lured the canary into its gullet.”
“All I can tell you is it’s not an innocent, hopeless, defenseless canary. If anything, I may be the house cat who plans to swallow down the lion.”
“Be careful, baby. Learn from nature. How many times have you seen or heard of a tabby bearding a lion in its den?”
“I have not heard that, but I have heard of a pussy that dared to look at a queen.”
My answer caught him, and he laughed loudly. “Okay. Okay. I still say be careful, baby, and let me know how it turns out.”
Sam Floyd enjoyed the repartee with Jimmy. He laughed his little-boy coughing laugh and lit another Gauloise.
“That was quick and good, but I’m with Jim. Be careful. A big cat isn’t swallowed down easily, and it can turn awfully fast. It’s known for that.”
I advised Dolly to put her clock in her purse (she never wore a watch) because we had to time her entrance to the minute. Drinks and groceries had to be bought and food had to be prepared.
In African homes and most African-American homes, the host expects, and is expected, to offer food and beverage to guests. The provisions may be as meager as a piece of fruit and a glass of water, but they must be offered.
The sight of him at my door made me lean against the jamb. He was as beautiful as ever and as black as ever. His skin shone as if it had just been polished, and his teeth were as white as long-grain rice.
Seeing me had some effect on him, too, for he rocked back and forth a few times before he entered the apartment.
We embraced but held ourselves in check. There were too many hard words like shields across our chests, and his escort entered close behind him and stood silent as we greeted each other.
I brought out schnapps, and although I expected it, I flinched when the African poured a few drops for the elders onto my Karastan rug.
We spoke of old friends and new woes. He had not gone to Guinea, where President Nkrumah lived in exile. He said lies and gossip and rumors filled the papers and radio reports. There had been an intimation that he supported the rebels who overthrew President Nkrumah.
“Maya, you yourself know that to be a lie. I was in Mexico with Kwesi Brew when the coup took place. And even so, I was always a Nkrumaist. They called me a verandah boy, meaning one who stood on the verandah talking about independence and then worked to kick the colonials out of our country. We were among the group who brought him to power.”
I couldn’t imagine anyone ever calling him a boy, even when he was twelve years old.
The doorbell rang, and in minutes my living room was furnished with people in rich robes and colorful caftans. Different languages sang in the air. I poured drinks, and although I had a pot of chili and rice, the company was satisfied with the fruit and cheese spread on the buffet next to the silver.
At exactly five minutes to four, while the company was engrossed in the African’s conversation, I quietly went to the door and unlocked it. I picked up a glass of wine and went back to my seat.
At one minute to four, I interrupted the African. “Excuse me, but I and the other women here have a burning question I have been meaning to ask. I know you can answer.”
He obligingly turned to me.
“Will you speak of fidelity? Is the African man more faithful than the European man? And what makes him so?”
He cleared his throat and spoke. “Yes, that is a lady’s question,