Raisin in the Sun - Lorraine Hansberry [32]
MAMA (Quietly, looking at her) No—I don’t ’low it.
JOHNSON (Vigorously again) Me neither! I was just telling Isaiah yesterday when he come using it in front of me—I said, “Isaiah, it’s just like Mis’ Younger says all the time—”
MAMA Don’t you want some more pie?
JOHNSON No—no thank you; this was lovely. I got to get on over home and have my midnight coffee. I hear some people say it don’t let them sleep but I finds I can’t close my eyes right lessen I done had that laaaast cup of coffee … (She waits. A beat. Undaunted) My Goodnight coffee, I calls it!
MAMA (With much eye-rolling and communication between herself and RUTH) Ruth, why don’t you give Mis’ Johnson some coffee.
(RUTH gives MAMA an unpleasant look for her kindness)
JOHNSON (Accepting the coffee) Where’s Brother tonight?
MAMA He’s lying down.
JOHNSON Mmmmmm, he sure gets his beauty rest, don’t he? Good-looking man. Sure is a good-looking man! (Reaching out to pat RUTH’S stomach again) I guess that’s how come we keep on having babies around here. (She winks at MAMA) One thing ’bout Brother, he always know how to have a good time. And soooooo ambitious! I bet it was his idea y’all moving out to Clybourne Park. Lord—I bet this time next month y’all’s names will have been in the papers plenty—(Holding up her hands to mark off each word of the headline she can see in front of her) “NEGROES INVADE CLYBOURNE PARK—BOMBED!”
MAMA (She and RUTH look at the woman in amazement) We ain’t exactly moving out there to get bombed.
JOHNSON Oh, honey—you know I’m praying to God every day that don’t nothing like that happen! But you have to think of life like it is—and these here Chicago peckerwoods is some baaaad peckerwoods.
MAMA (Wearily) We done thought about all that Mis’ Johnson.
(BENEATHA comes out of the bedroom in her robe and passes through to the bathroom. MRS. JOHNSON turns)
JOHNSON Hello there, Bennie!
BENEATHA (Crisply) Hello, Mrs. Johnson.
JOHNSON How is school?
BENEATHA (Crisply) Fine, thank you. (She goes out.)
JOHNSON (Insulted) Getting so she don’t have much to say to nobody.
MAMA The child was on her way to the bathroom.
JOHNSON I know—but sometimes she act like ain’t got time to pass the time of day with nobody ain’t been to college. Oh—I ain’t criticizing her none. It’s just—you know how some of our young people gets when they get a little education. (MAMA and RUTH say nothing, just look at her) Yes—well. Well, I guess I better get on home. (Unmoving) ’Course I can understand how she must be proud and everything—being the only one in the family to make something of herself. I know just being a chauffeur ain’t never satisfied Brother none. He shouldn’t feel like that, though. Ain’t nothing wrong with being a chauffeur.
MAMA There’s plenty wrong with it.
JOHNSON What?
MAMA Plenty. My husband always said being any kind of a servant wasn’t a fit thing for a man to have to be. He always said a man’s hands was made to make things, or to turn the earth with—not to drive nobody’s car for ’em—or—(She looks at her own hands) carry they slop jars. And my boy is just like him—he wasn’t meant to wait on nobody.
JOHNSON (Rising, somewhat offended) Mmmmmmmmm. The Youngers is too much for me! (She looks around) You sure one proud-acting bunch of colored folks. Well—I always thinks like Booker T. Washington said that time—“Education has spoiled many a good plow hand”—
MAMA Is that what old Booker