Free Only the Strong by Jabari Asim Page B

he said. “Come on in, let’s talk. It will be like old times.”
    PeeWee Jefferson woke up to giggling. That meant his sister and her stuck-up roommates had rolled another sucker.
    He got to his feet and ambled toward the sound, scratching his balls. The three women had open suitcases spread out on the beds. They were throwing in dresses and shoes, talking a mile a minute. PeeWee heard something about Chicago.
    â€œI’ve always wanted to see the Windy City,” he said. “I hear they got some fine females up there.”
    His sister made a hissing noise. “Shut up, PeeWee. Ain’t nobody even talking to you.”
    â€œI’m your big brother, girl. Show some respect,” he said, eyeing the tangle of chains and jewelry on the night table.
    â€œI’ll show you some respect when you find some place to sleep other than my couch. Twenty-five fucking years old and ain’t got job the first.”
    â€œI want to go to Chicago with y’all.”
    â€œYou can’t, there’s a height requirement,” one of the women said. More giggling.
    â€œWe going to meet some real men and don’t need you hanging around,” his sister added. “We going to Hawthorne, play the horses and catch some big spenders.”
    â€œWho’d y’all roll last night? That looks like real gold.”
    â€œWhat makes you think we rolled somebody?”
    â€œYou didn’t get this at a prayer meeting.” He picked up one of the chains and held it to the light.
    â€œYou don’t even know what you looking at,” his sister said. “Put that shit down.”
    â€œI just want to make sure you get the best price for your haul. I can boost it for you.”
    â€œLike we need your help. Put that shit down.”
    â€œFine!” PeeWee made a big show of throwing the chain down hard on the table. “Just don’t come asking for me later,” he said.
    He left the room. Grinning, he opened his hand and looked at the ring he’d just swiped. Well, well, look what we have here.
    A large diamond was mounted on a black stone and surrounded by four smaller diamonds. Raised letters spelled “World Champions” around the outside. A major league team logo decorated one shank. “Crenshaw” was on the other.
    When PeeWee realized what he had, he thought he might turn it in and get a big reward. Then he decided that doing so might risk being linked to the crime. He’d sell it to a fence instead. But the ring warmed his hand, felt good in his palm. Holding it, he felt stronger. He felt taller. He slipped it on his biggest finger. The world looked better, too. For the first time in a long time, the dayfelt full of promise. He took it off and put it back in his pocket. I’ll just hold onto it for a while .
    A few days after Fish’s memorial service, Guts paced in the parking lot outside Aldo’s, an upscale women’s department store in the city’s West End. Pearl had started out as a customer greeter, then was promoted to elevator operator, and finally became the store’s first black salesclerk. Her post was in intimates, upstairs and far enough away to avoid offending customers uncomfortable with the idea of a Negro handling a cash register.
    She came out to the lot, looked up, saw him, and marched right at him.
    â€œYou can’t be here scaring white women. You trying to get me fired?”
    â€œIt’s your lunch break, right? I need to talk to you.”
    â€œAnd people in hell are thirsty,” Pearl snarled. “I wouldn’t give you air if you were stopped up in a jug.”
    â€œCome on, Pearl. I just want you to see something.”
    â€œIt better be a ring.”
    â€œA what?”
    â€œYou heard me. A diamond ring. I know you got that Playfair running around asking about rings. You scared to go into a diamond shop yourself? If it ain’t a ring you want to show me, keep stepping. I want to