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NEGRO YOUTH SPEAKS
183

ALEC

I cain't help that that ain't nuthin' ter do with me.

CARTER

Yer mother jus' told me—'twas cause that accident—y' member—that accident 'bout Joe—Well, you know I didn't mean to do it, don't yer?

ALEC

You done it just the same, and you can't expect me to go around laughin' and grinnin' afterwards.

CARTER

You might speak to a person on the road.

ALEC

If ma old man had 'a' shot your boy, Jack, down out a tree like you done Joe, would you be so friendly? Would you be laughin' and grinnin' at us on the road?

CARTER

Ain't no use o' bringin' up nothin' like that.

ALEC

Ah know it ain't. The shoe always fits awkward on the other foot. If he had 'a' done that to your boy, Jack, he'd 'a' been lucky to get off with a hund'ed years in the pen.

CARTER

After what happened I done all I could.

ALEC

You compromised with that fool daddy o' mine for a hund'ed dollars to drink hisself to death with, and that's two counts against you.

[He goes quickly back to the yard without awaiting Carter's reply. Carter is still standing by the table when Jane comes downstairs.]