Page:Zora Neale Hurston - Woofing.pdf/7

Now I got dis farmer's choice in my hands, yo' better git outa my face.

Yo' wanta fight?

Yeah I wanta fight. Put it where I kin use it and I'll sho' use it. I'll fight anybody. I git so hot sometimes I fights de corner of de house. I'm so hot I totes a pistol to keep from gettin' in a fight wid myself. I prints dangerous every time I sit down in, in a chair.

Man, this ain't no fighting weather. Ha, ha, ha! Did yo' think I was mad sho nuff? Yo' can't fight me. They's got to be runnin' before fightin' and they's got to be plenty good runnin' before dis fight comes off.

All right now. Yo' leave me alone and I'm a good man. I'm just like an old shoe. If yo' rain on me and cool me off I'm soft! If yo' shine on me and git me hot, I'm hard.

(He drops the stick and exits)

(Cliff is shaking all over. He looks after the Man to be sure he is gone)

Kah, kah, kah. Whut yo' so scarred about? De way yo' was talkin' I thought yo' was mad enough to fight.

I was. I gits hot real quick! But I'm very easy cooled when de man I'm mad wid is bigger'n me.

(He drops into his seet, wiping his face)

Man did yo' see how he grabbed up dat check? He done skeered me into a three-week's spasm!

Good Black, dese clothes is still waiting.

Well, let 'em wait on, I done tole yo' once. Yo' kind run yo' mouf but yo' can't run my business.

(Enter a PRETTY GIRL. She strolls happily across without stopping. Good Black pretends to cough)