Page:Zora Neale Hurston - Woofing.pdf/9

I know I'm gointer play something now.

(He tunes and plays "Cold Rainy Day". He begins to sing and the others join in. Not all. But all start to dancing. They couple off as far as possible and Lindy. The men unmated do hot solo steps. The men cry out in ecstacy)

1. Shimmy! If you can't shimmy, shake your head.

2. Look, baby, look! Throw it in de alley

3. Look, if you can't look, stick out, and if you can't stick out, git out.

(at the end of the son and dance, one of the girls exclaim)

Aw, we got to go. Mama's looking for me.

(The three girls exit, walking happily. The men watch them go)

Oh, boy, look at 'em! Switching it and looking back at it.

(He imitates the girl's walk)

Yeah Lawd, ain't they specifyin'! They handles a lot of traffic.

(Seating himself again)

Yeah, but dat don't play no checkers. Come on here, Good Black and lemme finish your wearing ant.

Good Black, yo' better come git dese clothes.

Good Black, yo' wife kin cold whoop for what she want.

Yeah and if she don't git, she keep right on whoopin'. B'lieve I wants a drink of water. Wisht I knowed where I could slip up on me a drink.

Aw man, come on back here and move. Yo' doin' everythin' (illegible text) playin' checkers. You'd ruther move a mountain wid a (illegible text) bar than to move

(Points)

dat man.