CITY GROCER

City Grocer aint in the city. They aint got much in way of groceries. Sound live in there. Aint jus from folk talkin. Mostly from the hum. Two broke down co cola coolers rust out top-to-bottom full crickets. Chirp so loud you almost got to shout to be heard. Like they built City Grocer round them coolers. They that old. Red wigglers and hoppers in they too but they aint make noise. Use to sell minners out of old Igloo cooler and they fish em out and put em in you minner bucket. Aint done that in bout ten years.

Younger Tucker run City Grocer since Elder Tucker et up with cancer of the ass and die. When Younger Tucker die he says lil man Tucker, Tucker Three, gone run City Grocer. Younger Tucker use to cook breakfast and lunch at City Grocer ways back but he got in accident, got back over by school bus and it torn up his legs and feet to wheres he aint get around well at all no more. Made him have to give up farmin. Figure he give up City Grocer too but he still here. He tell Darla and Jewelene how he fix up eggs and grits and biscuits and they learn how and cook it all up and sausage gravy ever mornin.

It run bout the way it used to. Look same inside and out anyways. Still long pine table there in the back. All cut up with folks initials and who love who an who don’t love who no more. Ever one set there with they coffee and smoke and et and talk bout nothin. Ice chests stack full of Red Rock and RC and Co Cola. Dime and nickel candy. Moon Pies. Big old jars of pickled eggs and hog feet on the counter along with fifty cent cigars, lil tins of snuff, and pouch of Beech Nut and Red Man.

Same but it got to wheres it a bit rough. Folks that come in mostly. Younger Tucker stop sellin beer out the ice chest and that screwcap wine. Folk come in after work and get damn sideways and all they got in they head is hurt. All them niggers work the grist mill aint but meaner than crippled snakes. They comes in and get they wine and stick round front and back of City Grocer. Drink up they pay for day and aint got nothin else do but stab each other or fistfight. Eddie Price sell his deerrifle for drinkin money and he get to where he want hurt Tall Anderson for what ever damn reason and he done spray lighter fluid in his face and light him up on fire. In the damn store. They set right still at that table and Eddie spray him and set his face on fire. Tall Anderson there jumpin in his chair like stranded fish, screamin somethin awful. Jewelene come out from back and smother his face afire with her damn apron. Never forget seein his face set there smokin afterwards, jus blacker than owlshit.

Got to wheres Sheriff send Major Applewhite in City Grocer to calm it on down. Got to where he comes in there ever mornin and et and it got then to wheres all you hears was crickets an no one open their mouths. You hear the register ring and bacon and sausage fryin and them crickets but that it. Folks shakes like cat shittin peach pits round Major Applewhite. First time silence broken when Jewelene come in late one mornin and she smelt like she slept deep in that whiskey bottle and she blabbin bout Applewhite been put in poke for coppin dope from undercover. Some mess like that.

Younger Tucker do his best to come out from behind register and ask her what in hell she mean comin in spreadin lies about Applewhite knowin he come in here ever damn day. Mister Dave help him out and they both set there and listen. Jewelene so nervous she caint get her cigarette lit. I aint made it up, she says. I seen it at Red’s in the damn parkin lot last night. I seen Danny put him in his car an he wearin handcuffs an he look like he so pissed off he could spat wrought arn.

Younger Tucker light her smoke for her and he say, Who he buyin dope from nohow? And Jewelene say, I aint known that but when I gone into Red’s to get cigarettes Red say he seen Rhonda out in the parkin lot talkin to them. Younger Tucker look at her and say, Rhonda Gooden. An Jewelene say, I known it plain as day it were Goody. Drunker than Cooter Brown but I known I seen her.

Jewlene start cryin. She cryin and smokin. All she got on is a long t-shirt and it comin apart. Bare filthy feet fidgetin. Mister Dave just stand there starin down at her titties an they set right there, nipples pokin out airbrush Jesus head make him look like he got horns, little ones, come right out sides of his head. Look here Jewelene you jus need to get on out and go home, Younger Tucker says. Get hold your self. Settle back down an we’ll see you in the mornin. She nod and wipe her eyes and all her mascara runnin and she leave. Younger Tucker look at Mister Dave and shake his head. She fine as frog hair, he says, but twice as damn jumpy.