Their-Eyes-Were-Watching-God-rmrju9

zora neale hurstonLIBRARYErSHOPHARTLEY HIGH SCHO'Ot1285 ZETT ROADLERCOLUMBUS, OHIO 43227:THEIREYES WEREWATCHING GODWITH A FOREWORD BYMARY HELEN WASHINGTONAND AN AFTERWORD BYHENRY LOUIS GATES, JR.PERENNIAL CLASS ICS

A hardcover edition of this book was originally published by J. B. Lippincott, Inc.THEIR EYES WERE WATCHING GOD. Copyright 1937 by Zora Neale Hurston.Renewed 1965 by John C. Hurston and Joel Hurston. Foreword copyright 1990by Mary Helen Washington. Afterword, Selected Bibliography, and Chronologycopyright © 1990 by Henry Louis Gates, Jr. All rights reserved. Printed in theUnited States of America. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in anymanner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotationsembodied in critical articles and reviews. For information addressHarperCollins Publishers, Inc., 10 East 53rd Street, New York, N.Y. 10022.First PERENNIAL LIBRARY edition published 1990.First Perennial Classics edition published 1998. Perennial Classics are published byHatperPerennial, a division of HarperCollins Publishers, Inc.Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication DataHurston, Zora Neale.Their eyes were watching God : a novel / Zora Neale Hurston ; with aforeword by Mary Helen Washington and an afterword by Henry LouisGates, Jr.—lst Perennial Classics ed.p. cm.ISBN 0-06-093141-8Includes bibliographical references.1. Afro-American women—psychology—Fiction. 2. Self-realization-Fiction. 3. Psychological fiction. I. Title.PS3515.U789T5 1999813'.52-dc21 98-4554398 99 00 01 02 +/RRD-H 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

To Henry Allen Moe

Table of ContentsFOREWORD BY MARY HELEN WASHINGTONixTHEIR EYES WERE WATCHING GOD 1AFTERWORD BY HENRY LOUIS GATES, JR. 195SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY 207CHRONOLOGY 211

ForewordIn 1987, the fiftieth anniversary of the first publication of TheirEyes Were Watching God, the University of Illinois Press inserteda banner in the lower right-hand corner of the cover of theiranniversary reprint edition: "1987/50th Anniversary—STILL ABESTSELLER!" The back cover, using a quote from the SaturdayReview by Doris Grumbach, proclaimed Their Eyes, "thefinest black novel of its time" and "one of the finest of all time."Zora Neale Hurston would have been shocked and pleased, Ibelieve, at this stunning reversal in the reception of her secondnovel, which for nearly thirty years after its first publication wasout of print, largely unknown and unread, and dismissed by themale literary establishment in subtle and not so subtle ways. Onewhite reviewer in 1937 praised the novel in the Saturday Reviewas a "rich and racy love story, if somewhat awkward," but haddifficulty believing that such a town as Eatonville, "inhabited andgoverned entirely by Negroes," could be real.Black male critics were much harsher in their assessments ofthe novel. From the beginning of her career, Hurston wasseverely criticized for not writing fiction in the protest tradition.Sterling Brown said in 1936 of her earlier book Mules and Menthat it was not bitter enough, that it did not depict the harsherside of black life in the South, that Hurston made black southern

x dap Forewordlife appear easygoing and carefree. Alain Locke, dean of blackscholars and critics during the Harlem Renaissance, wrote in hisyearly review of the literature for Opportunity magazine thatHurston's Their Eyes was simply out of step with the more serioustrends of the times. When, he asks, will Hurston stop creating"these pseudo-primitives whom the reading public still loves tolaugh with, weep over, and envy," and "come to grips with themotive fiction and social document fiction?" The most damagingcritique of all came from the most well-known and influentialblack writer of the day, Richard Wright. Writing for the leftistmagazine New Masses, Wright excoriated Their Eyes as a novelthat did for literature what the minstrel shows did for theater,that is, make white folks laugh. The novel, he said, "carries notheme, no message, no thought," but exploited those "quaint"aspects of Negro life that satisfied the tastes of a white audience.By the end of the forties, a decade dominated by Wright and bythe stormy fiction of social realism, the quieter voice of a womansearching for self-realization could not, or would not, be heard.Like most of my friends and colleagues who were teachingin the newly formed Black Studies departments in the late sixties,I can still recall quite vividly my own discovery of TheirEyes. Somewhere around 1968, in one of the many thriving blackbookstores in the country—this one, Vaughn's Book Store, wasin Detroit—I came across the slender little paperback (boughtfor 750) with a stylized portrait of Janie Crawford and JodyStarks on the cover—she pumping water at the well, her longhair cascading down her back, her head turned just slightly in hisdirection with a look of longing and expectancy; he, standing at adistance in his fancy silk shirt and purple suspenders, his coat overone arm, his head cocked to one side, with the look that speaksto Janie of far horizons.What I loved immediately about this novel besides its high

Foreword WO, xipoetry and its female hero was its investment in black folk traditions.Here, finally, was a woman on a quest for her own identityand, unlike so many other questing figures in black literature, herjourney would take her, not away from, but deeper and deeperinto blackness, the descent into the Everglades with its rich blacksoil, wild cane, and communal life representing immersion intoblack traditions. But for most black women readers discoveringTheir Eyes for the first time, what was most compelling was thefigure of Janie Crawford—powerful, articulate, self-reliant, andradically different from any woman character they had everbefore encountered in literature. Andrea Rushing, then aninstructor in the Afro-American Studies Department at Harvard,remembers reading Their Eyes in a women's study group withNellie McKay, Barbara Smith, and Gail Pemberton. "I loved thelanguage of this book," Rushing says, "but mostly I loved itbecause it was about a woman who wasn't pathetic, wasn't atragic mulatto, who defied everything that was expected of her,who went off with a man without bothering to divorce the oneshe left and wasn't broken, crushed, and run down."The reaction of women all across the country who foundthemselves so powerfully represented in a literary text was oftendirect and personal. Janie and Tea Cake were talked about asthough they were people the readers knew intimately. SherleyAnne Williams remembers going down to a conference in LosAngeles in 1969 where the main speaker, Toni Cade Bambara,asked the women in the audience, "Are the sisters here ready forTea Cake?" And Williams, remembering that even Tea Cake hadhis flaws, responded, "Are the Tea Cakes of the world ready forus?" Williams taught Their Eyes for the first time at Cal StateFresno, in a migrant farming area where the students, like the charactersin Their Eyes, were used to making their living from the land."For the first time," Williams says, "they saw themselves in these

xii .6. Forewordcharacters and they saw their lives portrayed with joy." Rushing'scomment on the female as hero and Williams's story about the joyfulportrayal of a culture together epitomize what critics wouldlater see as the novel's unique contribution to black literature: itaffirms black cultural traditions while revising them to empowerblack women.By 1971, Their Eyes was an underground phenomenon, surfacinghere and there, wherever there was a growing interest inAfrican-American studies—and a black woman literature teacher.Alice Walker was teaching the novel at Wellesley in the 1971-72school year when she discovered that Hurston was only a footnotein the scholarship. Reading in an essay by a white folklorist thatHurston was buried in an unmarked grave, Walker decided thatsuch a fate was an insult to Hurston and began her search for thegrave to put a marker on it. In a personal essay, "In Search of ZoraNeale Hurston," written for Ms. magazine, Walker describes goingto Florida and searching through waist-high weeds to find whatshe thought was Hurston's grave and laying on it a markerinscribed "Zora Neale Hurston/À Genius of the South'/Novelist/Folldorist/Anthropologist/1901-1960." With that inscriptionand that essay, Walker ushered in a new era in the scholarship onTheir Eyes Were Watching God.By 1975, Their Eyes, again out of print, was in such demandthat a petition was circulated at the December 1975 convention ofthe Modern Language Association (MLA) to get the novel backinto print. In that same year at a conference on minority literatureheld at Yale and directed by Michael Cooke, the few copies of TheirEyes that were available were circulated for two hours at a time toconference participants, many of whom were reading the novel forthe first time. In March of 1977, when the MLA Commission onMinority Groups and the Study of Language and Literature publishedits first list of out of print books most in demand at a national

Foreword II& xiiilevel, the program coordinator, Dexter Fisher, wrote: "Their EyesWere Watching God is unanimously at the top of the list."Between 1977 and 1979 the Zora Neale Hurston renaissancewas in full bloom. Robert Hemenway's biography, ZoraNeale Hurston: A Literary Biography, published in 1977, was arunaway bestseller at the December 1977 MLA convention.The new University of Illinois Press edition of Their Eyes, publisheda year after the Hemenway biography in March of 1978,made the novel available on a steady and dependable basis forthe next ten years. I Love Myself When I Am Laughing . . . AndThen Again When I Am Looking Mean and Impressive: A ZoraNeale Hurston Reader, edited by Alice Walker, was published bythe Feminist Press in 1979. Probably more than anything else,these three literary events made it possible for serious Hurstonscholarship to emerge.But the event that for me truly marked the beginning of thethird wave of critical attention to Their Eyes took place in December1979 at the MLA convention in San Francisco in a session aptlytitled "Traditions and Their Transformations in Afro-AmericanLetters," chaired by Robert Stepto of Yale with John Callahan ofLewis and Clark College and myself (then at the University ofDetroit) as the two panelists. Despite the fact that the session wasscheduled on Sunday morning, the last session of the entire convention,the room was packed and the audience unusually attentive.In his comments at the end of the session, Stepto raised the issuethat has become one of the most highly controversial and hotly contestedaspects of the novel: whether or not Janie is able to achieveher voice in Their Eyes. What concerned Stepto was the courtroomscene in which Janie is called on not only to preserve her own lifeand liberty but also to make the jury, as well as all of us who hear hertale, understand the meaning of her life with Tea Cake. Steptofound Janie curiously silent in this scene, with Hurston telling the

xiv 4 Forewordstory in omniscient third person so that we do not hear Janiespeak—at least not in her own first-person voice. Stepto was quiteconvinced (and convincing) that the frame story in which Janiespeaks to Pheoby creates only the illusion that Janie has found hervoice, that Hurston's insistence on telling Janie's story in the thirdperson undercuts her power as speaker. While the rest of us in theroom struggled to find our voices, Alice Walker rose and claimedhers, insisting passionately that women did not have to speak whenmen thought they should, that they would choose when and wherethey wish to speak because while many women had found their ownvoices, they also knew when it was better not to use it. What wasmost remarkable about the energetic and at times heated discussionthat followed Stepto's and Walker's remarks was the assumption ofeveryone in that room that Their Eyes was a shared text, that a novelthat just ten years earlier was unknown and unavailable had enteredinto critical acceptance as perhaps the most widely known and themost privileged text in the African-American literary canon.That MLA session was important for another reason. Walker'sdefense of Janie's choice (actually Hurston's choice) to be silent inthe crucial places in the novel turned out to be the earliest feministreading of voice in Their Eyes, a reading that was later supported bymany other Hurston scholars. In a recent essay on Their Eyes, andthe question of voice, Michael Awkward argues that Janie's voice atthe end of the novel is a communal one, that when she tells Pheobyto tell her story ("You can tell 'em what Ah say if you wants to. Dat'sjust de same as me 'cause mah tongue is in mah friend's mout") sheis choosing a collective rather than an individual voice, demonstratingher closeness to the collective spirit of the African-American oraltradition. Thad Davis agrees with this reading of voice, adding thatwhile Janie is the teller of the tale, Pheoby is the bearer of the tale.Davis says that Janie's experimental life may not allow her to effectchanges beyond what she causes in Pheoby's life; but Pheoby,

Foreword le, xvstanding within the traditional role of women, is the one mostsuited to take the message back to the community.Although, like Stepto, I too am uncomfortable with theabsence of Janie's voice in the courtroom scene, I think that silencereflects Hurston's discomfort with the model of the male hero whoasserts himself through his powerful voice. When Hurston chose afemale hero for the story she faced an interesting dilemma: thefemale presence was inherently a critique of the male-dominatedfolk culture and therefore could not be its heroic representative.When Janie says at the end of her story that "talkin' don't amountto much" if it's divorced from experience, she is testifying to thelimitations of voice and critiquing the culture that celebrates oralityto the exclusion of inner growth. Her final speech to Pheoby at theend of Their Eyes actually casts doubt on the relevance of oral speechand supports Alice Walker's claim that women's silence can beintentional and useful:'Course, talkin' don't amount tuh uh hill uh beans when yuhcan't do nothin' else . . . Pheoby, you got tuh go there tuhknow there. Yo papa and yo mama and nobody else can't tellyuh and show yuh. Two things everybody's got tuh do fuhtheyselves. They got tuh go tuh God, and they got tuh find outabout livin' fuh theyselves.The language of the men in Their Eyes is almost alwaysdivorced from any kind of interiority, and the men are rarely shownin the process of growth. Their talking is either a game or amethod of exerting power. Janie's life is about the experience ofrelationships, and while Jody and Tea Cake and all the other talkingmen are essentially static characters, Janie and Pheoby paycloser attention to their own inner life—to experience—because itis the site for growth.

xvi 4 ForewordIf there is anything the outpouring of scholarship on Their Eyesteaches us, it is that this is a rich and complicated text and that eachgeneration of readers will bring something new to our understandingof it. If we were protective of this text and unwilling tosubject it to literary analysis during the first years of its rebirth, thatwas because it was a beloved text for those of us who discovered init something of our own experiences, our own language, our ownhistory. In 1989, I find myself asking new questions about TheirEyes—questions about Hurston's ambivalence toward her femaleprotagonist, about its uncritical depiction of violence towardwomen, about the ways in which Janie's voice is dominated bymen even in passages that are about her own inner growth. InTheir Eyes, Hurston has not given us an unambiguously heroicfemale character. She puts Janie on the track of autonomy, selfrealization,and independence, but she also places Janie in the positionof romantic heroine as the object of Tea Cake's quest, at timesso subordinate to the magnificent presence of Tea Cake that evenher interior life reveals more about him than about her. What TheirEyes shows us is a woman writer struggling with the problem of thequesting hero as woman and the difficulties in 1937 of giving awoman character such power and such daring.Because Their Eyes has been in print continuously since 1978,it has become available each year to thousands of new readers. It istaught in colleges all over the country, and its availability and popularityhave generated two decades of the highest level of scholarship.But I want to remember the history that nurtured this textinto rebirth, especially the collective spirit of the sixties and seventiesthat galvanized us into political action to retrieve the lost worksof black women writers. There is a lovely symmetry between textand context in the case of Their Eyes: as Their Eyes affirms and celebratesblack culture it reflects that same affirmation of black culturethat rekindled interest in the text; Janie telling her story to a

Foreword lig& xviilistening woman friend, Pheoby, suggests to me all those womenreaders who discovered their own tale in Janie's story and passed iton from one to another; and certainly, as the novel represents awoman redefining and revising a male-dominated canon, thesereaders have, like Janie, made their voices heard in the world of letters,revising the canon while asserting their proper place in it.MARY HELEN WASHINGTON

1Ships at a distance have every man's wish on board. For some theycome in with the tide. For others they sail forever on the horizon,never out of sight, never landing until the Watcher turns his eyesaway in resignation, his dreams mocked to death by Time. That isthe life of men.Now, women forget all those things they don't want to remember,and remember everything they don't want to forget. The dream is thetruth. Then they act and do things accordingly.So the beginning of this was a woman and she had come backfrom burying the dead. Not the dead of sick and ailing with friends atthe pillow and the feet. She had come back from the sodden and thebloated; the sudden dead, their eyes flung wide open in judgment.The people all saw her come because it was sundown. Thesun was gone, but he had left his footprints in the sky. It was thetime for sitting on porches beside the road. It was the time tohear things and talk. These sitters had been tongueless, earless,eyeless conveniences all day long. Mules and other brutes hadoccupied their skins. But now, the sun and the bossman weregone, so the skins felt powerful and human. They became lordsof sounds and lesser things. They passed nations through theirmouths. They sat in judgment.

2 412p Zora Neale HurstonSeeing the woman as she was made them remember the envythey had stored up from other times. So they chewed up the backparts of their minds and swallowed with relish. They made burningstatements with questions, and killing tools out of laughs. It wasmass cruelty. A mood come alive. Words walking without masters;walking altogether like harmony in a song."What she doin coming back here in dem overhalls? Can'tshe find no dress to put on? Where's dat blue satin dress she lefthere in? Where all dat money her husband took and died andleft her?—What dat ole forty year ole 'oman doin' wid her hairswingin' down her back lak some young gal?—Where she left datyoung lad of a boy she went off here wid?—Thought she wasgoing to marry?—Where he left her ?—What he done wid all hermoney?—Betcha he off wid some gal so young she ain't even gotno hairs—why she don't stay in her class?—"When she got to where they were she turned her face on thebander log and spoke. They scrambled a noisy "good evenin' "and left their mouths setting open and their ears full of hope. Herspeech was pleasant enough, but she kept walking straight on toher gate. The porch couldn't talk for looking.The men noticed her firm buttocks like she had grape fruitsin her hip pockets; the great rope of black hair swinging to herwaist and unraveling in the wind like a plume; then her pugnaciousbreasts trying to bore holes in her shirt. They, the men,were saving with the mind what they lost with the eye. Thewomen took the faded shirt and muddy overalls and laid themaway for remembrance. It was a weapon against her strength andif it turned out of no significance, still it was a hope that shemight fall to their level some day.But nobody moved, nobody spoke, nobody even thought toswallow spit until after her gate slammed behind her.Pearl Stone opened her mouth and laughed real hard because she

Their Eyes Were Watching God 41► 3didn't know what else to do. She fell all over Mrs. Sumpkins while shelaughed. Mrs. Sumpkins snorted violently and sucked her teeth."Humph! Y'all let her worry yuh. You ain't like me. Ah ain'tgot her to study 'bout. If she ain't got manners enough to stopand let folks know how she been makin' out, let her g'wan!""She ain't even worth talkin' after," Lulu Moss drawledthrough her nose. "She sits high, but she looks low. Dat's whatAh say 'bout dese ole women runnin' after young boys."Pheoby Watson hitched her rocking chair forward before shespoke. "Well, nobody don't know if it's anything to tell or not.Me, Ah'm her best friend, and Ah don't know.""Maybe us don't know into things lak you do, but we allknow how she went 'way from here and us sho seen her comeback. 'Tain't no use in your tryin' to cloak no ole woman lakJanie Starks, Pheoby, friend or no friend.""At dat she ain't so ole as some of y'all dat's talking.""She's way past forty to my knowledge, Pheoby.""No more'n forty at de outside.""She's 'way too old for a boy like Tea Cake.""Tea Cake ain't been no boy for some time. He's roundthirty his ownself.""Don't keer what it was, she could stop and say a few wordswith us. She act like we done done something to her," PearlStone complained. "She de one been doin' wrong.""You mean, you mad 'cause she didn't stop and tell us all herbusiness. Anyhow, what you ever know her to do so bad as y'allmake out? The worst thing Ah ever knowed her to do was takinga few years offa her age and dat ain't never harmed nobody. Y'allmakes me tired. De way you talkin' you'd think de folks in distown didn't do nothin' in de bed 'cept praise de Lawd. You haveto 'scuse me, 'cause Ah'm bound to go take her some supper."Pheoby stood up sharply.

4 4110 Zora Neale Hurston"Don't mind us," Lulu smiled, "just go right ahead, us canmind yo' house for you till you git back. Mah supper is done. Youbettah go see how she feel. You kin let de rest of us know.""Lawd," Pearl agreed, "Ah done scorched-up dat lil meatand bread too long to talk about. Ah kin stay 'way from homelong as Ah please. Mah husband ain't fussy.""Oh, er, Pheoby, if youse ready to go, Ah could walk over derewid you," Mrs. Sumpkins volunteered. "It's sort of duskin' downdark. De booger man might ketch yuh. 5)"Now, Ah thank yuh. Nothin' couldn't ketch me dese few stepsAh'm goin'. Anyhow mah husband tell me say no first class boogerwould have me. If she got anything to tell yuh, you'll hear it."Pheoby hurried on off with a covered bowl in her hands. Sheleft the porch pelting her back with unasked questions. Theyhoped the answers were cruel and strange. When she arrived atthe place, Pheoby Watson didn't go in by the front gate anddown the palm walk to the front door. She walked around thefence corner and went in the intimate gate with her heaping plateof mulatto rice. Janie must be round that side.She found her sitting on the steps of the back porch with thelamps all filled and the chimneys cleaned."Hello, Janie, how you comin'?""Aw, pretty good, Ah'm tryin' to soak some uh de tirednessand de dirt outa mah feet." She laughed a little."Ah see you is. Gal, you sho looks good. You looks like youseyo' own daughter." They both laughed. "Even wid dem overhallson, you shows yo' womanhood,""G'wan! G'wan! You must think Ah brought yuh somethin'.When Ah ain't brought home a thing but mahself."better.""Dat's a gracious plenty. Yo' friends wouldn't want nothin'"Ah takes dat flattery offa you, Pheoby, 'cause Ah know it's

Their Eyes Were Watching God ais 5from de heart." Janie extended her hand. "Good Lawd, Pheoby!ain't you never goin' tuh gimme dat lil rations you brought me? Ahain't had a thing on mah stomach today exceptin' mah hand." Theyboth laughed easily. "Give it here and have a seat.""Ah knowed you'd be hongry. No time to be huntin' stovewood after dark. Mah mulatto rice ain't so good dis time. Notenough bacon grease, but Ah reckon it'll kill hongry.""Ah'll tell you in a minute," Janie said, lifting the cover. "Gal,it's too good! you switches a mean fanny round in a kitchen.""Aw, dat ain't much to eat, Janie. But Ah'm liable to havesomething sho nuff good tomorrow, 'cause you done come."Janie ate heartily and said nothing. The varicolored cloud dustthat the sun had stirred up in the sky was settling by slow degrees."Here, Pheoby, take yo' ole plate. Ah ain't got a bit of use fora empty dish. Dat grub sho come in handy."Pheoby laughed at her friend's rough joke. "Youse just ascrazy as you ever was.""Hand me dat wash-rag on dat chair by you, honey. Lemmescrub mah feet." She took the cloth and rubbed vigorously.Laughter came to her from the big road."Well, Ah see Mouth-Almighty is still sittin' in de same place.And Ah reckon they got me up in they mouth now.""Yes indeed. You know if you pass some people and don'tspeak tuh suit 'em dey got tuh go way back in yo' life and seewhut you ever done. They know mo"bout yuh than you do yo'self. An envious heart makes a treacherous ear. They done 'heard''bout you just what they hope done happened.""If God don't think no mo"bout 'em then Ah do, they's alost ball in de high grass.""Ah hears what they say 'cause they just will collect round mahporch 'cause it's on de big road. Mah husband git so sick of 'emsometime he makes 'em all git for home."

6 Aits Zora Neale Hurston"Sam is right too. They just wearin' out yo' sittin' chairs.""Yeah, Sam say most of 'em goes to church so they'll be sure torise in Judgment. Dat's de day dat every secret is s'posed to be madeknown. They wants to be there and hear it all.""Sam is too crazy! You can't stop laughin' when youse roundhim.""Uuh hunh. He says he aims to be there hisself so he can findout who stole his corn-cob pipe.""Pheoby, dat Sam of your'n just won't quit! Crazy thing!""Most of dese zigaboos is so het up over yo' business till theyliable to hurry theyself to Judgment to find out about you if theydon't soon know. You better make haste and tell 'em 'bout youand Tea Cake gittin' married, and if he taken all yo' money andwent off wid some young gal, and where at he is now and whereat is all yo' clothes dat you got to come back here in overhalls.""Ah don't mean to bother wid tellin"em nothin', Pheoby.'Tain't worth de trouble. You can tell 'em what Ah say if you wantsto. Dat's just de same as me 'cause mah tongue is in mah friend'smouf.""If you so desire Ah'll tell 'em what you tell me to tell 'em.""To start off wid, people like dem wastes up too much timeputtin' they mouf on things they don't know nothin' about. Nowthey got to look into me loving Tea Cake and see whether it wasdone right or not! They don't know if life is a mess of corn-mealdumplings, and if love is a bed-quilt!""So long as they get a name to gnaw on they don't care whoseit is, and what about, 'specially if they can make it sound like evil.""If they wants to see and know, why they don't come kiss andbe kissed? Ah could then sit down and tell 'em things. Ah been adelegate to de big 'ssociation of life. Yessuh! De Grand Lodge, debig convention of livin' is just where Ah been dis year and a half y'allain't seen me."

Their Eyes Were Watching God 41, 7They sat there in the fresh young darkness close together.Pheoby eager to feel and do through Janie, but hating to show herzest for fear it might be thought mere curiosity. Janie full of thatoldest human longing—self revelation. Pheoby held her tongue fora long time, but she couldn't help moving her feet. So Janie spoke."They don't need to worry about me and my overhalls longas Ah still got nine hundred dollars in de bank. Tea Cake got meinto wearing 'em—following behind him. Tea Cake ain't wastedup no money of mine, and he ain't left me for no young gal, neither.He give me every consolation in de world. He'd tell 'em sotoo, if he was here. If he wasn't gone."Pheoby dilated all over with eagerness, "Tea Cake gone?""Yeah, Pheoby, Tea Cake is gone. And dat's de only reasonyou see me back here—cause Ah ain't got nothing to make mehappy no more where Ah was at. Down in the Everglades there,down on the muck.""It's hard for me to understand what you mean, de way youtell it. And then again Ah'm hard of understandin' at times.""Now, 'tain't nothin' lak you might think. So 'tain't no use inme telling you somethin' unless Ah give you de understandin' togo 'long wid it. Unless you see de fur, a mink skin ain't no differentfrom a coon hide. Looka heah, Pheoby, is Sam waitin' on youfor his supper?""It's all ready and waitin'. If he ain't got sense enough to eatit, dat's his hard luck.""Well then, we can set right where we is and talk. Ah got thehouse all opened up to let dis breeze get a little catchin'."Pheoby, we been kissin'-friends for twenty years, so Ah dependon you for a good thought. And Ah'm talking to you from datstandpoint."Time makes everything old so the kissing, young darknessbecame a monstropolous old thing while Janie talked.

2Janie saw her life like a great tree in leaf with the things suffered,things enjoyed, things done and undone. Dawn and doom was inthe branches."Ah know exactly what Ah got to tell yuh, but it's hard toknow where to start at."Ah ain't never seen mah papa. And Ah didn't know 'im ifAh did. Mah mama neither. She was gone from round dere longbefore Ah wuz big enough tuh know. Mah grandma raised me.Mah grandma and de white folks she worked wid. She had ahouse out in de back-yard and dat's where Ah wuz born. Theywas quality white folks up dere in West Florida. Named Washburn.She had four gran'chillun on de place and all of us playedtogether and dat's how come Ah never called mah Grandmanothin' but Nanny, 'cause dat's what everybody on de placecalled her. Nanny used to ketch us in our devilment and lick everyyoungun on de place and Mis' Washburn did de same. Ah reckondey never hit us ah lick amiss 'cause dem three boys and us twogirls wuz pretty aggravatin', Ah speck."Ah was wid dem white chillun so much till Ah didn't knowAh wuzn't white till Ah was round six years old. Wouldn't havefound it out then, but a man come long takin' pictures and with-

Their Eyes Were Watching God 42 ► 9out askin' anybody, Shelby, dat was de oldest boy, he told him totake us. Round a week later de man brought de picture for Mis'Washburn to see and pay him which she did, then give us all agood lickin'."So when we looked at de picture and everybody got pointedout there wasn't nobody left except a real dark little girl with longhair standing by Eleanor. Dat's where Ah wuz s'posed to be, butAh couldn't recognize dat dark chile as me. So Ah ast, 'where isme? Ah don't see me.'"Everybody laughed, even Mr. Washburn. Miss Nellie, deMama of de chillun who come back home after her husbanddead, she pointed to de dark one and said, `Dat's you, Alphabet,don't you know yo' ownself?'"Dey all useter call me Alphabet 'cause so many people haddone named me different names. Ah looked at de picture a longtime and seen it was mah dress and mah hair so Ah said:"Àw, aw! Ah'm colored!'"Den dey all laughed real hard. But before Ah seen de pictureAh thought Ah wuz just like de rest."Us lived dere havin' fun till de chillun at school got toteasin' me 'bout livin' in de white folks' back-yard. Dere wuz uhknotty head gal name Mayrella dat useter git mad every time shelook at me. Mis' Washburn useter dress me up in all de clothesher gran'chillun didn't need no mo' which still wuz better'nwhut de rest uh de colored chillun had. And then she useter puthair ribbon on mah head fuh me tuh wear. Dat useter rileMayrella uh lot. So she would pick at me all de time and put someothers up tuh do de same. They'd push me 'way from de ringplays and make out they couldn't play wid nobody dat lived onpremises. Den they'd tell me not to be takin' on over mah looks'cause they mama told 'em 'bout de hound dawgs huntin' mahpapa all night long. 'Bout Mr. Washburn and de sheriff puttin' de

10 AN Zora Neale Hurstonbloodhounds on de trail tuh ketch mah papa for whut he donetuh mah mama. Dey didn't tell about how he wuz seen tryin' tuhgit in touch wid mah mama later on so he could marry her. Naw,dey didn't talk dat part of it atall. Dey made it sound real bad soas tuh crumple mah feathers. None of 'em didn't even rememberwhut his name wuz, but dey all knowed de bloodhound part byheart. Nanny didn't love tuh see me wid mah head hung down,so she figgered it would be mo' better fuh me if us had uh house.She got de land and everything and then Mis' Washburn helpedout uh whole heap wid things."Pheoby's hungry listening helped Janie to tell her story. Soshe went on thinking back to her young years and explainingthem to her friend in soft, easy phrases while all around thehouse, the night time put on flesh and blackness.She thought awhile and decided that her conscious life hadcommenced at Nanny's gate. On a late afternoon Nanny hadcalled her to come inside the house because she had spied Janieletting Johnny Taylor kiss her over the gatepost.It was a spring afternoon in West Florida. Janie had spentmost of the day under a blossoming pear tree in the back-yard.She had been spending every minute that she could steal fromher chores under that tree for the last three days. That was tosay, ever since the first tiny bloom had opened. It had called herto come and gaze on a mystery. From barren brown stems toglistening leaf-buds; from the leaf-buds to snowy virginity ofbloom. It stirred her tremendously. How? Why? It was like aflute song forgotten in another existence and rememberedagain. What? How? Why? This singing she heard that had nothingto do with her ears. The rose of the world was breathing outsmell. It followed her through all her waking moments andcaressed her in her sleep. It connected itself with other vaguelyfelt matters that had struck her outside observation and buried

Their Eyes Were Watching God Alip 11themselves in her flesh. Now they emerged and quested abouther consciousness.She was stretched on her back beneath the pear tree soaking inthe alto chant of the visiting bees, the gold of the sun and the pantingbreath of the breeze when the inaudible voice of it all came toher. She saw a dust-bearing bee sink into the sanctum of a bloom;the thousand sister-calyxes arch to meet the love embrace and theecstatic shiver of the tree from root to tiniest branch creaming inevery blossom and frothing with delight. So this was a marriage!She had been summoned to behold a revelation. Then Janie felt apain remorseless sweet that left her limp and languid.After a while she got up from where she was and went over thelittle garden field entire. She was seeking confirmation of the voiceand vision, and everywhere she found and acknowledged answers.A personal answer for all other creations except herself. She felt ananswer seeking her, but where? When? How? She found herself atthe kitchen door and stumbled inside. In the air of the room wereflies tumbling and singing, marrying and giving in marriage. Whenshe reached the narrow hallway she was reminded that her grandmotherwas home with a sick headache. She was lying across thebed asleep so Janie tipped on out of the front door.'Oh to be a peartree—any tree in bloom! With kissing bees singing of the beginningof the world! She was sixteen. She had glossy leaves andbursting buds and she wanted to struggle with life but it seemed toelude her. Where were the singing bees for her? Nothing on theplace nor in her grandma's house answered her. She searched asmuch of the world as she could from the top of the front steps andthen went on down to the front gate and leaned over to gaze upand down the road. Looking, waiting, breathing short with impatience.Waiting for the world to be made.Through pollinated air she saw a glorious being coming upthe road. In her former blindness she had known him as shiftless

12 .6s. Zora Neale HurstonJohnny Taylor, tall and lean. That was before the golden dust ofpollen had beglamored his rags and her eyes.In the last stages of Nanny's sleep, she dreamed of voices.Voices far-off but persistent, and gradually coming nearer. Janie'svoice. Janie talking in whispery snatches with a male voice shecouldn't quite place. That brought her wide awake. She boltedupright and peered out of the window and saw Johnny Taylorlacerating her Janie with a kiss."Janie!"The old woman's voice was so lacking in command andreproof, so full of crumbling dissolution,—that Janie halfbelieved that Nanny had not seen her. So she extended herselfoutside of her dream and went inside of the house. That was theend of her childhood.Nanny's head and face looked like the standing roots of someold tree that had been torn away by storm. Foundation of ancientpower that no longer mattered. The cooling palma christi leavesthat Janie had bound about her grandma's head with a white raghad wilted down and become part and parcel of the woman. Hereyes didn't bore and pierce. They diffused and melted Janie, theroom and the world into one comprehension."Janie, youse uh 'oman, now, so—""Naw, Nanny, naw Ah ain't no real 'oman yet."The thought was too new and heavy for Janie. She fought itaway.Nanny closed her eyes and nodded a slow, weary affirmationmany times before she gave it voice."Yeah, Janie, youse got yo' womanhood on yuh. So Ah moutez well tell yuh whut Ah been savin' up for uh spell. Ah wants tosee you married right away.""Me, married? Naw, Nanny, no ma'am! Whut Ah know'bout uh husband?"

Their Eyes Were Watching God ap 13"Whut Ah seen just now is plenty for me, honey, Ah don'twant no trashy nigger, no breath-and-britches, lak Johnny Taylorusin' yo' body to wipe his foots on."Nanny's words made Janie's kiss across the gatepost seemlike a manure pile after a rain."Look at me, Janie. Don't set dere wid yo' head hung down.Look at yo' ole grandma!" Her voice began snagging on theprongs of her feelings. "Ah don't want to be talkin' to you lak dis.Fact is Ah done been on mah knees to mah Maker many's de timeaskin' please—for Him not to make de burden too heavy for me tobear.""Nanny, Ah just—Ah didn't mean nothin' bad.""Dat's what makes me skeered. You don't mean no harm.You don't even know where harm is at. Ah'm ole now. Ah can'tbe always guidin' yo' feet from harm and danger. Ah wants to seeyou married right away.""Who Ah'm goin' tuh marry off-hand lak dat? Ah don't knownobody.""De Lawd will provide. He know Ah done bore de burden inde heat uh de day. Somebody done spoke to me 'bout you longtime ago. Ah ain't said nothin' 'cause dat wasn't de way Ahplaced you. Ah wanted yuh to school out and pick from a higherbush and a sweeter berry. But dat ain't yo' idea, Ah see.""Nanny, who—who dat been askin' you for me?""Brother Logan Killicks. He's a good man, too.""Naw, Nanny, no ma'am! Is dat whut he been hangin' roundhere for? He look like some ole skullhead in de grave yard."The older woman sat bolt upright and put her feet to thefloor, and thrust back the leaves from her face."So you don't want to marry off decent like, do yuh? You justwants to hug and kiss and feel around with first one man and thenanother, huh? You wants to make me suck de same sorrow yo'

14 42P Zora Neale Hurstonmama did, eh? Mah ole head ain't gray enough. Mali back ain'tbowed enough to suit yuh!"The vision of Logan Killicks was desecrating the pear tree,but Janie didn't know how to tell Nanny that. She merelyhunched over and pouted at the floor."Janie.""Yes, ma'am.""You answer me when Ah speak. Don't you set dere poutin'wid me after all Ah done went through for you!"She slapped the girl's face violently, and forced her head backso that their eyes met in struggle. With her hand uplifted for thesecond blow she saw the huge tear that welled up from Janie'sheart and stood in each eye. She saw the terrible agony and thelips tightened down to hold back the cry and desisted. Insteadshe brushed back the heavy hair from Janie's face and stood theresuffering and loving and weeping internally for both of them."Come to yo' Grandma, honey. Set in her lap lak yo' use tuh.Yo' Nanny wouldn't harm a hair uh yo' head. She don't wantnobody else to do it neither if she kin help it. Honey, de whiteman is de ruler of everything as fur as Ah been able tuh find out.Maybe it's some place way off in de ocean where de black man isin power, but we don't know nothin' but what we see. So dewhite man throw down de load and tell de nigger man tuh pick itup. He pick it up because he have to, but he don't tote it. Hehand it to his womenfolks. De nigger woman is de mule uh deworld so fur as Ah can see. Ah been prayin' fah it tuh be differentwid you. Lawd, Lawd, Lawd!"For a long time she sat rocking with the girl held tightly toher sunken breast. Janie's long legs dangled over one arm of thechair and the long braids of her hair swung low on the other side.Nanny half sung, half sobbed a running chantprayer over thehead of the weeping girl.

Their Eyes Were Watching God 4. 15"Lawd have mercy! It was a long time on de way but Ah reckonit had to come. Oh Jesus! Do, Jesus! All done de best Ah could."Finally, they both grew calm."Janie, how long you been 'lowin' Johnny Taylor to kissyou?""Only dis one time, Nanny. Ah don't love him at all. Whutmade me do it is—oh, Ah don't know.""Thank yuh, Massa Jesus.""Ah ain't gointuh do it no mo', Nanny. Please don't makeme marry Mr. Killicks.""'Tain't Logan Killicks Ah wants you to have, baby, it's protection.Ah ain't gittin' ole, honey. Ah'm done ole. One mornin'soon, now, de angel wid de sword is gointuh stop by here. De dayand de hour is hid from me, but it won't be long. Ah ast de Lawdwhen you was uh infant in mah arms to let me stay here till yougot grown. He done spared me to see de day. Mah daily prayernow is tuh let dese golden moments rolls on a few days longer tillAh see you safe in life.""Lemme wait, Nanny, please, jus' a lil bit mo'.""Don't think Ah don't feel wid you, Janie, 'cause Ah do. Ahcouldn't love yuh no more if Ah had uh felt yo' birth pains mahself.Fact uh de matter, Ah loves yuh a whole heap more'n Ah doyo' mama, de one Ah did birth. But you got to take in considerationyou ain't no everyday chile like most of 'em. You ain't got nopapa, you might jus' as well say no mama, for de good she do yuh.You ain't got nobody but me. And mah head is ole and tiltedtowards de grave. Neither can you stand alone by yo'self. Dethought uh you bein' kicked around from pillar tuh post is uhhurtin' thing. Every tear you drop squeezes a cup uh blood outamah heart. Ah got tuh try and do for you befo' mah head is cold."A sobbing sigh burst out of Janie. The old woman answeredher with little soothing pats of the hand.

16 Aitas Zora Neale Hurston"You know, honey, us colored folks is branches without rootsand that makes things come round in queer ways. You in particular.Ah was born back due in slavery so it wasn't for me to fulfill mydreams of whut a woman oughta be and to do. Dat's one of dehold-backs of slavery. But nothing can't stop you from wishin'.You can't beat nobody down so low till you can rob 'em of theywill. Ah didn't want to be used for a work-ox and a brood-sow andAh didn't want mah daughter used dat way neither. It sho wasn'tmah will for things to happen lak they did. All even hated de wayyou was born. But, all de same Ah said thank God, Ah got anotherchance. Ah wanted to preach a great sermon about coloredwomen sittin' on high, but they wasn't no pulpit for me. Freedomfound me wid a baby daughter in mah arms, so Ah said Ah'd takea broom and a cook-pot and throw up a highway through dewilderness for her. She would expound what Ah felt. But somehowshe got lost offa de highway and next thing Ah knowed here youwas in de world. So whilst Ah was tendin' you of nights Ah saidAh'd save de text for you. Ah been waitin' a long time, Janie, butnothin' Ah been through ain't too much if you just take a stand onhigh ground lak Ah dreamed."Old Nanny sat there rocking Janie like an infant and thinkingback and back. Mind-pictures brought feelings, and feelingsdragged out dramas from the hollows of her heart."Dat mornin' on de big plantation close to Savannah, a ridercome in a gallop tellin"bout Sherman takin' Atlanta. MarseRobert's son had done been kilt at Chickamauga. So he grabbedhis gun and straddled his best horse and went off wid de rest ofde gray-headed men and young boys to drive de Yankees backinto Tennessee."They was all cheerin' and cryin' and shoutin' for de men datwas ridin' off. Ah couldn't see nothin' cause yo' mama wasn't buta week old, and Ah was flat uh mah back. But pretty soon he let

Their Eyes Were Watching God as 17on he forgot somethin' and run into mah cabin and made me letdown mah hair for de last time. He sorta wropped his hand in it,pulled mah big toe, lak he always done, and was gone after de restlak lightnin'. Ah heard 'em give one last whoop for him. Then debig house and de quarters got sober and silent."It was de cool of de evenin' when Mistis come walkin' inmah door. She throwed de door wide open and stood derelookin' at me outa her eyes and her face. Look lak she been livin'through uh hundred years in January without one day of spring.She come stood over me in de bed."Nanny, Ah come to see that baby uh yourn.'"Ah tried not to feel de breeze off her face, but it got so coldin dere dat Ah was freezin' to death under the Ewers. So Ahcouldn't move right away lak Ah aimed to. But Ah knowed Ahhad to make haste and do it."'You better git dat kivver offa dat youngun and dat quick!'she clashed at me. 'Look lak you don't know who is Mistis on displantation, Madam. But Ah aims to show you.'"By dat time I had done managed tuh unkivver mah babyenough for her to see de head and face."'Nigger, whut's yo' baby doin' wid gray eyes and yallerhair?' She begin tuh slap mah jaws ever which a'way. Ah never feltthe fust ones 'cause Ah wuz too busy gittin' de kivver back overmah chile. But dem last lick burnt me lak fire. Ah had too manyfeelin's tuh tell which one tuh follow so Ah didn't cry and Ahdidn't do nothin' else. But then she kept on astin me how comemah baby look white. She asted me dat maybe twenty-five orthirty times, lak she got tuh sayin' dat and couldn't help herself.So Ah told her, Àh don't know nothin' but what Ah'm told tuhdo, 'cause Ah ain't nothin' but uh nigger and uh slave.'"Instead of pacifyin' her lak Ah thought, look lak she gotmadder. But Ah reckon she was tired and wore out 'cause she

18 40 Zora Neale Hurstondidn't hit me no more. She went to de foot of de bed and wipedher hands on her handksher. Àh wouldn't dirty mah hands onyuh. But first thing in de mornin' de overseer will take you to dewhippin' post and tie you down on yo' knees and cut de hide offayo' yaller back. One hundred lashes wid a raw-hide on yo' bareback. Ah'll have you whipped till de blood run down to yo' heels!Ah mean to count de licks mahself. And if it kills you Ah'll standde loss. Anyhow, as soon as dat brat is a month old Ah'm goingto sell it offa dis place.'"She flounced on off and let her wintertime wid me. Ahknowed mah body wasn't healed, but Ah couldn't consider dat.In de black dark Ah wrapped mah baby de best Ah knowed howand made it to de swamp by de river. Ah knowed de place was fulluh moccasins and other bitin' snakes, but Ah was more skeereduh whut was behind me. Ah hide in dere day and night and suckledde baby every time she start to cry, for fear somebody mighthear her and Ah'd git found. Ah ain't sayin' uh friend or two didn'tfeel mah care. And den de Good Lawd seen to it dat Ah wasn'ttaken. Ah don't see how come mah milk didn't kill mah chile, widme so skeered and worried all de time. De noise uh de owlsskeered me; de limbs of dem cypress trees took to crawlin' andmovin' round after dark, and two three times Ah heered panthersprowlin' round. But nothin' never hurt me 'cause de Lawdknowed how it was."Den, one night Ah heard de big guns boomin' lak thunder.It kept up all night long. And de next mornin' Ah could see uhbig ship at a distance and a great stirrin' round. So Ah wrappedLeafy up in moss and fixed her good in a tree and picked mah wayon down to de landin'. The men was all in blue, and Ah heardpeople say Sherman was comin' to meet de boats in Savannah,and all of us slaves was free. So Ah run got mah baby and got inquotation wid people and found a place Ah could stay.

Their Eyes Were Watching God 40 19"But it was a long time after dat befo' de Big Surrender atRichmond. Den de big bell ring in Atlanta and all de men in grayuniforms had to go to Moultrie, and bury their swords in deground to show they was never to fight about slavery no mo'. Soden we knowed we was free."Ah wouldn't marry nobody, though Ah could have uh heapuh times, cause Ah didn't want nobody mistreating mah baby. SoAh got with some good white people and come down here inWest Florida to work and make de sun shine on both sides of destreet for Leafy."Mah Madam help me wid her just lak she been doin' widyou. Ah put her in school when it got so it was a school to put herin. Ah was 'spectin' to make a school teacher outa her."But one day she didn't come home at de usual time and Ahwaited and waited, but she never come all dat night. Ah took alantern and went round askin' everybody but nobody ain't seenher. De next mornin' she come crawlin' in on her hands andknees. A sight to see. Dat school teacher had done hid her in dewoods all night long, and he had done raped mah baby and runon off just before day."She was only seventeen, and somethin' lak dat to happen!Lawd a'mussy! Look lak Ah kin see it all over again. It was a longtime before she was well, and by dat time we knowed you was onde way. And after you was born she took to drinkin' likker andstayin' out nights. Couldn't git her to stay here and nowhere else.Lawd knows where she is right now. She ain't dead, 'cause Ah'dknow it by mah feelings, but sometimes Ah wish she was at rest."And, Janie, maybe it wasn't much, but Ah done de best Ahkin by you. Ah raked and scraped and bought dis lil piece uh landso you wouldn't have to stay in de white folks' yard and tuck yo'head befo' other chillun at school. Dat was all right when you waslittle. But when you got big enough to understand things, Ah

20 42P Zora Neale Hurstonwanted you to look upon yo'self. Ah don't want yo' feathers alwayscrumpled by folks throwin' up things in yo' face. And Ah can't dieeasy thinkin' maybe de menfolks white or black is makin' a spit cupouta you: Have some sympathy fuh me. Put me down easy, Janie,Ah'm a cracked plate."

3There are years that ask questions and years that answer. Janie hadhad no chance to know things, so she had to ask. Did marriage endthe cosmic loneliness of the unmated? Did marriage compel lovelike the sun the day?In the few days to live before she went to Logan Killicks andhis often-mentioned sixty acres, Janie asked inside of herself andout. She was back and forth to the pear tree continuously wonderingand thinking. Finally out of Nanny's talk and her own conjecturesshe made a sort of comfort for herself. Yes, she would loveLogan after they were married. She could see no way for it to comeabout, but Nanny and the old folks had said it, so it must be so.Husbands and wives always loved each other, and that was whatmarriage meant. It was just so. Janie felt glad of the thought, forthen it wouldn't seem so destructive and mouldy. She wouldn't belonely anymore.Janie and Logan got married in Nanny's parlor of a Saturdayevening with three cakes and big platters of fried rabbit andchicken. Everything to eat in abundance. Nanny and Mrs. Washburnhad seen to that. But nobody put anything on the seat ofLogan's wagon to make it ride glorious on the way to his house.It was a lonesome place like a stump in the middle of the woods

22 Aija► Zora Neale Hurstonwhere nobody had ever been. The house was absent of flavor,too. But anyhow Janie went on inside to wait for love to begin.The new moon had been up and down three times before she gotworried in mind. Then she went to see Nanny in Mrs. Washburn'skitchen on the day for beaten biscuits.Nanny beamed all out with gladness and made her come upto the bread board so she could kiss her."Lawd a'mussy, honey, Ah sho is glad tuh see mah chile!G'wan inside and let Mis' Washburn know youse heah. Umph!Umph! Umph! How is dat husband uh yourn?"Janie didn't go in where Mrs. Washburn was. She didn't sayanything to match up with Nanny's gladness either. She just fellon a chair with her hips and sat there. Between the biscuits andher beaming pride Nanny didn't notice for a minute. But after awhile she found the conversation getting lonesome so she lookedup at Janie."VVhut's de matter, sugar? You ain't none too spry dis mornin'.""Oh, nothin' much, Ah reckon. Ah come to get a lil informationfrom you."The old woman looked amazed, then gave a big clatter oflaughter. "Don't tell me you done got knocked up already, lesssee—dis Saturday it's two month and two weeks.""No'm, Ah don't think so anyhow." Janie blushed a little."You ain't got nothin' to be shamed of, honey, youse uhmarried 'oman. You got yo' lawful husband same as Mis' Washburnor anybody else!""Ah'm all right dat way. Ah know 'tain't nothin' dere.""You and Logan been fussin'? Lawd, Ah know dat grassgut,liver-lipted nigger ain't done took and beat mah baby already!Ah'll take a stick and salivate 'im!""No'm, he ain't even talked 'bout hittin' me. He says henever mean to lay de weight uh his hand on me in malice. He

Their Eyes Were Watching God 40 23chops all de wood he think Ah wants and den he totes it inside dekitchen for me. Keeps both water buckets full.""Humph! don't 'spect all dat tuh keep up. He ain't kissin'yo' mouf when he carry on over yuh lak dat. He's kissin' yo' footand 'tain't in uh man tuh kiss foot long. Mouf kissin' is on uhequal and dat's natural but when dey got to bow down tuh love,dey soon straightens up.""Yes'm.""Well, if he do all dat whut you come in heah wid uh facelong as mah arm for?""'Cause you told me Ah mus gointer love him, and, and Ahdon't. Maybe if somebody was to tell me how, Ah could do it.""You come heah wid yo' mouf full uh foolishness on uh busyday. Heah you got uh prop tuh lean on all yo' bawn days, and bigprotection, and everybody got tuh tip dey hat tuh you and callyou Mis' Killicks, and you come worryin' me 'bout love.""But Nanny, Ah wants to want him sometimes. Ah don'twant him to do all de wantin'.""If you don't want him, you sho oughta. Heah you is wid deonliest organ in town, amongst colored folks, in yo' parlor. Got ahouse bought and paid for and sixty acres uh land right on de bigroad and . . . Lawd have mussy! Dat's de very prong all us blackwomen gits hung on. Dis love! Dat's just whut's got us uh pullin'and uh haulin' and sweatin' and doin' from can't see in de mornin'till can't see at night. Dat's how come de ole folks say dat bein' uhfool don't kill nobody. It jus' makes you sweat. Ah betcha youwants some dressed up dude dat got to look at de sole of his shoeeverytime he cross de street tuh see whether he got enough leatherdere tuh make it across. You can buy and sell such as dem wid whatyou got. In fact you can buy 'em and give 'em away.""Ah ain't studyin"bout none of 'em. At de same time Ah ain'ttakin' dat ole land tuh heart neither. Ah could throw ten acres of it

24 4 Zora Neale Hurstonover de fence every day and never look back to see where it fell. Ahfeel de same way 'bout Mr. Killicks too. Some folks never wasmeant to be loved and he's one of 'em.""How come?""'Cause Ah hates de way his head is so long one way and soflat on de sides and dat pone uh fat back uh his neck.""He never made his own head. You talk so silly.""Ah don't keer who made it, Ah don't like de job. His bellyis too big too, now, and his toe-nails look lak mule foots. And'tain't nothin' in de way of him washin' his feet every evenin'before he comes tuh bed. 'Tain't nothin' tuh hinder him 'causeAh places de water for him. Ah'd ruther be shot wid tacks thantuh turn over in de bed and stir up de air whilst he is in dere. Hedon't even never mention nothin' pretty."She began to cry."Ah wants things sweet wid mah marriage lak when you situnder a pear tree and think. Ah . . . ""'Tain't no use in you cryin', Janie. Grandma done been long uhfew roads herself. But folks is meant to cry 'bout somethin' or other.Better leave things de way dey is. Youse young yet. No tellin' whutmout happen befo' you die. Wait awhile, baby. Yo' mind will change."Nanny sent Janie along with a stern mien, but she dwindled allthe rest of the day as she worked. And when she gained the privacyof her own little shack she stayed on her knees so long she forgotshe was there herself. There is a basin in the mind where wordsfloat around on thought and thought on sound and sight. Thenthere is a depth of thought untouched by words, and deeper still agulf of formless feelings untouched by thought. Nanny enteredthis infinity of conscious pain again on her old knees. Towardsmorning she muttered, "Lawd, you know mah heart. Ah done debest Ah could do. De rest is left to you." She scuffled up from herknees and fell heavily across the bed. A month later she was dead.

Their Eyes Were Watching God as 25So Janie waited a bloom time, and a green time and anorange time. But when the pollen again gilded the sun and sifteddown on the world she began to stand around the gate andexpect things. What things? She didn't know exactly. Her breathwas gusty and short. She knew things that nobody had ever toldher. For instance, the words of the trees and the wind. She oftenspoke to falling seeds and said, "Ah hope you fall on softground," because she had heard seeds saying that to each otheras they passed. She knew the world was a stallion rolling in theblue pasture of ether. She knew that God tore down the oldworld every evening and built a new one by sun-up. It was wonderfulto see it take form with the sun and emerge from the graydust of its making. The familiar people and things had failed herso she hung over the gate and looked up the road towards wayoff. She knew now that marriage did not make love. Janie's firstdream was dead, so she became a woman.

4ci•Long before the year was up, Janie noticed that her husbandhad stopped talking in rhymes to her. He had ceased to wonderat her long black hair and finger it. Six months back he hadtold her, "If Ah kin haul de wood heah and chop it fuh yuh,look lak you oughta be able tuh tote it inside. Mah fast wifenever bothered me 'bout choppin' no wood nohow. She'dgrab dat ax and sling chips lak uh man. You done been spoiltrotten."So Janie had told him, "Ah'm just as stiff as you is stout. If youcan stand not to chop and tote wood Ah reckon you can stand notto git no dinner. 'Scuse mah freezolity, Mist' Killicks, but Ah don'tmean to chop de first chip.""Aw you know Ah'm gwine chop de wood fuh yuh. Even ifyouis stingy as you can be wid me. Yo' Grandma and me myself donespoilt yuh now, and Ah reckon Ah have tuh keep on wid it."One morning soon he called her out of the kitchen to thebarn. He had the mule all saddled at the gate."Looka heah, LilBit, help me out some. Cut up dese seedtaters fuh me. Ah got tuh go step off a piece.""Where you goin'?""Over tuh Lake City tuh see uh man about uh mule."

Their Eyes Were Watching God 40 27"Whut you need two mules fuh? Lessen you aims to swap offdis one.""Naw, Ah needs two mules dis yeah. Taters is goin' tuh betaters in de fall. Bringin' big prices. Ah aims tuh run two plows,and dis man Ah'm talkin"bout is got uh mule all gentled up soeven uh woman kin handle 'im."Logan held his wad of tobacco real still in his jaw like a thermometerof his feelings while he studied Janie's face and waitedfor her to say something."So Ah thought Ah mout as well go see." He tagged on andswallowed to kill time but Janie said nothing except, "Ah'll cutde p'taters fuh yuh. When yuh comin' back?""Don't know exactly. Round dust dark Ah reckon. It's uhsorta long trip—specially if Ah hafter lead one on de way back."When Janie had finished indoors she sat down in the barn withthe potatoes. But springtime reached her in there so she movedeverything to a place in the yard where she could see the road. Thenoon sun filtered through the leaves of the fine oak tree where shesat and made lacy patterns on the ground. She had been there along time when she heard whistling coming down the road.It was a cityfied, stylish dressed man with his hat set at an anglethat didn't belong in these parts. His coat was over his arm, but hedidn't need it to represent his clothes. The shirt with the silksleeveholders was dazzling enough for the world. He whistled,mopped his face and walked like he knew where he was going. Hewas a seal-brown color but he acted like Mr. Washburn or somebodylike that to Janie. Where would such a man be coming fromand where was he going? He didn't look her way nor no other wayexcept straight ahead, so Janie ran to the pump and jerked the handlehard while she pumped. It made a loud noise and also madeher heavy hair fall down. So he stopped and looked hard, and thenhe asked her for a cool drink of water.

28 AP Zora Neale HurstonJanie pumped it off until she got a good look at the man. Hetalked friendly while he drank.Joe Starks was the name, yeah Joe Starks from in and throughGeorgy. Been workin' for white folks all his life. Saved up somemoney—round three hundred dollars, yes indeed, right here in hispocket. Kept hearin"bout them buildin' a new state down heah inFloridy and sort of wanted to come. But he was makin' moneywhere he was. But when he heard all about 'em makin' a town allouta colored folks, he knowed dat was de place he wanted to be.He had always wanted to be a big voice, but de white folks had allde sayso where he come from and everywhere else, exceptin' displace dat colored folks was buildin' theirselves. Dat was right too.De man dat built things oughta boss it. Let colored folks buildthings too if dey wants to crow over somethin'. He was glad hehad his money all saved up. He meant to git dere whilst de townwuz yet a baby. He meant to buy in big. It had always been hisWish and desire to be a big voice and he had to live nearly thirtyyears to find a chance. Where was Janie's papa and mama?"Dey dead, Ah reckon. Ah wouldn't know 'bout 'em 'causemah Grandma raised me. She dead too.""She dead too! Well, who's lookin' after a lil girl-chile lakyou?""Ah'm married.""You married? You ain't hardly old enough to be weaned. Ahbetcha you still craves sugar-fits, doncher?""Yeah, and Ah makes and sucks 'em when de notion strikesme. Drinks sweeten' water too.""Ah loves dat mahself. Never specks to get too old to enjoysyrup sweeten' water when it's cools and nice.""Us got plenty syrup in de barn. Ribbon-cane syrup. If youso desires—""Where yo' husband at, Mis' er-er."

Their Eyes Were Watching God 40 29"Mah name is Janie Mae Killicks since Ah got married.Useter be name Janie Mae Crawford. Mah husband is gone tuhbuy a mule fuh me tuh plow. He left me cuttin' up seed p'taters.""You behind a plow! You ain't got no mo' business wid uhplow than uh hog is got wid uh holiday! You ain't got no businesscuttin' up no seed p'taters neither. A pretty doll-baby lakyou is made to sit on de front porch and rock and fan yo'self andeat p'taters dat other folks plant just special for you."Janie laughed and drew two quarts of syrup from the barreland Joe Starks pumped the water bucket full of cool water. Theysat under the tree and talked. He was going on down to the newpart of Florida, but no harm to stop and chat. He later decidedhe needed a rest anyway. It would do him good to rest a week ortwo.Every day after that they managed to meet in the scrub oaksacross the road and talk about when he would be a big ruler ofthings with her reaping the benefits. Janie pulled back a longtime because he did not represent sun-up and pollen and bloomingtrees, but he spoke for far horizon. He spoke for change andchance. Still she hung back. The memory of Nanny was still powerfuland strong."Janie, if you think Ah aims to tole you off and make a dogouta you, youse wrong. Ah wants to make a wife outa you.""You mean dat, Joe?""De day you puts yo' hand in mine, Ah wouldn't let de sungo down on us single. Ah'm uh man wid principles. You ain'tnever knowed what it was to be treated lak a lady and Ah wantsto be de one tuh show yuh. Call me Jody lak you do sometime.""Jody," she smiled up at him, "but s'posin'—""Leave de s'posin' and everything else to me. Ah'll be downdis road uh little after sunup tomorrow mornin' to wait for you.You come go wid me. Den all de rest of yo' natural life you kin live

30 OP Zora Neale Hurstonlak you oughta. Kiss me and shake yo' head. When you do dat, yo'plentiful hair breaks lak day."Janie debated the matter that night in bed."Logan, you 'sleep?""If Ah wuz, you'd be done woke me up callin' me.""Ah wuz thinkin' real hard about us; about you and me.""It's about time. Youse powerful independent around heresometime considerin'.""Considerin' whut for instance?""Considerin' youse born in a carriage 'thout no top to it,and yo' mama and you bein' born and raised in de white folksback-yard.""You didn't say all dat when you wuz begging Nanny for meto marry you.""Ah thought you would 'preciate good treatment. ThoughtAh'd take and make somethin' outa yuh. You think youse whitefolks by de way you act.""S'posin' Ah wuz to run off and leave yuh sometime."There! Janie had put words in his held-in fears. She mightrun off sure enough. The thought put a terrible ache in Logan'sbody, but he thought it best to put on scorn."Ah'm gettin' sleepy, Janie. Let's don't talk no mo'. 'Tain'ttoo many mens would trust yuh, knowin' yo' folks lak dey do.""Ah might take and find somebody dat did trust me andleave yuh.","Shucks! 'Tain't no mo' fools lak me. A whole lot of mens willgrin in yo' face, but dey ain't gwine tuh work and feed yuh. Youwon't git far and you won't be long, when dat big gut reach overand grab dat little one, you'll be too glad to come back here.""You don't take nothin' to count but sow-belly and cornbread.""Ah'm sleepy. Ah don't aim to worry mah gut into a fiddle-

Their Eyes Were Watching God 4 31string wid no s'posin'." He flopped over resentful in his agonyand pretended sleep. He hoped that he had hurt her as she hadhurt him.Janie got up with him the next morning and had the breakfasthalfway done when he bellowed from the barn."Janie!" Logan called harshly. "Come help me move dismanure pile befo' de sun gits hot. You don't take a bit of interest indis place. 'Tain't no use in foolin' round in dat kitchen all day long."Janie walked to the door with the pan in her hand still stirringthe cornmeal dough and looked towards the barn. The sun fromambush was threatening the world with red daggers, but theshadows were gray and solid-looking around the barn. Loganwith his shovel looked like a black bear doing some clumsy danceon his hind legs."You don't need mah help out dere, Logan. Youse in yo'place and Ah'm in mine.""You ain't got no particular place. It's wherever Ah needyuh. Git uh move on yuh, and dat quick.""Mah mamma didn't tell me Ah wuz born in no hurry. Sowhut business Ah got rushin' now? Anyhow dat ain't whut yousemad about. Youse mad 'cause Ah don't fall down and wash-updese sixty acres uh ground yuh got. You ain't done me no favorby marryin' me. And if dat's what you call yo'self doin', Ah don'tthank yuh for it. Youse mad 'cause Ah'm tellin' yuh whut youalready knowed."Logan dropped his shovel and made two or three clumsysteps towards the house, then stopped abruptly."Don't you change too many words wid me dis mawnin',Janie, do Ah'll take and change ends wid yuh! Heah, Ah just asgood as take you out de white folks' kitchen and set you downon yo' royal diasticutis and you take and low-rate me! Ah'lltake holt uh dat ax and come in dere and kill yuh! You better

32 410 Zora Neale Hurstondry up in dere! Ah'm too honest and hard-workin' for anybodyin yo' family, dat's de reason you don't want me!" The lastsentence was half a sob and half a cry. "Ah guess some low-lifednigger is grinnin' in yo' face and lyin' tuh yuh. God damn yo'hide!"Janie turned from the door without answering, and stoodstill in the middle of the floor without knowing it. She turnedwrongside out just standing there and feeling. When the throbbingcalmed a little she gave Logan's speech a hard thought andplaced it beside other things she had seen and heard. When shehad finished with that she dumped the dough on the skillet andsmoothed it over with her hand. She wasn't even angry. Loganwas accusing her of her mamma, her grandmama and her feelings,and she couldn't do a thing about any of it. The sow-bellyin the pan needed turning. She flipped it over and shoved it back.A little cold water in the coffee pot to settle it. Turned the hoecakewith a plate and then made a little laugh. What was she losingso much time for? A feeling of sudden newness and changecame over her. Janie hurried out of the front gate and turnedsouth. Even if Joe was not there waiting for her, the change wasbound to do her good.The morning road air was like a new dress. That made herfeel the apron tied around her waist. She untied it and flung iton a low bush beside the road and walked on, picking flowersand making a bouquet. After that she came to where Joe Starkswas waiting for her with a hired rig. He was very solemn andhelped her to the seat beside him. With him on it, it sat likesome high, ruling chair. From now on until death she was goingto have flower dust and springtime sprinkled over everything. Abee for her bloom. Her old thoughts were going to come inhandy now, but new words would have to be made and said tofit them.

Their Eyes Were Watching God a. 33"Green Cove Springs," he told the driver. So they were marriedthere before sundown, just like Joe had said. With new clothesof silk and wool.They sat on the boarding house porch and saw the sun plungeinto the same crack in the earth from which the night emerged.

5On. the train the next day, Joe didn't make many speeches withrhymes to her, but he bought her the best things the butcher had,like apples and a glass lantern full of candies. Mostly he talkedabout plans for the town when he got there. They were bound toneed somebody like him. Janie took a lot of looks at him and shewas proud of what she saw. Kind of portly like rich white folks.Strange trains, and people and places didn't scare him neither.Where they got off the train at Maitland he found a buggy to carrythem over to the colored town right away.It was early in the afternoon when they got there, so Joe saidthey must walk over the place and look around. They locked armsand strolled from end to end of the town. Joe noted the scantdozen of shame-faced houses scattered in the sand and palmettoroots and said, "God, they call this a town? Why, 'tain't nothingbut a raw place in de woods.""It is a whole heap littler than Ah thought." Janie admittedher disappointment."Just like Ah thought," Joe said. "A whole heap uh talk andnobody doin' nothin'. I god, where's de Mayor?" he asked somebody."Ah want tuh speak wid de Mayor."Two men who were sitting on their shoulderblades under a

Their Eyes Were Watching God 4171 35huge live oak tree almost sat upright at the tone of his voice. Theystared at Joe's face, his clothes and his wife."Where y'all come from in sich uh big haste?" Lee Coker asked."Middle Georgy," Starks answered briskly. "Joe Starks is mahname, from in and through Georgy.""You and yo' daughter goin' tuh join wid us in fellowship?"the other reclining figure asked. "Mighty glad tuh have yuh.Hicks is the name. Guv'nor Amos Hicks from Buford, SouthCarolina. Free, single, disengaged.""I god, Ah ain't nowhere near old enough to have no growndaughter. This here is mah wife."Hicks sank back and lost interest at once."Where is de Mayor?" Starks persisted. "Ah wants tuh talkwid him.""Youse uh mite too previous for dat," Coker told him. "Usain't got none yit.""Ain't got no Mayor! Well, who tells y'all what to do?""Nobody. Everybody's grown. And then agin, Ah reckon usjust ain't thought about it. Ah know Ah ain't.""Ah did think about it one day," Hicks said dreamily, "butthen Ah forgot it and ain't thought about it since then.""No wonder things ain't no better," Joe commented. "Ah'mbuyin' in here, and buyin' in big. Soon's we find some place tosleep tonight us menfolks got to call people together and form acommittee. Then we can get things movin' round here.""Ah kin point yuh where yuh kin sleep," Hicks offered."Man got his house done built and his wife ain't come yet."Starks and Janie moved on off in the direction indicated withHicks and Coker boring into their backs with looks."Dat man talks like a section foreman," Coker commented."He's mighty compellment.""Shucks!" said Hicks. "Mah britches is just as long as his. But

36 Alp Zora Neale Hurstondat wife uh hisn! Ah'm uh son of uh Combunction if Ah don't gotuh Georgy and git me one just like her.""Whut wid?""Wid mah talk, man.""It takes money tuh feed pretty women. Dey gits uh lavishuh talk.""Not lak mine. Dey loves to hear me talk because dey can'tunderstand it. Mah co-talkin' is too deep. Too much co to it.""Umph!""You don't believe me, do yuh? You don't know de womenAh kin git to mah command.""Umph!""You ain't never seen me when Ah'm out pleasurin' andgivin' pleasure.""Umph!""It's uh good thing he married her befo' she seen me. Ah kinbe some trouble when Ah take uh notion.""Umph!""Ah'm uh bitch's baby round lady people.""Ah's much ruther see all dat than to hear 'bout it. Come onless go see whut he gointuh do 'bout dis town."They got up and sauntered over to where Starks was livingfor the present. Already the town had found the strangers. Joewas on the porch talking to a small group of men. Janie could beseen through the bedroom window getting settled. Joe hadrented the house for a month. The men were all around him, andhe was talking to them by asking questions."Whut is de real name of de place?""Some say West Maitland and some say Eatonville. Dat's'cause Cap'n Eaton give us some land along wid Mr. Laurence.But Cap'n Eaton give de first piece.""How much did they give?"

Their Eyes Were Watching God 40 37"Oh 'bout fifty acres.""How much is y'all got now?""Oh 'bout de same.""Dat ain't near enough. Who owns de land joining on towhut yuh got?""Cap'n Eaton.""Where is dis Cap'n Eaton?""Over dere in Maitland, 'ceptin' when he go visitin' orsomethin'.""Lemme speak to mah wife a minute and Ah'm goin' see deman. You cannot have no town without some land to build it on.Y'all ain't got enough here to cuss a cat on without gittin' yo'mouf full of hair.""He ain't got no mo' land tuh give away. Yuh needs plentymoney if yuh wants any mo'.""Ah specks to pay him."The idea was funny to them and they wanted to laugh. Theytried hard to hold it in, but enough incredulous laughter burstout of their eyes and leaked from the corners of their mouths toinform anyone of their thoughts. So Joe walked off abruptly.Most of them went along to show him the way and to be therewhen his bluff was called.Hicks didn't go far. He turned back to the house as soon ashe felt he wouldn't be missed from the crowd and mounted theporch."Evenin', Miz Starks.""Good evenin'.""You reckon you gointuh like round here?""Ah reckon so.""Anything Ah kin do tuh help out, why you kin call on me.""Much obliged."There was a long dead pause. Janie was not jumping at her

38 4er Zora Neale Hurstonchance like she ought to. Look like she didn't hardly know hewas there. She needed waking up."Folks must be mighty close-mouthed where you come from.""Dat's right. But it must be different at yo' home."He was a long time thinking but finally he saw and stumbleddown the steps with a surly "'Bye.""Good bye."That night Coker asked him about it."Ah saw yuh when yuh ducked back tuh Starks' house. Well,how didju make out?""Who, me? Ah ain't been near de place, man. Ah been downtuh de lake tryin' tuh ketch me uh fish.""Umph!""Dat 'oman ain't so awfully pretty no how when yuh take desecond look at her. Ah had to sorta pass by de house on de way backand seen her good. 'Tain't nothin' to her 'ceptin' dat long hair.""Umph!""And anyhow, Ah done took uhlikin' tuh de man. Ah wouldn'tharm him at all. She ain't half ez pretty ez uh gal Ah run off and leftup in South Celina.""Hicks, Ah'd git mad and say you wuz lyin' if Ah didn't knowyuh so good. You just talkin' to consolate yo'self by word ofmouth. You got uh willin' mind, but youse too light behind. Awhole heap uh men seen de same thing you seen but they got bettersense than you. You oughta know you can't take no 'oman lakdat from no man lak him. A man dat ups and buys two hundredacres uh land at one whack and pays cash for it.""Naw! He didn't buy it sho nuff?""He sho did. Come off wid de papers in his pocket. He donecalled a meetin' on his porch tomorrow. Ain't never seen no sichuh colored man befo' in all mah bawn days. He's gointuh put upuh store and git uh post office from de Goven'ment."

Their Eyes Were Watching God lip 39That irritated Hicks and he didn't know why. He was the averagemortal. It troubled him to get used to the world one way andthen suddenly have it turn different. He wasn't ready to think ofcolored people in post offices yet. He laughed boisterously."Y'all let dat stray darky tell y'all any ole lie! Uh colored mansittin' up in uh post office!" He made an obscene sound."He's liable tuh do it too, Hicks. Ah hope so anyhow. Us coloredfolks is too envious of one 'nother. Dat's how come us don'tgit no further than us do. Us talks about de white man keepin' usdown! Shucks! He don't have tuh. Us keeps our own selvesdown.""Now who said Ah didn't want de man tuh git us uh postoffice? He kin be de king uh Jerusalem fuh all Ah keer. Still andall, 'tain't no use in telling lies just 'cause uh heap uh folks don'tknow no better. Yo' common sense oughta tell yuh de white folksain't goin' tuh 'low him tuh run no post office.""Dat we don't know, Hicks. He say he kin and Ah b'lieve heknow whut he's talkin"bout. Ah reckon if colored folks got theyown town they kin have post offices and whatsoever they please,regardless. And then agin, Ah don't speck de white folks way offyonder give uh damn. Less us wait and see.""Oh, Ah'm waitin' all right. Specks tuh keep on waitin' tillhell freeze over.""Aw, git reconciled! Dat woman don't want you. You gottuh learn dat all de women in de world ain't been brought up onno teppentine still, and no saw-mill camp. There's some womendat jus' ain't for you tuh broach. You can't git her wid no fishsandwich."They argued a bit more then went on to the house where Joewas and found him in his shirt-sleeves, standing with his legswide apart, asking questions and smoking a cigar."Where's de closest saw-mill?" He was asking Tony Taylor.

40 ASP Zora Neale Hurston"'Bout seben miles goin' t'wards Apopka," Tony told him."Thinkin"bout buildin' right away?""I god, yeah. But not de house Ah specks tuh live in. Dat kinwait till Ah make up mah mind where Ah wants it located. Ah figgerswe all needs uh store in uh big hurry.""Uh store?" Tony shouted in surprise."Yeah, uh store right heah in town wid everything in it youneeds. 'Tain't uh bit uh use in everybody proagin' way over tuhMaitland tuh buy uh little meal and flour when they could git itright heah.""Dat would be kinda nice, Brother Starks, since you mention it.""I god, course it would! And then agin uh store is good inother ways. Ah got tuh have a place tuh be at when folks comestuh buy land. And furthermo' everything is got tuh have uh centerand uh heart tuh it, and uh town ain't no different fromnowhere else. It would be natural fuh de store tuh be meetin'place fuh de town.""Dat sho is de truth, now.""Oh, we'll have dis town all fixed up tereckly. Don't missbein' at de meetin' tuhmorrow."Just about time for the committee meeting called to meet onhis porch next day, the first wagon load of lumber drove up andJody went to show them where to put it. Told Janie to hold thecommittee there until he got back, he didn't want to miss them, buthe meant to count every foot of that lumber before it touched theground. He could have saved his breath and Janie could have keptright on with what she was doing. In the first place everybody waslate in coming; then the next thing as soon as they heard where Jodywas, they kept right on up there where the new lumber was rattlingoff the wagon and being piled under the big live oak tree. So that'swhere the meeting was held with Tony Taylor acting as chairmanand Jody doing all the talking. A day was named for roads and they

Their Eyes Were Watching God 41, 41all agreed to bring axes and things like that and chop out two roadsrunning each way. That applied to everybody except Tony andCoker. They could carpenter, so Jody hired them to go to work onhis store bright and soon the next morning. Jody himself would bebusy driving around from town to town telling people aboutEatonville and drumming up citizens to move there.Janie was astonished to see the money Jody had spent for theland come back to him so fast. Ten new families bought lots andmoved to town in six weeks. It all looked too big and rushing forher to keep track of. Before the store had a complete roof, Jodyhad canned goods piled on the floor and was selling so much hedidn't have time to go off on his talking tours. She had her firsttaste of presiding over it the day it was complete and finished.Jody told her to dress up and stand in the store all that evening.Everybody was coming sort of fixed up, and he didn't mean fornobody else's wife to rank with her. She must look on herself asthe bell-cow, the other women were the gang. So the put on oneof her bought dresses and went up the new-cut road all dressedin wine-colored red. Her silken ruffles rustled and mutteredabout her. The other women had on percale and calico with hereand there a headrag among the older ones.Nobody was buying anything that night. They didn't comethere for that. They had come to make a welcome. So Joe knockedin the head of a barrel of soda crackers and cut some cheese."Everybody come right forward and make merry. I god, it'smah treat." Jody gave one of his big heh heh laughs and stoodback. Janie dipped up the lemonade like he told her. A big tin cupfull for everybody. Tony Taylor felt so good when it was all gonethat he felt to make a speech."Ladies and gent'men, we'se come tuhgether and getheredheah tuh welcome tub our midst one who has seen fit tuh cast inhis lot amongst us. He didn't just come hisself neither. He have

42 Afir Zora Neale Hurstonseen fit tuh bring his, er, er, de light uh his home, dat is his wifeamongst us also. She couldn't look no mo' better and no noblerif she wuz de queen uh England. It's uh pledger fuh her tuh beheah amongst us. Brother Starks, we welcomes you and all datyou have seen fit tuh bring amongst us—yo' belov-ed wife, yo'store, yo' land—"A big-mouthed burst of laughter cut him short."Dat'll do, Tony," Lige Moss yelled out. "Mist' Starks is uhsmart man, we'se all willin' tuh acknowledge tuh dat, but de dayhe comes waggin' down de road wid two hund'ed acres of landover his shoulder, Ah wants tuh be dere tuh see it."Another big blow-out of a laugh. Tony was a little peeved athaving the one speech of his lifetime ruined like that."All y'all know whut wuz meant. Ah don't see how come—""'Cause you jump up tuh make speeches and don't knowhow," Lige said."Ah wuz speakin' jus' all right befo' you stuck yo' bill in.""Now, you wuzn't, Tony. Youse way outa jurisdiction. Youcan't welcome uh man and his wife 'thout you make comparisonabout Isaac and Rebecca at de well, else it don't show de lovebetween 'em if you don't."Everybody agreed that that was right. It was sort of pitiful forTony not to know he couldn't make a speech without saying that.Some tittered at his ignorance. So Tony said testily, "If all themdat's goin-tuh cut de monkey is done cut it and through wid,we'll thank Brother Starks fuh a respond."So Joe Starks and his cigar took the center of the floor."Ali thanks you all for yo' kind welcome and for extendin' tuhme de right hand uh fellowship. Ah kin see dat dis town is full uhunion and love. Ah means tuh put mah hands nth de plow heah, andstrain every nerve tuh make dis our town de metropolis uh de state.So maybe Ah better tell yuh in case you don't know dat if we expect

Their Eyes Were Watching God 410 43tuh move on, us got tuh incorporate lak every other town. Us gottuh incorporate, and us got tuh have uh mayor, if things is tuh bedone and done right. Ah welcome you all on behalf uh me and mahwife tuh dis store and tuh de other things tub come. Amen."Tony led the loud hand-clapping and was out in the center ofthe floor when it stopped."Brothers and sisters, since us can't never expect tuh betterour choice, Ah move dat we make Brother Starks our Mayor untilwe kin see further.""Second dat motion!!!" It was everybody talking at once, soit was no need of putting it to a vote."And now we'll listen tuh uh few words uh encouragementfrom Mrs. Mayor Starks."The burst of applause was cut short by Joe taking the floorhimself."Thank yuh fuh yo' compliments, but mah wife don't knownothin' 'bout no speech-makin'. Ah never married her fornothin' lak dat. She's uh woman and her place is in de home."Janie made her face laugh after a short pause, but it wasn'ttoo easy. She had never thought of making a speech, and didn'tknow if she cared to make one at all. It must have been the wayJoe spoke out without giving her a chance to say anything oneway or another that took the bloom off of things. But anyway,she went down the road behind him that night feeling cold. Hestrode along invested with his new dignity, thought and plannedout loud, unconscious of her thoughts."De mayor of uh town lak dis can't lay round home toomuch. De place needs buildin' up. Janie, Ah'll git hold uh somebodytuh help out in de store and you kin look after things whilstAh drum up things otherwise.""Oh Jody, Ah can't do nothin' wid no store lessen youse there. Ahcould maybe come in and help you when things git rushed, but—"

44 412P Zora Neale Hurston"I god, Ah don't see how come yuh can't. 'Tain't nothin'atall tuh hinder yuh if yuh got uh thimble full uh sense. You gottuh. Ah got too much else on mah hands as Mayor. Dis townneeds some light right now.""Unh hunh, it is uh little dark right long heah.""'Course it is. 'Tain't no use in scufflin' over all dese stumpsand roots in de dark. Ah'll call uh meetin' bout de dark and deroots right away. Ah'll sit on dis case first thing."The very next day with money out of his own pocket he sentoff to Sears, Roebuck and Company for the street lamp and toldthe town to meet the following Thursday night to vote on it.Nobody had ever thought of street lamps and some of them saidit was a useless notion. They went so far as to vote against it, butthe majority ruled.But the whole town got vain over it after it came. That wasbecause the Mayor didn't just take it out of the crate and stick itup on a post. He unwrapped it and had it wiped off carefully andput it up on a showcase for a week for everybody to see. Then heset a time for the lighting and sent word all around OrangeCounty for one and all to come to the lamplighting. He sent menout to the swamp to cut the finest and the straightest cypress postthey could find, and kept on sending them back to hunt anotherone until they found one that pleased him. He had talked to thepeople already about the hospitality of the occasion."Y'all know we can't invite people to our town just dry longso. I god, naw. We got tuh feed 'em something, and 'tain'tnothin' people laks better'n barbecue. Ah'll give one wholehawg mah ownself. Seem lak all de rest uh y'all put tuhgetheroughta be able tuh scrape up two mo'. Tell yo' womenfolkstuh do 'round 'bout some pies and cakes and sweet p'taterpone."That's the way it went, too. The women got together the

Their Eyes Were Watching God 40 45sweets and the men looked after the meats. The day before thelighting, they dug a big hole in back of the store and filled it fullof oak wood and burned it down to a glowing bed of coals. Ittook them the whole night to barbecue the three hogs. Hamboand Pearson had full charge while the others helped out withturning the meat now and then while Hambo swabbed it allover with the sauce. In between times they told stories, laughedand told more stories and sung songs. They cut all sorts ofcapers and whiffed the meat as it slowly came to perfection withthe seasoning penetrating to the bone. The younger boys hadto rig up the saw-horses with boards for the women to use astables. Then it was after sun-up and everybody not needed wenthome to rest up for the feast.By five o'clock the town was full of every kind of a vehicleand swarming with people. They wanted to see that lamp lit atdusk. Near the time, Joe assembled everybody in the streetbefore the store and made a speech."Folkses, de sun is goin' down. De Sun-maker brings it up inde mornin', and de Sun-maker sends it tuh bed at night. Us poorweak humans can't do nothin' tuh hurry it up nor to slow itdown. All we can do, if we want any light after de settin' or befo'de risin', is tuh make some light ourselves. So dat's how comelamps was made. Dis evenin' we'se all assembled heah tuh lightuh lamp. Dis occasion is something for us all tuh remember tuhour dyin' day. De first street lamp in uh colored town. Lift yo'eyes and gaze on it. And when Ah touch de match tuh dat lampwicklet de light penetrate inside of yuh, and let it shine, let itshine, let it shine. Brother Davis, lead us in a word uh prayer. Askuh blessin' on dis town in uh most particular manner."While Davis chanted a traditional prayer-poem with his ownvariations, Joe mounted the box that had been placed for thepurpose and opened the brazen door of the lamp. As the word

46 aor Zora Neale HurstonAmen was said, he touched the lighted match to the wick, andMrs. Bogle's alto burst out in:We'll walk in de light, de beautiful lightCome where the dew drops of mercy shine brightShine all around us by day and by nightJesus, the light of the world.They, all of them, all of the people took it up and sung it overand over until it was wrung dry, and no further innovations of toneand tempo were conceivable. Then they hushed and ate barbecue.When it was all over that night in bed Jody asked Janie,"Well, honey, how yuh lak bein' Mrs. Mayor?""It's all right Ah reckon, but don't yuh think it keeps us in uhkinda strain?""Strain? You mean de cookin' and waitin' on folks?""Naw, Jody, it jus' looks lak it keeps us in some way we ain'tnatural wid one 'nother. You'se always off talkin' and fixin'things, and Ah feels lak Ah'm jus' markin' time. Hope it soon gitsover.""Over, Janie? I god, Ah ain't even started good. Ah told youin de very first beginnin' dat Ah aimed tuh be uh big voice. Yououghta be glad, 'cause dat makes uh big woman outa you."A feeling of coldness and fear took hold of her. She felt faraway from things and lonely.Janie soon began to feel the impact of awe and envy against hersensibilities. The wife of the Mayor was not just another womanas she had supposed. She slept with authority and so she waspart of it in the town mind. She couldn't get but so close tomost of them in spirit. It was especially noticeable after Joe hadforced through a town ditch to drain the street in front of the

Their Eyes Were Watching God 4/hP 47store. They had murmured hotly about slavery being over, butevery man filled his assignment.There was something about Joe Starks that cowed the town.It was not because of physical fear. He was no fist fighter. Hisbulk was not even imposing as men go. Neither was it because hewas more literate than the rest. Something else made men giveway before him. He had a bow-down command in his face, andevery step he took made the thing more tangible.Take for instance that new house of his. It had two stories withporches, with bannisters and such things. The rest of the townlooked like servants' quarters surrounding the "big house." Anddifferent from everybody else in the town he put off moving inuntil it had been painted, in and out. And look at the way hepainted it—a gloaty, sparkly white. The kind of promenadingwhite that the houses of Bishop Whipple, W. B. Jackson and theVanderpool's wore. It made the village feel funny talking to him—just like he was anybody else. Then there was the matter of thespittoons. No sooner was he all set as the Mayor—post masterlandlord—storekeeper,than he bought a desk like Mr. Hill or Mr.Galloway over in Maitland with one of those swing-around chairsto it. What with him biting down on cigars and saving his breathon talk and swinging round in that chair, it weakened people. Andthen he spit in that gold-looking vase that anybody else wouldhave been glad to put on their front-room table. Said it was a spittoonjust like his used-to-be bossman used to have in his bank upthere in Atlanta. Didn't have to get up and go to the door everytime he had to spit. Didn't spit on his floor neither. Had thatgolded-up spitting pot right handy. But he went further than that.He bought a little lady-size spitting pot for Janie to spit in. Had itright in the parlor with little sprigs of flowers painted all around thesides. It took people by surprise because most of the womendipped snuff and of course had a spit-cup in the house. But how

48 412P Zora Neale Hurstoncould they know up-to-date folks was spitting in flowery littlethings like that? It sort of made the rest of them feel that they hadbeen taken advantage of. Like things had been kept from them.Maybe more things in the world besides spitting pots had been hidfrom them, when they wasn't told no better than to spit in tomatocans. It was bad enough for white people, but when one of yourown color could be so different it put you on a wonder. It was likeseeing your sister turn into a 'gator. A familiar strangeness. Youkeep seeing your sister in the 'gator and the 'gator in your sister,and you'd rather not. There was no doubt that the town respectedhim and even admired him in a way. But any man who walks in theway of power and property is bound to meet hate. So when speakersstood up when the occasion demanded and said "Our belovedMayor," it was one of those statements that everybody says butnobody actually believes like "God is everywhere." It was just ahandle to wind up the tongue with. As time went on and the benefitshe had conferred upon the town receded in time they sat onhis store porch while he was busy inside and discussed him. Likeone day after he caught Henry Pitts with a wagon load of his ribboncane and took the cane away from Pitts and made him leavetown. Some of them thought Starks ought not to have done that.He had so much cane and everything else. But they didn't say thatwhile Joe Starks was on the porch. When the mail came from Maitlandand he went inside to sort it out everybody had their say.Sim Jones started off as soon as he was sure that Starks couldn'thear him."It's uh sin and uh shame runnin' dat po' man way from herelak dat. Colored folks oughtn't tuh be so hard on one 'nother.""Ah don't see it dat way atall," Sam Watson said shortly. "Letcolored folks learn to work for what dey git lak everybody else.Nobody ain't stopped Pitts from plantin' de cane he wanted tuh.Starks give him uh job, what mo' do he want?"

Their Eyes Were Watching God 42, 49"Ah know dat too," Jones said, "but, Sam, Joe Starks is tooexact wid folks. All he got he done made it offa de rest of us. Hedidn't have all dat when he come here.""Yeah, but none uh all dis you see and you'se settin' on wasn'there neither, when he come. Give de devil his due.""But now, Sam, you know dat all he do is big-belly roundand tell other folks what tuh do. He loves obedience out ofeverybody under de sound of his voice.""You kin feel a switch in his hand when he's talkin' to yuh,"Oscar Scott complained. "Dat chastisin' feelin' he totes sortergives yuh de protolapsis uh de cutinary linin'.""He's uh whirlwind among breezes," Jeff Bruce threw in."Speakin' of winds, he's de wind and we'se de grass. We bendwhich ever way he blows," Sam Watson agreed, "but at dat usneeds him. De town wouldn't be nothin' if it wasn't for him. Hecan't help bein' sorta bossy. Some folks needs thrones, and ruling-chairsand crowns tuh make they influence felt. He don't.He's got uh throne in de seat of his pants.""Whut Ah don't lak 'bout de man is, he talks tuh unletteredfolks wid books in his jaws," Hicks complained. "Showin' off hislearnin'. To look at me you wouldn't think it, but Ah got uh brotherpastorin' up round Ocala dat got good learnin'. If he wuz here, JoeStarks wouldn't make no fool outa him lak he do de rest uh y'all.""Ah often wonder how dat lil wife uh hisn makes out wid him,'cause he's uh man dat changes everything, but nothin' don'tchange him.""You know many's de time Ah done thought about dat mahself.He gits on her ever now and then when she make little mistakesround de store.""Whut make her keep her head tied up lak some ole 'omanround de store? Nobody couldn't Bit me tuh tie no rag on mahhead if Ah had hair lak dat."

50 ilas Zora Neale Hurston"Maybe he make her do it. Maybe he skeered some de rest ofus mens might touch it round dat store. It sho is uh hidden mysterytuh me.""She sho don't talk much. De way he rears and pitches in destore sometimes when she make uh mistake is sort of ungodly,but she don't seem to mind at all. Reckon dey understand one'nother."The town had a basketful of feelings good and bad aboutJoe's positions and possessions, but none had the temerity tochallenge him. They bowed down to him rather, because he wasall of these things, and then again he was all of these thingsbecause the town bowed down.

Every morning the world flung itself over and exposed the town tothe sun. So Janie had another day. And every day had a store in it,except Sundays. The store itself was a pleasant place if only shedidn't have to sell things. When the people sat around on theporch and passed around the pictures of their thoughts for theothers to look at and see, it was nice. The fact that the thoughtpictures were always crayon enlargements of life made it evennicer to listen to.Take for instance the case of Matt Bonner's yellow mule.They had him up for conversation every day the Lord sent. Mostespecial if Matt was there himself to listen. Sam and Lige andWalter were the ringleaders of the mule-talkers. The others threwin whatever they could chance upon, but it seemed as if Sam andLige and Walter could hear and see more about that mule thanthe whole county put together. All they needed was to see Matt'slong spare shape coming down the street and by the time he gotto the porch they were ready for him."Hello, Matt.""Evenin', Sam.""Mighty glad you come 'long right now, Matt. Me and someothers wuz jus' about tuh come hunt yuh."

52 OAP Zora Neale Hurston"Whut fuh, Sam?""Mighty serious matter, man. Serious!!""Yeah man," Lige would cut in, dolefully. "It needs yo' strictattention. You ought not tuh lose no time.""Whut is it then? You oughta hurry up and tell me.""Reckon we better not tell yuh heah at de store. It's too fur offtuh do any good. We better all walk on down by Lake Sabelia.""Whut's wrong, man? Ah ain't after none uh y'alls foolishnessnow""Dat mule uh yourn, Matt. You better go see 'bout him. He'sbad off.""Where 'bouts? Did he wade in de lake and uh alligatorketch him?""Worser'n dat. De womenfolks got yo' mule. When Ah comeround de lake 'bout noontime mah wife and some others had 'imflat on de ground usin' his sides fuh uh wash board."The great clap of laughter that they have been holding in,bursts out. Sam never cracks a smile. "Yeah, Matt, dat mule soskinny till de women is usin' his rib bones fuh uh rub-board, andhangin' things out on his hock-bones tuh dry."Matt realizes that they have tricked him again and the laughtermakes him mad and when he gets mad he stammers."You'se uh stinkin' lie, Sam, and yo' feet ain't mates. Y-y-y-you!""Aw, man, 'tain't no use in you gittin' mad. Yuh know yuhdon't feed de mule. How he gointuh git fat?""Ah-ah-ah d-d-does feed 'im! Ah g-g-gived 'im uh full cupuh cawn every feedin'.""Lige knows all about dat cup uh cawn. He hid round yo'barn and watched yuh. 'Tain't no feed cup you measures datcawn outa. It's uh tea cup.""Ah does feed 'im. He's jus' too mean tuh git fat. He staypoor and rawbony jus' fuh spite. Skeered he'll hafta work some."

Their Eyes Were Watching God 4 53"Yeah, you feeds 'im. Feeds 'im offa 'come up' and seasons itwid raw-hide.""Does feed de ornery varmint! Don't keer whut Ah do Ahcan't git long wid 'im. He fights every inch in front uh de plow,and even lay back his ears tuh kick and bite when Ah go in de stalltuh feed 'im.""Git reconciled, Matt," Lige soothed. "Us all knows he'smean. Ah seen 'im when he took after one uh dem Roberts chillunin de street and woulda caught 'im and maybe trompled 'im tuhdeath if de wind hadn't of changed all of a sudden. Yuh see deyoungun wuz tryin' tuh make it tuh de fence uh Starks' onionpatch and de mule wuz dead in behind 'im and gainin' on 'imevery jump, when all of a sudden de wind changed and blowed demule way off his course, him bein' so poor and everything, andbefore de ornery varmint could tack, de youngun had done gotover de fence." The porch laughed and Matt got mad again."Maybe de mule takes out after everybody," Sam said,"'cause he thinks everybody he hear comin' is Matt Bonnercomin' tuh work 'im on uh empty stomach.""Aw, naw, aw, naw. You stop dat right now," Walter objected."Dat mule don't think Ah look lak no Matt Bonner. He ain't datdumb. If Ah thought he didn't know no better Ah'd have mahpicture took and give it tuh dat mule so's he could learn better.Ah ain't gointuh 'low 'im tuh hold nothin' lak dat against me."Matt struggled to say something but his tongue failed him sohe jumped down off the porch and walked away as mad as hecould be. But that never halted the mule talk. There would bemore stories about how poor the brute was; his age; his evil dispositionand his latest caper. Everybody indulged in mule talk. Hewas next to the Mayor in prominence, and made better talking.Janie loved the conversation and sometimes she thought upgood stories on the mule, but Joe had forbidden her to indulge.

54 ay Zora Neale HurstonHe didn't want her talking after such trashy people. "You'se Mrs.Mayor Starks, Janie. I god, Ah can't see what uh woman uh yo'stability would want tuh be treasurin' all dat gum-grease from folksdat don't even own de house dey sleep in. 'Tain't no earthly use.They's jus' some puny humans playin' round de toes uh Time."Janie noted that while he didn't talk the mule himself, he satand laughed at it. Laughed his big heh, heh laugh too. But thenwhen Lige or Sam or Walter or some of the other big picture talkerswere using a side of the world for a canvas, Joe would hustleher off inside the store to sell something. Look like he took pleasurein doing it. Why couldn't he go himself sometimes? She hadcome to hate the inside of that store anyway. That Post Officetoo. People always coming and asking for mail at the wrong time.Just when she was trying to count up something or write in anaccount book. Get her so hackled she'd make the wrong changefor stamps. Then too, she couldn't read everybody's writing.Some folks wrote so funny and spelt things different from whatshe knew about. As a rule, Joe put up the mail himself, but sometimeswhen he was off she had to do it herself and it always endedup in a fuss.The store itself kept her with a sick headache. The labor ofgetting things down off of a shelf or out of a barrel was nothing.And so long as people wanted only a can of tomatoes or a poundof rice it was all right. But supposing they went on and said apound and a half of bacon and a half pound of lard? The wholething changed from a little walking and stretching to a mathematicaldilemma. Or maybe cheese was thirty-seven cents apound and somebody came and asked for a dime's worth. Shewent through many silent rebellions over things like that. Such awaste of life and time. But Joe kept saying that she could do it ifshe wanted to and he wanted her to use her privileges. That wasthe rock she was battered against.

Their Eyes Were Watching God 4its 55This business of the head-rag irked her endlessly. But Jodywas set on it. Her hair was NOT going to show in the store. Itdidn't seem sensible at all. That was because Joe never told Janiehow jealous he was. He never told her how often he had seen theother men figuratively wallowing in it as she went about things inthe store. And one night he had caught Walter standing behindJanie and brushing the back of his hand back and forth across theloose end of her braid ever so lightly so as to enjoy the feel of itwithout Janie knowing what he was doing. Joe was at the back ofthe store and Walter didn't see him. He felt like rushing forthwith the meat knife and chopping off the offending hand. Thatnight he ordered Janie to tie up her hair around the store. Thatwas all. She was there in the store for him to look at, not thoseothers. But he never said things like that. It just wasn't in him.Take the matter of the yellow mule, for instance.Late one afternoon Matt came from the west with a halter inhis hand. "Been huntin' fuh mah mule. Anybody seen 'im?" heasked."Seen 'im soon dis mornin' over behind de schoolhouse,"Lum said. "'Bout ten o'clock or so. He musta been out all nighttuh be way over dere dat early.""He wuz," Matt answered. "Seen 'im last night but Ahcouldn't ketch 'im. Ah'm 'bliged tuh git 'im in tuhnight 'causeAh got some plowin' fuh tuhmorrow. Done promised tuh plowThompson's grove.""Reckon you'll ever git through de job wid dat mule-frame?"Lige asked."Aw dat mule is plenty strong. Jus' evil and don't want tuhbe led.""Dat's right. Dey tell me he brought you heah tuh dis town.Say you started tuh Miccanopy but de mule had better sense andbrung yuh on heah."

56 Zora Neale Hurston"It's uh 1-1-lie! Ah set out fuh dis town when Ah left WestFloridy.""You mean tuh tell me you rode dat mule all de way fromWest Floridy down heah?""Sho he did, Lige. But he didn't mean tuh. He wuz satisfiedup dere, but de mule wuzn't. So one mornin' he got straddle uhde mule and he took and brought 'im on off. Mule had sense.Folks up dat way don't eat biscuit bread but once uh week."There was always a little seriousness behind the teasing ofMatt, so when he got huffed and walked on off nobody minded.He was known to buy side-meat by the slice. Carried home littlebags of meal and flour in his hand. He didn't seem to mind toomuch so long as it didn't cost him anything.About half an hour after he left they heard the braying of themule at the edge of the woods. He was coming past the store verysoon."Less ketch Matt's mule fuh 'im and have some fun.""Now, Lum, you know dat mule ain't aimin' tuh let hisself becaught. Less watch you do it."When the mule was in front of the store, Lum went out andtackled him. The brute jerked up his head, laid back his ears andrushed to the attack. Lum had to run for safety. Five or six moremen left the porch and surrounded the fractious beast, goosinghim in the sides and making him show his temper. But he hadmore spirit left than body. He was soon panting and heaving fromthe effort of spinning his old carcass about. Everybody was havingfun at the mule-baiting. All but Janie.She snatched her head away from the spectacle and began mutteringto herself. "They oughta be shamed uh theyselves! Teasin'dat poor brute beast lak they is! Done been worked tuh death; donehad his disposition ruint wid mistreatment, and now they got tuhfinish devilin"im tuh death. Wisht Ah had mah way wid 'em

Their Eyes Were Watching God ASP 57She walked away from the porch and found something to busyherself with in the back of the store so she did not hear Jody whenhe stopped laughing. She didn't know that he had heard her, butshe did hear him yell out, "Lum, I god, dat's enough! Y'all donehad yo' fun now. Stop yo' foolishness and go tell Matt Bonner Ahwants tuh have uh talk wid him right away."Janie came back out front and sat down. She didn't say anythingand neither did Joe. But after a while he looked down at hisfeet and said, "Janie, Ah reckon you better go fetch me dem oldblack gaiters. Dese tan shoes sets mah feet on fire. Plenty room in'em, but they hurts regardless."She got up without a word and went off for the shoes. A littlewar of defense for helpless things was going on inside her. Peopleought to have some regard for helpless things. She wanted to fightabout it. "But Ah hates disagreement and confusion, so Ah betternot talk. It makes it hard tuh git along." She didn't hurry back.She fumbled around long enough to get her face straight. Whenshe got back, Joe was talking with Matt."Fifteen dollars? I god you'se as crazy as uh betsy bug! Fivedollars.""L-1-less we strack uh compermise, Brother Mayor. Lessm-make it ten.""Five dollars." Joe rolled his cigar in his mouth and rolled hiseyes away indifferently."If dat mule is wuth somethin' tuh you, Brother Mayor, he'swuth mo' tuh me. More special when Ah got uh job uh worktuhmorrow.""Five dollars.""All right, Brother Mayor. If you wants tuh rob uh poorman lak me uh everything he got tuh make uh livin' wid, Ah'll takede five dollars. Dat mule been wid me twenty-three years. It'smighty hard."

58 42, Zora Neale HurstonMayor Starks deliberately changed his shoes before hereached into his pocket for the money. By that time Matt waswringing and twisting like a hen on a hot brick. But as soon as hishand closed on the money his face broke into a grin."Beatyuh tradin' dat time, Starks! Dat mule is liable tuh bedead befo' de week is out. You won't git no work outa him.""Didn't buy 'im fuh no work. I god, Ah bought dat varminttuh let 'im rest. You didn't have gumption enough tuh do it."A respectful silence fell on the place. Sam looked at Joe andsaid, "Dat's uh new idea 'bout varmints, Mayor Starks. But Ah laksit mah ownself. It's uh noble thing you done." Everybody agreedwith that.Janie stood still while they all made comments. When it wasall done she stood in front of Joe and said, "Jody, dat wuz uhmighty fine thing fuh you tuh do. 'Tain't everybody would havethought of it, 'cause it ain't no everyday thought. Freein' datmule makes uh mighty big man outa you. Something like GeorgeWashington and Lincoln. Abraham Lincoln, he had de wholeUnited States tuh rule so he freed de Negroes. You got uh townso you freed uh mule. You have tuh have power tuh free thingsand dat makes you lak uh king uh something."Hambo said, "Yo' wife is uh born orator, Starks. Us neverknowed dat befo'. She put jus' de right words tuh our thoughts."Joe bit down hard on his cigar and beamed all around, but henever said a word. The town talked it for three days and saidthat's just what they would have done if they had been rich menlike Joe Starks. Anyhow a free mule in town was something newto talk about. Starks piled fodder under the big tree near theporch and the mule was usually around the store like the othercitizens. Nearly everybody took the habit of fetching along ahandful of fodder to throw on the pile. He almost got fat andthey took a great pride in him. New lies sprung up about his free-

Their Eyes Were Watching God as 59mule doings. How he pushed open Lindsay's kitchen door andslept in the place one night and fought until they made coffee forhis breakfast; how he stuck his head in the Pearsons' windowwhile the family was at the table and Mrs. Pearson mistook himfor Rev. Pearson and handed him a plate; he ran Mrs. Tully off ofthe croquet ground for having such an ugly shape; he ran andcaught up with Becky Anderson on the way to Maitland so as tokeep his head out of the sun under her umbrella; he got tired oflistening to Redmond's long-winded prayer, and went inside theBaptist church and broke up the meeting. He did everything butlet himself be bridled and visit Matt Bonner.But way after a while he died. Lum found him under the bigtree on his rawbony back with all four feet up in the air. That wasn'tnatural and it didn't look right, but Sam said it would have beenmore unnatural for him to have laid down on his side and died likeany other beast. He had seen Death coming and had stood hisground and fought it like a natural man. He had fought it to the lastbreath. Naturally he didn't have time to straighten himself out.Death had to take him like it found him.When the news got around, it was like the end of a war orsomething like that. Everybody that could knocked off fromwork to stand around and talk. But finally there was nothing todo but drag him out like all other dead brutes. Drag him out tothe edge of the hammock which was far enough off to satisfy sanitaryconditions in the town. The rest was up to the buzzards.Everybody was going to the dragging-out. The news had gotMayor Starks out of bed before time. His pair of gray horses wasout under the tree and the men were fooling with the gear whenJanie arrived at the store with Joe's breakfast."I god, Lum, you fasten up dis store good befo' you leave,you hear me?" He was eating fast and talking with one eye out ofthe door on the operations.

60 4 Zora Neale Hurston"Whut you tellin"im tuh fasten up for, Jody?" Janie asked,surprised."'Cause it won't be nobody heah tuh look after de store.Ah'm goin' tuh de draggin'-out mahself.""'Tain't nothin' so important Ah got tuh do tuhday, Jody.How come Ah can't go long wid you tuh de draggin'-out?"Joe was struck speechless for a minute. "Why, Janie! Youwouldn't be seen at uh draggin'-out, wouldja? Wid any andeverybody in uh passle pushin' and shovin' wid they no-mannersselves? Naw, naw!""You would be dere wid me, wouldn't yuh?""Dat's right, but Ah'm uh man even if Ah is de Mayor. Butde mayor's wife is somethin' different again. Anyhow they'sliable tuh need me tuh say uh few words over de carcass, dis bein'uh special case. But you ain't goin' off in all dat mess uh commonness.Ah'm surprised at yuh fish askin'."He wiped his lips of ham gravy and put on his hat. "Shet dedoor behind yuh, Janie. Lum is too busy wid de hawses."After more shouting of advice and orders and useless comments,the town escorted the carcass off. No, the carcass movedoff with the town, and left Janie standing in the doorway.Out in the swamp they made great ceremony over the mule.They mocked everything human in death. Starks led off with agreat eulogy on our departed citizen, our most distinguished citizenand the grief he left behind him, and the people loved thespeech. It made him more solid than building the schoolhousehad done. He stood on the distended belly of the mule for a platformand made gestures. When he stepped down, they hoistedSam up and he talked about the mule as a school teacher first.Then he set his hat like John Pearson and imitated his preaching.He spoke of the joys of mule-heaven to which the dear brotherhad departed this valley of sorrow; the mule-angels flying

Their Eyes Were Watching God air 61around; the miles of green corn and cool water, a pasture of purebran with a river of molasses running through it; and most gloriousof all, No Matt Bonner with plow lines and halters to come inand corrupt. Up there, mule-angels would have people to ride onand from his place beside the glittering throne, the dear departedbrother would look down into hell and see the devil plowingMatt Bonner all day long in a hell-hot sun and laying the rawhideto his back.With that the sisters got mock-happy and shouted and had tobe held up by the menfolks. Everybody enjoyed themselves to thehighest and then finally the mule was left to the already impatientbuzzards. They were holding a great flying-meet way up over theheads of the mourners and some of the nearby trees were alreadypeopled with the stoop-shouldered forms.As soon as the crowd was out of sight they closed in circles.The near ones got nearer and the far ones got near. A circle, aswoop and a hop with spread-out wings. Close in, close in tillsome of the more hungry or daring perched on the carcass. Theywanted to begin, but the Parson wasn't there, so a messenger wassent to the ruler in a tree where he sat.The flock had to wait the white-headed leader, but it washard. They jostled each other and pecked at heads in hungry irritation.Some walked up and down the beast from head to tail, tailto head. The Parson sat motionless in a dead pine tree about twomiles off. He had scented the matter as quickly as any of the rest,but decorum demanded that he sit oblivious until he was notified.Then he took off with ponderous flight and circled and lowered,circled and lowered until the others danced in joy andhunger at his approach.He finally lit on the ground and walked around the body tosee if it were really dead. Peered into its nose and mouth.Examined it well from end to end and leaped upon it and

62 4gP Zora Neale Hurstonbowed, and the others danced a response. That being over, hebalanced and asked:"What killed this man?"The chorus answered, "Bare, bare fat.""What killed this man?""Bare, bare fat.""What killed this man?""Bare, bare fat.""Who'll stand his funeral?""Wel1111,7"Well, all right now."So he picked out the eyes in the ceremonial way and the feastwent on. The yaller mule was gone from the town except for theporch talk, and for the children visiting his bleaching bones nowand then in the spirit of adventure.Joe returned to the store full of pleasure and good humor buthe didn't want Janie to notice it because he saw that she wassullen and he resented that. She had no right to be, the way hethought things out. She wasn't even appreciative of his effortsand she had plenty cause to be. Here he was just pouring honorall over her; building a high chair for her to sit in and overlookthe world and she here pouting over it! Not that he wanted anybodyelse, but just too many women would be glad to be in herplace. He ought to box her jaws! But he didn't feel like fightingtoday, so he made an attack upon her position backhand."Ah had tuh laugh at de people out dere in de woods dismornin', Janie. You can't help but laugh at de capers they cuts.But all the same, Ah wish mah people would git mo' business in'em and not spend so much time on foolishness.""Everybody can't be lak you, Jody. Somebody is bound tuhwant tuh laugh and play."

Their Eyes Were Watching God 40 63"Who don't love tuh laugh and play?""You make out like you don't, anyhow.""I god, Ah don't make out no such uh lie! But it's uh timefuh all things. But it's awful tuh see so many people don't wantnothin' but uh full belly and uh place tuh lay down and sleepafterwards. It makes me sad sometimes and then agin it makesme mad. They say things sometimes that tickles me nearly rahdeath, but Ah won't laugh jus' tuh dis-incourage 'em." Janietook the easy way away from a fuss. She didn't change her mindbut she agreed with her mouth. Her heart said, "Even so, butyou don't have to cry about it."But sometimes Sam Watson and Lige Moss forced a bellylaugh out of Joe himself with their eternal arguments. It neverended because there was no end to reach. It was a contest inhyperbole and carried on for no other reason.Maybe Sam would be sitting on the porch when Lige walkedup. If nobody was there to speak of, nothing happened. But if thetown was there like on Saturday night, Lige would come up witha very grave air. Couldn't even pass the time of day, for being sobusy thinking. Then when he was asked what was the matter inorder to start him off, he'd say, "Dis question done 'bout droveme crazy. And Sam, he know so much into things, Ah wants someinformation on de subject."Walter Thomas was due to speak up and egg the matter on."Yeah, Sam always got more information than he know what to dowid. He's bound to tell yuh whatever it is you wants tuh know."Sam begins an elaborate show of avoiding the struggle. Thatdraws everybody on the porch into it."How come you want me tub tell yuh? You always claimGod done met you round de corner and talked His inside businesswid yuh. 'Tain't no use in you askin' me nothin'. Ah'mquestionizin' you."

64 41P Zora Neale Hurston"How you gointuh do dat, Sam, when Ah arrived dis conversationmahself? Ah'm askin' you.""Askin' me what? You ain't told me de subjick yit.""Don't aim tuh tell yuh! Ah aims tuh keep yuh in de dark allde time. If you'se smart lak you let on you is, you kin find out.""Yuh skeered to lemme know whut it is, 'cause yuh knowAh'll tear it tuh pieces. You got to have a subjick tuh talk from,do yuh can't talk. If uh man ain't got no bounds, he ain't got noplace tuh stop."By this time, they are the center of the world."Well all right then. Since you own up you ain't smart enoughtuh find out whut Ah'm talkie' 'bout, Ah'll tell you. Whut is it datkeeps uh man from gettin' burnt on uh red-hot stove—caution ornature?""Shucks! Ah thought you had somethin' hard tuh ast me.Walter kin tell yuh dat.""If de conversation is too deep for yuh, how come yuh don'ttell me so, and hush up? Walter can't tell me nothin' uh de kind.Ah'm uh educated man, Ah keeps mah arrangements in mahhands, and if it kept me up all night long studyin"bout it, Walterain't liable tuh be no help to me. Ah needs uh man lak you.""And then agin, Lige, Ah'm gointuh tell yuh. Ah'm gointuhrun dis conversation from uh gnat heel to uh lice. It's nature datkeeps uh man off of uh red-hot stove.""Uuh huuh! Ah knowed you would going tuh crawl up indat holler! But Ah aims tuh smoke yuh right out. 'Tain't nonature at all, it's caution, Sam.""'Tain't no sich uh thing! Nature tells yuh not tuh fool widno red-hot stove, and you don't do it neither.""Listen, Sam, if it was nature, nobody wouldn't have tuh lookout for babies touchin' stoves, would they? 'Cause dey just naturallywouldn't touch it. But dey sho will. So it's caution."

Their Eyes Were Watching God 4112, 65"Naw it ain't, it's nature, cause nature makes caution. It's destrongest thing dat God ever made, now. Fact is it's de onliestthing God ever made. He made nature and nature made everythingelse.""Naw nature didn't neither. A whole heap of things ain'teven been made yit.""Tell me somethin' you know of dat nature ain't made.""She ain't made it so you kin ride uh butt-headed cow andhold on tuh de horns.""Yeah, but dat ain't yo' point.""Yeah it is too.""Naw it ain't neither.""Well what is mah point?""You ain't got none, so far.""Yeah he is too," Walter cut in. "De red-hot stove is hispoint.""He know mighty much, but he ain't proved it yit.""Sam, Ah say it's caution, not nature dat keeps folks off uhred-hot stove.""How is de son gointuh be before his paw? Nature is de firstof everything. Ever since self was self, nature been keepin' folksoff of red-hot stoves. Dat caution you talkin"bout ain't nothin'but uh humbug. He's uh inseck dat nothin' he got belongs tohim. He got eyes, lak somethin' else; wings lak somethin' else—everything! Even his hum is de sound of somebody else.""Man, whut you talkin"bout? Caution is de greatest thing inde world. If it wasn't for caution—""Show me somethin' dat caution ever made! Look whutnature took and done. Nature got so high in uh black hen she gottuh lay uh white egg. Now you tell me, how come, whut gotintuh man dat he got tuh have hair round his mouth? Nature!""Dat ain't—"

66 4ip Zora Neale HurstonThe porch was boiling now. Starks left the store to HezekiahPotts, the delivery boy, and come took a seat in his high chair."Look at dat great big ole scoundrel-beast up dere at Hall'sfillin' station—uh great big old scoundrel. He eats up all de folksouta de house and den eat de house.""Aw 'tail* no sich a varmint nowhere dat kin eat no house!Dat's uh lie. Ah wuz dere yiste'ddy and Ah ain't seen nothin' lakdat. Where is he?""Ah didn't see him but Ah reckon he is in de back-yard someplace. But dey got his picture out front dere. They was nailin' itup when Ah come pass dere dis evenin'.""Well all right now, if he eats up houses how come he don'teat up de fillin' station?""Dat's 'cause dey got him tied up so he can't. Dey got uhgreat big picture tellin' how many gallons of dat Sinclair highcompressiongas he drink at one time and how he's more'n uhmillion years old.""'Tain't nothin' no million years old!""De picture is right up dere where anybody kin see it. Deycan't make de picture till dey see de thing, kin dey?""How dey goin' to tell he's uh million years old? Nobodywasn't born dat fur back.""By de rings on his tail Ah reckon. Man, dese white folks gotways for tellin' anything dey wants tuh know.""Well, where he been at all dis time, then?""Dey caught him over dere in Egypt. Seem lak he used tuhhang round dere and eat up dem Pharaohs' tombstones. Dey gotde picture of him doin' it. Nature is high in uh varmint lak dat.Nature and salt. Dat's whut makes up strong man lak Big John deConquer. He was uh man wid salt in him. He could give uh flavorto anything.""Yeah, but he was uh man dat wuz more'n man. 'Tain't no

Their Eyes Were Watching God OAP 67mo' lak him. He wouldn't dig potatoes, and he wouldn't rake hay:He wouldn't take a whipping, and he wouldn't run away.""Oh yeah, somebody else could if dey tried hard enough. Memahself, Ah got salt in me. If Ah like man flesh, Ah could eat someman every day, some of 'em is so trashy they'd let me eat 'em.""Lawd, Ah loves to talk about Big John. Less we tell lies onOle John."But here come Bootsie, and Teadi and Big 'oman down thestreet making out they are pretty by the way they walk. They havegot that fresh, new taste about them like young mustard greensin the spring, and the young men on the porch are just bound totell them about it and buy them some treats."Heah come mah order right now," Charlie Jones announcesand scrambles off the porch to meet them. But he has plenty ofcompetition. A pushing, shoving show of gallantry. They all begthe girls to just buy anything they can think of. Please let thempay for it. Joe is begged to wrap up all the candy in the store andorder more. All the peanuts and soda water—everything!"Gal, Ah'm crazy 'bout you," Charlie goes on to the entertainmentof everybody. "Ah'll do anything in the world exceptwork for you and give you mah money."The girls and everybody else help laugh. They know it's notcourtship. It's acting-out courtship and everybody is in the play.The three girls hold the center of the stage till Daisy Blunt comeswalking down the street in the moonlight.Daisy is walking a drum tune. You can almost hear it by lookingat the way she walks. She is black and she knows that whiteclothes look good on her, so she wears them for dress up. She'sgot those big black eyes with plenty shiny white in them thatmakes them shine like brand new money and she knows whatGod gave women eyelashes for, too. Her hair is not what youmight call straight. It's negro hair, but it's got a kind of white fla-

68 40 Zora Neale Hurstonvor. Like the piece of string out of a ham. It's not ham at all, butit's been around ham and got the flavor. It was spread down thickand heavy over her shoulders and looked just right under a bigwhite hat."Lawd, Lawd, Lawd," that same Charlie Jones exclaimsrushing over to Daisy. "It must be uh recess in heben if St. Peteris lettin' his angels out lak dis. You got three men already layin' atde point uh death 'bout yuh, and heah's uhnother fool dat'swillin' tuh make time on yo' gang."All the rest of the single men have crowded around Daisy bythis time. She is parading and blushing at the same time."If you know anybody dat's 'bout tub die 'bout me, yuh knowmore'n Ah do," Daisy bridled. "Wisht Ah knowed who it is.""Now, Daisy, you know Jim, and Dave and Lum is 'bout tuhkill one 'nother 'bout you. Don't stand up here and tell dat bigole got-dat-wrong.""Dey a mighty hush-mouf about it if dey is. Dey ain't nevertold me nothin'.""Unhunh, you talked too fast. Heah, Jim and Dave is rightupon de porch and Lum is inside de store."A big burst of laughter at Daisy's discomfiture. The boys hadto act out their rivalry too. Only this time, everybody knew theymeant some of it. But all the same the porch enjoyed the play andhelped out whenever extras were needed.David said, "Jim don't love Daisy. He don't love yuh lak Ah do."Jim bellowed indignantly, "Who don't love Daisy? Ah knowyou ain't talkin"bout me."Dave: "Well all right, less prove dis thing right now. We'llprove right now who love dis gal de best. How much time is youwillin' tuh make fuh Daisy?"Jim: "Twenty yeahs!"Dave: "See? Ah told yuh dat nigger didn't love yuh. Me,

Their Eyes Were Watching God 4. 69Ah'll beg de Judge tuh hang me, and wouldn't take nothin' lessthan life."There was a big long laugh from the porch. Then Jim had todemand a test."Dave, how much would you be willin' tuh do for Daisy ifshe was to turn fool enough tuh marry yuh?""Me and Daisy done talked dat over, but if you just got tuhknow, Ah'd buy Daisy uh passenger train and give it tuh her.""Humph! Is dat all? Ah'd buy her uh steamship and thenAh'd hire some mens tuh run it fur her.""Daisy, don't let Jim fool you wid his talk. He don't aim tuhdo nothin' fuh yuh. Uh lil ole steamship! Daisy, Ah'll take uh jobcleanin' out de Atlantic Ocean fuh you any time you say you sodesire." There was a great laugh and then they hushed to listen."Daisy," Jim began, "you know mah heart and all de rangesuh mah mind. And you know if Ah wuz ridin' up in uh earoplaneway up in de sky and Ah looked down and seen you walkin' andknowed you'd have tuh walk ten miles tuh git home, Ah'd stepbackward offa dat earoplane just to walk home wid you."There was one of those big blow-out laughs and Janie waswallowing in it. Then Jody ruined it all for her.Mrs. Bogle came walking down the street towards theporch. Mrs. Bogle who was many times a grandmother, but hada blushing air of coquetry about her that cloaked her sunkencheeks. You saw a fluttering fan before her face and magnoliablooms and sleepy lakes under the moonlight when she walked.There was no obvious reason for it, it was just so. Her first husbandhad been a coachman but "studied jury" to win her. Hehad finally become a preacher to hold her till his death. Hersecond husband worked in Fohnes orange grove—but tried topreach when he caught her eye. He never got any further thana class leader, but that was something to offer her. It proved his

70 air Zora Neale Hurstonlove and pride. She was a wind on the ocean. She moved men,but the helm determined the port. Now, this night shemounted the steps and the men noticed her until she passedinside the door."I god, Janie," Starks said impatiently, "why don't you go onand see whut Mrs. Bogle want? Whut you waitin' on?"Janie wanted to hear the rest of the play-acting and how itended, but she got up sullenly and went inside. She came back tothe porch with her bristles sticking out all over her and with dissatisfactionwritten all over her face. Joe saw it and lifted his ownhackles a bit.Jim Weston had secretly borrowed a dime and soon he wasloudly beseeching Daisy to have a treat on him. Finally she consentedto take a pickled pig foot on him. Janie was getting up alarge order when they came in, so Lum waited on them. That is,he went back to the keg but came back without the pig foot."Mist' Starks, de pig feets is all gone!" he called out."Aw naw dey ain't, Lum. Ah bought uh whole new kag of'em wid dat last order from Jacksonville. It come in yistiddy."Joe came and helped Lum look but he couldn't find the newkeg either, so he went to the nail over his desk that he used for afile to search for the order."Janie, where's dat last bill uh ladin'?""It's right dere on de nail, ain't it?""Naw it ain't neither. You ain't put it where Ah told yuh tuh.If you'd git yo' mind out de streets and keep it on yo' businessmaybe you could git somethin' straight sometimes.""Aw, look around dere, Jody. Dat bill ain't apt tuh be goneoff nowheres. If it ain't hangin' on de nail, it's on yo' desk. Youbound tuh find it if you look.""Wid you heah, Ah oughtn't tuh hafta do all dat lookin' andsearchin'. Ah done told you time and time agin tuh stick all dem

Their Eyes Were Watching God 42P 71papers on dat nail! All you got tuh do is mind me. How come youcan't do lak Ah tell yuh?""You sho loves to tell me whut to do, but Ah can't tell younothin' Ah see!""Dat's 'cause you need tellin'," he rejoined hotly. "It wouldbe pitiful if Ah didn't. Somebody got to think for women andchillun and chickens and cows. I god, they sho don't think nonetheirselves.""Ah knows uh few things, and womenfolks thinks sometimestoo!""Aw naw they don't. They just think they's thinkin'. WhenAh see one thing Ah understands ten. You see ten things anddon't understand one."Times and scenes like that put Janie to thinking about theinside state of her marriage. Time came when she fought backwith her tongue as best she could, but it didn't do her any good.It just made Joe do more. He wanted her submission and he'dkeep on fighting until he felt he had it.So gradually, she pressed her teeth together and learned tohush. The spirit of the marriage left the bedroom and took to livingin the parlor. It was there to shake hands whenever companycame to visit, but it never went back inside the bedroom again. Soshe put something in there to represent the spirit like a VirginMary image in a church. The bed was no longer a daisy-field forher and Joe to play in. It was a place where she went and laid downwhen she was sleepy and tired.She wasn't petal-open anymore with him. She was twentyfourand seven years married when she knew. She found that outone day when he slapped her face in the kitchen. It happenedover one of those dinners that chasten all women sometimes.They plan and they fix and they do, and then some kitchendwellingfiend slips a scorchy, soggy, tasteless mess into their

72 OAP Zora Neale Hurstonpots and pans. Janie was a good cook, and Joe had looked forwardto his dinner as a refuge from other things. So when thebread didn't rise, and the fish wasn't quite done at the bone,and the rice was scorched, he slapped Janie until she had a ringingsound in her ears and told her about her brains before hestalked on back to the store.Janie stood where he left her for unmeasured time andthought. She stood there until something fell off the shelf insideher. Then she went inside there to see what it was. It was her imageof Jody tumbled down and shattered. But looking at it she saw thatit never was the flesh and blood figure of her dreams. Just somethingshe had grabbed up to drape her dreams over. In a way sheturned her back upon the image where it lay and looked further.She had no more blossomy openings dusting pollen over her man,neither any glistening young fruit where the petals used to be. Shefound that she had a host of thoughts she had never expressed tohim, and numerous emotions she had never let Jody know about.Things packed up and put away in parts of her heart where hecould never find them. She was saving up feelings for some manshe had never seen. She had an inside and an outside now and suddenlyshe knew how not to mix them.She bathed and put on a fresh dress and head kerchief andwent on to the store before Jody had time to send for her. Thatwas a bow to the outside of things.Jody was on the porch and the porch was full of Eatonville asusual at this time of the day. He was baiting Mrs. Tony Robbinsas he always did when she came to the store. Janie could see Jodywatching her out of the corner of his eye while he joked roughlywith Mrs. Robbins. He wanted to be friendly with her again. Hisbig, big laugh was as much for her as for the baiting. He waslonging for peace but on his own terms."I god, Mrs. Robbins, whut make you come heah and worry

Their Eyes Were Watching God Arip 73me when you see Ah'm readin' mah newspaper?" Mayor Starkslowered the paper in pretended annoyance.Mrs. Robbins struck her pity-pose and assumed the voice."'Cause Ah'm hongry, Mist' Starks. 'Deed Ah is. Me andmah chillun is hongry. Tony don't fee-eed me!"This was what the porch was waiting for. They burst into alaugh."Mrs. Robbins, how can you make out you'se hongry whenTony comes in here every Satitday and buys groceries lak a man?Three weeks' shame on yuh!""If he buy all dat you talkin"bout, Mist' Starks, God knowswhut he do wid it. He sho don't bring it home, and me and mahpo' chillun is so hongry! Mist' Starks, please gimme uh lil piece uhmeat fur me and mah chillun.""Ah know you don't need it, but come on inside. You ain'tgoin' tuh lemme read till Ah give it to yuh."Mrs. Tony's ecstasy was divine. "Thank you, Mist' Starks.You'se noble! You'se du most gentlemanfied man Ah ever didsee. You'se uh king!"The salt pork box was in the back of the store and during thewalk Mrs. Tony was so eager she sometimes stepped on Joe'sheels, sometimes she was a little before him. Something like ahungry cat when somebody approaches her pan with meat. Runninga little, caressing a little and all the time making little urgingoncries."Yes, indeedy, Mist' Starks, you'se noble. You got sympathyfor me and mah po' chillun. Tony don't give us nothin' tuh eatand we'se so hongry. Tony don't fee-eed me!"This brought them to the meat box. Joe took up the bigmeat knife and selected a piece of side meat to cut. Mrs. Tony wasall but dancing around him."Dat's right, Mist' Starks! Gimme uh lil piece 'bout dis

74 .12P Zora Neale Hurstonwide." She indicated as wide as her wrist and hand. "Me and mahchillun is so hongry!"Starks hardly looked at her measurements. He had seen themtoo often. He marked off a piece much smaller and sunk the bladein. Mrs. Tony all but fell to the floor in her agony."Lawd a'mussy! Mist' Starks, you ain't gointuh gimme dat Illtee-ninchy piece fuh me and all mah chillun, is yuh? Lawd, we'seso hongry!"Starks cut right on and reached for a piece of wrapping paper.Mrs. Tony leaped away from the proffered cut of meat as if itwere a rattlesnake."Ah wouldn't tetch it! Dat lil eyeful uh bacon for me and allmah chillun! Lawd, some folks is got everything and they's sogripin' and so mean!"Starks made as if to throw the meat back in the box and close it.Mrs. Tony swooped like lightning and seized it, and started towardsthe door."Some folks ain't got no heart in dey bosom. They's willin'tuh see uh po' woman and her helpless chillun starve tuh death.God's gointuh put 'em under arrest, some uh dese days, wid deystingy gripin' ways."She stepped from the store porch and marched off in highdudgeon! Some laughed and some got mad."If dat wuz mah wife," said Walter Thomas, "Ah'd kill hercemetery dead.""More special after Ah done bought her everything mahwages kin stand, lak Tony do," Coker said. "In de fust place Ahnever would spend on no woman whut Tony spend on her."Starks came back and took his seat. He had to stop and addthe meat to Tony's account."Well, Tony tells me tuh humor her along. He moved herefrom up de State hopin' tuh change her, but it ain't. He say he

Their Eyes Were Watching God 412P 75can't bear tuh leave her and he hate to kill her, so 'tain't nothin'tuh do but put up wid her.""Dat's 'cause Tony love her too good," said Coker. "Ahcould break her if she wuz mine. Ah'd break her or kill her.Makin' uh fool outa me in front of everybody.""Tony won't never hit her. He says beatin' women is just likesteppin' on baby chickens. He claims 'tain't no place on uh womantuh hit," Joe Lindsay said with scornful disapproval, "but Ah'd killuh baby just born dis mawnin' fuh uh thing lak dat. 'Tain't nothin'but low-down spitefulness 'ginst her husband make her do it.""Dat's de God's truth," Jim Stone agreed. "Dat's de veryreason."Janie did what she had never done before, that is, thrust herselfinto the conversation."Sometimes God gits familiar wid us womenfolks too andtalks His inside business. He told me how surprised He was 'bouty'all turning out so smart after Him makin' yuh different; and howsurprised y'all is goin' tuh be if you ever find out you don't knowhalf as much 'bout us as you think you do. It's so easy to make yo'-self out God Almighty when you ain't got nothin' tuh strainagainst but women and chickens.""You gettin' too moufy, Janie," Starks told her. "Go fetch mede checker-board and de checkers. Sam Watson, you'se mah fish."

The years took all the fight out of Janie's face. For a while shethought it was gone from her soul. No matter what Jody did,she said nothing. She had learned how to talk some and leavesome. She was a rut in the road. Plenty of life beneath the surfacebut it was kept beaten down by the wheels. Sometimes shestuck out into the future, imagining her life different fromwhat it was. But mostly she lived between her hat and herheels, with her emotional disturbances like shade patterns inthe woods—come and gone with the sun. She got nothingfrom Jody except what money could buy, and she was givingaway what she didn't value.Now and again she thought of a country road at sun-up andconsidered flight. To where? To what? Then too she consideredthirty-five is twice seventeen and nothing was the same at all."Maybe he ain't nothin'," she cautioned herself, "but he issomething in my mouth. He's got tuh be else Ah ain't gotnothin' tuh live for. Ah'll lie and say he is. If Ah don't, life won'tbe nothin' but uh store and uh house."She didn't read books so she didn't know that she was theworld and the heavens boiled down to a drop. Man attempting toclimb to painless heights from his dung hill.

Their Eyes Were Watching God 40 77Then one day she sat and watched the shadow of herselfgoing about tending store and prostrating itself before Jody,while all the time she herself sat under a shady tree with the windblowing through her hair and her clothes. Somebody near aboutmaking summertime out of lonesomeness.This was the first time it happened, but after a while it got socommon she ceased to be surprised. It was like a drug. In a wayit was good because it reconciled her to things. She got so shereceived all things with the stolidness of the earth which soaks upurine and perfume with the same indifference.One day she noticed that Joe didn't sit down. He just stoodin front of a chair and fell in it. That made her look at him allover. Joe wasn't so young as he used to be. There was alreadysomething dead about him. He didn't rear back in his knees anylonger. He squatted over his ankles when he walked. That stillnessat the back of his neck. His prosperous-looking belly thatused to thrust out so pugnaciously and intimidate folks, saggedlike a load suspended from his loins. It didn't seem to be a part ofhim anymore. Eyes a little absent too.Jody must have noticed it too. Maybe, he had seen it longbefore Janie did, and had been fearing for her to see. Because hebegan to talk about her age all the time, as if he didn't want herto stay young while he grew old. It was always "You oughtathrow somethin' over yo' shoulders befo' you go outside. Youain't no young pullet no mo'. You'se uh ole hen now." One dayhe called her off the croquet grounds. "Dat's somethin' for deyoung folks, Janie, you out dere jumpin' round and won't beable tuh git out de bed tuhmorrer." If he thought to deceiveher, he was wrong. For the first time she could see a man's headnaked of its skull. Saw the dinning thoughts race in and outthrough the caves and promontories of his mind long beforethey darted out of the tunnel of his mouth. She saw he was

78 all► Zora Neale Hurstonhurting inside so she let it pass without talking. She just measuredout a little time for him and set it aside to wait.It got to be terrible in the store. The more his back ached andhis muscle dissolved into fat and the fat melted off his bones, themore fractious he became with Janie. Especially in the store. Themore people in there the more ridicule he poured over her bodyto point attention away from his own. So one day Steve Mixonwanted some chewing tobacco and Janie cut it wrong. She hatedthat tobacco knife anyway. It worked very stiff. She fumbled withthe thing and cut way away from the mark. Mixon didn't mind.He held it up for a joke to tease Janie a little."Looka heah, Brother Mayor, whut yo' wife done took anddone." It was cut comical, so everybody laughed at it. "Uh womanand uh knife—no kind of uh knife, don't b'long tuhgether." Therewas some more good-natured laughter at the expense of women.Jody didn't laugh. He hurried across from the post office sideand took the plug of tobacco away from Mixon and cut it again.Cut it exactly on the mark and glared at Janie."I god amighty! A woman stay round uh store till she get oldas Methusalem and still can't cut a little thing like a plug oftobacco! Don't stand dere rollin' yo' pop eyes at me wid yo'rump hangin' nearly to yo' knees!"A big laugh started off in the store but people got to thinkingand stopped. It was funny if you looked at it right quick, butit got pitiful if you thought about it awhile. It was like somebodysnatched off part of a woman's clothes while she wasn't lookingand the streets were crowded. Then too, Janie took the middle ofthe floor to talk right into Jody's face, and that was somethingthat hadn't been done before."Stop mixin' up mah doings wid mah looks, Jody. When yougit through tellin' me how tuh cut uh plug uh tobacco, then youkin tell me whether mah behind is on straight or not."

Their Eyes Were Watching God 41 p 79"Wha—whut's dat you say, Janie? You must be out yo' head.""Naw, Ah ain't outa mah head neither.""You must be. Talkin' any such language as dat.""You de one started talkin' under people's clothes. Not me.""Whut's de matter wid you, nohow? You ain't no young girlto be gettin' all insulted 'bout yo' looks. You ain't no youngcourtin' gal. You'se uh ole woman, nearly forty.""Yeah, Ah'm nearly forty and you'se already fifty. How comeyou can't talk about dat sometimes instead of always pointin' atme?""T'ain't no use in gettin' all mad, Janie, 'cause Ah mentionyou ain't no young gal no mo'. Nobody in heah ain't lookin' forno wife outa yuh. Old as you is.""Naw, Ah ain't no young gal no mo' but den Ah ain't no oldwoman neither. Ah reckon Ah looks mah age too. But Ah'm uhwoman every inch of me, and Ah know it. Dat's uh whole lotmore'n you kin say. You big-bellies round here and put out a lotof brag, but 'tain't nothin' to it but yo' big voice. Humph!Talkin"bout me lookin' old! When you pull down yo' britches,you look lak de change uh life.""Great God from Zion!" Sam Watson gasped. "Y'all reallyplayin' de dozens tuhnight.""Wha—whut's dat you said?" Joe challenged, hoping his earshad fooled him."You heard her, you ain't blind," Walter taunted."Ah ruther be shot with tacks than tuh hear dat 'bout mahself,"Lige Moss commiserated.Then Joe Starks realized all the meanings and his vanity bledlike a flood. Janie had robbed him of his illusion of irresistiblemaleness that all men cherish, which was terrible. The thing thatSaul's daughter had done to David. But Janie had done worse, shehad cast down his empty armor before men and they had laughed,

80 •, Zora Neale Hurstonwould keep on laughing. When he paraded his possessions hereafter,they would not consider the two together. They'd look withenvy at the things and pity the man that owned them. When he satin judgment it would be the same. Good-for-nothing's like Daveand Lum and Jim wouldn't change place with him. For what canexcuse a man in the eyes of other men for lack of strength?Raggedy-behind squirts of sixteen and seventeen would be givinghim their merciless pity out of their eyes while their mouths saidsomething humble. There was nothing to do in life anymore.Ambition was useless. And the cruel deceit of Janie! Making allthat show of humbleness and scorning him all the time! Laughingat him, and now putting the town up to do the same. Joe Starksdidn't know the words for all this, but he knew the feeling. So hestruck Janie with all his might and drove her from the store.

After that night Jody moved his things and slept in a room downstairs.He didn't really hate Janie, but he wanted her to think so. He hadcrawled off to lick his wounds. They didn't talk too much aroundthe store either. Anybody that didn't know would have thoughtthat things had blown over, it looked so quiet and peacefularound. But the stillness was the sleep of swords. So new thoughtshad to be thought and new words said. She didn't want to live likethat. Why must Joe be so mad with her for making him look smallwhen he did it to her all the time? Had been doing it for years.Well, if she must eat out of a long-handled spoon, she must. Jodymight get over his mad spell any time at all and begin to act likesomebody towards her.Then too she noticed how baggy Joe was getting all over.Like bags hanging from an ironing board. A little sack hung fromthe corners of his eyes and rested on his cheek-bones; a loosefilledbag of feathers hung from his ears and rested on his neckbeneath his chin. A sack of flabby something hung from his loinsand rested on his thighs when he sat down. But even these thingswere running down like candle grease as time moved on.He made new alliances too. People he never bothered withone way or another now seemed to have his ear. He had always

82 4ip Zora Neale Hurstonbeen scornful of root-doctors and all their kind, but now she saw afaker from over around Altamonte Springs, hanging around theplace almost daily. Always talking in low tones when she came near,or hushed altogether. She didn't know that he was driven by a desperatehope to appear the old-time body in her sight. She was sorryabout the root-doctor because she feared that Joe was dependingon the scoundrel to make him well when what he needed was adoctor, and a good one. She was worried about his not eating hismeals, till she found out he was having old lady Davis to cook forhim. She knew that she was a much better cook than the oldwoman, and cleaner about the kitchen. So she bought a beef-boneand made him some soup."Naw, thank you," he told her shortly. "Ah'm Navin' uh hardenough time tuh try and git well as it is."She was stunned at first and hurt afterwards. So she wentstraight to her bosom friend, Pheoby Watson, and told her about it."Ah'd ruther be dead than for Jody tuh think Ah'd hurthim," she sobbed to Pheoby. "It ain't always been too pleasant,'cause you know how Joe worships de works of his own hands,but God in heben knows Ah wouldn't do one thing tuh hurtnobody. It's too underhand and mean.""Janie, Ah though maybe de thing would die down and younever would know nothin' 'bout it, but it's been singin' roundhere ever since de big fuss in de store dat Joe was 'fixed' and youwuz de one dat did it.""Pheoby, for de longest time, Ah been feelin' dat somethin'set for still-bait, but dis is—is—oh Pheoby! Whut kin I do?""You can't do nothin' but make out you don't know it. It'stoo late fuh y'all tuh be splittin' up and gittin' divorce. Just g'wanback home and set down on yo' royal diasticutis and say nothin'.Nobody don't b'lieve it nohow.""Tuh think Ah been wid Jody twenty yeahs and Ah just now

Their Eyes Were Watching God as 83got tuh bear de name uh poisonin' him! It's 'bout to kill me,Pheoby. Sorrow dogged by sorrow is in mah heart.""Dat's lie dat trashy nigger dat calls hisself uh two-headeddoctor brought tuh 'im in order tuh git in wid Jody. He seen hewuz sick—everybody been knowin' dat for de last longest, andden Ah reckon he heard y'all wuz kind of at variance, so dat wuzhis chance. Last summer dat multiplied cockroach wuz roundheah tryin' tuh sell gophers!""Pheoby, Ah don't even b'lieve Jody b'lieve dat lie. He ain'tnever took no stock in de mess. He just make out he b'lieve it tuhhurt me. Ah'm stone dead from standin' still and tryin' tuhsmile."She cried often in the weeks that followed. Joe got too weakto look after things and took to his bed. But he relentlesslyrefused to admit her to his sick room. People came and went inthe house. This one and that one came into her house with coveredplates of broth and other sick-room dishes without takingthe least notice of her as Joe's wife. People who never had knownwhat it was to enter the gate of the Mayor's yard unless it were todo some menial job now paraded in and out as his confidants.They came to the store and ostentatiously looked over whatevershe was doing and went back to report to him at the house. Saidthings like "Mr. Starks need somebody tuh sorta look out for 'imtill he kin git on his feet again and look for hissed."But Jody was never to get on his feet again. Janie had SamWatson to bring her the news from the sick room, and when hetold her how things were, she had him bring a doctor fromOrlando without giving Joe a chance to refuse, and without sayingshe sent for him."Just a matter of time," the doctor told her. "When a man'skidneys stop working altogether, there is no way for him to live.He needed medical attention two years ago. Too late now."

84 O'n Zora Neale HurstonSo Janie began to think of Death. Death, that strange beingwith the huge square toes who lived way in the West. The greatone who lived in the straight house like a platform without sidesto it, and without a roof. What need has Death for a cover, andwhat winds can blow against him? He stands in his high housethat overlooks the world. Stands watchful and motionless all daywith his sword drawn back, waiting for the messenger to bid himcome. Been standing there before there was a where or a when ora then. She was liable to find a feather from his wings lying in heryard any day now. She was sad and afraid too. Poor Jody! Heought not to have to wrassle in there by himself. She sent Sam into suggest a visit, but Jody said No. These medical doctors wuzall right with the Godly sick, but they didn't know a thing abouta case like his. He'd be all right just as soon as the two-headedman found what had been buried against him. He wasn't goingto die at all. That was what he thought. But Sam told her different,so she knew. And then if he hadn't, the next morning she wasbound to know, for people began to gather in the big yard underthe palm and china-berry trees. People who would not havedared to foot the place before crept in and did not come to thehouse. Just squatted under the trees and waited. Rumor, thatwingless bird, had shadowed over the town.She got up that morning with the firm determination to goon in there and have a good talk with Jody. But she sat a longtime with the walls creeping in on her. Four walls squeezing herbreath out. Fear lest he depart while she sat trembling upstairsnerved her and she was inside the room before she caught herbreath. She didn't make the cheerful, casual start that she hadthought out. Something stood like an oxen's foot on her tongue,and then too, Jody, no Joe, gave her a ferocious look. A look withall the unthinkable coldness of outer space. She must talk to aman who was ten immensities away.

Their Eyes Were Watching God 40P 85He was lying on his side facing the door like he was expectingsomebody or something. A sort of changing look on his face.Weak-looking but sharp-pointed about the eyes. Through thethin counterpane she could see what was left of his belly huddledbefore him on the bed like some helpless thing seeking shelter.The half-washed bedclothes hurt her pride for Jody. He hadalways been so clean."Whut you doin' in heah, Janie?""Come tuh see 'bout you and how you wuz makin' out."He gave a deep-growling sound like a hog dying down in theswamp and trying to drive off disturbance. "Ah come in heah tuhgit shet uh you but look lak 'tain't doin' me no good. G'wan out.Ah needs tuh rest.""Naw, Jody, Ah come in heah tuh talk widja and Ah'm gointuhdo it too. It's for both of our sakes Ah'm talkin'."He gave another ground grumble and eased over on his back."Jody, maybe Ah ain't been sich uh good wife tuh you, butJody—""Dat's 'cause you ain't got de right feelin' for nobody. Yououghter have some sympathy 'bout yo'self. You ain't no hog.""But, Jody, Ah meant tuh be awful nice.""Much as Ah done fuh yuh. Holdin' me up tuh scorn. Nosympathy!""Naw, Jody, it wasn't because Ah didn't have no sympathy.Ah had uh lavish uh dat. Ah just didn't never git no chance tuhuse none of it. You wouldn't let me.""Dot's right, blame everything on me. Ah wouldn't let youshow no feelin'! When, Janie, dat's all Ah ever wanted or desired.Now you come blamin' me!""'Tain't dat, Jody. Ah ain't here tuh blame nobody. Ah'mjust tryin' tuh make you know what kinda person Ah is befo' it'stoo late."

86 4110, Zora Neale Hurston"Too late?" he whispered.His eyes buckled in a vacant-mouthed terror and she saw theawful surprise in his face and answered it."Yeah, Jody, don't keer whut dat multiplied cockroach toldyuh tuh git yo' money, you got tuh die, and yuh can't live."A deep sob came out of Jody's weak frame. It was like beatinga bass drum in a hen-house. Then it rose high like pulling ina trombone."Janie! Janie! don't tell me Ah got tuh die, and Ah ain't usedtuh thinkin"bout it.""'Tain't really no need of you dying, Jody, if you had of—dedoctor—but it don't do no good bringin' dat up now. Dat's justwhut Ah wants tuh say, Jody. You wouldn't listen. You done livedwid me for twenty years and you don't half know me atall. Andyou could have but you was so busy worshippin' de works of yo'own hands, and cuffin' folks around in their minds till you didn'tsee uh whole heap uh things yuh could have.""Leave heah, Janie. Don't come heah—""Ah knowed you wasn't gointuh lissen tuh me. You changeseverything but nothin' don't change you—not even death.But Ah ain't goin' outa here and Ah ain't gointuh hush. Naw,you gointuh listen tuh me one time befo' you die. Have yo'way all yo' life, trample and mash down and then die rutherthan tuh let yo'self heah 'bout it. Listen, Jody, you ain't deJody ah run off down de road wid. You'se whut's left after hedied. Ah run off tuh keep house wid you in uh wonderful way.But you wasn't satisfied wid me de way Ah was. Naw! Mahown mind had tuh be squeezed and crowded out tuh makeroom for yours in me.""Shut up! Ah wish thunder and lightnin' would kill yuh!""Ah know it. And now you got tuh die tuh find out dat yougot tuh pacify somebody besides yo'self if you wants any love and

Their Eyes Were Watching God 412P 87any sympathy in dis world. You ain't tried tuh pacify nobody butyo'self. Too busy listening tuh yo' own big voice.""All dis tearin' down talk!" Jody whispered with sweat globulesforming all over his face and arms. "Git outs heah!""All dis bowin' down, all dis obedience under yo' voice—datain't whut Ah rushed off down de road tuh find out about you."A sound of strife in Jody's throat, but his eyes stared unwillinglyinto a corner of the room so Janie knew the futile fight wasnot with her. The icy sword of the square-toed one had cut off hisbreath and left his hands in a pose of agonizing protest. Janiegave them peace on his breast, then she studied his dead face fora long time."Dis sittin' in de rulin' chair is been hard on Jody," she mutteredout loud. She was full of pity for the first time in years. Jodyhad been hard on her and others, but life had mishandled him too.Poor Joe! Maybe if she had known some other way to try, shemight have made his face different. But what that other way couldbe, she had no idea. She thought back and forth about what hadhappened in the making of a voice out of a man. Then thoughtabout herself. Years ago, she had told her girl self to wait for her inthe looking glass. It had been a long time since she had remembered.Perhaps she'd better look. She went over to the dresser andlooked hard at her skin and features. The young girl was gone, buta handsome woman had taken her place. She tore off the kerchieffrom her head and let down her plentiful hair. The weight, thelength, the glory was there. She took careful stock of herself, thencombed her hair and tied it back up again. Then she starched andironed her face, forming it into just what people wanted to see, andopened up the window and cried, "Come heah people! Jody isdead. Mah husband is gone from me."

9Joe's funeral was the finest thing Orange County had ever seen withNegro eyes. The motor hearse, the Cadillac and Buick carriages;Dr. Henderson there in his Lincoln; the hosts from far and wide.Then again the gold and red and purple, the gloat and glamor ofthe secret orders, each with its insinuations of power and gloryundreamed of by the uninitiated. People on farm horses andmules; babies riding astride of brothers' and sisters' backs. TheElks band ranked at the church door and playing "Safe in theArms of Jesus" with such a dominant drum rhythm that it couldbe stepped off smartly by the long line as it filed inside. The LittleEmperor of the cross-roads was leaving Orange County as hehad come—with the out-stretched hand of power.Janie starched and ironed her face and came set in the funeralbehind her veil. It was like a wall of stone and steel. The funeralwas going on outside. All things concerning death and burialwere said and done. Finish. End. Nevermore. Darkness. Deephole. Dissolution. Eternity. Weeping and wailing outside. Insidethe expensive black folds were resurrection and life. She did notreach outside for anything, nor did the things of death reachinside to disturb her calm. She sent her face to Joe's funeral, andherself went rollicking with the springtime across the world.

Their Eyes Were Watching God 40 89After a while the people finished their celebration and Janie wenton home.Before she slept that night she burnt up every one of herhead rags and went about the house next morning with her hairin one thick braid swinging well below her waist. That was theonly change people saw in her. She kept the store in the same wayexcept of evenings she sat on the porch and listened and sentHezekiah in to wait on late custom. She saw no reason to rush atchanging things around. She would have the rest of her life to doas she pleased.Most of the day she was at the store, but at night she wasthere in the big house and sometimes it creaked and cried allnight under the weight of lonesomeness. Then she'd lie awake inbed asking lonesomeness some questions. She asked if shewanted to leave and go back where she had come from and try tofind her mother. Maybe tend her grandmother's grave. Sort oflook over the old stamping ground generally. Digging aroundinside of herself like that she found that she had no interest inthat seldom-seen mother at all. She hated her grandmother andhad hidden it from herself all these years under a cloak of pity. Shehad been getting ready for her great journey to the horizons insearch of people; it was important to all the world that she shouldfind them and they find her. But she had been whipped like a curdog, and run off down a back road after things. It was all accordingto the way you see things. Some people could look at a mudpuddleand see an ocean with ships. But Nanny belonged to thatother kind that loved to deal in scraps. Here Nanny had taken thebiggest thing God ever made, the horizon—for no matter howfar a person can go the horizon is still way beyond you—andpinched it in to such a little bit of a thing that she could tie itabout her granddaughter's neck tight enough to choke her. Shehated the old woman who had twisted her so in the name of love.

90 412s Zora Neale HurstonMost humans didn't love one another nohow, and this mislovewas so strong that even common blood couldn't overcome it allthe time. She had found a jewel down inside herself and she hadwanted to walk where people could see her and gleam it around.But she had been set in the market-place to sell. Been set for stillbait.When God had made The Man, he made him out of stuffthat sung all the time and glittered all over. Then after that someangels got jealous and chopped him into millions of pieces, butstill he glittered and hummed. So they beat him down to nothingbut sparks but each little spark had a shine and a song. So theycovered each one over with mud. And the lonesomeness in thesparks make them hunt for one another, but the mud is deaf anddumb. Like all the other tumbling mud-balls, Janie had tried toshow her shine.Janie found out very soon that her widowhood and propertywas a great challenge in South Florida. Before Jody had beendead a month, she noticed how often men who had never beenintimates of Joe, drove considerable distances to ask after herwelfare and offer their services as advisor."Uh woman by herself is uh pitiful thing," she was told overand again. "Dey needs aid and assistance. God never meant 'emtuh try tuh stand by theirselves. You ain't been used tuh knockin'round and doin' fuh yo'self, Mis' Starks. You been well takenkeer of, you needs uh man."Janie laughed at all these well-wishers because she knew thatthey knew plenty of women alone; that she was not the first onethey had ever seen. But most of the others were poor. Besides sheliked being lonesome for a change. This freedom feeling was fine.These men didn't represent a thing she wanted to know about.She had already experienced them through Logan and Joe. She feltlike slapping some of them for sitting around grinning at her like apack of chessy cats, trying to make out they looked like love.

Their Eyes Were Watching God 411, 91Ike Green sat on her case seriously one evening on the storeporch when he was lucky enough to catch her alone."You wants be keerful 'bout who you marry, Mis' Starks.Dese strange men runnin' heah tryin' tuh take advantage of yo'condition.""Marry!" Janie almost screamed. "Joe ain't had time tuh gitcold yet. Ah ain't even give marryin' de first thought.""But you will. You'se too young .uh 'oman tuh stay single,and you'se too pretty for de mens tuh leave yuh alone. You'sebound tuh marry.""Ah hope not. Ah mean, at dis present time it don't comebefo' me. Joe ain't been dead two months. Ain't got settleddown in his grave.""Dat's whut you say now, but two months mo' and you'llsing another tune. Den you want tuh be keerful. Womenfolks iseasy taken advantage of. You know what tuh let none uh desestray niggers dat's settin' round heah git de inside track on yuh.They's jes lak uh pack uh hawgs, when dey see uh full trough.Whut yuh needs is uh man dat yuh done lived uhround and knowall about tuh sort of manage yo' things fuh yuh and ginerally doround."Janie jumped upon her feet. "Lawd, Ike Green, you'se uhcase! Dis subjick you bringin' up ain't fit tuh be talked about atall. Lemme go inside and help Hezekiah weigh up dat barrel uhsugar dat just come in." She rushed on inside the store and whisperedto Hezekiah, "Ah'm gone tuh de house. Lemme knowwhen dat ole pee-de-bed is gone and Ah'll be right back."Six months of wearing black passed and not one suitor hadever gained the house porch. Janie talked and laughed in the storeat times, but never seemed to want to go further. She was happyexcept for the store. She knew by her head that she was absoluteowner, but it always seemed to her that she was still clerking for

92 .12P Zora Neale HurstonJoe and that soon he would come in and find something wrongthat she had done. She almost apologized to the tenants the firsttime she collected the rents. Felt like a usurper. But she hid thatfeeling by sending Hezekiah who was the best imitation of Joe thathis seventeen years could make. He had even taken to smoking,and smoking cigars, since Joe's death and tried to bite 'em tight inone side of his mouth like Joe. Every chance he got he was rearedback in Joe's swivel chair trying to thrust out his lean belly into apaunch. She'd laugh quietly at his no-harm posing and pretend shedidn't see it. One day as she came in the back door of the store sheheard him bawling at Tripp Crawford, "Now indeed, we can't donothin' uh de kind! I god, you ain't paid for dem last rations youdone et up. I god, you won't git no mo' outa dis store than yougot money tuh pay for. I god, dis ain't Gimme, Florida, dis isEatonville." Another time she overheard him using Joe's favoriteexpression for pointing out the differences between himself andthe careless-living, mouthy town. "Ah'm an educated man, Ahkeep mah arrangements in mah hands." She laughed outright atthat. His acting didn't hurt nobody and she wouldn't know whatto do without him. He sensed that and came to treat her like babysister,as if to say "You poor little thing, give it to big brother. He'llfix it for you." His sense of ownership made him honest too,except for an occasional jaw-breaker, or a packet of sen-sen. Thesen-sen was to let on to the other boys and the pullet-size girls thathe had a liquor breath to cover. This business of managing storesand women store-owners was trying on a man's nerves. He neededa drink of liquor now and then to keep up.When Janie emerged into her mourning white, she had hostsof admirers in and out of town. Everything open and frank. Menof property too among the crowd, but nobody seemed to get anyfurther than the store. She was always too busy to take them tothe house to entertain. They were all so respectful and stiff with

Their Eyes Were Watching God air 93her, that she might have been the Empress of Japan. They feltthat it was not fitting to mention desire to the widow of JosephStarks. You spoke of honor and respect. And all that they said anddid was refracted by her inattention and shot off towards the rimbonesof nothing. She and Pheoby Watson visited back and forthand once in awhile sat around the lakes and fished. She was justbasking in freedom for the most part without the need forthought. A Sanford undertaker was pressing his cause throughPheoby, and Janie was listening pleasantly but undisturbed. Itmight be nice to marry him, at that. No hurry. Such things taketime to think about, or rather she pretended to Pheoby that thatwas what she was doing."'Tain't dat Ah worries over Joe's death, Pheoby. Ah jus'loves dis freedom.""Sh-sh-sh! Don't let nobody hear you say dat, Janie. Folkswill say you ain't sorry he's gone.""Let 'em say whut dey wants tuh, Pheoby. To my thinkin'mourning oughtn't tuh last no longer'n grief."

1 0One day Hezekiah asked offfrom work to go off with the ball team.Janie told him not to hurry back. She could close up the storeherself this once. He cautioned her about the catches on the windowsand doors and swaggered off to Winter Park.Business was dull all day, because numbers of people hadgone to the game. She decided to close early, because it washardly worth the trouble of keeping open on an afternoon likethis. She had set six o'clock as her limit.At five-thirty a tall man came into the place. Janie was leaningon the counter making aimless pencil marks on a piece ofwrapping paper. She knew she didn't know his name, but helooked familiar."Good evenin', Mis' Starks," he said with a sly grin as if theyhad a good joke together. She was in favor of the story that wasmaking him laugh before she even heard it."Good evenin'," she answered pleasantly. "You got all deadvantage 'cause Ah don't know yo' name.""People wouldn't know me lak dey would you.""Ah guess standin' in uh store do make uh person git tuh beknown in de vicinity. Look lak Ah seen you somewhere.""Oh, Ah don't live no further than Orlandah. Ah'm easy

Their Eyes Were Watching God 4IP 95tuh see on Church Street most any day or night. You got anysmokin' tobacco?"She opened the glass case. "What kind?""Camels."She handed over the cigarettes and took the money. Hebroke the pack and thrust one between his full, purple lips."You got a lil piece uh fire over dere, lady?"They both laughed and she handed him two kitchen matchesout of a box for that purpose. It was time for him to go but hedidn't. He leaned on the counter with one elbow and coldcockedher a look."Why ain't you at de ball game, too? Everybody else is dere.""Well, Ah see somebody else besides me ain't dere. Ah justsold some cigarettes." They laughed again."Dat's 'cause Ah'm dumb. Ah got de thing all mixed up. Ahthought de game was gointuh be out at Hungerford. So Ah got uhride tuh where dis road turns off from de Dixie Highway andwalked over here and then Ah find out de game is in Winter Park."That was funny to both of them too."So what you gointuh do now? All de cars in Eatonville isgone.""How about playin' you some checkers? You looks hard tuhbeat.""Ah is, 'cause Ah can't play uh lick.""You don't cherish de game, then?""Yes, Ah do, and then agin Ah don't know whether Ah do ornot, 'cause nobody ain't never showed me how.""Dis is de last day for dat excuse. You got uh board roundheah?""Yes indeed. De men folks treasures de game round heah. Ahjust ain't never learnt how."He set it up and began to show her and she found herself

96 41. Zora Neale Hurstonglowing inside. Somebody wanted her to play. Somebody thoughtit natural for her to play. That was even nice. She looked him overand got little thrills from every one of his good points. Those full,lazy eyes with the lashes curling sharply away like drawn scimitars.The lean, over-padded shoulders and narrow waist. Even nice!He was jumping her king! She screamed in protest againstlosing the king she had had such a hard time acquiring. Beforeshe knew it she had grabbed his hand to stop him. He struggledgallantly to free himself. That is he struggled, but not hardenough to wrench a lady's fingers."Ah got uh right tuh take it. You left it right in mah way.""Yeah, but Ah wuz lookin' off when you went and stuck yo'men right up next tuh mine. No fair!""You ain't supposed tuh look off, Mis' Starks. It's de biggestpart uh de game tub watch out! Leave go mah hand.""No suh! Not mah king. You kin take another one, but notdat one."They scrambled and upset the board and laughed at that."Anyhow it's time for uh Coca-Cola," he said. "Ah'll cometeach yuh some mo' another time.""It's all right tuh come teach me, but don't come tuhcheat me.""Yuh can't beat uh woman. Dey jes won't stand fuh it. ButAh'll come teach yuh agin. You gointuh be uh good player too,after while.""You reckon so? Jody useter tell me Ah never would learn. Itwuz too heavy fuh mah brains.""Folks is playin' it wid sense and folks is playin' it without.But you got good meat on yo' head. You'll learn. Have uh cooldrink on me.""Oh all right, thank yuh. Got plenty cold ones tuhday.Nobody ain't been heah tuh buy none. All gone off tuh de game."

Their Eyes Were Watching God 42. 97"You oughta be at de next game. 'Tain't no use in you stayin'heah if everybody else is gone. You don't buy from yo'self, do yuh?""You crazy thing! 'Course Ah don't. But Ah'm worried'bout you uh little.""How come? 'Fraid Ah ain't gointuh pay fuh dese drinks?""Aw naw! How you gointuh git back home?""Wait round heah fuh a car. If none don't come, Ah gotgood shoe leather. 'Tain't but seben miles no how. Ah could walkdat in no time. Easy.""If it wuz me, Ah'd wait on uh train. Seben miles is uh kindalong walk.""It would be for you, 'cause you ain't used to it. But Ah'm seenwomen walk further'n dat. You could too, if yuh had it tuh do.""Maybe so, but Ah'll ride de train long as Ah got railroadfare.""Ah don't need no pocket-full uh money to ride de train lakuh woman. When Ah takes uh notion Ah rides anyhow—moneyor no money.""Now ain't you somethin'! Mr. er—er—You never did tellme whut yo' name wuz.""Ah sho didn't. Wuzn't expectin' fuh it to be needed. Dename mah mama gimme is Vergible Woods. Dey calls me TeaCake for short.""Tea Cake! So you sweet as all dat?" She laughed and he gaveher a little cut-eye look to get her meaning."Ah may be guilty. You better try me and see."She did something halfway between a laugh and a frown andhe set his hat on straight."B'lieve Ah done cut uh hawg, so Ah guess Ah better ketchair." He made an elaborate act of tipping to the door stealthily.Then looked back at her with an irresistible grin on his face.Janie burst out laughing in spite of herself. "You crazy thing!"

98 4 ► Zora Neale HurstonHe turned and threw his hat at her feet. "If she don't throwit at me, Ah'll take a chance on comin' back," he announced,making gestures to indicate he was hidden behind a post. Shepicked up the hat and threw it after him with a laugh. "Even if shehad uh brick she couldn't hurt yuh wid it," he said to an invisiblecompanion. "De lady can't throw." He gestured to his companion,stepped out from behind the imaginary lamp post, set hiscoat and hat and strolled back to where Janie was as if he had justcome in the store."Evenin', Mis' Starks. Could yuh lemme have uh pound uhknuckle puddin'* till Saturday? Ah'm sho tuh pay yuh then.""You needs ten pounds, Mr. Tea Cake. Ah'll let yuh have allAh got and you needn't bother 'bout payin' it back."They joked and went on till the people began to come in.Then he took a seat and made talk and laughter with the rest untilclosing time. When everyone else had left he said, "Ah reckon Ahdone over-layed mah leavin' time, but Ah figgured you neededsomebody tuh help yuh shut up de place. Since nobody else ain'tround heah, maybe Ah kin git de job.""Thankyuh, Mr. Tea Cake. It is kinda strainin' fuh me.""Who ever heard of uh teacake bein' called Mister! If youwanta be real hightoned and call me Mr. Woods, dat's de way youfeel about it. If yuh wants tuh be uh lil friendly and call me TeaCake, dat would be real nice." He was closing and bolting windowsall the time he talked."All right, then. Thank yuh, Tea Cake. How's dat?""Jes lak uh ill girl wid her Easter dress on. Even nice!" Helocked the door and shook it to be sure and handed her the key."Come on now, Ah'll see yuh inside yo' door and git on downde Dixie."*A beating with the fist.

Their Eyes Were Watching God OP 99Janie was halfway down the palm-lined walk before she had athought for her safety. Maybe this strange man was up to something!But it was no place to show her fear there in the darknessbetween the house and the store. He had hold of her arm too.Then in a moment it was gone. Tea Cake wasn't strange. Seemedas if she had known him all her life. Look how she had been ableto talk with him right off? He tipped his hat at the door and was offwith the briefest good night.So she sat on the porch and watched the moon rise. Soon itsamber fluid was drenching the earth, and quenching the thirst ofthe day.

1 1Janie wanted to ask Hezekiah about Tea Cake, but she was afraidhe might misunderstand her and think she was interested. In thefirst place he looked too young for her. Must be around twentyfiveand here she was around forty. Then again he didn't look likehe had too much. Maybe he was hanging around to get in withher and strip her of all that she had. Just as well if she never sawhim again. He was probably the kind of man who lived with variouswomen but never married. Fact is, she decided to treat himso cold if he ever did foot the place that he'd be sure not to comehanging around there again.He waited a week exactly to come back for Janie's snub. Itwas early in the afternoon and she and Hezekiah were alone. Sheheard somebody humming like they were feeling for pitch andlooked towards the door. Tea Cake stood there mimicking thetuning of a guitar. He frowned and struggled with the pegs of hisimaginary instrument watching her out of the corner of his eyewith that secret joke playing over his face. Finally she smiled andhe sung middle C, put his guitar under his arm and walked onback to where she was."Evenin', folks. Thought y'all might lak uh lil music thisevenin' so Ah brought long mah box."

Their Eyes Were Watching God ardIP 101"Crazy thing!" Janie commented, beaming out with light.He acknowledged the compliment with a smile and sat downon a box. "Anybody have uh Coca-Cola wid me?""Ah just had one," Janie temporized with her conscience."It'll halter be done all over agin, Mis' Starks.""How come?""'Cause it wasn't done right dat time. 'Kiah bring us twobottles from de bottom uh de box.""How you been makin' out since Ah seen yuh last, TeaCake?""Can't kick. Could be worse. Made four days dis week andgot de pay in mah pocket.""We got a rich man round here, then. Buyin' passenger trainsuh battleships this week?""Which one do you want? It all depends on you.""Oh, if you'se treatin' me tuh it, Ah b'lieve Ah'll take de passengertrain. If it blow up Ah'll still be on land.""Choose de battleship if dat's whut you really want. Ah knowwhere one is right now. Seen one round Key West de other day.""How you gointuh git it?""Ah shucks, dem Admirals is always ole folks. Can't no oleman stop me from gittin' no ship for yuh if dat's whut you want.Ah'd git dat ship out from under him so slick till he'd be walkin'de water lak ole Peter befo' he knowed it."They played away the evening again. Everybody was surprisedat Janie playing checkers but they liked it. Three or four stoodbehind her and coached her moves and generally made merry withher in a restrained way. Finally everybody went home but Tea Cake."You kin close up, 'Kiah," Janie said. "Think Ah'll g'wanhome."Tea Cake fell in beside her and mounted the porch this time.So she offered him a seat and they made a lot of laughter out of

102 alis Zora Neale Hurstonnothing. Near eleven o'clock she remembered a piece of poundcake she had put away. Tea Cake went out to the lemon tree atthe corner of the kitchen and picked some lemons and squeezedthem for her. So they had lemonade too."Moon's too pretty fuh anybody tuh be sleepin' it away," TeaCake said after they had washed up the plates and glasses. "Lessus go fishin'.""Fishin'? Dis time uh night?""Unhhunh, fishin'. Ah know where de bream is beddin'.Seen 'em when Ah come round de lake dis evenin'. Where's yo'fishin' poles? Less go set on de lake."It was so crazy digging worms by lamp light and setting outfor Lake Sabelia after midnight that she felt like a child breakingrules. That's what made Janie like it. They caught two or threeand got home just before day. Then she had to smuggle Tea Cakeout by the back gate and that made it seem like some great secretshe was keeping from the town."Mis' Janie," Hezekiah began sullenly next day, "you oughtn't'low dat Tea Cake tuh be walkin' tuh de house wid yuh. Ah'll gowid yuh mahself after dis, if you'se skeered.""What's de matter wid Tea Cake, 'Kiah? Is he uh thief uhsomethin'?""Ah ain't never heard nobody say he stole nothin'.""Is he bad 'bout totin' pistols and knives tuh hurt peoplewid?""Dey don't say he ever cut nobody or shot nobody neither.""Well, is he—he—is he got uh wife or something lak dat?Not dat it's any uh mah business." She held her breath for theanswer."No'm. And nobody wouldn't marry Tea Cake tub starvetuh death lessen it's somebody jes lak him—ain't used to nothin'.'Course he always keep hisself in changin' clothes. Dat long-

Their Eyes Were Watching God Altis 103legged Tea Cake ain't got doodly squat. He ain't got no businessmakin' hissef familiar wid nobody lak you. Ah said Ah wuz goin'to tell yuh so yuh could know.""Oh dat's all right, Hezekiah. Thank yuh mighty much."The next night when she mounted her steps Tea Cake wasthere before her, sitting on the porch in the dark. He had a stringof fresh-caught trout for a present."Ah'll clean 'em, you fry 'em and let's eat," he said with theassurance of not being refused. They went out into the kitchenand fixed up the hot fish and corn muffins and ate. Then TeaCake went to the piano without so much as asking and beganplaying blues and singing, and throwing grins over his shoulder.The sounds lulled Janie to soft slumber and she woke up with TeaCake combing her hair and scratching the dandruff from herscalp. It made her more comfortable and drowsy."Tea Cake, where you git uh comb from tuh be combin' mahhair wid?""Ah brought it wid me. Come prepared tub lay mah handson it tuhnight.""Why, Tea Cake? Whut good do combin' mah hair do you?It's mah comfortable, not yourn.""It's mine too. Ah ain't been sleepin' so good for more'n uhweek cause Ah been wishin' so bad tuh git mah hands in yo' hair.It's so pretty. It feels jus' lak underneath uh dove's wing next tomah face.""Umph! You'se mighty easy satisfied. Ah been had dis samehair next tuh mah face ever since Ah cried de fast time, and 'tain'tnever gimme me no thrill.""Ah tell you lak you told me—you'se mighty hard tuh satisfy.Ah betcha dem lips don't satisfy yuh neither.""Dat's right, Tea Cake. They's dere and Ah make use of 'emwhenever it's necessary, but nothin' special tub me."

104 40s Zora Neale Hurston"Umph! umph! umph! Ah betcha you don't never go tuh delookin' glass and enjoy yo' eyes yo'self. You lets other folks git allde enjoyment out of 'em 'thout takin' in any of it yo'self.""Naw, Ah never gazes at 'em in de lookin' glass. If anybodyelse gits any pleasure out of 'em Ah ain't been told about it.""See dat? You'se got de world in uh jug and make out youdon't know it. But Ah'm glad tuh be de one tuh tell yuh. ),"Ah guess you done told plenty women all about it.""Ah'm de Apostle Paul tuh de Gentiles. Ah tells 'em and thenagin Ah shows 'em.""Ah thought so." She yawned and made to get up from thesofa. "You done got me so sleepy wid yo' head-scratchin' Ah kinhardly make it tuh de bed." She stood up at once, collecting herhair. He sat still."Naw, you ain't sleepy, Mis' Janie. You jus' want me tuh go.You figger Ah'm uh rounder and uh pimp and you done wastedtoo much time talkin' wid me.""Why, Tea Cake! Whut ever put dat notion in yo' head?""De way you looked at me when Ah said whut Ah did. Yo'face skeered me so bad till mah whiskers drawed up.""Ah ain't got no business bein' mad at nothin' you do andsay. You got it all wrong. Ah ain't mad atall.""Ah know it and dat's what puts de shamery on me. You'sejus' disgusted wid me. Yo' face jus' left here and went offsomewhere else. Naw, you ain't mad wid me. Ah be glad if youwas, 'cause then Ah might do somethin' tuh please yuh. Butlak it is—""Mah likes and dislikes ought not tuh make no differencewid you, Tea Cake. Dat's fuh yo' lady friend. Ah'm jus' uh sometimefriend uh yourn."Janie walked towards the stairway slowly, and Tea Cake satwhere he was, as if he had frozen to his seat, in fear that once he

Their Eyes Were Watching God 4111P 105got up, he'd never get back in it again. He swallowed hard andlooked at her walk away."Ah didn't aim tuh let on tuh yuh 'bout it, leastways notright away, but Ah ruther be shot wid tacks than fish you tuh actwid me lak you is right now. You got me in de go-long."At the newel post Janie whirled around and for the space of athought she was lit up like a transfiguration. Her next thoughtbrought her crashing down. He's just saying anything for thetime being, feeling he's got me so I'll b'lieve him. The nextthought buried her under tons of cold futility. He's trading onbeing younger than me. Getting ready to laugh at me for an oldfool. But oh, what wouldn't I give to be twelve years younger soI could b'lieve him!"Aw, Tea Cake, you just say dat tuhnight because de fish andcorn bread tasted sort of good. Tomorrow yo' mind wouldchange.""Naw, it wouldn't neither. Ah know better.""Anyhow from what you told me when we wuz back dere inde kitchen Ah'm nearly twelve years older than you.""Ah done thought all about dat and tried tuh struggle aginstit, but it don't do me no good. De thought uh mah youngnessdon't satisfy me lak yo' presence do.""It makes uh whole heap uh difference wid most folks, TeaCake.""Things lak dat got uh whole lot tuh do wid convenience,but it ain't got nothin' tuh do wid love.""Well, Ah love tub find out whut you think after sun-uptomorrow. Dis is jus' yo' night thought.""You got yo' ideas and Ah got mine. Ah got uh dollar datsays you'se wrong. But Ah reckon you don't bet money, neither.""Ah never have done it so fur. But as de old folks always say,

106 41, Zora Neale HurstonAh'm born but Ah ain't dead. No tellin' whut Ah'm liable tuh doyet."He got up suddenly and took his hat. "Good night, Mis'Janie. Look lak we done run our conversation from grass rootstuh pine trees. G'bye." He almost ran out of the door.Janie hung over the newel post thinking so long that she allbut went to sleep there. However, before she went to bed shetook a good look at her mouth, eyes and hair.All next day in the house and store she thought resistingthoughts about Tea Cake. She even ridiculed him in her mindand was a little ashamed of the association. But every hour ortwo the battle had to be fought all over again. She couldn'tmake him look just like any other man to her. He looked like thelove thoughts of women. He could be a bee to a blossom—apear tree blossom in the spring. He seemed to be crushing scentout of the world with his footsteps. Crushing aromatic herbswith every step he took. Spices hung about him. He was aglance from God.So he didn't come that night and she laid in bed and pretendedto think scornfully of him. "Bet he's hangin' round somejook or 'nother. Glad Ah treated him cold. Whut do Ah want widsome trashy nigger out de streets? Bet he's livin' wid somewoman or 'nother and takin' me for uh fool. Glad Ah caughtmahself in time." She tried to console herself that way.The next morning she awoke hearing a knocking on thefront door and found Tea Cake there."Hello, Mis' Janie, Ah hope Ah woke you up.""You sho did, Tea Cake. Come in and rest yo' hat. Whut youdoin' out so soon dis mornin'?""Thought Ah'd try tuh git heah soon enough tuh tell yuhmah daytime thoughts. Ah see yuh needs tuh know mah daytimefeelings. Ah can't sense yuh intuh it at night."

Their Eyes Were Watching God 4. 107"You crazy thing! Is dat whut you come here for at daybreak?""Sho is. You needs tellin' and showin', and dat's whut Ah'mdoin'. Ah picked some strawberries too, Ah figgered you might like.""Tea Cake, Ah 'dare Ah don't know whut tuh make outayou. You'se so crazy. You better lemme fix you some breakfast.""Ain't got time. Ah got uh job uh work. Gottuh be back inOrlandah at eight o'clock. See yuh later, tell you straighter."He bolted down the walk and was gone. But that night whenshe left the store, he was stretched out in the hammock on theporch with his hat over his face pretending to sleep. She calledhim. He pretended not to hear. He snored louder. She went tothe hammock to shake him and he seized and pulled her in withhim. After a little, she let him adjust her in his arms and laid therefor a while."Tea Cake, Ah don't know 'bout you, but Ah'm hongry,come on let's eat some supper."They went inside and their laughter rang out first from thekitchen and all over the house.Janie awoke next morning by feeling Tea Cake almost kissingher breath away. Holding her and caressing her as if he feared shemight escape his grasp and fly away. Then he must dress hurriedlyand get to his job on time. He wouldn't let her get him anybreakfast at all. He wanted her to get her rest. He made her staywhere she was. In her heart she wanted to get his breakfast forhim. But she stayed in bed long after he was gone.So much had been breathed out by the pores that Tea Cakestill was there. She could feel him and almost see him buckingaround the room in the upper air. After a long time of passivehappiness, she got up and opened the window and let Tea Cakeleap forth and mount to the sky on a wind. That was the beginningof things.

108 4. Zora Neale HurstonIn the cool of the afternoon the fiend from hell specially sentto lovers arrived at Janie's ear. Doubt. All the fears that circumstancecould provide and the heart feel, attacked her on everyside. This was a new sensation for her, but no less excruciating. Ifonly Tea Cake would make her certain! He did not return thatnight nor the next and so she plunged into the abyss anddescended to the ninth darkness where light has never been.But the fourth day after he came in the afternoon driving abattered car. Jumped out like a deer and made the gesture oftying it to a post on the store porch. Ready with his grin! Sheadored him and hated him at the same time. How could he makeher suffer so and then come grinning like that with that darlingway he had? He pinched her arm as he walked inside the door."Brought me somethin' tuh haul you off in," he told herwith that secret chuckle. "Git yo' hat if you gointuh wear one.We got tuh go buy groceries.""Ah sells groceries right here in dis store, Tea Cake, if youdon't happen tuh know." She tried to look cold but she was smilingin spite of herself."Not de kind we want fuh de occasion. You sells groceries forordinary people. We'se gointuh buy for you. De big SundaySchool picnic is tomorrow—bet you done forget it—and we gottuh be dere wid uh swell basket and ourselves.""Ah don't know 'bout dat, Tea Cake. Tell yuh whut you do.G'wan down tuh de house and wait for me. Be dere in uhminute."As soon as she thought it looked right she slipped out of theback and joined Tea Cake. No need of fooling herself. Maybe hewas just being polite."Tea Cake, you sure you want me tuh go tuh dis picnic widyuh?""Me scramble 'round tuh git de money tuh take yuh—been

Their Eyes Were Watching God 40 109workin' lak uh dawg for two whole weeks—and she come astin'me if Ah want her tuh go! Puttin' mahself tuh uh whole heap uhtrouble tub git dis car so you kin go over tuh Winter Park orOrlandah tuh buy de things you might need and dis woman setdere and ast me if Ah want her tuh go!""Don't git mad, Tea Cake, Ah just didn't want you doin'nothin' outa politeness. If dere's somebody else you'd ruther take,it's all right wid me.""Now, it ain't all right wid you. If it was you wouldn't be sayin'dat. Have de nerve tuft say whut you mean.""Well, all right, Tea Cake, Ah wants tuh go wid you real bad,but,—oh, Tea Cake, don't make no false pretense wid me!""Janie, Ah hope God may kill me, if Ah'm lyin'. Nobody elseon earth kin hold uh candle tuh you, baby. You got de keys to dekingdom."

12It was after the picnic that the town began to notice things and gotmad. Tea Cake and Mrs. Mayor Starks! All the men that she couldget, and fooling with somebody like Tea Cake! Another thing, JoeStarks hadn't been dead but nine months and here she goes sashayingoff to a picnic in pink linen. Done quit attending church, likeshe used to. Gone off to Sanford in a car with Tea Cake and her alldressed in blue! It was a shame. Done took to high heel slippers anda ten dollar hat! Looking like some young girl, always in bluebecause Tea Cake told her to wear it. Poor Joe Starks. Bet he turnsover in his grave every day. Tea Cake and Janie gone hunting. TeaCake and Janie gone fishing. Tea Cake and Janie gone to Orlandoto the movies. Tea Cake and Janie gone to a dance. Tea Cake makingflower beds in Janie's yard and seeding the garden for her.Chopping down that tree she never did like by the dining roomwindow. All those signs of possession. Tea Cake in a borrowed carteaching Janie to drive. Tea Cake and Janie playing checkers; playingcoon-can; playing Florida flip on the store porch all afternoon asif nobody else was there. Day after day and week after week."Pheoby," Sam Watson said one night as he got in the bed, "Ahb'lieve yo' buddy is all tied up with dat Tea Cake shonough. Didn'tb'lieve it at first."

Their Eyes Were Watching God 411, 111"Aw she don't mean nothin' by it. Ah think she's sort ofstuck on dat undertaker up at Sanford.""It's somebody 'cause she looks might good dese days. Newdresses and her hair combed a different way nearly every day. Yougot to have something to comb hair over. When you see uhwoman doin' so much rakin' in her head, she's combin' at someman or 'nother.""'Course she kin do as she please, but dat's uh good chanceshe got up at Sanford. De man's wife died and he got uh lovelyplace tuh take her to—already furnished. Better'n her house Joeleft her.""You better sense her intuh things then 'cause Tea Cake can'tdo nothin' but help her spend whut she got. Ah reckon dat'swhut he's after. Throwin' away whut Joe Starks worked hard tuhgit tuhgether.""Dat's de way it looks. Still and all, she's her own woman.She oughta know by now whut she wants tuh do.""De men wuz talkin"bout it in de grove tuhday and givin'her and Tea Cake both de devil. Dey figger he's spendin' on hernow in order tuh make her spend on him later.""Umph! Umph! Umph!""Oh dey got it all figgered out. Maybe it ain't as bad as theysay, but they talk it and make it sound real bad on her part.""Dat's jealousy and malice. Some uh dem very mens wantstuh do whut dey claim deys skeered Tea Cake is doin'.""De Pastor claim Tea Cake don't 'low her tuh come tuhchurch only once in awhile 'cause he want dat change tuh buy gaswid. Just draggin' de woman away from church. But anyhow,she's yo' bosom friend, so you better go see 'bout her. Drop uhlil hint here and dere and if Tea Cake is tryin' tuh rob her she kinsee and know. Ah laks de woman and Ah sho would hate tuh seeher come up lak Mis' Tyler."

112 Ards Zora Neale Hurston"Aw mah God, now! Reckon Ah better step over dere tomorrowand have some chat wid Janie. She jus' ain't thinkin' whut shedoin', dat's all."The next morning Pheoby picked her way over to Janie'shouse like a hen to a neighbor's garden. Stopped and talked a littlewith everyone she met, turned aside momentarily to pause ata porch or two—going straight by walking crooked. So her firmintention looked like an accident and she didn't have to give heropinion to folks along the way.Janie acted glad to see her and after a while Pheoby broachedher with, "Janie, everybody's talkin"bout how dat Tea Cake isdraggin' you round tuh places you ain't used tuh. Baseball gamesand huntin' and fishin'. He don't know you'se useter uh morehigh time crowd than dat. You always did class off.""Jody classed me off. Ah didn't. Naw, Pheoby, Tea Cake ain'tdraggin' me off nowhere Ah don't want tuh go. Ah always didwant tuh git round uh whole heap, but Jody wouldn't 'low metuh. When Ah wasn't in de store he wanted me tuh jes sit widfolded hands and sit dere. And Ah'd sit dere wid de walls creepin'up on me and squeezin' all de life outa me. Pheoby, dese educatedwomen got uh heap of things to sit down and consider.Somebody done tole 'em what to set down for. Nobody ain'ttold poor me, so sittin' still worries me. Ah wants tuh utilizemahself all over.""But, Janie, Tea Cake, whilst he ain't no jail-bird, he ain't gotuh dime tuh cry. Ain't you skeered he's jes after yo' money—himbein' younger than you?""He ain't never ast de first penny from me yet, and if he loveproperty he ain't no different from all de rest of us. All dese olemen dat's settin' round me is after de same thing. They's threemo' widder women in town, how come dey don't break dey neckafter dem? 'Cause dey ain't got nothin', dat's why."

Their Eyes Were Watching God 4110 113"Folks seen you out in colors and dey thinks you ain't payin'de right amount uh respect tuh yo' dead husband.""Ah ain't grievin' so why do Ah hafta mourn? Tea Cake loveme in blue, so Ah wears it. Jody ain't never in his life picked outno color for me. De world picked out black and white formournin', Joe didn't. So Ah wasn't wearin' it for him. Ah waswearin' it for de rest of y'all.""But anyhow, watch yo'self, Janie, and don't be took advantageof. You know how dese young men is wid older women.Most of de time dey's after whut dey kin git, then dey's gone lakuh turkey through de corn.""Tea Cake don't talk dat way. He's aimin' tuh make hisselfpermanent wid me. We done made up our mind tuh marry.""Janie, you'se yo' own woman, and Ah hope you know whutyou doin'. Ah sho hope you ain't lak uh possum—de older yougits, de less sense yuh got. Ah'd feel uh whole heap better 'boutyuh if you wuz marryin' dat man up dere in Sanford. He got somethin'tuh put long side uh whut you got and dat make it more better.He's endurable.""Still and all Ah'd ruttier be wid Tea Cake.""Well, if yo' mind is already made up, 'tain't nothin' nobodykin do. But you'se takin' uh awful chance.""No mo' than Ah took befo' and no mo' than anybody elsetakes when dey gits married. It always changes folks, and sometimesit brings out dirt and meanness dat even de person didn'tknow they had in 'em theyselves. You know dat. Maybe Tea Cakemight turn out lak dat. Maybe not. Anyhow Ah'm ready andwillin' tuh try 'im.""Well, when you aim tuh step off?""Dat we don't know. De store is got tuh be sold and thenwe'se goin' off somewhere tuh git married.""How come you sellin' out de store?"

114 412P Zora Neale Hurston"'Cause Tea Cake ain't no Jody Starks, and if he tried tuh be, itwould be uh complete flommuck. But de minute Ah marries 'imeverybody is gointuh be makin' comparisons. So us is goin' offsomewhere and start all over in Tea Cake's way. Dis ain't no businessproposition, and no race after property and titles. Dis is uh lovegame. Ah done lived Grandma's way, now Ah means tuh live mine.""What you mean by dat, Janie?""She was borned in slavery time when folks, dat is black folks,didn't sit down anytime dey felt lak it. So sittin' on porches lak dewhite madam looked lak uh mighty fine thing tuh her. Dat'swhut she wanted for me—don't keer whut it cost. Git up on uhhigh chair and sit dere. She didn't have time tuh think whut tuhdo after you got up on de stool uh do nothin'. De object wuz tuhgit dere. So Ah got up on de high stool lak she told me, butPheoby, Ah done nearly languished tuh death up dere. Ah feltlike de world wuz cryin' extry and Ah ain't read de commonnews yet.""Maybe so, Janie. Still and all Ah'd love tuh experience it forjust one year. It look lak heben tuh me from where Ah'm at.""Ah reckon so.""But anyhow, Janie, you be keerful 'bout dis sellin' out andgoin' off wid strange men. Look whut happened tuh Annie Tyler.Took whut little she had and went off tuh Tampa wid dat boy deycall Who Flung. It's somethin' tuh think about.""It sho is. Still Ah ain't Mis' Tyler and Tea Cake ain't noWho Flung, and he ain't no stranger tuh me. We'se just as goodas married already. But Ah ain't puttin' it in de street. Ah'mtellin' you.""Ah jus lak uh chicken. Chicken drink water, but he don'tpee-pee.""Oh, Ah know you don't talk. We ain't shame faced. We jus'ain't ready tuh make no big kerflommuck as yet."

Their Eyes Were Watching God lair H5"You doin' right' not tuh talk it, but Janie, you'se takin' uhmighty big chance.""'Tain't so big uh chance as it seem lak, Pheoby. Ah'm olderthan Tea Cake, yes. But he done showed me where it's dethought dat makes de difference in ages. If people thinks de samethey can make it all right. So in the beginnin' new thoughts hadtuh be thought and new words said. After Ah got used tub dat,we gits 'long jus' fine. He done taught me de maiden languageall over. Wait till you see de new blue satin Tea Cake done pickedout for me tuh stand up wid him in. High heel slippers, necklace,earrings, everything he wants tuh see me in. Some of desemornin's and it won't be long, you gointuh wake up callin' meand Ah'll be gone."

13Jacksonville. Tea Cake's letter had said Jacksonville. He hadworked in the railroad shops up there before and his old boss hadpromised him a job come next pay day. No need for Janie to waitany longer. Wear the new blue dress because he meant to marryher right from the train. Hurry up and come because he wasabout to turn into pure sugar thinking about her. Come on,baby, papa Tea Cake never could be mad with you!Janie's train left too early in the day for the town to witnessmuch, but the few who saw her leave bore plenty witness. Theyhad to give it to her, she sho looked good, but she had no businessto do it. It was hard to love a woman that always made youfeel so wishful.The train beat on itself and danced on the shiny steel railsmile after mile. Every now and then the engineer would play onhis whistle for the people in the towns he passed by. And the trainshuffled on to . Jacksonville, and to a whole lot of things shewanted to see and to know.And there was Tea Cake in the big old station in a new bluesuit and straw hat, hauling her off to a preacher's house firstthing. Then right on to the room he had been sleeping in for twoweeks all by himself waiting for her to come. And such another

Their Eyes Were Watching God 42P 117hugging and kissing and carrying on you never saw. It made herso glad she was scared of herself. They stayed at home and restedthat night, but the next night they went to a show and after thatthey rode around on the trolley cars and sort of looked thingsover for themselves. Tea Cake was spending and doing out of hisown pocket, so Janie never told him about the two hundred dollarsshe had pinned inside her shirt next to her skin. Pheoby hadinsisted that she bring it along and keep it secret just to be on thesafe side. She had ten dollars over her fare in her pocket book. LetTea Cake think that was all she had. Things might not turn outlike she thought. Every minute since she had stepped off the trainshe had been laughing at Pheoby's advice. She meant to tell TeaCake the joke some time when she was sure she wouldn't hurt hisfeelings. So it came around that she had been married a week andsent Pheoby a card with a picture on it.That morning Tea Cake got up earlier than Janie did. She feltsleepy and told him to go get some fish to fry for breakfast. By thetime he had gone and come back she would have finished her napout. He told her he would and she turned over and went back tosleep. She woke up and Tea Cake still wasn't there and the clocksaid it was getting late, so she got up and washed her face andhands. Perhaps he was down in the kitchen fixing around to let hersleep. Janie went down and the landlady made her drink some coffeewith her because she said her husband was dead and it was badto be having your morning coffee by yourself."Yo' husband gone tuh work dis mornin', Mis' Woods? Ahseen him go out uh good while uh go. Me and you kin be cornp'nyfor one 'nother, can't us?""Oh yes, indeed, Mis' Samuels. You puts me in de mind uhmah friend back in Eatonville. Yeah, you'se nice and friendly jus'lak her."Therefore Janie drank her coffee and sanided on back to her

118 41P Zora Neale Hurstonroom without asking her landlady anything. Tea Cake must behunting all over the city for that fish. She kept that thought infront of her in order not to think too much. When she heard thetwelve o'clock whistle she decided to get up and dress. That waswhen she found out her two hundred dollars was gone. There wasthe little cloth purse with the safety pin on the chair beneath herclothes and the money just wasn't nowhere in the room. She knewfrom the beginning that the money wasn't any place she knew of ifit wasn't in that little pocket book pinned to her pink silk vest. Butthe exercise of searching the room kept her busy and that wasgood for her to keep moving, even though she wasn't doing anythingbut turning around in her tracks.But, don't care how firm your determination is, you can't keepturning round in one place like a horse grinding sugar cane. SoJanie took to sitting over the room. Sit and look. The room insidelooked like the mouth of an alligator—gaped wide open to swallowsomething down. Outside the window Jacksonville looked likeit needed a fence around it to keep it from running out on ether'sbosom. It was too big to be warm, let alone to need somebody likeher. All day and night she worried time like a bone.Way late in the morning the thought of Annie Tyler and WhoFlung came to pay her a visit. Annie Tyler who at fifty-two hadbeen left a widow with a good home and insurance money.Mrs. Tyler with her dyed hair, newly straightened and heruncomfortable new false teeth, her leathery skin, blotchy withpowder and her giggle. Her love affairs, affairs with boys in theirlate teens or early twenties for all of whom she spent her moneyon suits of clothes, shoes, watches and things like that and howthey all left her as soon as their wants were satisfied. Then whenher ready cash was gone, had come Who Flung to denounce hispredecessor as a scoundrel and took up around the house himself.It was he who persuaded her to sell her house and come to

Their Eyes Were Watching God ar 119Tampa with him. The town had seen her limp off. The undersizedhigh-heel slippers were punishing her tired feet that lookedlike bunions all over. Her body squeezed and crowded into atight corset that shoved her middle up under her chin. But shehad gone off laughing and sure. As sure as Janie had been.Then two weeks later the porter and conductor of the northbound local had helped her off the train at Maitland. Hair all grayand black and bluish and reddish in streaks. All the capers thatcheap dye could cut was showing in her hair. Those slippers bentand griped just like her work-worn feet. The corset gone and theshaking old woman hanging all over herself. Everything that youcould see was hanging. Her chin hung from her ears and rippleddown her neck like drapes. Her hanging bosom and stomach andbuttocks and legs that draped down over her ankles. She groanedbut never giggled.She was broken and her pride was gone, so she told thosewho asked what had happened. Who Flung had taken her to ashabby room in a shabby house in a shabby street and promisedto marry her next day. They stayed in the room two whole daysthen she woke up to find Who Flung and her money gone. Shegot up to stir around and see if she could find him, and foundherself too worn out to do much. All she found out was that shewas too old a vessel for new wine. The next day hunger had drivenher out to shift. She had stood on the streets and smiled andsmiled, and then smiled and begged and then just begged. Aftera week of world-bruising a young man from home had comealong and seen her. She couldn't tell him how it was. She just toldhim she got off the train and somebody had stolen her purse.Naturally, he had believed her and taken her home with him togive her time to rest up a day or two, then he had bought her aticket for home.They put her to bed and sent for her married daughter from

120 42P Zora Neale Hurstonup around Ocala to come see about her. The daughter came assoon as she could and took Annie Tyler away to die in peace. Shehad waited all her life for something, and it had killed her when itfound her.The thing made itself into pictures and hung around Janie'sbedside all night long. Anyhow, she wasn't going back toEatonville to be laughed at and pitied. She had ten dollars in herpocket and twelve hundred in the bank. But oh God, don't letTea Cake be off somewhere hurt and Ah not know nothingabout it. And God, please suh, don't let him love nobody else butme. Maybe Ah'm is uh fool, Lawd, lak dey say, but Lawd, Ahbeen so lonesome, and Ah been waitin', Jesus. Ah done waiteduh long time.Janie dozed off to sleep but she woke up in time to see thesun sending up spies ahead of him to mark out the road throughthe dark. He peeped up over the door sill of the world and madea little foolishness with red. But pretty soon, he laid all that asideand went about his business dressed all in white. But it was alwaysgoing to be dark to Janie if Tea Cake didn't soon come back. Shegot out of the bed but a chair couldn't hold her. She dwindleddown on the floor with her head in a rocking chair.After a while there was somebody playing a guitar outside herdoor. Played right smart while. It sounded lovely too. But it wassad to hear it feeling blue like Janie was. Then whoever it wasstarted to singing "Ring de bells of mercy. Call de sinner manhome." Her heart all but smothered her."Tea Cake, is dat you?""You know so well it's me, Janie. How come you don't opende door?"But he never waited. He walked on in with a guitar and agrin. Guitar hanging round his neck with a red silk cord and agrin hanging from his ears.

Their Eyes Were Watching God apP 121"Don't need tuh ast me where Ah been all dis time, 'causeit's mah all day job tuh tell yuh.""Tea Cake, Ah—""Good Lawd, Janie, whut you doin' settin' on de floor?"He took her head in his hands and eased himself into thechair. She still didn't say anything. He sat stroking her head andlooking down into her face."Ah see whut it is. You doubted me 'bout de money. ThoughtAh had done took it and gone. Ah don't blame yuh but it wasn'tlak you think. De girl baby ain't born and her mama is dead, datcan git me tuh spend our money on her. Ah told yo' before dat yougot de keys tuh de kingdom. You can depend on dat.""Still and all you went off and left me all day and all night.""'Twasn't 'cause Ah wanted tuh stay off lak dat, and it shoLawd, wuzn't no woman. If you didn't have de power tuh holdme and hold me tight, Ah wouldn't be callin' yuh Mis' Woods.Ah met plenty women before Ah knowed you tuh talk tuh.You'se de onliest woman in de world Ah ever even mentionedgitting married tuh. You bein' older don't make no difference.Don't never consider dat no mo'. If Ah ever gits tuh messin'round another woman it won't be on account of her age. It'll bebecause she got me in de same way you got me—so Ah can't helpmahself."He sat down on the floor beside her and kissed and playfullyturned up the corner of her mouth until she smiled."Looka here, folks," he announced to an imaginary audience,"Sister Woods is 'bout tuh quit her husband!"Janie laughed at that and let herself lean on him. Then sheannounced to the same audience, "Mis' Woods got herself uh newlil boy rooster, but he been off somewhere and won't tell her.""First thing, though, us got tuh eat together, Janie. Then wecan talk."

122 4p Zora Neale Hurston"One thing, Ah won't send you out after no fish."He pinched her in the side and ignored what she said."'Tain't no need of neither one of us workin' dis mornin'.Call Mis' Samuels and let her fix whatever you want.""Tea Cake, if you don't hurry up and tell me, Ah'll take andbeat yo' head flat as uh dime."Tea Cake stuck out till he had some breakfast, then he talkedand acted out the story.He spied the money while he was tying his tie. He took it upand looked at it out of curiosity and put it in his pocket to countit while he was out to find some fish to fry. When he found outhow much it was, he was excited and felt like letting folks knowwho he was. Before he found the fish market he met a fellow heused to work with at the round house. One word brought onanother one and pretty soon he made up his mind to spend someof it. He never had had his hand on so much money before in hislife, so he made up his mind to see how it felt to be a millionaire.They went on out to Callahan round the railroad shops and hedecided to give a big chicken and macaroni supper that night,free to all.He bought up the stuff and they found somebody to pick theguitar so they could all dance some. So they sent the message allaround for people to come. And come they did. A big tableloaded down with fried chicken and biscuits and a wash-tub fullof macaroni with plenty cheese in it. When the fellow began topick the box the people begin to come from east, west, north andAustralia. And he stood in the door and paid all the ugly womentwo dollars not to come in. One big meriny colored woman wasso ugly till it was worth five dollars for her not to come in, so hegave it to her.They had a big time till one man come in who thought hewas bad. He tried to pull and haul over all the chickens and pick

Their Eyes Were Watching God 41P 123out the livers and gizzards to eat. Nobody else couldn't pacifyhim so they called Tea Cake to come see if he could stop him. SoTea Cake walked up and asked him, "Say, whut's de matter widyou, nohow?""Ah don't want nobody handin' me nothin'. Specially don'tissue me out no rations. Ah always chooses mah rations." Hekept right on plowing through the pile uh chicken. So Tea Cakegot mad."You got mo' nerve than uh brass monkey. Tell me, whatpost office did you ever pee in? Ah craves tuh know.""VVhut you mean by dat now?" the fellow asked."Ah means dis—it takes jus' as much nerve tuh cut caper lakdat in uh United States Government Post Office as it do tuhcomes pullin' and haulin' over any chicken Ah pay for. Hit deground. Damned if Ah ain't gointuh try you dis night."So they all went outside to see if Tea Cake could handle theboogerboo. Tea Cake knocked out two of his teeth, so that manwent on off from there. Then two men tried to pick a fight withone another, so Tea Cake said they had to kiss and make up. Theydidn't want to do it. They'd rather go to jail, but everybody elseliked the idea, so they made 'em do it. Afterwards, both of themspit and gagged and wiped their mouths with the back of theirhands. One went outside and chewed a little grass like a sick dog,he said to keep it from killing him.Then everybody began to holler at the music because theman couldn't play but three pieces. So Tea Cake took the guitarand played himself. He was glad of the chance because he hadn'thad his hand on a box since he put his in the pawn shop to getsome money to hire a car for Janie soon after he met her. Hemissed his music. So that put him in the notion he ought to haveone. He bought the guitar on the spot and paid fifteen dollarscash. It was really worth sixty-five any day.

124 ais Zora Neale HurstonJust before day the party wore out. So Tea Cake hurried onback to his new wife. He had done found out how rich people feeland he had a fine guitar and twelve dollars left in his pocket and allhe needed now was a great big old hug and kiss from Janie."You musta thought yo' wife was powerful ugly. Dem uglywomen dat you paid two dollars not to come in, could git tuh dedoor. You never even 'lowed me tuh git dat close." She pouted."Janie, Ah would have give Jacksonville wid Tampa for ajump-back for you to be dere wid me. Ah started to come git yuhtwo three times.""Well, how come yuh didn't come git me?""Janie, would you have come if Ah did?""Sho Ah would. Ah laks fun just as good as you do.""Janie, Ah wanted tuh, mighty much, but Ah was skeered.Too skeered Ah might lose yuh.""Why?""Dem wuzn't no high muckty mucks. Dem wuz railroadhands and dey womenfolks. You ain't usetuh folks lak dat and Ahwuz skeered you might git all mad and quit me for takin' you'mongst 'em. But Ah wanted yuh wid me jus' de same. Befo' usgot married Ah made up mah mind not tuh let you see no commonnessin me. When Ah git mad habits on, Ah'd go off andkeep it out yo' sight. 'Tain't mah notion tuh drag you down widme.""Looka heah, Tea Cake, if you ever go off from me and havea good time lak dat and then come back heah tellin' me how niceAh is, Ah specks tuh kill yuh dead. You heah me?""So you aims tuh partake wid everything, hunh?""Yeah, Tea Cake, don't keer what it is.""Dat's all Ah wants tuh know From now on you'se mah wifeand mah woman and everything else in de world Ah needs.""Ah hope so."

Their Eyes Were Watching God .12, 125"And honey, don't you worry 'bout yo' lil ole two hundreddollars. It's big pay day dis comin' Saturday at de railroad yards.Ah'm gointuh take dis twelve dollars in mah pocket and win it allback and mo'.""How?""Honey, since you loose me and gimme privilege tuh tell yuhall about mahself, Ah'll tell yuh. You done married one uh de bestgamblers God ever made. Cards or dice either one. Ah can takeuh shoe string and win uh tan-yard. Wish yuh could see merollin'. But dis time it's gointuh be nothin' but tough men'stalkin' all kinds uh talk so it ain't no place for you tuh be, but'twon't be long befo' you see me."All the rest of the week Tea Cake was busy practising up onhis dice. He would flip them on the bare floor, on the rug and onthe bed. He'd squat and throw, sit in a chair and throw and standand throw. It was very exciting to Janie who had never toucheddice in her life. Then he'd take his deck of cards and shuffle andcut, shuffle and cut and deal out then examine each hand carefully,and do it again. So Saturday came. He went out and boughta new switch-blade knife and two decks of star-back playing cardsthat morning and left Janie around noon."They'll start to paying off, pretty soon now. Ah wants tuhgit in de game whilst de big money is in it. Ah ain't fuh no spuddin'tuhday. Ah'll come home wid de money or Ah'll come backon uh stretcher." He cut nine hairs out of the mole of her headfor luck and went off happy.Janie waited till midnight without worrying, but after that shebegan to be afraid. So she got up and sat around scared and miserable.Thinking and fearing all sorts of dangers. Wondering at herselfas she had many times this week that she was not shocked atTea Cake's gambling. It was part of him, so it was all right. Sherather found herself angry at imaginary people who might try to

126 41. Zora Neale Hurstoncriticize. Let the old hypocrites learn to mind their own business,and leave other folks alone. Tea Cake wasn't doing a bit moreharm trying to win hisself a little money than they was alwaysdoing with their lying tongues. Tea Cake had more good natureunder his toe-nails than they had in their so-called Christian hearts.She better not hear none of them old backbiters talking about herhusband! Please, Jesus, don't let them nasty niggers hurt her boy.If they do, Master Jesus, grant her a good gun and a chance toshoot 'em. Tea Cake had a knife it was true, but that was only toprotect hisself. God knows, Tea Cake wouldn't harm a fly.Daylight was creeping around the cracks of the world whenJanie heard a feeble rap on the door. She sprung to the door andflung it wide. Tea Cake was out there looking like he was asleepstanding up. In some strange way it was frightening. Janie caughthis arm to arouse him and he stumbled into the room and fell."Tea Cake! You chile! What's de matter, honey?""Dey cut me, dat's all. Don't cry. Git me out dis coat quickas yuh can."He told her he wasn't cut but twice but she had to have himnaked so she could look him all over and fix him up to a certainextent. He told her not to call a doctor unless he got muchworse. It was mostly loss of blood anyhow."Ah won the money jus' lak ah told yuh. Round midnight Ahhad yo' two hundred dollars and wuz ready tuh quit even thoughit wuz uh heap mo' money in de game. But dey wanted uhchance tuh win it back so Ah set back down tuh play some mo'.Ah knowed ole Double-Ugly wuz 'bout broke and wanted tuhfight 'bout it, so Ah set down tuh give 'im his chance tuh git backhis money and then to give 'im uh quick trip -rah hell if he triedtuh pull dat razor Ah glimpsed in his pocket. Honey, no up-todateman don't fool wid no razor. De man wid his switch-bladewill be done cut yuh tuh death while you foolin' wid uh razor.

Their Eyes Were Watching God 41, 127But Double-Ugly brags he's too fast wid it tuh git hurt, but Ahknowed better."So round four o'clock Ah had done cleaned 'em out complete—allexcept two men dat got up and left while dey hadmoney for groceries, and one man dat wuz lucky. Then Ah rosetuh bid 'em good bye agin. None of 'em didn't lak it, but dey allrealized it wuz fair. Ah had done give 'em a fair chance. All butDouble-Ugly. He claimed Ah switched de dice. Ah shoved demoney down deep in mah pocket and picked up mah hat andcoat wid mah left hand and kept mah right hand on mah knife.Ah didn't keer what he said long as he didn't try tuh do nothin'.Ah got mah hat on and one arm in mah coat as Ah got to de door.Right dere he jumped at me as Ah turned to see de doorstep outsideand cut me twice in de back."Baby, Ah run mah other arm in mah coat-sleeve andgrabbed dat nigger by his necktie befo' he could bat his eye andthen Ah wuz all over 'im jus' lak gravy over rice. He lost his razortryin' tuh git loose from me. He wuz hollerin' for me tuh turnhim loose, but baby, Ah turnt him every way but loose. Ah lefthim on the doorstep and got here to yuh de quickest way Ahcould. Ah know Ah ain't cut too deep 'cause he was too skeeredtuh run up on me close enough. Sorta pull de flesh together withstickin' plaster. Ah'll be all right in uh day or so."Janie was painting on iodine and crying."You ain't de one to be cryin', Janie. It's his ole lady oughtado dat. You done gimme luck. Look in mah left hand pantspocket and see whut yo' daddy brought yuh. When Ah tell yuhAh'm gointuh bring it, Ah don't lie."They counted it together—three hundred and twenty-twodollars. It was almost like Tea Cake had held up the Paymaster. Hemade her take the two hundred and put it back in the secret place.Then Janie told him about the other money she had in the bank.

128 4pr Zora Neale Hurston"Put dat two hundred back wid de rest, Janie. Mah dice. Ahno need no assistance tuh help me feed mah woman. From nowon, you gointuh eat whutever mah money can buy yuh and wearde same. When Ah ain't got nothin' you don't git nothin'.""Dat's all right wid me."He was getting drowsy, but he pinched her leg playfullybecause he was glad she took things the way he wanted her to."Listen, mama, soon as Ah git over dis lil cuttin' scrape, we gointuhdo somethin' crazy.""Whut's dat?""We goin' on de muck.""Whut's de muck, and where is it at?""Oh down in de Everglades round Clewiston and BelleGlade where dey raise all dat cane and string-beans andtomatuhs. Folks don't do nothin' down dere but make moneyand fun and foolishness. We must go dere."He drifted off into sleep and Janie looked down on him and felta self-crushing love. So her soul crawled out from its hiding place.

14To Janie's strange eyes, everything in the Everglades was big andnew. Big Lake Okechobee, big beans, big cane, big weeds, bigeverything. Weeds that did well to grow waist high up the statewere eight and often ten feet tall down there. Ground so rich thateverything went wild. Volunteer cane just taking the place. Dirtroads so rich and black that a half mile of it would have fertilizeda Kansas wheat field. Wild cane on either side of the road hidingthe rest of the world. People wild too."Season don't open up till last of September, but we had tuh githeah ahead uh time tub git us uh room," Tea Cake explained. "Twoweeks from now, it'll be so many folks heah dey won't be lookin'fuh rooms, dey'll be jus' looking fuh somewhere tuh sleep. Now wegot uh chance tuh git uh room at de hotel, where dey got uh bathtub. Yuh can't live on de muck 'thout yuh take uh bath every day.Do dat muck'll itch yuh lak ants. 'Tain't but one place round heahwid uh bath tub. 'Tain't nowhere near enough rooms.""Whut we gointuh do round heah?""All day Ah'm pickin' beans. All night Ah'm pickin' mahbox and rollin' dice. Between de beans and de dice Ah can'tlose. Ah'm gone right now tuh pick me uh job uh work wid debest man on de muck. Before de rest of 'em gits heah. You can

130 ar Zora Neale Hurstonalways git jobs round heah in de season, but not wid de rightfolks.""When do de job open up, Tea Cake? Everybody round herelook lak dey waitin' too.""Dat's right. De big men haves uh certain time tuh open deseason jus' lak in everything else. Mah boss-man didn't get sufficientseed. He's out huntin' up uh few mo' bushels. Den we'segointuh plantin'.""Bushels?""Yeah, bushels. Dis ain't no game fuh pennies. Po' man ain'tgot no business at de show."The very next day he burst into the room in high excitement."Boss done bought out another man and want me down on delake. He got houses fuh de first ones dat git dere. Less go!"They rattled nine miles in a borrowed car to the quarters thatsquatted so close that only the dyke separated them from great,sprawling Okechobee. Janie fussed around the shack making ahome while Tea Cake planted beans. After hours they fished.Every now and then they'd run across a party of Indians in theirlong, narrow dug-outs calmly winning their living in the tracklessways of the 'Glades. Finally the beans were in. Nothing much todo but wait to pick them. Tea Cake picked his box a great deal forJanie, but he still didn't have enough to do. No need of gamblingyet. The people who were pouring in were broke. They didn'tcome bringing money, they were coming to make some."Tell yuh whut, Janie, less buy us some shootin' tools and gohuntin' round heah.""Dat would be fine, Tea Cake, exceptin' you know Ah can'tshoot. But Ah'd love tuh go wid you.""Oh, you needs tuh learn how. 'Tain't no need uh you notknowin' how tuh handle shootin' tools. Even if you didn't neverfind no game, it's always some trashy rascal dat needs uh good

Their Eyes Were Watching God 4 131killin'," he laughed. "Less go intuh Palm Beach and spend someof our money."Every day they were practising. Tea Cake made her shoot atlittle things just to give her good aim. Pistol and shot gun andrifle. It got so the others stood around and watched them. Someof the men would beg for a shot at the target themselves. It wasthe most exciting thing on the muck. Better than the jook andthe pool-room unless some special band was playing for a dance.And the thing that got everybody was the way Janie caught on.She got to the place she could shoot a hawk out of a pine tree andnot tear him up. Shoot his head off. She got to be a better shotthan Tea Cake. They'd go out any late afternoon and come backloaded down with game. One night they got a boat and went outhunting alligators. Shining their phosphorescent eyes and shootingthem in the dark. They could sell the hides and teeth in PalmBeach besides having fun together till work got pressing.Day by day now, the hordes of workers poured in. Somecame limping in with their shoes and sore feet from walking. It'shard trying to follow your shoe instead of your shoe followingyou. They came in wagons from way up in Georgia and theycame in truck loads from east, west, north and south. Permanenttransients with no attachments and tired looking men with theirfamilies and dogs in ffivvers. All night, all day, hurrying in to pickbeans. Skillets, beds, patched up spare inner tubes all hangingand dangling from the ancient cars on the outside and hopefulhumanity, herded and hovered on the inside, chugging on to themuck. People ugly from ignorance and broken from being poor.All night now the jooks clanged and clamored. Pianos livingthree lifetimes in one. Blues made and used right on the spot.Dancing, fighting, singing, crying, laughing, winning and losinglove every hour. Work all day for money, fight all night for love. Therich black earth clinging to bodies and biting the skin like ants.

132 41, Zora Neale HurstonFinally no more sleeping places. Men made big fires and fiftyor sixty men slept around each fire. But they had to pay the manwhose land they slept on. He ran the fire just like his boardingplace—for pay. But nobody cared. They made good money,even to the children. So they spent good money. Next monthand next year were other times. No need to mix them up withthe present.Tea Cake's house was a magnet, the unauthorized center ofthe "job." The way he would sit in the doorway and play his guitarmade people stop and listen and maybe disappoint the jookfor that night. He was always laughing and full of fun too. Hekept everybody laughing in the bean field.Janie stayed home and boiled big pots of blackeyed peas andrice. Sometimes baked big pans of navy beans with plenty ofsugar and hunks of bacon laying on top. That was something TeaCake loved so no matter if Janie had fixed beans two or threetimes during the week, they had baked beans again on Sunday.She always had some kind of dessert too, as Tea Cake said it givea man something to taper off on. Sometimes she'd straighten outthe two-room house and take the rifle and have fried rabbit forsupper when Tea Cake got home. She didn't leave him itchingand scratching in his work clothes, either. The kettle of hot waterwas already waiting when he got in.Then Tea Cake took to popping in at the kitchen door at oddhours. Between breakfast and dinner, sometimes. Then oftenaround two o'clock he'd come home and tease and wrestle withher for a half hour and slip on back to work. So one day she askedhim about it."Tea Cake, whut you doin' back in de quarters when everybodyelse is still workin'?""Come tuh see 'bout you. De boogerman liable nih tote yuhoff whilst Ah'm gone."

Their Eyes Were Watching God as 133"'Tain't no boogerman got me tuh study 'bout. Maybe youthink Ah ain't treatin' yuh right and you watchin' me.""Now, naw, Janie. Ah know better'n dat. But since you gotdat in yo' head, Ah'll have tuh tell yuh de real truth, so yuh canknow. Janie, Ah gits lonesome out dere all day 'thout yuh. Afterdis, you betta come git uh job uh work out dere lak de rest uh dewomen—so Ah won't be losin' time comin' home.""Tea Cake, you'se uh mess! Can't do 'thout me dat lil time.""'Tain't no lil time. It's near 'bout all day."So the very next morning Janie got ready to pick beans alongwith Tea Cake. There was a suppressed murmur when she pickedup a basket and went to work. She was already getting to be aspecial case on the muck. It was generally assumed that shethought herself too good to work like the rest of the women andthat Tea Cake "pomped her up tuh dat." But all day long theromping and playing they carried on behind the boss's backmade her popular right away. It got the whole field to playing offand on. Then Tea Cake would help get supper afterwards."You don't think Ah'm tryin' tuh git outa takin' keer uh yuh,do yuh, Janie, 'cause Ah ast yuh tuh work long side uh me?" TeaCake asked her at the end of her first week in the field."Ah now, honey. Ah laks it. It's mo' nicer than settin' round desequarters all day. Clerkin' in dat store wuz hard, but heah, we ain't gotnothin' tuh do but do our work and come home and love."The house was full of people every night. That is, all aroundthe doorstep was full. Some were there to hear Tea Cake pick thebox; some came to talk and tell stories, but most of them came toget into whatever game was going on or might go on. SometimesTea Cake lost heavily, for there were several good gamblers onthe lake. Sometimes he won and made Janie proud of his skill.But outside of the two jooks, everything on that job went onaround those two.

134 4 Zora Neale HurstonSometimes Janie would think of the old days in the big whitehouse and the store and laugh to herself. What if Eatonville couldsee her now in her blue denim overalls and heavy shoes? Thecrowd of people around her and a dice game on her floor! She wassorry for her friends back there and scornful of the others. Themen held big arguments here like they used to do on the storeporch. Only here, she could listen and laugh and even talk someherself if she wanted to. She got so she could tell big stories herselffrom listening to the rest. Because she loved to hear it, and themen loved to hear themselves, they would "woof" and "boogerboo"around the games to the limit. No matter how rough it was,people seldom got mad, because everything was done for a laugh.Everybody loved to hear Ed Dockery, Bootyny, and Sop-de-Bottomin a skin game. Ed Dockery was dealing one night and helooked over at Sop-de-Bottom's card and he could tell Sopthought he was going to win. He hollered, "Ah'll break up dat settin'uh eggs." Sop looked and said, "Root de peg." Bootyny asked,"What are you goin' tuh do? Do do!" Everybody was watchingthat next card fall. Ed got ready to turn. "Ah'm gointuh sweep outhell and burn up de broom." He slammed down another dollar."Don't oversport yourself; Ed," Bootyny challenged. "You gittin'too yaller." Ed caught hold of the corner of the card. Sop droppeda dollar. "Ah'm gointuh shoot in de hearse, don't keer how sad defuneral be." Ed said, "You see how this man is teasin' hell?" TeaCake nudged Sop not to bet. "You gointuh git caught in uh bulletstorm if you don't watch out." Sop said, "Aw 'tain't nothin' tuhdat bear but his curly hair. Ah can look through muddy water andsee dry land." Ed turned off the card and hollered, "Zachariah, Ahsays come down out dat sycamore tree. You can't do no business."Nobody fell on that card. Everybody was scared of the next one.Ed looked around and saw Gabe standing behind his chair andhollered, "Move, from over me, Gabe! You too black. You draw

Their Eyes Were Watching God 40 135heat! Sop, you wanta pick up dat bet whilst you got uh chance?""Naw, man, Ah wish Ah had uh thousand-leg tuh put on it." "Soyuh won't lissen, huh? Dumb niggers and free schools. Ah'm gointuhtake and teach yuh. Ah'll main-line but Ah won't side-track."Ed flipped the next card and Sop fell and lost. Everybody holleredand laughed. Ed laughed and said, "Git off de muck! You ain'tnothin'. Dat's all! -Hot boilin' water won't help yuh none." Edkept on laughing because he had been so scared before. "Sop,Bootyny, all y'all dat lemme win yo' money: Ah'm sending itstraight off to Sears and Roebuck and buy me some clothes, andwhen Ah turn out Christmas day, it would take a doctor to tell mehow near Ah is dressed tuh death."

15Janie learned what it felt like to be jealous. A little chunky girl tookto picking a play out of Tea Cake in the fields and in the quarters.If he said anything at all, she'd take the opposite side and hit himor shove him and run away to make him chase her. Janie knewwhat she was up to—luring him away from the crowd. It kept upfor two or three weeks with Nunkie getting bolder all the time.She'd hit Tea Cake playfully and the minute he so much as tappedher with his finger she'd fall against him or fall on the ground andhave to be picked up. She'd be almost helpless. It took a good dealof handling to set her on her feet again. And another thing, TeaCake didn't seem to be able to fend her off as promptly as Janiethought he ought to. She began to be snappish a little. A little seedof fear was growing into a tree. Maybe some day Tea Cake wouldweaken. Maybe he had already given secret encouragement andthis was Nunkie's way of bragging about it. Other people began tonotice too, and that put Janie more on a wonder.One day they were working near where the beans ended andthe sugar cane began. Janie had marched off a little from Tea Cake'sside with another woman for a chat. When she glanced around TeaCake was gone. Nunkie too. She knew because she looked."Where's Tea Cake?" she asked Sop-de-Bottom.

Their Eyes Were Watching God alip 137He waved his hand towards the cane field and hurried away.Janie never thought at all. She just acted on feelings. She rushedinto the cane and about the fifth row down she found Tea Cakeand Nunkie struggling. She was on them before either knew."Whut's de matter heah?" Janie asked in a cold rage. Theysprang apart."Nothin'," Tea Cake told her, standing shame-faced."Well, whut you doin' in heah? How come you ain't out derewid de rest?""She grabbed mah workin' tickets outa mah shirt pocket andAh run tuh git 'em back," Tea Cake explained, showing the tickets,considerably mauled about in the struggle.Janie made a move to seize Nunkie but the girl fled. So shetook out behind her over the humped-up cane rows. But Nunkiedid not mean to be caught. So Janie went on home. The sight ofthe fields and the other happy people was too much for her thatday. She walked slowly and thoughtfully to the quarters. It wasn'tlong before Tea Cake found her there and tried to talk. She cuthim short with a blow and they fought from one room to theother, Janie trying to beat him, and Tea Cake kept holding herwrists and wherever he could to keep her from going too far."Ah b'lieve you been messin' round her!" she panted furiously."No sich uh thing!" Tea Cake retorted."Ah b'lieve yuh did.""Don't keer how big uh lie get told, somebody kin b'lieve it!"They fought on. "You done hurt mah heart, now you comewid uh lie tuh bruise mah ears! Turn go mah hands!" Janieseethed. But Tea Cake never let go. They wrestled on until theywere doped with their own fumes and emanations; till theirclothes had been torn away; till he hurled her to the floor andheld her there melting her resistance with the heat of his body,doing things with their bodies to express the inexpressible; kissed

138 Air Zora Neale Hurstonher until she arched her body to meet him and they fell asleep insweet exhaustion.The next morning Janie asked like a woman, "You still loveole Nunkie?""Naw, never did, and you know it too. Ah didn't want her.""Yeah, you did." She didn't say this because she believed it.She wanted to hear his denial. She had to crow over the fallenNunkie."Whut would Ah do wid dat lil chunk of a woman wid youaround? She ain't good for nothin' exceptin' tuh set up in uh cornerby de kitchen stove and break wood over her head. You'sesomething tuh make uh man forgit tuh git old and forgit tuh die."

16VIAThe season closed and people went away like they had come—indroves. Tea Cake and Janie decided to stay since they wanted tomake another season on the muck. There was nothing to do,after they had gathered several bushels of dried beans to save overand sell to the planters in the fall. So Janie began to look aroundand see people and things she hadn't noticed during the season.For instance during the summer when she heard the subtlebut compelling rhythms of the Bahaman drummers, she'd walkover and watch the dances. She did not laugh the "Saws" toscorn as she had heard the people doing in the season. She got tolike it a lot and she and Tea Cake were on hand every night till theothers teased them about it.Janie came to know Mrs. Turner now. She had seen her severaltimes during the season, but neither ever spoke. Now theygot to be visiting friends.Mrs. Turner was a milky sort of a woman that belonged tochild-bed. Her shoulders rounded a little, and she must havebeen conscious of her pelvis because she kept it stuck out in frontof her so she could always see it. Tea Cake made a lot of fun aboutMrs. Turner's shape behind her back. He claimed that she hadbeen shaped up by a cow kicking her from behind. She was an

140 40 Zora Neale Hurstonironing board with things throwed at it. Then that same cowtook and stepped in her mouth when she was a baby and left itwide and flat with her chin and nose almost meeting.But Mrs. Turner's shape and features were entirely approved byMrs. Turner. Her nose was slightly pointed and she was proud. Herthin lips were an ever delight to her eyes. Even her buttocks in basreliefwere a source of pride. To her way of thinking all these thingsset her aside from Negroes. That was why she sought out Janie tofriend with. Janie's coffee-and-cream complexion and her luxurioushair made Mrs. Turner forgive her for wearing overalls like the otherwomen who worked in the fields. She didn't forgive her for marryinga man as dark as Tea Cake, but she felt that she could remedythat. That was what her brother was born for. She seldom stayedlong when she found Tea Cake at home, but when she happened todrop in and catch Janie alone, she'd spend hours chatting away. Herdisfavorite subject was Negroes."Mis' Woods, Ah have often said to mah husband, Ah don'tsee how uh lady like Mis' Woods can stand all them common niggersround her place all de time.""They don't worry me atall, Mis' Turner. Fact about dething is, they tickles me wid they talk.""You got mo' nerve than me. When somebody talked mahhusband intuh comin' down heah tuh open up uh eatin' place Ahnever dreamt so many different kins uh black folks could colleckin one place. Did Ah never woulda come. Ah ain't useter 'ssociatin'wid black folks. Mah son claims dey draws lightnin'." Theylaughed a little and after many of these talks Mrs. Turner said,"Yo' husband musta had plenty money when y'all got married.""Whut make you think dat, Mis' Turner?""Tuh git hold of uh woman lak you. You got mo' nerve thanme. Ah jus' couldn't see mahself married to no black man. It'stoo many black folks already. We oughta lighten up de race."

Their Eyes Were Watching God 4 ► 141"Naw, mah husband didn't had nothin' but hisself. He's easytuh love if you mess round 'im. Ah loves 'im.""Why you, Mis' Woods! Ah don't b'lieve it. You'se jus' sorterhypnotized, dat's all.""Naw, it's real. Ah couldn't stand it if he wuz tuh quit me.Don't know whut Ah'd do. He kin take most any lil thing andmake summertime out of it when times is dull. Then we lives offadat happiness he made till some mo' happiness come along.""You'se different from me. Ah can't stand black niggers. Ahdon't blame de white folks from hatin"em 'cause Ah can't stand'em mahself. 'Nother thing, Ah hates tuh see folks lak me andyou mixed up wid 'em. Us oughta class off.""Us can't do it. We'se uh mingled people and all of us gotblack kinfolks as well as yaller kinfolks. How come you so againstblack?""And dey makes me tired. Always laughin'! Dey laughs toomuch and dey laughs too loud. Always singin' ol' nigger songs!Always cuttin' de monkey for white folks. If it wuzn't for so manyblack folks it wouldn't be no race problem. De white folks wouldtake us in wid dem. De black ones is holdin' us back.""You reckon? 'course Ah ain't never thought about it toomuch. But Ah don't figger dey even gointuh want us for comp'ny.We'se too poor.""'Tain't de poorness, it's de color and de features. Who wantany lil ole black baby layin' up in de baby buggy lookin' lak uh fly inbuttermilk? Who wants to be mixed up wid uh rusty black man, anduh black woman goin' down de street in all dem loud colors, andwhoopin' and hollerin' and laughin' over nothin'? Ah don't know.Don't bring me no nigger doctor tali hang over mah sick-bed. Ahdone had six chillun—wuzn't lucky enough tuh raise but dat one—and ain't never had uh nigger tuh even feel mah pulse. White doctorsalways gits mah money. Ah don't go in no nigger store rah buy

142 412P Zora Neale Hurstonnothin' neither. Colored folks don't know nothin' 'bout no business.Deliver me!"Mrs. Turner was almost screaming in fanatical earnestness bynow. Janie was dumb and bewildered before and she clucked sympatheticallyand wished she knew what to say. It was so evident thatMrs. Turner took black folk as a personal affront to herself."Look at me! Ah ain't got no flat nose and liver lips. Ah'm uhfeatured woman. Ah got white folks' features in mah face. Stilland all Ah got tuh be lumped in wid all de rest. It ain't fair. Evenif dey don't take us in wid de whites, dey oughta make us uh classtuh ourselves.""It don't worry me atall, but Ah reckon Ah ain't got no realhead fur thinkin'.""You oughta meet mah brother. He's real smart. Got deadstraight hair. Dey made him uh delegate tuh de Sunday SchoolConvention and he read uh paper on Booker T. Washington andtore him tuh pieces!""Booker T.? He wuz a great big man, wusn't he?""'Spored tuh be. All he ever done was cut de monkey forwhite folks. So dey pomped him up. But you know whut de olefolks say 'de higher de monkey climbs de mo' he show hisbehind' so dat's de way it wuz wid Booker T. Mah brother hit 'imevery time dey give 'im chance tuh speak.""Ah was raised on de notion dat he wuz uh great big man,"was all that Janie knew to say."He didn't do nothin' but hold us back—talkin"bout workwhen de race ain't never done nothin' else. He wuz uh enemytuh us, dat's whut. He wuz uh white folks' nigger."According to all Janie had been taught this was sacrilege soshe sat without speaking at all. But Mrs. Turner went on."Ah done sent fuh mah brother tuh come down and spenduh while wid us. He's sorter outa work now. Ah wants yuh tuh

Their Eyes Were Watching God 40 143meet him mo' special. You and him would make up uh swell coupleif you wuzn't already married. He's uh fine carpenter, whenhe kin git anything tuh do.""Yeah, maybe so. But Ah is married now, so 'tain't no use inconsiderin'."Mrs. Turner finally rose to go after being very firm about severalother viewpoints of either herself, her son or her brother. Shebegged Janie to drop in on her anytime, but never once mentioningTea Cake. Finally she was gone and Janie hurried to herkitchen to put on supper and found Tea Cake sitting in there withhis head between his hands."Tea Cake! Ah didn't know you wuz home.""Ah know yuh didn't. Ah been heah uh long time listenin' todat heifer run me down rah de dawgs uh try tuh tole you offfrom me.""So dat whut she wuz up to? Ah didn't know.""'Course she is. She got some no-count brother she wantsyuh tuh hook up wid and take keer of Ah reckon.""Shucks! If dat's her notion she's barkin' up de wrong tree.Mah hands is full already.""Thanky Ma'am. Ah hates dat woman lak poison. Keep herfrom round dis house. Her look lak uh white woman! Wid datmeriny skin and hair jus' as close tuh her head as ninety-nine istuh uh hundred! Since she hate black folks so, she don't need ourmoney in her ol' eatin' place. Ah'll pass de word along. We kin gotuh dat white man's place and git good treatment. Her and datwhittled-down husband uh hers! And dat son! He's jus' uh dirtytrick her womb played on her. Ah'm telling her husband tuh keepher home. Ah don't want her round dis house."One day Tea Cake met Turner and his son on the street. Hewas a vanishing-looking kind of a man as if there used to be partsabout him that stuck out individually but now he hadn't a thing

144 4 Zora Neale Hurstonabout him that wasn't dwindled and blurred. Just like he hadbeen sand-papered down to a long oval mass. Tea Cake felt sorryfor him without knowing why. So he didn't blurt out the insultshe had intended. But he couldn't hold in everything. They talkedabout the prospects for the coming season for a moment, thenTea Cake said, "Yo' Wife don't seem tuh have nothin' much tuhdo, so she kin visit uh lot. Mine got too much tuh do tuh go visitin'and too much tuh spend time talkin' tuh folks dat visit her.""Mah wife takes time fuh whatever she wants tuh do. Realstrong headed dat way. Yes indeed." He laughed a high lunglesslaugh. "De chillun don't keep her in no mo' so she visits whenshe chooses.""De chillun?" Tea Cake asked him in surprise. "You got anysmaller than him?" He indicated the son who seemed aroundtwenty or so. "Ah ain't seen yo' others.""Ah reckon you ain't 'cause dey all passed on befo' dis onewuz born. We ain't had no luck atall wid our chillun. We lucky toraise him. He's de last stroke of exhausted nature."He gave his powerless laugh again and Tea Cake and the boyjoined in with him. Then Tea Cake walked on off and went hometo Janie."Her husband can't do nothin' wid dat butt-headed woman.All you can do is treat her cold whenever she come round here."Janie tried that, but short of telling Mrs. Turner bluntly, therewas nothing she could do to discourage her completely. She felthonored by Janie's acquaintance and she quickly forgave and forgotsnubs in order to keep it. Anyone who looked more white folkishthan herself was better than she was in her criteria, therefore itwas right that they should be cruel to her at times, just as she wascruel to those more negroid than herself in direct ratio to theirnegroness. Like the pecking-order in a chicken yard. Insensate crueltyto those you can whip, and groveling submission to those you

Their Eyes Were Watching God 41, 145can't. Once having set up her idols and built altars to them it wasinevitable that she would worship there. It was inevitable that sheshould accept any inconsistency and cruelty from her deity as allgood worshippers do from theirs. All gods who receive homageare cruel. All gods dispense suffering without reason. Otherwisethey would not be worshipped. Through indiscriminate sufferingmen know fear and fear is the most divine emotion. It is the stonesfor altars and the beginning of wisdom. Half gods are worshippedin wine and flowers. Real gods require blood.Mrs. Turner, like all other believers had built an altar to theunattainable—Caucasian characteristics for all. Her god wouldsmite her, would hurl her from pinnacles and lose her in deserts,but she would not forsake his altars. Behind her crude words was abelief that somehow she and others through worship could attainher paradise—a heaven of straighthaired, thin-lipped, high-noseboned white seraphs. The physical impossibilities in no way injuredfaith. That was the mystery and mysteries are the chores of gods.Beyond her faith was a fanaticism to defend the altars of her god.It was distressing to emerge from her inner temple and find theseblack desecrators howling with laughter before the door. Oh, foran army, terrible with banners and swords!So she didn't cling to Janie Woods the woman. She paidhomage to Janie's Caucasian characteristics as such. And whenshe was with Janie she had a feeling of transmutation, as if sheherself had become whiter and with straighter hair and she hatedTea Cake first for his defilement of divinity and next for his tellingmockery of her. If she only knew something she could do aboutit! But she didn't. Once she was complaining about the carryings-onat the jook and Tea Cake snapped, "Aw, don't make Godlook so foolish—findin' fault wid everything He made."So Mrs. Turner frowned most of the time. She had so muchto disapprove of. It didn't affect Tea Cake and Janie too much. It

146 4ip Zora Neale Hurstonjust gave them EJmething to talk about in the summertime wheneverything was dull on the muck. Otherwise they made little tripsto Palm Beach, Fort Myers and Fort Lauderdale for their fun.Before they realized it the sun was cooler and the crowds camepouring onto the muck again.

17A great deal of the old crowd were back. But there were lots of newones too. Some of these men made passes at Janie, and womenwho didn't know took out after Tea Cake. Didn't take themlong to be put right, however. Still and all, jealousies arose nowand then on both sides. When Mrs. Turner's brother came andshe brought him over to be introduced, Tea Cake had a brainstorm.Before the week was over he had whipped Janie. Notbecause her behavior justified his jealousy, but it relieved thatawful fear inside him. Being able to whip her reassured him inpossession. No brutal beating at all. He just slapped her arounda bit to show he was boss. Everybody talked about it next day inthe fields. It aroused a sort of envy in both men and women.The way he petted and pampered her as if those two or threeface slaps had nearly killed her made the women see visions andthe helpless way she hung on him made men dream dreams."Tea Cake, you sho is a lucky man," Sop-de-Bottom toldhim. "Uh person can see every place you hit her. Ah bet shenever raised her hand tuh hit yuh back, neither. Take some uhdese ol' rusty black women and dey would fight yuh all nightlong and next day nobody couldn't tell you ever hit 'em. Dat'sde reason Ah done quit beatin' mah woman. You can't make no

148 4 Zora Neale Hurstonmark on 'em at all. Lawd! wouldn't Ah love tuh whip uh tenderwoman lak Janie! Ah bet she don't even holler. She jus' cries, ehTea Cake?""Dat's right.""See dat! Mah woman would spread her lungs all over PalmBeach County, let alone knock out mah jaw teeth. You don'tknow dat woman uh mine. She got ninety-nine rows uh jaw teethand git her good and mad, she'll wade through solid rock up toher hip pockets.""Mah Janie is uh high time woman and useter things. Ahdidn't git her outa de middle uh de road. Ah got her outa uh bigfine house. Right now she got money enough in de bank tuh buyup dese ziggaboos and give 'em away.""Hush yo' moufl And she down heah on de muck lak anybodyelse!""Janie is wherever Ah wants tuh be. Dat's de kind uh wife sheis and Ah love her for it. Ah wouldn't be knockin' her around. Ahdidn't wants whup her last night, but ol' Mis' Turner done sentfor her brother tuh come tuh bait Janie in and take her way fromme. Ah didn't whup Janie 'cause she done nothin'. Ah beat hertuh show dem Turners who is boss. Ah set in de kitchen one dayand heard dat woman tell mah wife Ah'm too black fuh her. Shedon't see how Janie can stand me.""Tell her husband on her.""Shucks! Ah b'lieve he's skeered of her.""Knock her teeth down her throat.""Dat would look like she had some influence when she ain't.Ah jus' let her see dat Ah got control.""So she live offa our money and don't lak black folks, huh?O.K. we'll have her gone from here befo' two weeks is up. Ah'mgoin' right off tuh all de men and drop rocks aginst her.""Ah ain't mad wid her for whut she done, 'cause she ain't

Their Eyes Were Watching God Oar 149done me nothin' yet. Ah'm mad at her for thinkin'. Her and hergang got tuh go.""Us is wid yuh, Tea Cake. You know dat already. Dat Turnerwoman is real smart, accordin' tuh her notions. Reckon she doneheard 'bout dat money yo' wife got in de bank and she's boundtuh rope her in tuh her family one way or another.""Sop, Ah don't think it's half de money as it is de looks. She'scolor-struck. She ain't got de kind of uh mind you meet everyday. She ain't a fact and neither do she make a good story whenyou tell about her.""Ah yeah, she's too smart tuh stay round heah. She figgerswe'se jus' uh bunch uh dumb niggers so she think she'll growhorns. But dat's uh lie. She'll die butt-headed."Saturday afternoon when the work tickets were turned intocash everybody began to buy coon-dick and get drunk. By duskdark Belle Glade was full of loud-talking, staggering men. Plentywomen had gotten their knots charged too. The police chief inhis speedy Ford was rushing from jook to jook and eating housetrying to keep order, but making few arrests. Not enough jailspacefor all the drunks so why bother with a few? All he could doto keep down fights and get the white men out of colored townby nine o'clock. Dick Sterrett and Coodemay seemed to be theworst off. Their likker told them to go from place to place pushingand shoving and loud-talking and they were doing it.Way after a while they arrived at Mrs. Turner's eating houseand found the place full to the limit. Tea Cake, Stew Beef, Sopde-Bottom,Bootyny, Motor Boat and all the familiar crowd wasthere. Coodemay straightened up as if in surprise and asked,"Say, whut y'all doin' in heah?""Eatin'," Stew Beef told him. "Dey got beef stew, so youknow Ah'd be heah.""We all laks tuh take uh rest from our women folks' cookin'

150 ap Zora Neale Hurstononce in uh while, so us all eatin' way from home tuhnight. AnyhowMis' Turner got de best ole grub in town."Mrs. Turner back and forth in the dining room heard Sopwhen he said this and beamed."Ah speck you two last ones tuh come in is gointuh have tuhwait for uh seat. Ah'm all full up now.""Dat's all right," Sterrett objected. "You fry me some fish.Ah kin eat dat standin' up. Cuppa coffee on de side.""Sling me up uh plate uh dat stew beef wid some coffee too,please ma'am. Sterrett is jus' ez drunk ez Ah is; and if he kin eatstandin' up, Ah kin do de same." Coodemay leaned drunkenlyagainst the wall and everybody laughed.Pretty soon the girl that was waiting table for Mrs. Turnerbrought in the order and Sterrett took his fish and coffee in hishands and stood there. Coodemay wouldn't take his off the traylike he should have."Naw, you hold it fuh me, baby, and lemme eat," he told thewaitress. He took the fork and started to eat off the tray."Nobody ain't got no time tuh hold yo' grub up in front uhyo' face," she told Coodemay. "Heah, take it yo'self.""You'se right," Coodemay told her. "Gimme it heah. Sopkin gimme his chear.""You'se uh lie," Sop retorted. "Ah ain't through and Ahain't ready tuh git up."Coodemay tried to shove Sop out of the chair and Sopresisted. That brought on a whole lot of shoving and scramblingand coffee got spilt on Sop. So he aimed at Coodemay with asaucer and hit Bootyny. Bootyny threw his thick coffee cup atCoodemay and just missed Stew Beef. So it got to be a big fight.Mrs. Turner came running in out of the kitchen. Then Tea Cakegot up and caught hold of Coodemay by the collar."Looka heah, y'all, don't come in heah and raise no disturbance

Their Eyes Were Watching God Aar 151in de place. Mis' Turner is too nice uh woman fuh dat. In fact, she'smore nicer than anybody else on de muck." Mrs. Turner beamedon Tea Cake."Ah knows dat. All of us knows it. But Ah don't give uhdamn how nice she is, Ah got tuh have some place tuh set downand eat. Sop ain't gointuh bluff me, neither. Let 'im fight lak aman. Take yo' hands off me, Tea Cake.""Naw, Ah won't neither. You comin' on outa de place.""Who gointuh make me come out?""Me, dat's who. Ah'm in heah, ain't Ah? If you don't wanttuh respect nice people lak Mrs. Turner, God knows you gointuhrespect me! Come on outa heah, Coodemay.""Turn him loose, Tea Cake!" Sterrett shouted. "Dat's mahbuddy. Us come in heah together and he ain't goin' nowhereuntil Ah go mahself.""Well, both of yuh is goin'!" Tea Cake shouted and fasteneddown on Coodemay. Dockery grabbed Sterrett and they wrassledall over the place. Some more joined in and dishes and tablesbegan to crash.Mrs. Turner saw with dismay that Tea Cake's taking themout was worse than letting them stay in. She ran out in the backsomewhere and got her husband to put a stop to things. He camein, took a look and squinched down into a chair in an off cornerand didn't open his mouth. So Mrs. Turner struggled into themass and caught Tea Cake by the arm."Dat's all right, Tea Cake, Ah 'predate yo' help, but leave'em alone.""Naw suh, Mis' Turner, Ah'm gointuh show 'em dey can'tcome runnin' over nice people and loud-talk no place whilstAh'm around. Dey goin' outa heah!"By that time everybody in and around the place was takingsides. Somehow or other Mrs. Turner fell down and nobody

152 as Zora Neale Hurstonknew she was down there under all the fighting, and brokendishes and crippled up tables and broken-off chair legs and windowpanes and such things. It got so that the floor was knee-deepwith something no matter where you put your foot down. ButTea Cake kept right on until Coodemay told him, "Ah'm wrong.Ah'm wrong! Y'all tried tuh tell me right and Ah wouldn't lissen.Ah ain't mad wid nobody. Just tuh show y'all Ah ain't mad, meand Sterrett gointuh buy everybody somethin' tuh drink. Oleman Vickers got some good coondick over round Pahokee.Come on everybody. Let's go git our knots charged." Everybodygot in a good humor and left.Mrs. Turner got up off the floor hollering for the police. Lookat her place! How come nobody didn't call the police? Then shefound out that one of her hands was all stepped on and her fingerswere bleeding pretty peart. Two or three people who were notthere during the fracas poked their heads in at the door to sympathizebut that made Mrs. Turner madder. She told them where togo in a hurry. Then she saw her husband sitting over there in thecorner with his long bony legs all crossed up smoking his pipe."What kinda man is you, Turner? You see dese no count niggerscome in heah and break up mah place! How kin you set and see yo'wife all trompled on? You ain't no kinda man at all. You seen dat TeaCake shove me down! Yes you did! You ain't raised yo' hand tuh donothin' about it."Turner removed his pipe and answered: "Yeah, and you seehow Ah did swell up too, didn't yuh? You tell Tea Cake he betterbe keerful Ah don't swell up again." At that Turner crossed hislegs the other way and kept right on smoking his pipe.Mrs. Turner hit at him the best she could with her hurt handand then spoke her mind for half an hour."It's a good thing mah brother wuzn't round heah when ithappened do he would uh kilt somebody. Mah son too. Dey got

Their Eyes Were Watching God 41, 153some manhood about 'em. We'se goin' back tuh Miami wherefolks is civilized."Nobody told her right away that her son and brother werealready on their way after pointed warnings outside the cafe. Notime for fooling around. They were hurrying into Palm Beach.She'd find out about that later on.Monday morning Coodemay and Sterrett stopped by andbegged her pardon profusely and gave her five dollars apiece. ThenCoodemay said, "Dey tell me Ah wuz drunk Sat'day night andclownin' down. Ah don't 'member uh thing 'bout it. But when Ahgit tuh peepin' through mah bicker, dey tell me Ah'm uh mess."

18Since Tea Cake and Janie had friended with the Bahaman workersin the 'Glades, they, the "Saws," had been gradually drawn intothe American crowd. They quit hiding out to hold their danceswhen they found that their American friends didn't laugh at themas they feared. Many of the Americans learned to jump and likedit as much as the "Saws." So they began to hold dances nightafter night in the quarters, usually behind Tea Cake's house.Often now, Tea Cake and Janie stayed up so late at the fire dancesthat Tea Cake would not let her go with him to the field. Hewanted her to get her rest.So she was home by herself one afternoon when she saw aband of Seminoles passing by. The men walking in front and theladen, stolid women following them like burros. She had seenIndians several times in the 'Glades, in twos and threes, but thiswas a large party. They were headed towards the Palm Beach roadand kept moving steadily. About an hour later another partyappeared and went the same way. Then another just before sundown.This time she asked where they were all going and at lastone of the men answered her."Going to high ground. Saw-grass bloom. Hurricane coming."Everybody was talking about it that night. But nobody was

Their Eyes Were Watching God aks 155worried. The fire dance kept up till nearly dawn. The next day,more Indians moved east, unhurried but steady. Still a blue skyand fair weather. Beans running fine and prices good, so the Indianscould be, must be, wrong. You couldn't have a hurricanewhen you're making seven and eight dollars a day picking beans.Indians are dumb anyhow, always were. Another night of StewBeef making dynamic subtleties with his drum and living, sculptural,grotesques in the dance. Next day, no Indians passed at all.It was hot and sultry and Janie left the field and went home.Morning came without motion. The winds, to the tiniest,lisping baby breath had left the earth. Even before the sun gavelight, dead day was creeping from bush to bush watching man.Some rabbits scurried through the quarters going east. Somepossums slunk by and their route was definite. One or two at atime, then more. By the time the people left the fields the processionwas constant. Snakes, rattlesnakes began to cross the quarters.The men killed a few, but they could not be missed from the crawlinghorde. People stayed indoors until daylight. Several times duringthe night Janie heard the snort of big animals like deer. Oncethe muted voice of a panther. Going east and east. That night thepalm and banana trees began that long distance talk with rain. Severalpeople took fright and picked up and went in to Palm Beachanyway. A thousand buzzards held a flying meet and then wentabove the clouds and stayed.One of the Bahaman boys stopped by Tea Cake's house in acar and hollered. Tea Cake came out throwin' laughter over hisshoulder into the house."Hello Tea Cake.""Hello 'Lias. You leavin', Ah see.""Yeah man. You and Janie wanta go? Ah wouldn't givenobody else uh chawnce at uh seat till Ah found out if you all hadanyway tuh go."

156 4 ► Zora Neale Hurston"Thank yuh ever so much, Lias. But we 'bout decided tuhstay.""De crow gahn up, man.""Dat ain't nothin'. You ain't seen de bossman go up, is yuh?Well all right now. Man, de money's too good on the muck. It'sliable tuh fair off by tuhmorrer. Ah wouldn't leave if Ah wuz you.""Mah uncle come for me. He say hurricane warning out inPalm Beach. Not so bad dere, but man, dis muck is too low anddat big lake is liable tuh bust.""Ah naw, man. Some boys in dere now tallcin"bout it. Someof 'em been in de 'Glades fah years. 'Tain't nothin' but uhblow. You'll lose de whole day tuhmorrer tryin' tuh git back outheah.""De Indians gahn east, man. It's dangerou s.""Dey don't always know. Indians don't know much uhnothin', tuh tell de truth. Else dey'd own dis country still. Dewhite folks ain't gone nowhere. Dey oughts know if it's dangerous.You better stay heah, man. Big jumpin' dance tuhnight rightheah, when it fair off."Lias hesitated and started to climb out, but his uncle wouldn'tlet him. "Dis time tuhmorrer you gointuh wish you follow crow,"he snorted and drove off. Lias waved back to them gaily."If Ah never see you no mo' on earth, Ah'll meet you inAfrica."Others hurried east like the Indians and rabbits and snakesand coons. But the majority sat around laughing and waiting forthe sun to get friendly again.Several men collected at Tea Cake's house and sat aroundstuffing courage into each other's ears. Janie baked a big pan ofbeans and something she called sweet biscuits and they all managedto be happy enough.Most of the great flame-throwers were there and naturally,

Their Eyes Were Watching God dap 157handling Big John de Conquer and his works. How he had doneeverything big on earth, then went up tuh heben without dyingatall. Went up there picking a guitar and got all de angels doing thering-shout round and round de throne. Then everybody but Godand Old Peter flew off on a flying race to Jericho and back andJohn de Conquer won the race; went on down to hell, beat the olddevil and passed out ice water to everybody down there. Somebodytried to say that it was a mouth organ harp that John wasplaying, but the rest of them would not hear that. Don't care howgood anybody could play a harp, God would rather to hear a guitar.That brought them back to Tea Cake. How come he couldn'thit that box a lick or two? Well, all right now, make us know it.When it got good to everybody, Muck-Boy woke up andbegan to chant with the rhythm and everybody bore down onthe last word of the line:Yo' mama don't wear no DrawsAh seen her when she took 'em OffShe soaked 'em in alcoHolShe sold 'em tuh de Santy ClausHe told her 'twas aginst de LawTo wear dem dirty DrawsThen Muck-Boy went crazy through the feet and dancedhimself and everybody else crazy. When he finished he sat backdown on the floor and went to sleep again. Then they got toplaying Florida flip and coon-can. Then it was dice. Not formoney. This was a show-off game. Everybody posing his fancyshots. As always it broiled down to Tea Cake and Motor Boat.Tea Cake with his shy grin and Motor Boat with his face like a littleblack cherubim just from a church tower doing amazingthings with anybody's dice. The others forgot the work and the

158 40 Zora Neale Hurstonweather watching them throw. It was art. A thousand dollars athrow in Madison Square Garden wouldn't have gotten anymore breathless suspense. It would have just been more peopleholding in.After a while somebody looked out and said, "It ain't gittingno fairer out dere. B'lieve Ah'll git on over tub mah shack."Motor Boat and Tea Cake were still playing so everybody leftthem at it.Sometime that night the winds came back. Everything in theworld had a strong rattle, sharp and short like Stew Beef vibratingthe drum head near the edge with his fingers. By morningGabriel was playing the deep tones in the center of the drum. Sowhen Janie looked out of her door she saw the drifting mistsgathered in the west—that cloud field of the sky—to arm themselveswith thunders and march forth against the world. Louderand higher and lower and wider the sound and motion spread,mounting, sinking, darking.It woke up old Okechobee and the monster began to roll inhis bed. Began to roll and complain like a peevish world on agrumble. The folks in the quarters and the people in the bighouses further around the shore heard the big lake and wondered.The people felt uncomfortable but safe because there werethe seawalls to chain the senseless monster in his bed. The folkslet the people do the thinking. If the castles thought themselvessecure, the cabins needn't worry. Their decision was alreadymade as always. Chink up your cracks, shiver in your wet bedsand wait on the mercy of the Lord. The bossman might have thething stopped before morning anyway. It is so easy to be hopefulin the day time when you can see the things you wish on. But itwas night, it stayed night. Night was striding across nothingnesswith the whole round world in his hands.A big burst of thunder and lightning that trampled over the

Their Eyes Were Watching God as 159roof of the house. So Tea Cake and Motor stopped playing.Motor looked up in his angel-looking way and said, "Big Massadraw him chair upstairs.""Ah'm glad y'all stop dat crap-shootin' even if it wasn't formoney," Janie said. "Ole Massa is doin' His work now. Usoughta keep quiet."They huddled closer and stared at the door. They just didn'tuse another part of their bodies, and they didn't look at anythingbut the door. The time was past for asking the white folks whatto look for through that door. Six eyes were questioning God.Through the screaming wind they heard things crashing andthings hurtling and dashing with unbelievable velocity. A babyrabbit, terror ridden, squirmed through a hole in the floor andsquatted off there in the shadows against the wall, seeming toknow that nobody wanted its flesh at such a time. And the lakegot madder and madder with only its dikes between them andhim.In a little wind-lull, Tea Cake touched Janie and said, "Ahreckon you wish now you had of stayed in yo' big house 'wayfrom such as dis, don't yuh?""Naw.""Naw?""Yeah, naw. People don't die till dey time come nohow,don't keer where you at. Ah'm wid mah husband in uh storm,dat's all.""Thanky, Ma'am. But 'sposing you wuz tuh die, now. Youwouldn't git mad at me for draggin' yuh heap?""Naw. We been tuhgether round two years. If you kin see delight at daybreak, you don't keer if you die at dusk. It's so manypeople never seen de light at all. Ah wuz fumblin' round and Godopened de door."He dropped to the floor and put his head in her lap. "Well then,

160 412p Zora Neale HurstonJanie, you meant whut you didn't say, 'cause Ah never knowed youwuz so satisfied wid me lak dat. Ah kinda thought—"The wind came back with triple fury, and put out the lightfor the last time. They sat in company with the others in othershanties, their eyes straining against crude walls and their soulsasking if He meant to measure their puny might against His.They seemed to be staring at the dark, but their eyes werewatching God.As soon as Tea Cake went out pushing wind in front of him,he saw that the wind and water had given life to lots of things thatfolks think of as dead and given death to so much that had beenliving things. Water everywhere. Stray fish swimming in the yard.Three inches more and the water would be in the house. Alreadyin some. He decided to try to find a car to take them out of the'Glades before worse things happened. He turned back to tellJanie about it so she could be ready to go."Git our insurance papers tuhgether, Janie. Ah'll tote mahbox mahself and things lak dat.""You got all de money out de dresser drawer, already?""Naw, git it quick and cut up piece off de table-cloth tuhwrap it up in. Us liable tuh git wet tuh our necks. Cut uh pieceuh dat oilcloth quick fuh our papers. We got tuh go, if it ain't toolate. De dish can't bear it out no longer."He snatched the oilcloth off the table and took out his knife.Janie held it straight while he slashed off a strip."But Tea Cake, it's too awful out dere. Maybe it's better tuhstay heah in de wet than it is tuh try tuh—"He stunned the argument with half a word. "Fix," he saidand fought his way outside. He had seen more than Janie had.Janie took a big needle and ran up a longish sack. Found somenewspaper and wrapped up the paper money and papers and thrustthem in and whipped over the open end with her needle. Before

Their Eyes Were Watching God 40 161she could get it thoroughly hidden in the pocket of her overalls,Tea Cake burst in again."'Tain't no cars, Janie.""Ah thought not! Whut we gointuh do now?""We got tuh walk.""In all dis weather, Tea Cake? Ah don't b'lieve Ah couldmake it out de quarters.""Oh yeah you kin. Me and you and Motor Boat kin all lockarms and hold one 'pother down. Eh, Motor?""He's sleep on de bed in yonder," Janie said. Tea Cake calledwithout moving."Motor Boat! You better git up from dere! Hell done brokeloose in Georgy. Dis minute! How kin you sleep at uh time lakdis? Water knee deep in de yard."They stepped out in water almost to their buttocks and managedto turn east. Tea Cake had to throw his box away, and Janiesaw how it hurt him. Dodging flying missiles, floating dangers,avoiding stepping in holes and warmed on the wind now at theirbacks until they gained comparatively dry land. They had to fightto keep from being pushed the wrong way and to hold together.They saw other people like themselves struggling along. A housedown, here and there, frightened cattle. But above all the drive ofthe wind and the water. And the lake. Under its multiplied roarcould be heard a mighty sound of grinding rock and timber anda wail. They looked back. Saw people trying to run in ragingwaters and screaming when they found they couldn't. A hugebarrier of the makings of the dike to which the cabins had beenadded was rolling and tumbling forward. Ten feet higher and asfar as they could see the muttering wall advanced before thebraced-up waters like a road crusher on a cosmic scale. The monstropolousbeast had left his bed. The two hundred miles an hourwind had loosed his chains. He seized hold of his dikes and ran

162 afts Zora Neale Hurstonforward until he met the quarters; uprooted them like grass andrushed on after his supposed-to-be conquerors, rolling the dikes,rolling the houses, rolling the people in the houses along withother timbers. The sea was walking the earth with a heavy heel."De lake is comin'!" Tea Cake gasped."De lake!" In amazed horror from Motor Boat, "De lake!""It's comin' behind us!" Janie shuddered. "Us can't fly.""But we still kin run," Tea Cake shouted and they ran. Thegushing water ran faster. The great body was held back, but riversspouted through fissures in the rolling wall and broke like day.The three fugitives ran past another line of shanties that topped aslight rise and gained a little. They cried out as best they could,"De lake is comin'!" and barred doors flew open and othersjoined them in flight crying the same as they went. "De lake iscomin'!" and the pursuing waters growled and shouted ahead,"Yes, Ah'm comin'!", and those who could fled on.They made it to a tall house on a hump of ground and Janiesaid, "Less stop heah. Ah can't make it no further. Ah'm donegive out.""All of us is done give out," Tea Cake corrected. "We'segoin' inside out dis weather, kill or cure." He knocked with thehandle of his knife, while they leaned their faces and shouldersagainst the wall. He knocked once more then he and Motor Boatwent round to the back and forced a door. Nobody there."Dese people had mo' sense than Ah did," Tea Cake said asthey dropped to the floor and lay there panting. "Us oughtawent on wid 'Lias lak he ast me.""You didn't know," Janie contended. "And when yuh don'tknow, yuh just don't know. De storms might not of come sho nuff "They went to sleep promptly but Janie woke up first. Sheheard the sound of rushing water and sat up."Tea Cake! Motor Boat! De lake is comin'!"

Their Eyes Were Watching God 40 163The lake was coming on. Slower and wider, but coming. Ithad trampled on most of its supporting wall and lowered its frontby spreading. But it came muttering and grumbling onward likea tired mammoth just the same."Dis is uh high tall house. Maybe it won't reach heah at all,"Janie counseled. "And if it do, maybe it won't reach tuh deupstairs part.""Janie, Lake Okechobee is forty miles wide and sixty mileslong. Dat's uh whole heap uh water. If dis wind is shovin' datwhole lake disa way, dis house ain't nothin' tuh swaller. Us bettergo. Motor Boat!""Whut you want, man?""De lake is comin'!""Aw, naw it 'tain't.""Yes, it is so comin'! Listen! You kin hear it way off.""It kin jus' come on. Ah'll wait right here.""Aw, get up, Motor Boat! Less make it tuh de Palm Beachroad. Dat's on uh fill. We'se pretty safe dere.""Ah'm safe here, man. Go ahead if yuh wants to. Ah'msleepy.""Whut you gointuh do if de lake reach heah?""Go upstairs.""S'posing it come up dere?""Swim, man. Dat's all.""Well, uh, Good bye, Motor Boat. Everything is pretty bad,yuh know. Us might git missed of one 'nother. You sho is a grandfriend fuh uh man tuh have.""Good bye, Tea Cake. Y'all oughta stay here and sleep, man.No use in goin' off and leavin' me lak dis.""We don't wanta. Come on wid us. It might be night timewhen de water hem you up in heah. Dat's how come Ah won'tstay. Come on, man."

164 dap Zora Neale Hurston"Tea Cake, Ah got tuh have mah sleep. Definitely.""Good bye, then, Motor. Ah wish you all de luck. Goin' overtuh Nassau fuh dat visit widja when all dis is over.""Definitely, Tea Cake. Mah mama's house is yours."Tea Cake and Janie were some distance from the housebefore they struck serious water. Then they had to swim a distance,and Janie could not hold up more than a few strokes at atime, so Tea Cake bore her up till finally they hit a ridge that ledon towards the fill. It seemed to him the wind was weakening alittle so he kept looking for a place to rest and catch his breath.His wind was gone. Janie was fired and limping, but she had nothad to do that hard swimming in the turbulent waters, so TeaCake was much worse off. But they couldn't stop. Gaining thefill was something but it was no guarantee. The lake was coming.They had to reach the six-mile bridge. It was high and safeperhaps.Everybody was walking the fill. Hurrying, dragging, falling,crying, calling out names hopefully and hopelessly. Wind and rainbeating on old folks and beating on babies. Tea Cake stumbledonce or twice in his weariness and Janie held him up. So theyreached the bridge at Six Mile Bend and thought to rest.But it was crowded. White people had preempted that point ofelevation and there was no more room. They could climb up oneof its high sides and down the other, that was all. Miles further on,still no rest.They passed a dead man in a sitting position on a hummock,entirely surrounded by wild animals and snakes. Common dangermade common friends. Nothing sought a conquest over theother.Another man clung to a cypress tree on a tiny island. A tinroof of a building hung from the branches by electric wires andthe wind swung it back and forth like a mighty ax. The man dared

Their Eyes Were Watching God ASP 165not move a step to his right lest this crushing blade split himopen. He dared not step left for a large rattlesnake was stretchedfull length with his head in the wind. There was a strip of waterbetween the island and the fill, and the man clung to the tree andcried for help."De snake won't bite yuh," Tea Cake yelled to him. "Heskeered tuh go intuh uh coil. Skeered he'll be blowed away. Stepround dat side and swim off!"Soon after that Tea Cake felt he couldn't walk anymore. Notright away. So he stretched long side of the road to rest. Janiespread herself between him and the wind and he closed his eyesand let the tiredness seep out of his limbs. On each side of the fillwas a great expanse of water like lakes—water full of things livingand dead. Things that didn't belong in water. As far as the eyecould reach, water and wind playing upon it in fury. A large pieceof tar-paper roofing sailed through the air and scudded along thefill until it hung against a tree. Janie saw it with joy. That was thevery thing to cover Tea Cake with. She could lean against it andhold it down. The wind wasn't quite so bad as it was anyway. Thevery thing. Poor Tea Cake!She crept on hands and knees to the piece of roofing andcaught hold of it by either side. Immediately the wind lifted both ofthem and she saw herself sailing off the fill to the right, out and outover the lashing water. She screamed terribly and released the roofingwhich sailed away as she plunged downward into the water."Tea Cake!" He heard her and sprang up. Janie was trying toswim but fighting water too hard. He saw a cow swimmingslowly towards the fill in an oblique line. A massive built dog wassitting on her shoulders and shivering and growling. The cowwas approaching Janie. A few strokes would bring her there."Make it tuh de cow and grab hold of her tail! Don't use yo'feet. Jus' yo' hands is enough. Dat's right, come on!"

166 ais Zora Neale HurstonJanie achieved the tail of the cow and lifted her head upalong the cow's rump, as far as she could above water. The cowsunk a little with the added load and thrashed a moment in terror.Thought she was being pulled down by a gator. Then shecontinued on. The dog stood up and growled like a lion, stiffstandinghackles, stiff muscles, teeth uncovered as he lashed uphis fury for the charge. Tea Cake split the water like an otter,opening his knife as he dived. The dog raced down the backboneof the cow to the attack and Janie screamed and slipped farback on the tail of the cow, just out of reach of the dog's angryjaws. He wanted to plunge in after her but dreaded the water,somehow. Tea Cake rose out of the water at the cow's rump andseized the dog by the neck. But he was a powerful dog and TeaCake was over-tired. So he didn't kill the dog with one stroke ashe had intended. But the dog couldn't free himself either. Theyfought and somehow he managed to bite Tea Cake high up onhis cheek-bone once. Then Tea Cake finished him and sent himto the bottom to stay there. The cow relieved of a great weightwas landing on the fill with Janie before Tea Cake stroked in andcrawled weakly upon the fill again.Janie began to fuss around his face where the dog had bittenhim but he said it didn't amount to anything. "He'd uh raisedhell though if he had uh grabbed me uh inch higher and bit mein mah eye. Yuh can't buy eyes in de store, yuh know." Heflopped to the edge of the fill as if the storm wasn't going on atall. "Lemme rest awhile, then us got tuh make it on intuh townsomehow."It was next day by the sun and the clock when they reachedPalm Beach. It was years later by their bodies. Winters and wintersof hardship and suffering. The wheel kept turning round andround. Hope, hopelessness and despair. But the storm blew itselfout as they approached the city of refuge.

Their Eyes Were Watching God Als 167Havoc was there with her mouth wide open. Back in theEverglades the wind had romped among lakes and trees. In thecity it had raged among houses and men. Tea Cake and Janiestood on the edge of things and looked over the desolation."How kin Ah find uh doctor fuh yo' face in all dis mess?"Janie wailed."Ain't got de damn doctor tuh study 'bout. Us needs uhplace tuh rest."A great deal of their money and perseverance and they founda place to sleep. It was just that. No place to live at all. Just sleep.Tea Cake looked all around and sat heavily on the side of the bed."Well," he said humbly, "reckon you never 'spected tuhcome tuh dis when you took up wid me, didja?""Once upon uh time, Ah never 'spected nothin', Tea Cake,but bein' dead from the standin' still and tryin' tuh laugh. Butyou come 'long and made somethin' outa me. So Ah'm thankfulfuh anything we come through together.""Thanky, Ma'am.""You was twice noble tuh save me from dat dawg. Tea Cake,Ah don't speck you seen his eyes lak Ah did. He didn't aim tuhjus' bite me, Tea Cake. He aimed tuh kill me stone dead. Ah'mnever tuh fuhgit dem eyes. He wuzn't nothin' all over but purehate. Wonder where he come from?""Yeah, Ah did see 'im too. It wuz frightenin'. Ah didn'tmean tuh take his hate neither. He had tuh die uh me one. Mahswitch blade said it wuz him.""Po' me, he'd tore me tuh pieces, if it wuzn't fuh you,honey.""You don't have tuh say, if it wuzn't fuh me, baby, causeAh'm heah, and then Ah want yuh tuh know it's uh man heah."

19And then again Him-with-the-square-toes had gone back to hishouse. He stood once more and again in his high flat house withoutsides to it and without a roof with his soulless sword standingupright in his hand. His pale white horse had galloped over waters,and thundered over land. The time of dying was over. It was timeto bury the dead."Janie, us been in dis dirty, slouchy place two days now, anddat's too much. Us got tuh git outa dis house and outa dis man'stown. Ah never did lak round heah.""Where we goin', Tea Cake? Dat we don't know.""Maybe, we could go back up de state, if yuh want tuh go.""Ah didn't say dat, but if dat is whut you—""Naw, Ah ain't said nothin' uh de kind. Ah wuz tryin' not tuhkeep you outa yo' comfortable no longer'n you wanted tuh stay.""If Ah'm in yo' way—""Will you lissen at dis woman? Me 'bout tuh bust mahbritches tryin' tuh stay wid her and she heah—she oughta be shotwid tacks!""All right then, you name somethin' and we'll do it. We kingive it uh poor man's trial anyhow.""Anyhow Ah done got rested up and de bed bugs is done got

Their Eyes Were Watching God afp 169too bold round heah. Ah didn't notice when mah rest wuz broke.Ah'm goin' out and look around and see whut we kin do. Ah'llgive anything uh common trial.""You better stay inside dis house and git some rest. 'Tain'tnothin' tuh find out dere nohow.""But Ah wants tuh look and see, Janie. Maybe it's somekinda work fuh me tuh help do.""Whut dey want you tuh help do, you ain't gointuh like it.Dey's grabbin' all de menfolks dey kin git dey hands on andmakin"em help bury de dead. Dey claims dey's after de unemployed,but dey ain't bein' too particular about whether you'seemployed or not. You stay in dis house. De Red Cross is doin' alldat kin be done otherwise fuh de sick and de 'fflicted.""Ah got money on me, Janie. Dey can't bother me. AnyhowAh wants tuh go see how things is sho nuff. Ah wants tuh see ifAh kin hear anything 'bout de boys from de 'Glades. Maybe deyall come through all right. Maybe not."Tea Cake went out and wandered around. Saw the hand ofhorror on everything. Houses without roofs, and roofs withouthouses. Steel and stone all crushed and crumbled like wood. Themother of malice had trifled with men.While Tea Cake was standing and looking he saw two mencoming towards him with rifles on their shoulders. Two whitemen, so he thought about what Janie had told him and flexed hisknees to run. But in a moment he saw that wouldn't do him anygood. They had already seen him and they were too close to misshim if they shot. Maybe they would pass on by. Maybe when theysaw he had money they would realize he was not a tramp."Hello, there, Jim," the tallest one called out. "We beenlookin' fuh you.""Mah name ain't no Jim," Tea Cake said watchfully. "Whutyou been lookin' fuh me fuh? Ah ain't done nothin'."

170 40 Zora Neale Hurston"Dat's whut we want yuh fuh—not doin' nothin'. Come onless go bury some uh dese heah dead folks. Dey ain't gittin'buried fast enough."Tea Cake hung back defensively. "Whut Ah got tuh do widdat? Ah'm uh workin' man wid money in mah pocket. Jus' gotblowed outa de 'Glades by de storm."The short man made a quick move with his rifle. "Git ondown de road dere, suh! Don't look out somebody'll be buryin'you! G'wan in front uh me, suh!"Tea Cake found that he was part of a small army that hadbeen pressed into service to clear the wreckage in public placesand bury the dead. Bodies had to be searched out, carried to certaingathering places and buried. Corpses were not just found inwrecked houses. They were under houses, tangled in shrubbery,floating in water, hanging in trees, drifting under wreckage.Trucks lined with drag kept rolling in from the 'Glades andother outlying parts, each with its load of twenty-five bodies. Somebodies fully dressed, some naked and some in all degrees ofdishevelment. Some bodies with calm faces and satisfied hands.Some dead with fighting faces and eyes flung wide open in wonder.Death had found them watching, trying to see beyond seeing.Miserable, sullen men, black and white under guard had tokeep on searching for bodies and digging graves. A huge ditchwas dug across the white cemetery and a big ditch was openedacross the black graveyard. Plenty quick-lime on hand to throwover the bodies as soon as they were received. They had alreadybeen unburied too long. The men were making every effort toget them covered up as quickly as possible. But the guardsstopped them. They had received orders to be carried out."Hey, dere, y'all! Don't dump dem bodies in de hole lak dat!Examine every last one of 'em and find out if they's white or black.""Us got tuh handle 'em slow lak dat? God have mussy! In de

Their Eyes Were Watching God 40 171condition they's in got tuh examine 'em? Whut difference do itmake 'bout de color? Dey all needs buryin' in uh hurry.""Got orders from headquarters. They makin' coffins fuh allde white folks. 'Tain't nothin' but cheap pine, but dat's better'nnothin'. Don't dump no white folks in de hole jus' so.""Whut tuh do 'bout de colored folks? Got boxes fuh dem too?""Nope. They cain't find enough of 'em tuh go 'round. Jus'sprinkle plenty quick-lime over 'em and cover 'em up.""Shucks! Nobody can't tell nothin' 'bout some uh dese bodies,de shape dey's in. Can't tell whether dey's white or black."The guards had a long conference over that. After a whilethey came back and told the men, "Look at they hair, when youcain't tell no other way. And don't lemme ketch none uh y'alldumpin' white folks, and don't be wastin' no boxes on colored.They's too hard tuh git holt of right now.""They's mighty particular how dese dead folks goes tuhjudgment," Tea Cake observed to the man working next to him."Look lak dey think God don't know nothin' 'bout de JimCrow law."Tea Cake had been working several hours when the thoughtof Janie worrying about him made him desperate. So when atruck drove up to be unloaded he bolted and ran. He wasordered to halt on pain of being shot at, but he kept right on andgot away. He found Janie sad and crying just as he had thought.They calmed each other about his absence then Tea Cakebrought up another matter."Janie, us got tuh git outa dis house and outa dis man'stown. Ah don't mean rah work lak dat no mo'.""Naw, naw, Tea Cake. Less stay right in heah until it's allover. If dey can't see yuh, dey can't bother yuh. )1"Aw naw. S'posin' dey come round searchin'? Less git outaheah tuhnight."

172 ap Zora Neale Hurston"Where us goin', Tea Cake?""De quickest place is de 'Glades. Less make it on back downdere. Dis town is full uh trouble and compellment.""But, Tea Cake, de hurricane wuz down in de 'Glades too.It'll be dead folks tuh be buried down dere too.""Yeah, Ah know, Janie, but it couldn't never be lak it 'tisheah. In de first place dey been bringin' bodies outa dere all dayso it can't be but so many mo' tuh find. And then again it neverwuz as many dere as it wuz heah. And then too, Janie, de whitefolks down dere knows us. It's bad bein' strange niggers widwhite folks. Everybody is aginst yuh.""Dat sho is de truth. De ones de white man know is nice coloredfolks. De ones he don't know is bad niggers." Janie said thisand laughed and Tea Cake laughed with her."Janie, Ah done watched it time and time again; each andevery white man think he know all de GOOD darkies already. Hedon't need tuh know no mo'. So far as he's concerned, all dem hedon't know oughta be tried and sentenced tuh six monthsbehind de United States privy house at hard smellin'.""How come de United States privy house, Tea Cake?""Well, you know Old Uncle Sam always do have de biggestand de best uh everything. So de white man figger dat anythingless than de Uncle Sam's consolidated water closet would be tooeasy. So Ah means tuh go where de white folks know me. Ah feelslak uh motherless chile round heah."They got things together and stole out of the house andaway. The next morning they were back on the muck. Theyworked hard all day fixing up a house to live in so that Tea Cakecould go out looking for something to do the next day. He gotout soon next morning more out of curiosity than eagerness towork. Stayed off all day. That night he came in beaming outwith light.

Their Eyes Were Watching God 4/P 173"Who you reckon Ah seen, Janie? Bet you can't guess.""Ah'll betcha uh fat man you seen Sop-de-Bottom.""Yeah Ah seen him and Stew Beef and Dockery and 'Lias,and Coodemay and Bootyny. Guess who else!""Lawd knows. Is it Sterrett?""Naw, he got caught in the rush. 'Lias help bury him in PalmBeach. Guess who else?""Ah g'wan tell me, Tea Cake. Ah don't know. It can't beMotor Boat.""Dat's jus' who it is. Ole Motor! De son of a gun laid up in dathouse and slept and de lake come moved de house way off somewhereand Motor didn't know nothin"bout it till de storm wuz'bout over.""Naw!""Yeah man. Heah we nelly kill our fool selves runnin' wayfrom danger and him lay up dere and sleep and float on off!""Well, you know dey say luck is uh fortune.""Dat's right too. Look, Ah got uh job uh work. Help clearin'up things in general, and then dey goin' build dat dike shonuff. Dat ground got to be cleared off too. Plenty work. Deyneeds mo' men even."So Tea Cake made three hearty weeks. He bought anotherrifle and a pistol and he and Janie bucked each other as to whowas the best shot with Janie ranking him always with the rifle. Shecould knock the head off of a chicken-hawk sitting up a pine tree.Tea Cake was a little jealous, but proud of his pupil.About the middle of the fourth week Tea Cake came homeearly one afternoon complaining of his head. Sick headache thatmade him lie down for a while. He woke up hungry. Janie had hissupper ready but by the time he walked from the bedroom to thetable, he said he didn't b'lieve he wanted a thing."Thought you tole me you wuz hongry!" Janie wailed.

174 40 Zora Neale Hurston"Ah thought so too," Tea Cake said very quietly and droppedhis head in his hands."But Ah done baked yuh uh pan uh beans.""Ah knows dey's good all right but Ah don't choose nothin'now, Ah thank yuh, Janie."He went back to bed. Way in the midnight he woke Janie upin his nightmarish struggle with an enemy that was at his throat.Janie struck a light and quieted him."Whut's de matter, honey?" She soothed and soothed. "Yougot tuh tell me so Ah kin feel widja. Lemme bear de pain 'longwidja, baby. Where hurt yuh, sugar?""Somethin' got after me in mah sleep, Janie." He all butcried, "Tried tuh choke me tuh death. Hadn't been fuh you Ah'dbe dead.""You sho wuz strainin' wid it. But you'se all right, honey.Ah'm heah."He went on back to sleep, but there was no getting aroundit. He was sick in the morning. He tried to make it but Janiewouldn't hear of his going out at all."If Ah kin jus' make out de week," Tea Cake said."Folks wuz makin' weeks befo' you wuz born and they gointuhbe makin' 'em after you'se gone. Lay back down, Tea Cake.Ah'm goin' git de doctor tuh come see 'bout yuh.""Aw ain't dat bad, Janie. Looka heah! Ah kin walk all over deplace.""But you'se too sick tuh play wid. Plenty fever round heahsince de storm.""Gimme uh drink uh water befo' you leave, then."Janie dipped up a glass of water and brought it to the bed.Tea Cake took it and filled his mouth then gagged horribly, disgorgedthat which was in his mouth and threw the glass upon thefloor. Janie was frantic with alarm.

Their Eyes Were Watching God 42, 175"Whut make you ack lak dat wid yo' drinkin' water, TeaCake? You ast me tuh give it tuh yuh. 77"Dat water is somethin' wrong wid it. It nelly choke me tuhdeath. Ah tole yuh somethin' jumped on me heah last night andchoked me. You come makin' out ah wuz dreamin'.""Maybe it wuz uh witch ridin' yuh, honey. Ah'll see can't Ahfind some mustard seed whilst Ah's out. But Ah'm sho tuh fetchde doctor when Ah'm come."Tea Cake didn't say anything against it and Janie herself hurriedoff. This sickness to her was worse than the storm. As soonas she was well out of sight, Tea Cake got up and dumped thewater bucket and washed it clean. Then he struggled to the irrigationpump and filled it again. He was not accusing Janie ofmalice and design. He was accusing her of carelessness. Sheought to realize that water buckets needed washing like everythingelse. He'd tell her about it good and proper when she gotback. What was she thinking about nohow? He found himselfvery angry about it. He eased the bucket on the table and satdown to rest before taking a drink.Finally he dipped up a drink. It was so good and cool! Come tothink about it, he hadn't had a drink since yesterday. That was whathe needed to give him an appetite for his beans. He found himselfwanting it very much, so he threw back his head as he rushed theglass to his lips. But the demon was there before him, strangling,killing him quickly. It was a great relief to expel the water from hismouth. He sprawled on the bed again and lay there shivering untilJanie and the doctor arrived. The white doctor who had beenaround so long that he was part of the muck. Who told the workmenstories with brawny sweaty words in them. He came into thehouse quickly, hat sitting on the left back corner of his head."Hi there, Tea Cake. What de hell's de matter with you?""Wisht Ah knowed, Doctah Simmons. But Ah sho is sick."

176 as Zora Neale Hurston"Ah, naw Tea Cake. 'Tain't a thing wrong that a quart ofcoon-dick wouldn't cure. You haven't been gettin' yo' rightUlcer lately, eh?" He slapped Tea Cake lustily across his back andTea Cake tried to smile as he was expected to do. But it was hard.The doctor opened up his bag and went to work."You do look a little peaked, Tea Cake. You got a temperatureand yo' pulse is kinda off. What you been doin' here lately?""Nothin"cept workin' and gamin' uh little, doctah. Butlook lak water done turn't aginst me.""Water? How do you mean?""Can't keep it on mah stomach, at all.""What else?"Janie came around the bed full of concern."Doctah, Tea Cake ain't tellin' yuh everything lak he oughta.We wuz caught in dat hurricane out heah, and Tea Cake overstrainedhisself swimmin' such uh long time and holdin' me uptoo, and walkin' all dem miles in de storm and then befo' hecould git his rest he had tali come git me out de water agin andfightin' wid dat big ole dawg and de dawg bitin"im in de faceand everything. Ah been spectin' him tuh be sick befo' now.""Dawg bit 'im, did you say?""Aw twudn't nothin' much, doctah. It wuz all healed overin two three days," Tea Cake said impatiently. "Dat been overuh month ago, nohow. Dis is somethin' new, doctah. Ah figgersde water is yet bad. It's bound tuh be. Too many dead folksbeen in it fuh it tuh be good tuh drink fuh uh long time. Dat'sde way Ah figgers it anyhow.""All right, Tea Cake. Ah'll send you some medicine and tellJanie how tuh take care of you. Anyhow, I want you in a bed byyo'self until you hear from me. Just you keep Janie out of yo'bed for awhile, hear? Come on out to the car with me, Janie. Iwant to send Tea Cake some pills to take right away."

Their Eyes Were Watching God es 177Outside he fumbled in his bag and gave Janie a tiny bottlewith a few pellets inside."Give him one of these every hour to keep him quiet, Janie,and stay out of his way when he gets in one of his fits of gaggingand choking.""How you know he's havin"em, doctah? Dat's jus' what Ahcome out heah tuh tell yuh. ""Janie, I'm pretty sure that was a mad dawg bit yo' husband.It's too late to get hold of de dawg's head. But de symptoms is allthere. It's mighty bad dat it's gone on so long. Some shots rightafter it happened would have fixed him right up.""You mean he's liable tuh die, doctah?""Sho is. But de worst thing is he's liable tuh suffer somethin'awful befo' he goes.""Doctor, Ah loves him fit tuh kill. Tell me anything tali doand Ah'll do it.""'Bout de only thing you can do, Janie, is to put him in theCounty Hospital where they can tie him down and look afterhim.""But he don't like no hospital at all. He'd think Ah wuz tireduh doin' fuh 'im, when God knows Ah ain't. Ah can't stand deidea us tyin' Tea Cake lak he wuz uh mad dawg.""It almost amounts to dat, Janie. He's got almost no chanceto pull through and he's liable to bite somebody else, speciallyyou, and then you'll be in the same fix he's in. It's mighty bad.""Can't nothin' be done fuh his case, doctah? Us got plentymoney in de bank in Orlandah, doctah. See can't yuh do somethin'special tuh save him. Anything it cost, doctah, Ah don'tkeer, but please, doctah.""Do what I can. Ah'll phone into Palm Beach right awayfor the serum which he should have had three weeks ago. I'lldo all I can to save him, Janie. But it looks too late. People in

178492p Zora Neale Hurstonhis condition can't swallow water, you know, and in other waysit's terrible."Janie fooled around outside awhile to try and think it wasn'tso. If she didn't see the sickness in his face she could imagine itwasn't really happening. Well, she thought, that big old dawgwith the hatred in his eyes had killed her after all. She wished shehad slipped off that cow-tail and drowned then and there andbeen done. But to kill her through Tea Cake was too much tobear. Tea Cake, the son of Evening Sun, had to die for loving her.She looked hard at the sky for a long time. Somewhere up therebeyond blue ether's bosom sat He. Was He noticing what wasgoing on around here? He must be because He knew everything.Did He mean to do this thing to Tea Cake and her? It wasn't anythingshe could fight. She could only ache and wait. Maybe it wassome big tease and when He saw it had gone far enough He'dgive her a sign. She looked hard for something up there to movefor a sign. A star in the daytime, maybe, or the sun to shout, oreven a mutter of thunder. Her arms went up in a desperate supplicationfor a minute. It wasn't exactly pleading, it was askingquestions. The sky stayed hard looking and quiet so she wentinside the house. God would do less than He had in His heart.Tea Cake was lying with his eyes closed and Janie hoped hewas asleep. He wasn't. A great fear had took hold of him. Whatwas this thing that set his brains afire and grabbed at his throatwith iron fingers? Where did it come from and why did it hangaround him? He hoped it would stop before Janie noticed anything.He wanted to try to drink water again but he didn't wanther to see him fail. As soon as she got out of the kitchen he meantto go to the bucket and drink right quick before anything hadtime to stop him. No need to worry Janie, until he couldn't helpit. He heard her cleaning out the stove and saw her go out backto empty the ashes. He leaped at the bucket at once. But this time

Their Eyes Were Watching God Olp 179the sight of the water was enough. He was on the kitchen floor ingreat agony when she returned. She petted him, soothed him,and got him back to bed. She made up her mind to go see aboutthat medicine from Palm Beach. Maybe she could find somebodyto drive over there for it."Feel better now, Tea Cake, baby chile?""Uh huh, uh little.""Well, b'lieve Ah'll rake up de front yard. De mens is gotcane chewin's and peanut hulls all over de place. Don't want dedoctah tuh come back heah and find it still de same.""Don't take too long, Janie. Don't lak tuh be by mahselfwhen Ah'm sick."She ran down the road just as fast as she could. Halfway totown she met Sop-de-Bottom and Dockery coming towards her."Hello, Janie, how's Tea Cake?""Pretty bad off. Ah'm gointuh see 'bout medicine fuh 'imright now.""Doctor told somebody he wuz sick so us come tuh see.Thought somethin' he never come tuh work.""Y'all set wid 'im till Ah git back. He need de company rightlong in heah."She fanned on down the road to town and found Dr. Simmons.Yes, he had had an answer. They didn't have any serum butthey had wired Miami to send it. She needn't worry. It would bethere early the next morning if not before. People didn't foolaround in a case like that. No, it wouldn't do for her to hire nocar to go after it. Just go home and wait. That was all. When shereached home the visitors rose to go.When they were alone Tea Cake wanted to put his head inJanie's lap and tell her how he felt and let her mama him in hersweet way. But something Sop had told him made his tongue liecold and heavy like a dead lizard between his jaws. Mrs. Turner's

180 dap Zora Neale Hurstonbrother was back on the muck and now he had this mysterioussickness. People didn't just take sick like this for nothing."Janie, whut is dat Turner woman's brother doin' back on demuck?""Ah don't know, Tea Cake. Didn't even knowed he wuzback.""Accordin' tuh mah notion, you did. Whut you slip off fromme just now for?""Tea Cake, Ah don't lak you astin' me no sich question. Datshows how sick you is sho puff. You'se jealous 'thout me givin' youcause.""Well, whut didja slip off from de house 'thout tellin' me youwuz goin'. You ain't never done dat befo'.""Dat wuz cause Ah wuz tryin' not tuh let yuh worry 'boutyo' condition. De doctah sent after some mo' medicine and Ahwent tuh see if it come."Tea Cake began to cry and Janie hovered him in her arms likea child. She sat on the side of the bed and sort of rocked him backto peace."Tea Cake, 'tain't no use in you bein' jealous uh me. In defirst place Ah couldn't love nobody but yuh. And in de secondplace, Ah jus' uh ole woman dat nobody don't want but you.""Now, you ain't neither. You only sound ole when you tellfolks when you wuz born, but wid de eye you'se young enoughtuh suit most any man. Dat ain't no lie. Ah knows plenty mo'men would take yuh and work hard fuh de privilege. Ah doneheard 'em talk.""Maybe so, Tea Cake, Ah ain't never tried tuh find out. Ahjus' know dat God snatched me out de fire through you. And Ahloves yuh and feel glad.""Thank yuh, ma'am, but don't say you'se ole. You'se uhgirl baby all de time. God made it so you spent yo' ole age first

Their Eyes Were Watching God 4111. 181wid somebody else, and saved up yo' young girl days to spendwid me.""Ah feel dat uh way too, Tea Cake, and Ah thank yuh fuhsayin' it.""'Tain't no trouble tuh say whut's already so. You'se uhpretty woman outside uh bein' nice.""Aw, Tea Cake.""Yeah you is too. Everytime Ah see uh patch uh roses uhsomethin' over sportin' they selves makin' out they pretty, Ah tell'em Àh want yuh tuh see mah Janie sometime.' You must let deflowers see yuh sometimes, heah, Janie?""You keep dat up, Tea Cake, Ah'll b'lieve yuh after while,"Janie said archly and fixed him back in bed. It was then she feltthe pistol under the pillow. It gave her a quick ugly throb, but shedidn't ask him about it since he didn't say. Never had Tea Cakeslept with a pistol under his head before. "Neb' mind 'bout alldat cleanin' round de front yard," he told her as she straightenedup from fixing the bed. "You stay where Ah kin see yuh.""All right, Tea Cake, jus' as you say.""And if Mis' Turner's lap-legged brother come prowlin' byheah you kin tell 'im Ah got him stopped wid four wheel brakes.'Tain't no need of him standin"round watchin' de job.""Ah won't be tellin"im nothin"cause Ah don't expect tuhsee 'im."Tea Cake had two bad attacks that night. Janie saw a changinglook come in his face. Tea Cake was gone. Something elsewas looking out of his face. She made up her mind to be off afterthe doctor with the first glow of day. So she was up and dressedwhen Tea Cake awoke from the fitful sleep that had come to himjust before day. He almost snarled when he saw her dressed to go."Where are you goin', Janie?""After de doctor, Tea Cake. You'se too sick tuh be heah in dis

182 412p Zora Neale Hurstonhouse 'thout de doctah. Maybe we oughta git yuh tuh de hospital.""Ah ain't goin' tuh no hospital no where. Put dat in yo' pipeand smoke it. Guess you tired uh waitin' on me and doing fuhme. Dat ain't de way Ah been wid you. Ah never is been able tuhdo enough fuh yuh. ),"Tea Cake, you'se sick. You'se takin' everything in de way Ahdon't mean it. Ah couldn't never be tired uh waitin' on you.Ah'm just skeered you'se too sick fuh me tuh handle. Ah wantsyuh tuh git well, honey. Dat's all."He gave her a look full of blank ferocity and gurgled in histhroat. She saw him sitting up in bed and moving about so thathe could watch her every move. And she was beginning to feelfear of this strange thing in Tea Cake's body. So when he wentout to the outhouse she rushed to see if the pistol was loaded. Itwas a six shooter and three of the chambers were full. She startedto unload it but she feared he might break it and find out sheknew. That might urge his disordered mind to action. If thatmedicine would only come! She whirled the cylinder so that if heeven did draw the gun on her it would snap three times before itwould fire. She would at least have warning. She could either runor try to take it away before it was too late. Anyway Tea Cakewouldn't hurt her. He was jealous and wanted to scare her. She'djust be in the kitchen as usual and never let on. They'd laugh overit when he got well. She found the box of cartridges, however,and emptied it. Just as well to take the rifle from back of the headof the bed. She broke it and put the shell in her apron pocket andput it in a corner in the kitchen almost behind the stove where itwas hard to see. She could outrun his knife if it came to that. Ofcourse she was too fussy, but it did no harm to play safe. Sheought not to let poor sick Tea Cake do something that would runhim crazy when he found out what he had done.She saw him coming from the outhouse with a queer loping

Their Eyes Were Watching God 40. 183gait, swinging his head from side to side and his jaws clenched ina funny way. This was too awful! Where was Dr. Simmons withthat medicine? She was glad she was here to look after him.Folks would do such mean things to her Tea Cake if they sawhim in such a fix. Treat Tea Cake like he was some mad dogwhen nobody in the world had more kindness about them. Allhe needed was for the doctor to come on with that medicine.He came back into the house without speaking, in fact, he didnot seem to notice she was there and fell heavily into the bedand slept. Janie was standing by the stove washing up the disheswhen he spoke to her in a queer cold voice."Janie, how come you can't sleep in de same bed wid meno mo'?""De doctah told you tuh sleep by yo'self, Tea Cake. Don'tyuh remember him tellin' you dat yistiddy?""How come you ruther sleep on uh pallet than tuh sleep inde bed wid me?" Janie saw then that he had the gun in his handthat was hanging to his side. "Answer me when Ah speak.""Tea Cake, Tea Cake, honey! Go lay down! Ah'll be tooglad tuh be in dere wid yuh de minute de doctor say so. Go layback down. He'll be heah wid some new medicine right away.""Janie, Ah done went through everything tuh be good tuhyou and it hurt me tuh mah heart tuh be ill treated lak Ah is."The gun came up unsteadily but quickly and leveled atJanie's breast. She noted that even in his delirium he took goodaim. Maybe he would point to scare her, that was all.The pistol snapped once. Instinctively Janie's hand flewbehind her on the rifle and brought it around. Most likely thiswould scare him off. If only the doctor would come! If anybodyat all would come! She broke the rifle deftly and shoved in theshell as the second click told her that Tea Cake's suffering brainwas urging him on to kill.

184 alls Zora Neale Hurston"Tea Cake, put down dat gun and go back tuh bed!" Janieyelled at him as the gun wavered weakly in his hand.He steadied himself against the jamb of the door and Janiethought to run into him and grab his arm, but she saw the quickmotion of taking aim and heard the click. Saw the ferocious lookin his eyes and went mad with fear as she had done in the waterthat time. She threw up the barrel of the rifle in frenzied hopeand fear. Hope that he'd see it and run, desperate fear for her life.But if Tea Cake could have counted costs he would not have beenthere with the pistol in his hands. No knowledge of fear nor riflesnor anything else was there. He paid no more attention to thepointing gun than if it were Janie's dog finger. She saw himstiffen himself all over as he leveled and took aim. The fiend inhim must kill and Janie was the only thing living he saw.The pistol and the rifle rang out almost together. The pistoljust enough after the rifle to seem its echo. Tea Cake crumpled ashis bullet buried itself in the joist over Janie's head. Janie saw thelook on his face and leaped forward as he crashed forward in herarms. She was trying to hover him as he closed his teeth in theflesh of her forearm. They came down heavily like that. Janiestruggled to a sitting position and pried the dead Tea Cake'steeth from her arm.It was the meanest moment of eternity. A minute before shewas just a scared human being fighting for its life. Now she washer sacrificing self with Tea Cake's head in her lap. She hadwanted him to live so much and he was dead. No hour is evereternity, but it has its right to weep. Janie held his head tightly toher breast and wept and thanked him wordlessly for giving herthe chance for loving service. She had to hug him tight for soonhe would be gone, and she had to tell him for the last time. Thenthe grief of outer darkness descended.So that same day of Janie's great sorrow she was in jail. And

Their Eyes Were Watching God 40P 185when the doctor told the sheriff and the judge how it was, theyall said she must be tried that same day. No need to punish her injail by waiting. Three hours in jail and then they set the court forher case. The time was short and everything, but sufficient peoplewere there. Plenty of white people came to look on thisstrangeness. And all the Negroes for miles around. Who was itdidn't know about the love between Tea Cake and Janie?The court set and Janie saw the judge who had put on agreat robe to listen about her and Tea Cake. And twelve morewhite men had stopped whatever they were doing to listen andpass on what happened between Janie and Tea Cake Woods, andas to whether things were done right or not. That was funnytoo. Twelve strange men who didn't know a thing about peoplelike Tea Cake and her were going to sit on the thing. Eight orten white women had come to look at her too. They wore goodclothes and had the pinky color that comes of good food. Theywere nobody's poor white folks. What need had they to leavetheir richness to come look on Janie in her overalls? But theydidn't seem too mad, Janie thought. It would be nice if shecould make them know how it was instead of those menfolks.Oh, and she hoped that undertaker was fixing Tea Cake up fine.They ought to let her go see about it. Yes, and there was Mr.Prescott that she knew right well and he was going to tell thetwelve men to kill her for shooting Tea Cake. And a strange manfrom Palm Beach who was going to ask them not to kill her, andnone of them knew.Then she saw all of the colored people standing up in theback of the courtroom. Packed tight like a case of celery, onlymuch darker than that. They were all against her, she could see.So many were there against her that a light slap from each one ofthem would have beat her to death. She felt them pelting herwith dirty thoughts. They were there with their tongues cocked

186 ihr Zora Neale Hurstonand loaded, the only real weapon left to weak folks. The onlykilling tool they are allowed to use in the presence of white folks.So it was all ready after a while and they wanted people to talkso that they could know what was right to do about Janie Woods,the relic of Tea Cake's Janie. The white part of the room got calmerthe more serious it got, but a tongue storm struck the Negroes likewind among palm trees. They talked all of a sudden and all togetherlike a choir and the top parts of their bodies moved on the rhythmof it. They sent word by the bailiff to Mr. Prescott they wanted totestify in the case. Tea Cake was a good boy. He had been good tothat woman. No nigger woman ain't never been treated no better.Naw suh! He worked like a dog for her and nearly killed himself sayingher in the storm, then soon as he got a little fever from thewater, she had took up with another man. Sent for him to comethere from way off. Hanging was too good. All they wanted was achance to testify. The bailiff went up and the sheriff and the judge,and the police chief, and the lawyers all came together to listen for afew minutes, then they parted again and the sheriff took the standand told how Janie had come to his house with the doctor and howhe found things when he drove out to hers.Then they called Dr. Simmons and he told about Tea Cake'ssickness and how dangerous it was to Janie and the whole town,and how he was scared for her and thought to have Tea Cakelocked up in the jail, but seeing Janie's care he neglected to do it.And how he found Janie all bit in the arm, sitting on the floor andpetting Tea Cake's head when he got there. And the pistol rightby his hand on the floor. Then he stepped down."Any further evidence to present, Mr. Prescott?" the judgeasked."No, Your Honor. The State rests."The palm tree dance began again among the Negroes in theback. They had come to talk. The State couldn't rest until it heard.

Their Eyes Were Watching God 40 187"Mistah Prescott, Ah got somethin' tuh say," Sop-de-Bottomspoke out anonymously from the anonymous herd.The courtroom swung round on itself to look."If you know what's good for you, you better shut yourmouth up until somebody calls you," Mr. Prescott told himcoldly."Yassuh, Mr. Prescott.""We are handling this case. Another word out of you, out of anyof you niggers back there, and I'll bind you over to the big court.""Yassuh."The white women made a little applause and Mr. Prescottglared at the back of the house and stepped down. Then thestrange white man that was going to talk for her got up there. Hewhispered a little with the clerk and then called on Janie to takethe stand and talk. After a few little questions he told her to telljust how it happened and to speak the truth, the whole truth andnothing but the truth. So help her God.They all leaned over to listen while she talked. First thing shehad to remember was she was not at home. She was in the courthousefighting something and it wasn't death. It was worse thanthat. It was lying thoughts. She had to go way back to let themknow how she and Tea Cake had been with one another so theycould see she could never shoot Tea Cake out of malice.She tried to make them see how terrible it was that thingswere fixed so that Tea Cake couldn't come back to himself untilhe had got rid of that mad dog that was in him and he couldn'tget rid of the dog and live. He had to die to get rid of the dog.But she hadn't wanted to kill him. A man is up against a hardgame when he must die to beat it. She made them see how shecouldn't ever want to be rid of him. She didn't plead to anybody.She just sat there and told and when she was through she hushed.She had been through for some time before the judge and the

188 40 Zora Neale Hurstonlawyer and the rest seemed to know it. But she sat on in that trialchair until the lawyer told her she could come down."The defense rests," her lawyer said. Then he and Prescottwhispered together and both of them talked to the judge insecret up high there where he sat. Then they both sat down."Gentlemen of the jury, it is for you to decide whether thedefendant has committed a cold blooded murder or whether sheis a poor broken creature, a devoted wife trapped by unfortunatecircumstances who really in firing a rifle bullet into the heart ofher late husband did a great act of mercy. If you find her a wantonkiller you must bring in a verdict of first degree murder. If theevidence does not justify that then you must set her free. There isno middle course."The jury filed out and the courtroom began to drone withtalk, a few people got up and moved about. And Janie sat like alump and waited. It was not death she feared. It was misunderstanding.If they made a verdict that she didn't want Tea Cake andwanted him dead, then that was a real sin and a shame. It wasworse than murder. Then the jury was back again. Out five minutesby the courthouse clock."We find the death of Vergible Woods to be entirely accidentaland justifiable, and that no blame should rest upon the defendantJanie Woods."So she was free and the judge and everybody up there smiledwith her and shook her hand. And the white women cried andstood around her like a protecting wall and the Negroes, withheads hung down, shuffled out and away. The sun was almostdown and Janie had seen the sun rise on her troubled love andthen she had shot Tea Cake and had been in jail and had beentried for her life and now she was free. Nothing to do with the littlethat was left of the day but to visit the kind white friends whohad realized her feelings and thank them. So the sun went down.

Their Eyes Were Watching God 41la► 189She took a room at the boarding house for the night andheard the men talking around the front."Aw you know dem white mens wuzn't gointuh do nothin'tuh no woman dat look lak her.""She didn't kill no white man, did she? Well, long as she don'tshoot no white man she kin kill jus' as many niggers as she please.""Yeah, de nigger women kin kill up all de mens dey wantstuh, but you bet' not kill one uh dem. De white folks will shohang yuh if yuh do.""Well, you know whut dey say ùh white man and uh niggerwoman is de freest thing on earth.' Dey do as dey please."Janie buried Tea Cake in Palm Beach. She knew he loved the'Glades but it was too low for him to lie with water maybe washingover him with every heavy rain. Anyway, the 'Glades and its watershad killed him. She wanted him out of the way of storms, so she hada strong vault built in the cemetery at West Palm Beach. Janie hadwired to Orlando for money to put him away. Tea Cake was the sonof Evening Sun, and nothing was too good. The Undertaker did ahandsome job and Tea Cake slept royally on his white silken couchamong the roses she had bought. He looked almost ready to grin.Janie bought him a brand new guitar and put it in his hands. Hewould be thinking up new songs to play to her when she got there.Sop and his friends had tried to hurt her but she knew it wasbecause they loved Tea Cake and didn't understand. So she sentSop word and to all the others through him. So the day of thefuneral they came with shame and apology in their faces. Theywanted her quick forgetfulness. So they filled up and overflowed theten sedans that Janie had hired and added others to the line. Thenthe band played, and Tea Cake rode like a Pharaoh to his tomb. Noexpensive veils and robes for Janie this time. She went on in heroveralls. She was too busy feeling grief to dress like grief.

20id&Because they really loved Janie just a little less than they had lovedTea Cake, and because they wanted to think well of themselves,they wanted their hostile attitude forgotten. So they blamed it allon Mrs. Turner's brother and ran him off the muck again. They'dshow him about coming back there posing like he was good lookingand putting himself where men's wives could look at him.Even if they didn't look it wasn't his fault, he had put himself inthe way."Now, Ah ain't mad wid Janie," Sop went around explaining."Tea Cake had done gone crazy. You can't blame her for puhtectin'herself. She wuz crazy 'bout 'im. Look at de way she puthim away. Ah ain't got anything in mah heart aginst her. And Ahnever woulda thought uh thing, but de very first day dat lapleggednigger come back heah makin' out he wuz lookin' fuhwork, he come astin' me 'bout how wuz Mr. and Mrs. Woodsmakin' out. Dat goes tuh show yuh he wuz up tuh somethin'.""So when Stew Beef and Bootyny and some of de rest of 'emgot behind 'im he come runnin' tuh me tuh save 'im. Ah told 'im,don't come tuh me wid yo' hair blowin' back, 'cause, Ah'm gointuhsend yuh, and Ah sho did. De bitches' baby!" That wasenough, they eased their feelings by beating him and running him

Their Eyes Were Watching God 4i P 191off. Anyway, their anger against Janie had lasted two whole daysand that was too long to keep remembering anything. Too muchof a strain.They had begged Janie to stay on with them and she hadstayed a few weeks to keep them from feeling bad. But the muckmeant Tea Cake and Tea Cake wasn't there. So it was just a greatexpanse of black mud. She had given away everything in their littlehouse except a package of garden seed that Tea Cake hadbought to plant. The planting never got done because he hadbeen waiting for the right time of the moon when his sicknessovertook him. The seeds reminded Janie of Tea Cake more thananything else because he was always planting things. She hadnoticed them on the kitchen shelf when she came home from thefuneral and had put them in her breast pocket. Now that she washome, she meant to plant them for remembrance.Janie stirred her strong feet in the pan of water. The tirednesswas gone so she dried them off on the towel."Now, dat's how everything wuz, Pheoby, jus' lak Ah toldyuh. So Ah'm back home agin and Ah'm satisfied tuh be heah.Ah done been tuh de horizon and back and now Ah kin set heahin mah house and live by comparisons. Dis house ain't so absentof things lak it used tuh be befo' Tea Cake come along. It's fulluh thoughts, 'specially dat bedroom."Ali know all dem sitters-and-talkers gointuh worry they gutsinto fiddle strings till dey find out whut we been talkin"bout. Dat'sall right, Pheoby, tell 'em. Dey gointuh make 'miration 'cause mahlove didn't work lak they love, if dey ever had any. Then you musttell 'em dat love ain't somethin' lak uh grindstone dat's de samething everywhere and do de same thing tuh everything it touch.Love is lak de sea. It's uh movin' thing, but still and all, it takes itsshape from de shore it meets, and it's different with every shore."

192 42s Zora Neale Hurston"Lawd!" Pheoby breathed out heavily, "Ah done growed tenfeet higher from jus' listenin' tuh you, Janie. Ah ain't satisfiedwid mahself no mo'. Ah means tuh make Sam take me fishin' widhim after this. Nobody better not criticize yuh in mah hearin'.""Now, Pheoby, don't feel too mean wid de rest of 'em 'causedey's parched up from not knowin' things. Dem meatskins is gottuh rattle tuh make out they's alive. Let 'em consolate theyselveswid talk. 'Course, talkin' don't amount tuh uh hill uh beanswhen yuh can't do nothin' else. And listenin' tuh dat kind uh talkis jus' lak openin' yo' mouth and lettin' de moon shine down yo'throat. It's uh known fact, Pheoby, you got tuhgo there tuh knowthere. Yo' papa and yo' mama and nobody else can't tell yuh andshow yuh. Two things everybody's got tuh do fuh theyselves.They got tuh go tuh God, and they got tuh find out about livin'fuh theyselves."There was a finished silence after that so that for the first timethey could hear the wind picking at the pine trees. It madePheoby think of Sam waiting for her and getting fretful. It madeJanie think about that room upstairs—her bedroom. Pheobyhugged Janie real hard and cut the darkness in flight.Soon everything around downstairs was shut and fastened.Janie mounted the stairs with her lamp. The light in her hand waslike a spark of sun-stuff washing her face in fire. Her shadowbehind fell black and headlong down the stairs. Now, in herroom, the place tasted fresh again. The wind through the openwindows had broomed out all the fetid feeling of absence andnothingness. She closed in and sat down. Combing road-dustout of her hair. Thinking.The day of the gun, and the bloody body, and the courthousecame and commenced to sing a sobbing sigh out of everycorner in the room; out of each and every chair and thing. Commencedto sing, commenced to sob and sigh, singing and sob-

Their Eyes Were Watching God 4ii► 193bing. Then Tea Cake came prancing around her where she wasand the song of the sigh flew out of the window and lit in the topof the pine trees. Tea Cake, with the sun for a shawl. Of course hewasn't dead. He could never be dead until she herself had finishedfeeling and thinking. The kiss of his memory made picturesof love and light against the wall. Here was peace. She pulled inher horizon like a great fish-net. Pulled it from around the waistof the world and draped it over her shoulder. So much of life inits meshes! She called in her soul to come and see.

AfterwordVirnZora Neale Hurston:"A Negro Way of Saying"I.The Reverend Harry Middleton Hyatt, an Episcopal priest whosefive-volume classic collection, Hoodoo, Conjuration, Witchcraft,and Rootwork, more than amply returned an investment of fortyyears' research, once asked me during an interview in 1977 whathad become of another eccentric collector whom he admired. "Imet her in the field in the thirties. I think," he reflected for a fewseconds, "that her first name was Zora." It was an innocent question,made reasonable by the body of confused and often contradictoryrumors that make Zora Neale Hurston's own legend asrichly curious and as dense as are the black myths she did so muchto preserve in her classic anthropological works, Mules and Menand Tell My Horse, and in her fiction.A graduate of Barnard, where she studied under Franz Boas,Zora Neale Hurston published seven books—four novels, twobooks of folklore, and an autobiography—and more than fiftyshorter works between the middle of the Harlem Renaissance and

196 410 Afterwordthe end of the Korean War, when she was the dominant blackwoman writer in the United States. The dark obscurity into whichher career then lapsed reflects her staunchly independent politicalstances rather than any deficiency of craft or vision. Virtuallyignored after the early fifties, even by the Black Arts movement inthe sixties, an otherwise noisy and intense spell of black image- andmyth-making that rescued so many black writers from remainderedoblivion, Hurston embodied a more or less harmonious butnevertheless problematic unity of opposites. It is this complexitythat refuses to lend itself to the glib categories of "radical" or "conservative,""black" or "Negro," "revolutionary" or "UncleTom"—categories of little use in literary criticism. It is this samecomplexity, embodied in her fiction, that, until Alice Walker publishedher important essay ("In Search of Zora Neale Hurston") inMs. magazine in 1975, had made Hurston's place in black literaryhistory an ambiguous one at best.The rediscovery of Afro-American writers has usually turnedon larger political criteria, of which the writer's work is supposedlya mere reflection. The deeply satisfying aspect of the rediscoveryof Zora Neale Hurston is that black women generated itprimarily to establish a maternal literary ancestry. Alice Walker'smoving essay recounts her attempts to find Hurston's unmarkedgrave in the Garden of the Heavenly Rest, a segregated cemeteryin Fort Pierce, Florida. Hurston became a metaphor for the blackwoman writer's search for tradition. The craft of Alice Walker,Gayl Jones, Gloria Naylor, and Toni Cade Bambara bears, inmarkedly different ways, strong affinities with Hurston's. Theirattention to Hurston signifies a novel sophistication in black literature:they read Hurston not only for the spiritual kinshipinherent in such relations but because she used black vernacularspeech and rituals, in ways subtle and various, to chart the comingto consciousness of black women, so glaringly absent in other

Afterword ir' 197black fiction. This use of the vernacular became the fundamentalframework for all but one of her novels and is particularly effectivein her classic work Their Eyes Were Watching God, publishedin 1937, which is more closely related to Henry James's The Portraitof a Lady and Jean Toomer's Cane than to LangstonHughes's and Richard Wright's proletarian literature, so popularin the Depression.The charting of Janie Crawford's fulfillment as an autonomousimagination, Their Eyes is a lyrical novel that correlates the need ofher first two husbands for ownership of progressively larger physicalspace (and the gaudy accoutrements of upward mobility) with thesuppression of self-awareness in their wife. Only with her third andlast lover, a roustabout called Tea Cake whose unstructured frolicscenter around and about the Florida swamps, does Janie at lastbloom, as does the large pear tree that stands beside her grandmother'stiny log cabin.She saw a dust bearing bee sink into the sanctum of a bloom;the thousand sister calyxes arch to meet the love embrace andthe ecstatic shiver of the tree from root to tiniest branch creamingin every blossom and frothing with delight. So this was amarriage!To plot Janie's journey from object to subject, the narrative ofthe novel shifts from third to a blend of first and third person(known as "free indirect discourse"), signifying this awareness ofself in Janie. Their Eyes is a bold feminist novel, the first to beexplicitly so in the Afro-American tradition. Yet in its concern withthe project of finding a voice, with language as an instrument ofinjury and salvation, of selfhood and empowerment, it suggestsmany of the themes that inspirit Hurston's oeuvre as a whole.

198 40 AfterwordII.One of the most moving passages in American literature is ZoraNeale Hurston's account of her last encounter with her dyingmother, found in a chapter entitled "Wandering" in her autobiography,Dust Tracks on a Road (1942):As I crowded in, they lifted up the bed and turned it around sothat Mama's eyes would face east. I thought that she looked tome as the head of the bed reversed. Her mouth was slightlyopen, but her breathing took up so much of her strength thatshe could not talk. But she looked at me, or so I felt, to speakfor her. She depended on me for a voice.We can begin to understand the rhetorical distance that separatedHurston from her contemporaries if we compare this passagewith a similar scene published just three years later in Black Boy byRichard Wright, Hurston's dominant black male contemporary andrival: "Once, in the night, my mother called me to her bed and toldme that she could not endure the pain, and she wanted to die. I heldher hand and begged her to be quiet. That night I ceased to react tomy mother; my feelings were frozen." If Hurston represents herfinal moments with her mother in terms of the search for voice, thenWright attributes to a similar experience a certain "somberness ofspirit that I was never to lose," which "grew into a symbol in mymind, gathering to itself . . . the poverty, the ignorance, the helplessness.. . ." Few authors in the black tradition have less in commonthan Zora Neale Hurston and Richard Wright. And whereas Wrightwould reign through the forties as our predominant author,Hurston's fame reached its zenith in 1943 with a Saturday Reviewcover story honoring the success of Dust Tracks. Seven years later, shewould be serving as a maid in Rivo Alto, Florida; ten years after thatshe would die in the County Welfare Home in Fort Pierce, Florida.

Afterword V& 199How could the recipient of two Guggenheims and theauthor of four novels, a dozen short stories, two musicals, twobooks on black mythology, dozens of essays, and a prizewinningautobiography virtually "disappear" from her readership forthree full decades? There are no easy answers to this quandary,despite the concerted attempts of scholars to resolve it. It isclear, however, that the loving, diverse, and enthusiasticresponses that Hurston's work engenders today were not sharedby several of her influential black male contemporaries. The reasonsfor this are complex and stem largely from what we mightthink of as their "racial ideologies."Part of Hurston's received heritage—and perhaps the paramountreceived notion that links the novel of manners in theHarlem Renaissance, the social realism of the thirties, and thecultural nationalism of the Black Arts movement—was the ideathat racism had reduced black people to mere ciphers, to beingswho only react to an omnipresent racial oppression, whose cultureis "deprived" where different, and whose psyches are in themain "pathological." Albert Murray, the writer and social critic,calls this "the Social Science Fiction Monster." Socialists, separatists,and civil rights advocates alike have been devoured bythis beast.Hurston thought this idea degrading, its propagation a trap,and railed against it. It was, she said, upheld by "the sobbingschool of Negrohood who hold that nature somehow has giventhem a dirty deal." Unlike Hughes and Wright, Hurston chosedeliberately to ignore this "false picture that distorted. . . ." Freedom,she wrote in Moses, Man of the Mountain, "was somethinginternal. . . . The man himself must make his own emancipation."And she declared her first novel a manifesto against the "arrogance"of whites assuming that "black lives are only defensive reactionsto white actions." Her strategy was not calculated to please.

200 drir AfterwordWhat we might think of as Hurston's mythic realism, lushand dense within a lyrical black idiom, seemed politically retrogradeto the proponents of a social or critical realism. If Wright,Ellison, Brown, and Hurston were engaged in a battle over idealfictional modes with which to represent the Negro, clearlyHurston lost the battle.But not the war.After Hurston and her choice of style for the black novel weresilenced for nearly three decades, what we have witnessed since isclearly a marvelous instance of the return of the repressed. For ZoraNeale Hurston has been "rediscovered" in a manner unprecedentedin the black tradition: several black women writers, amongwhom are some of the most accomplished writers in America today,have openly turned to her works as sources of narrative strategies, tobe repeated, imitated, and revised, in acts of textual bonding.Responding to Wright's critique, Hurston claimed that she hadwanted at long last to write a black novel, and "not a treatise onsociology." It is this urge that resonates in Toni Morrison's Song ofSolomon and Beloved, and in Walker's depiction of Hurston as ourprime symbol of "racial health—a sense of black people as complete,complex, undiminished human beings, a sense that is lacking in somuch black writing and literature." In a tradition in which maleauthors have ardently denied black literary paternity, this is a majordevelopment, one that heralds the refinement of our notion of tradition:Zora and her daughters are a tradition-within-the-tradition,a black woman's voice.The resurgence of popular and academic readerships of Hurston'sworks signifies her multiple canonization in the black, theAmerican, and the feminist traditions. Within the critical establishment,scholars of every stripe have found in Hurston texts for all seasons.More people have read Hurston's works since 1975 than didbetween that date and the publication of her first novel, in 1934.

Afterword 201Rereading Hurston, I am always struck by the density of intimateexperiences she cloaked in richly elaborated imagery. It is this concernfor the figurative capacity of black language, for what a characterin Mules and Men calls "a hidden meaning, jus' like de Bible. . . de inside meanin' of words," that unites Hurston's anthropologicalstudies with her fiction. For the folklore Hurston collectedso meticulously as Franz Boas's student at Barnard becamemetaphors, allegories, and performances in her novels, the traditionalrecurring canonical metaphors of black culture. Alwaysmore of a novelist than a social scientist, even Hurston's academiccollections center on the quality of imagination that makes theselives whole and splendid. But it is in the novel that Hurston's useof the black idiom realizes its fullest effect. In Jonah's Gourd Vine,her first novel, for instance, the errant preacher, John, as describedby Robert Hemenway "is a poet who graces his world with languagebut cannot find the words to secure his own personalgrace." This concern for language and for the "natural" poets who"bring barbaric splendor of word and song into the very camp ofthe mockers" not only connects her two disciplines but also makesof "the suspended linguistic moment" a thing to behold indeed.Invariably, Hurston's writing depends for its strength on the text,not the context, as does John's climactic sermon, a tour de force ofblack image and metaphor. Image and metaphor define John'sworld; his failure to interpret himself leads finally to his selfdestruction.As Robert Hemenway, Hurston's biographer, concludes,"Such passages eventually add up to a theory of languageand behavior."Using "the spy-glass of Anthropology," her work celebratesrather than moralizes; it shows rather than tells, such that "bothbehavior and art become self-evident as the tale texts and

202 •1, Afterwordhoodoo rituals accrete during the reading." As author, she functionsas "a midwife participating in the birth of a body of folklore,. . . the first wondering contacts with natural law." Themyths she describes so accurately are in fact "alternative modesfor perceiving reality," and never just condescending depictionsof the quaint. Hurston sees "the Dozens," for example, thatage-old black ritual of graceful insult, as, among other things, averbal defense of the sanctity of the family, conjured throughingenious plays on words. Though attacked by Wright and virtuallyignored by his literary heirs, Hurston's ideas about languageand craft undergird many of the most successful contributionsto Afro-American literature that followed.IV.We can understand Hurston's complex and contradictory legacymore fully if we examine Dust Tracks on a Road, her own controversialaccount of her life. Hurston did make significant partsof herself up, like a masquerader putting on a disguise for theball, like a character in her fictions. In this way, Hurston wroteherself, and sought in her works to rewrite the "self" of "therace," in its several private and public guises, largely for ideologicalreasons. That which she chooses to reveal is the life of herimagination, as it sought to mold and interpret her environment.That which she silences or deletes, similarly, is all that herreadership would draw upon to delimit or pigeonhole her life asa synecdoche of "the race problem," an exceptional part standingfor the debased whole.Hurston's achievement in Dust Tracks is twofold. First, shegives us a writer's life, rather than an account, as she says, of"the Negro problem." So many events in this text are figured interms of Hurston's growing awareness and mastery of books

Afterword ID, 203and language, language and linguistic rituals as spoken and writtenboth by masters of the Western tradition and by ordinarymembers of the black community. These two "speech communities,"as it were, are Hurston's great sources of inspiration notonly in her novels but also in her autobiography.The representation of her sources of language seems to be herprincipal concern, as she constantly shifts back and forth betweenher "literate" narrator's voice and a highly idiomatic black voicefound in wonderful passages of free indirect discourse. Hurstonmoves in and out of these distinct voices effortlessly, seamlessly,just as she does in Their Eyes to chart Janie's coming to consciousness.It is this usage of a divided voice, a double voice unreconciled,that strikes me as her great achievement, a verbal analogue ofher double experiences as a woman in a male-dominated worldand as a black person in a nonblack world, a woman writer's revisionof W. E. B. Du Bois's metaphor of "double-consciousness"for the hyphenated African-American.Her language, variegated by the twin voices that intertwinethroughout the text, retains the power to unsettle.There is something about poverty that smells like death. Deaddreams dropping off the heart like leaves in a dry season and rottingaround the feet; impulses smothered too long in the fetidair of underground caves. The soul lives in a sickly air. People canbe slave-ships in shoes.Elsewhere she analyzes black "idioms" used by a culture"raised on simile and invective. They know how to call names,"she concludes, then lists some, such as 'gator-mouthed, boxankled,puzzle-gutted, shovel-footed: "Eyes looking like skintginnynuts, and mouth looking like a dishpan full of broke-upcrockery!"

204 ap AfterwordImmediately following the passage about her mother'sdeath, she writes:The Master-Maker in His making had made Old Death. Madehim with big, soft feet and square toes. Made him with a facethat reflects the face of all things, but neither changes itself,nor is mirrored anywhere. Made the body of death out of infinitehunger. Made a weapon of his hand to satisfy his needs.This was the morning of the day of the beginning of things.Language, in these passages, is not merely "adornment," asHurston described a key black linguistic practice; rather, mannerand meaning are perfectly in tune: she says the thing in the mostmeaningful manner. Nor is she being "cute," or pandering to acondescending white readership. She is "naming" emotions, as shesays, in a language both deeply personal and culturally specific.The second reason that Dust Tracks succeeds as literaturearises from the first: Hurston's unresolved tension between herdouble voices signifies her full understanding of modernism.Hurston uses the two voices in her text to celebrate the psychologicalfragmentation both of modernity and of the black American.As Barbara Johnson has written, hers is a rhetoric of division,rather than a fiction of psychological or cultural unity. ZoraNeale Hurston, the "real" Zora Neale Hurston that we long tolocate in this text, dwells in the silence that separates these twovoices: she is both, and neither; bilingual, and mute. This strategyhelps to explain her attraction to so many contemporary criticsand writers, who can turn to her works again and again onlyto be startled at her remarkable artistry.But the life that Hurston could write was not the life she couldlive. In fact, Hurston's life, so much more readily than does the standardsociological rendering, reveals how economic limits determine

Afterword Igt• 205our choices even more than does violence or love. Put simply,Hurston wrote well when she was comfortable, wrote poorly whenshe was not. Financial problems—book sales, grants and fellowshipstoo few and too paltry, ignorant editors and a smothering patron—produced the sort of dependence that affects, if not determines, herstyle, a relation she explored somewhat ironically in "What WhitePublishers Won't Print." We cannot oversimplify the relationbetween Hurston's art and her life; nor can we reduce the complexityof her postwar politics, which, rooted in her distaste for the pathologicalimage of blacks, were markedly conservative and Republican.Nor can we sentimentalize her disastrous final decade, whenshe found herself working as a maid on the very day the SaturdayEvening Post published her short story "Conscience of the Court"and often found herself without money, surviving after 1957 onunemployment benefits, substitute teaching, and welfare checks."In her last days," Hemenway concludes dispassionately, "Zoralived a difficult life—alone, proud, ill, obsessed with a book shecould not finish."The excavation of her buried life helped a new generation readHurston again. But ultimately we must find Hurston's legacy inher art, where she "ploughed up some literacy and laid by somealphabets." Her importance rests with the legacy of fiction andlore she constructed so cannily. As Hurston herself noted, "Rollyour eyes in ecstasy and ape his every move, but until we haveplaced something upon his street corner that is our own, we areright back where we were when they filed our iron collar off." If,as a friend eulogized, "She didn't come to you empty," then shedoes not leave black literature empty. If her earlier obscurity andneglect today seem inconceivable, perhaps now, as she wrote ofMoses, she has "crossed over."HENRY LOUIS GATES, JR.

Selected BibliographyWORKS BY ZORA NEALE HURSTONJonah's Gourd Vine. Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott, 1934.Mules and Men. Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott, 1935.Their Eyes Were Watching God. Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott,1937.Tell My Horse. Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott, 1938.Moses, Man of the Mountain. Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott, 1939.Dust Tracks on a Road. Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott, 1942.Seraph on the Suwanee. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1948.I Love Myself When I Am Laughing . . . & Then Again When I AmLooking Mean and Impressive: A Zora Neale Hurston Reader.Edited by Alice Walker. Old Westbury, N.Y.: The FeministPress, 1979.The Sanctified Church. Edited by Toni. Cade Bambara. Berkeley:Turtle Island, 1981.Spunk: The Selected Short Stories of Zora Neale Hurston. Berkeley:Turtle Island, 1985.

208 as Selected BibliographyWORKS ABOUT ZORA NEALE HURSTONBaker, Houston A., Jr. Blues, Ideology, and Afro-American Literature:A Vernacular Theory, pp. 15-63. Chicago: University ofChicago Press, 1984.Bloom, Harold, ed. Zora Neale Hurston. New York: ChelseaHouse, 1986.—, ed. Zora Neale Hurston's "Their Eyes Were Watching God."New York: Chelsea House, 1987.Byrd, James W. "Zora Neale Hurston: A Novel Folklorist." TennesseeFolklore Society Bulletin 21 (1955): 37-41.Cooke, Michael G. "Solitude: The Beginnings of Self-Realizationin Zora Neale Hurston, Richard Wright, and Ralph Ellison."In Michael G. Cooke, Afro-American Literature in the TwentiethCentury, pp. 71-110. New Haven: Yale University Press,1984.Dance, Daryl C. "Zora Neale Hurston." In American WomenWriters: Bibliographical Essays, edited by Maurice Duke, et al.Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press, 1983.Gates, Henry Louis, Jr. "The Speakerly Text." In Henry LouisGates, Jr., The Signifying Monkey, pp. 170-217. New York:Oxford University Press, 1988.Giles, James R. "The Significance of Time in Zora NealeHurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God." Negro AmericanLiterature Forum 6 (Summer 1972): 52-53,60.Hemenway, Robert E. Zora Neale Hurston: A Literary Biography.Chicago: University of Illinois Press, 1977.Holloway, Karla. The Character of the Word: The Texts of ZoraNeale Hurston. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press, 1987.Holt, Elvin. "Zora Neale Hurston." In Fifty Southern WritersAfter 1900, edited by Joseph M. Flura and Robert Bain, pp.259-69. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press, 1987.

Selected Bibliography III 209Howard, Lillie Pearl. Zora Neale Hurston. Boston: Twayne, 1980.—. "Zora Neale Hurston." In Dictionary of Literary Biography,vol. 51, edited by Trudier Harris, pp. 133-45. Detroit: Gale,1987.Jackson, Blyden. "Some Negroes in the Land of Goshen." TennesseeFolklore Society Bulletin 19 (4) (December 1953):103-7.Johnson, Barbara. "Metaphor, Metonymy, and Voice in TheirEyes." In Black Literature and Literary Theory, edited byHenry Louis Gates, Jr., pp. 205-21. New York: Methuen,1984.—. "Thresholds of Difference: Structures of Address in ZoraNeale Hurston." In "Race," Writing and Difference, edited byHenry Lewis Gates, Jr. Chicago: University of Chicago Press,1986.Jordan, June. "On Richard Wright and Zora Neale Hurston."Black World 23 (10) (August 1974): 4-8.Kubitschek, Missy Dehn. " `Tuh de Horizon and Back': TheFemale Quest in Their Eyes." Black American LiteratureForum 17 (3) (Fall 1983): 109-15.Lionnet, Francoise. "Autoethnography: The Anarchic Style ofDust Tracks on a Road." In Francoise Lionnet, AutobiographicalVoices: Race, Gender, Self-Portraiture, pp. 97-130. Ithaca:Cornell University Press, 1989.Lupton, Mary Jane. "Zora Neale Hurston and the Survival of theFemale." Southern Literary Journal 15 (Fall 1982): 45-54.Meese, Elizabeth. "Orality and Textuality in Zora Neale Hurston'sTheir Eyes." In Elizabeth Meese, Crossing the Double Cross: ThePractice of Feminist Criticism, pp. 39-55. Chapel Hill: Universityof North Carolina Press, 1986.Newson, Adele S. Zora Neale Hurston: A Reference Guide.Boston: G. K. Hall, 1987.

210 As Selected BibliographyRayson, Ann. "Dust Tracks on a Road: Zora Neale Hurston andthe Form of Black Autobiography." Negro American LiteratureForum 7 (Summer 1973): 42-44.Sheffey, Ruthe T., ed. A Rainbow Round Her Shoulder: The ZoraNeale Hurston Symposium Papers. Baltimore: Morgan StateUniversity Press, 1982.Smith, Barbara. "Sexual Politics and the Fiction of Zora NealeHurston." Radical Teacher 8 (May 1978): 26-30.Stepto, Robert B. From Behind the Veil. Urbana: University of IllinoisPress, 1979.Walker, Alice. "In Search of Zora Neale Hurston." Ms., March1975, pp. 74-79,85-89.Wall, Cheryl A. "Zora Neale Hurston: Changing Her OwnWords." In American Novelists Revisited: Essays in FeministCriticism, edited by Fritz Fleischmann, pp. 370-93. Boston:G. K Hall, 1982.Washington, Mary Helen. "Zora Neale Hurston: A Woman Halfin Shadow." Introduction to I Love Myself When I Am Laughing,edited by Alice Walker. Old Westbury, N.Y.: FeministPress, 1979.—. " 'I Love the Way Janie Crawford Left Her Husbands': ZoraNeale Hurston's Emergent Female Hero." In Mary HelenWashington, Invented Lives: Narratives of Black Women,1860-1960. New York: Anchor Press, 1987.Willis, Miriam. "Folklore and the Creative Artist: Lydia Cabreraand Zora Neale Hurston." CLA Journal 27 (September1983): 81-90.Wolff, Maria Tai. "Listening and Living: Reading and Experiencein Their Eyes." BALF 16 (1) (Spring 1982): 29-33.

ChronologyJanuary 7,1891Born in Eatonville, Florida, the fifth of eightchildren, to John Hurston, a carpenter andBaptist preacher, and Lucy Potts Hurston,a former schoolteacher.September 1917—June 1918Attends Morgan Academy in Baltimore,completing the high school requirements.Summer 1918Works as a waitress in a nightclub and a manicuristin a black-owned barbershop that servesonly whites.1918-19 Attends Howard Prep School, Washington,D.C.1919-24 Attends Howard University; receives an associatedegree in 1920.1921 Publishes her first story, "John Redding Goesto Sea," in the Stylus, the campus literarysociety's magazine.

212 40 ChronologyDecember 1924 Publishes "Drenched in Light," a short story,in Opportunity.1925 Submits a story, "Spunk," and a play, ColorStruck, to Opportunity's literary contest. Bothwin second-place awards; publishes "Spunk"in the June number.1925-27 Attends Barnard College, studying anthropologywith Franz Boas.1926 Begins field work for Boas in Harlem.January 1926 Publishes "John Redding Goes to Sea"in Opportunity.Summer 1926 Organizes Fire! with Langston Hughesand Wallace Thurman; they publish only oneissue, in November 1926. The issue includesHurston's "Sweat."August 1926 Publishes "Muttsy" in Opportunity.September 1926 Publishes "Possum or Pig" in the Forum.September— Publishes "The Eatonville Anthology" inNovember 1926 the Messenger.1927 Publishes The First One, a play, in Charles S.Johnson's Ebony and Topaz.February 1927 Goes to Florida to collect folklore.

Chronology 213May 19,1927 Marries Herbert Sheen.September 1927 First visits Mrs. Rufus Osgood Mason, seekingpatronage.October 1927 Publishes an account of the black settlementat St. Augustine, Florida, in the Journal ofNegro History; also in this issue: "Cudjo'sOwn Story of the Last African Slaver."December 1927 Signs a contract with Mason, enabling her toreturn to the South to collect folklore.1928 Satirized as "Sweetie Mae Carr" in WallaceThurman's novel about the Harlem RenaissanceInfants of the Spring; receivesa bachelor of arts degree from Barnard.January 1928Relations with Sheen break off.May 1928Publishes "How It Feels to Be Colored Me"in the World Tomorrow.1930-32Organizes the field notes that becomeMules and Men.May—June 1930Works on the play Mule Bone withLangston Hughes.1931 Publishes "Hoodoo in America" in theJournal of American Folklore.

214 arip ChronologyFebruary 1931 Breaks with Langston Hughes over theauthorship of Mule Bone.July 7, 1931 Divorces Sheen.September 1931 Writes for a theatrical revue called Fast andFurious.January 1932 Writes and stages a theatrical revue calledThe Great Day, first performed on January 10on Broadway at the John Golden Theatre;works with the creative literature departmentof Rollins College, Winter Park, Florida, toproduce a concert program of Negro music.1933 Writes "The Fiery Chariot."January 1933 Stages From Sun to Sun (a version of GreatDay) at Rollins College.August 1933 Publishes "The Gilded Six-Bits" in Story.1934 Publishes six essays in Nancy Cunard's anthology,Negro.January 1934 Goes to Bethune-Cookman College to establisha school of dramatic arts "based on pureNegro expression."May 1934 Publishes Jonah's Gourd Vine, originally titledBig Nigger; it is a Book-of-the-Month Clubselection.

Chronology 10 215September 1934 Publishes "The Fire and the Cloud" in theChallenge.November 1934 Singing Steel (a version of Great Day) performedin Chicago.January 1935 Makes an abortive attempt to study for aPh.D in anthropology at Columbia Universityon a fellowship from the Rosenwald Foundation.In fact, she seldom attends classes.August 1935 Joins the WPA Federal Theatre Project as a"dramatic coach."October 1935 Mules and Men published.March 1936 Awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship to studyWest Indian Obeah practices.September 1936April— In Jamaica.September— In Haiti; writes Their Eyes Were WatchingMarch 1937 God in seven weeks.May 1937 Returns to Haiti on a renewed Guggenheim.September 1937 Returns to the United States; Their Eyes WereWatching God published, September 18.February— Writes Tell My Horse; it is published theMarch 1938 same year.

216 lip ChronologyApril 1938 Joins the Federal Writers Project in Florida towork on The Florida Negro.1939 Publishes "Now Take Noses" in CordiallyYours.June 1939 Receives an honorary Doctor of Lettersdegree from Morgan State College.June 27, 1939 Marries Albert Price III in Florida.Summer 1939 Hired as a drama instructor by North CarolinaCollege for Negroes at Durham; meetsPaul Green, professor of drama, at the Universityof North Carolina.November 1939 Moses, Man of the Mountain published.February 1940 Files for divorce from Price, though the twoare reconciled briefly.Summer 1940 Makes a folklore-collecting trip to South Carolina.Spring—July 1941 Writes Dust Tracks on a Road.July 1941 Publishes "Cock Robin, Beale Street" in theSouthern Literary Messenger.October 1941— Works as a story consultant at ParamountJanuary 1942 Pictures.

Chronology 217July 1942Publishes "Story in Harlem Slang" in theAmerican Mercury.September 5,1942Publishes a profile of Lawrence Silas in theSaturday Evening Post.November 1942Dust Tracks on a Road published.February 1943Awarded the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award inRace Relations for Dust Tracks; on the coverof the Saturday Review.March 1943 Receives Howard University's DistinguishedAlumni Award.May 1943 Publishes "The 'Pet Negro' Syndrome" inthe American Mercury.November 1943 Divorce from Price granted.June 1944 Publishes "My Most Humiliating Jim CrowExperience" in the Negro Digest.1945 Writes Mrs. Doctor; it is rejected by Lippincott.March 1945 Publishes "The Rise of the Begging Joints" inthe American Mercury.December 1945 Publishes "Crazy for This Democracy" in theNegro Digest.

218 411, Chronology1947 Publishes a review of Robert Tallant's Voodooin New Orleans in the Journal of AmericanFolklore.May 1947 Goes to British Honduras to research blackcommunities in Central America; writes Seraphon the Suwanee; stays in Honduras untilMarch 1948.September 1948 Falsely accused of molesting a ten-year-oldboy and arrested; case finally dismissed inMarch 1949.October 1948 Seraph on the Suwanee published.March 1950 Publishes "Conscience of the Court" in theSaturday Evening Post, while working as amaid in Rivo Island, Florida.April 1950 Publishes "What White Publishers Won'tPrint" in the Saturday Evening Post.November 1950 Publishes "I Saw Negro Votes Peddled" inthe American Legion magazine.Winter 1950-51 Moves to Belle Glade, Florida.June 1951 Publishes "Why the Negro Won't Buy Communism"in the American Legion magazine.December 8, Publishes "A Negro Voter Sizes Up Taft"1951 in the Saturday Evening Post.

Chronology II& 2191952 Hired by the Pittsburgh Courier to cover theRuby McCollum case.May 1956 Receives an award for "education andhuman relations" at Bethune-CookmanCollege.June 1956 Works as a librarian at Patrick Air Force Basein Florida; fired in 1957.1957-59 Writes a column on "Hoodoo and BlackMagic" for the Fort Pierce Chronicle.1958 Works as a substitute teacher at Lincoln ParkAcademy, Fort Pierce.Early 1959 Suffers a stroke.October 1959 Forced to enter the St. Lucie County WelfareHome.January 28, 1960 Dies in the St. Lucie County Welfare Homeof "hypertensive heart disease"; buried in anunmarked grave in the Garden of HeavenlyRest, Fort Pierce.August 1973 Alice Walker discovers and marks Hurston'sgrave.March 1975 Walker publishes "In Search of Zora NealeHurston," in Ms., launching a Hurston revival.

Their-Eyes-Were-Watching-God-rmrju9

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?