The Tragedy of Brady Sims by Ernest J. Gaines

Author:Ernest J. Gaines
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group
Published: 2017-08-29T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seven

Now Jamison was talking:

“People started seeing a strange car with a California license plate cruising around at night. They saw it cruising up and down East Boulevard in Baton Rouge only at night. They saw it two or three nights before it stopped and two men got out and came into Jimmy’s liquor store. Bert Robillard—you know how he comes into Jimmy’s all dressed up. Dressed from head to foot—suit, tie, shined shoes—order that one drink and go outside to drink it. Didn’t want to be around those sweaty, noisy niggers inside—would go outside. Goes to two more bars—dressed sharp as a tack—order his drinks and go outside to drink it—every night. He was the first one to notice that strange car; and he was standing outside with his drink when they stopped at Jimmy’s. Each one bought a drink—bourbon and water. They asked Jimmy if Louisiana Roy ever came in there. Jimmy told them he didn’t know any Louisiana Roy. Jimmy asked some other people in the place if they knowed a Louisiana Roy. None of them ever heard of a Louisiana Roy. They went outside and asked Bert Robillard if he knowed a Louisiana Roy. Bert Robillard shook his head. They drove around and visited every colored bar in Baton Rouge—no, nobody knowed a Louisiana Roy. They crossed the river. In Port Arthur, they asked about a Louisiana Roy. Nope. They found Bar One, went in and had a drink. But nobody there knowed Louisiana Roy either.

“To show you how fate work, that same night Jean-Pierre drove up to Bar One. He had to drive around before he could find a parking space. He started to park his car, but he must’ve recognized that other car or that California license plate, because he got out of there quick as he could. Jobbo nephew, Plukum, and that crossed-eye sissy from Loddio they called Cuddles was in the car with him—Cuddles in the backseat.”

“See what I mean, see what I mean,” I could hear behind me. He was talking to himself, but loud enough for me to hear him. “Now a crossed-eye sissy I have to put up with. Boy, you pray to God I never run across you in Natchitoches. I’ll make you pay for what I’m missing tonight.”

Jamison continued:

“They went to all the colored places in Port Arthur. Nobody ever heard of a Louisiana Roy. He’s a tall, dark, brown-skinned fellow, on the slim side? Nope, never heard of him.

“Now they started thinking—maybe there wasn’t a Louisiana Roy. Maybe he had made up that name when he came to California. They knew that he was from somewhere around here. Now they started asking people if they knew a family that had gone to California some years back. Many people had gone to California few years back, the people told them. And people started to get suspicious now—who were those two men? Who was this Louisiana Roy?

“Jean-Pierre didn’t go out anymore. Stayed in his room. Had parked his car in the backyard.

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