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right way. Now why is that?
White
   
I dont know. Why is it?
Black
   
I’d rather hear from you.
White
   
I’ll have to think about it.
Black
   
Okay.

Silence.
White
   
Okay what?
Black
   
Okay go ahead and think about it.
White
   
It might take me a little longer than you to think about something.
Black
   
That’s all right.
White
   
That’s all right.
Black
   
Yes. I mean they’s two ways you can take that remark but I’m goin to take it the good way. It’s just my nature. That way I get to live in my world instead of yours.
White
   
What makes you think mine’s so bad?
Black
   
Oh I dont know as it’s so bad. I know it’s brief.
White
   
All right. Are you ready?
Black
   
I’m ready.
White
   
I think the answer to your question is that the dialectic of the homily always presupposes a ground of evil.
Black
   
Man.
White
   
How’s that.
Black
   
That’s strong as a mare’s breath, Professor. Wouldnt I love to lay some of that shit on the brothers? Whoa. Now. Just the two of us here talkin. In private. What did you just say?
White
   
Your question. The bible is full of cautionary tales. All of literature, for that matter. Tellingus to be careful. Careful of what? Taking a wrong turn. A wrong path. How many wrong paths are there? Their number is legion. How many right paths? Only one. Hence the imbalance you spoke of.
Black
   
Man. I’ll tell you what, Professor. You could go on television. Goodlookin man such as yourself. Did you know that?
White
   
Stop.
Black
   
I’m serious. I wasnt even all that sure you
was
a professor till you laid that shit on me.
White
   
I think you’re having fun at my expense.
Black
   
Aint done no such a thing, Professor.
White
   
Well. I think you are.
Black
   
Honey, I swear I aint. I couldnt say a thing like you just got done sayin. I admire that.
White
   
And why do you keep calling me honey?
Black
   
That’s just the old south talkin. They aint nothin wrong with it. I’ll try and quit if it bothers you.
White
   
I’m just not sure what it means.
Black
   
It means you among friends. It means quit worryin bout everthing.
White
   
That might be easier said than done.
Black
   
Well yes it might. But we just talkin here. Just talkin.
White
   
What else?
Black
   
What else what?
White
   
Any other heresies?
Black
   
At this juncture?
White
   
At this juncture. Yes.
Black
   
Yeah, but I aint tellin you.
White
   
Why not?
Black
   
Cause I aint. Shouldnt of told you what I did.
White
   
Why not?
Black
   
You settin here at my table dead to God as the fallen angels and you waitin on me to lay another heresy on you to clutch to your bosom and help shore you up in your infidelity and I aint goin to do it. That’s all.
White
   
Dont then.
Black
   
Dont worry. I aint.
White
   
I have to go.
Black
   
Ever time the dozens gets a little heavy you got to go.
White
   
What’s the dozens?
Black
   
It aint really even the dozens. It’s really just a discussion.
White
   
What’s the dozens.
Black
   
It’s when two of the brothers stands around insultin one another and the first one gets pissed off loses.
White
   
What is the point of it?
Black
   
Winnin and losin is the point of it. Same as the point of everthing else.
White
   
And you win by making the other guy angry.
Black
   
That’s correct.
White
   
I dont get it.
Black
   
You aint supposed to get it. You white.
White
   
Then why did you tell me?
Black
   
Cause you asked me.
White
   
So if I find you a bit irritating and decide to leave then I lose.
Black
   
Well, like I said, this aint even the dozens. We just talkin.
White
   
But that’s what you think.
Black
   
Oh yeah, that’s what I think.
White
   
Well how long do you think I might have to stay before I could leave without