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jurisdiction. And him being black, it'll look like he's stirring trouble with all this stuff going on down there about that guy hanging himself. Then you got the bit about he don't want Florida to know he's sniffing her ass. Add it up, it comes out two plus two equals shit."
    "I appreciate your concern."
    "You feel you just got to do it, leave Leonard here. Not only is he black, in case you haven't noticed, but he's got a smart mouth, same as you. He can't stand to let anyone think they're putting one over on him. Guys in Grovetown, they can't stand a smartass black guy. And it's not like Leonard is quiet about being queer, neither. He ain't bashful, you know what I mean?"
    "I know what you mean."
    "Man, you think a black guy will work their bowels, you add queer to that, toss in you and him together doing your stooge act, it's like throwing gasoline on a fire."
    "Leonard wouldn't let me go by myself, even if I wanted him to. Not since Hanson asked him to go.”
    "That's where Hanson fucked up," Charlie said. "He ain't thought a clear thought in damn near two weeks. He's really messed up. A week from now. A month. He'd know better'n to ask something stupid like that of either of you."
    "Leonard told Hanson he'd go. Leonard says he'll do something, he'll do it, Charlie. You know that."
    Charlie sighed. "I'm too drunk to argue. Let me just sum up here, Hap. You and the Smartest Nigger in the World go to Grovetown, it's askin' for trouble. But if you're goin'—" \">
    He eased his ass up, got his wallet out, unlimbered it, and gave me two hundred and fifty dollars. "You'll need this."
    "I don't want to take it, Charlie, but I got to."
    "I know."
    I put the money in my wallet, said, "I been sitting here wondering how I was going to afford this little trip. I hate to keep sucking off Leonard, and it's not like he's rich either. He sunk a lot of his inheritance into this house. Fixing it up."
    "Well, that ain't really enough money. You're gonna have to dip into Leonard's jack, but as for that two hundred and fifty, don't worry about it."
    "That's good of you, Charlie."
    "Naw it ain't. Ain't my money. Hanson gave that to me to give to you before we left his place."
    *
    I dropped Charlie and his car off at his house and Leonard followed. We wished Charlie a Merry Christmas when he got through puking off the side of his porch, then I drove Leonard's car back to his house while Leonard sat on the passenger side, looked out the window and brooded.
    "Was Raul's stuff gone?” I asked.
    "Yeah. There was one box of his things in there, packed with an address label on it. Had a note asking me to mail it to him at his parents'. Said he'd pay me back. My Christmas present for him was on top of the box. Unopened.
    "This your first spat?"
    "We had one every goddamn day, but I guess this is the worst. We were fighting right before I burned those assholes' house down. I don't even remember what me and him were arguing about. I think that's why I beat those fucks up and burned their place down. I mean, you know, I don't like 'em, and that's the biggest reason, but shit, these days, I get worked up, I burn whatever house is there down. It lets off some tension. "
    "What are you gonna do until they get a new house put up?"
    "I don't know. Squeeze a rubber ball. Jerk off. "
    "And what if the house gets put in there isn't a crack house next time, but some old lady who just wants to putter around her flower garden?"
    "I guess I could go over there nights and pull up her roses. "
    "I can see you've thought this through with options. "
    Leonard tapped his temple with a finger. "Thinking all the time. " He sat for a moment, said: "That goddamn Raul. I kinda thought I was ready for him to go, but you know, I miss him. "
    "Raul seemed okay to me, but it's not like I been around him much. Maybe him going away isn't so bad."
    "That some kind of comment?"
    "I haven't seen much of you lately either, Leonard. It's not like I know anything about y'all's