The Stonemason(3)

MAMA No, you just come in to set the table.

Soldier drags himself to the cupboard and takes down the plates.

MAMA And when you get done with that holler upstairs at Big Ben.

PAPAW Everything be covered up.

MAMA Benny, I done told you all now.

PAPAW Too cold to mix mud and that's for sure.

BEN I'm not going to do any work out there. I'm just going to haul a load of stone out.

MAMA You ain't takin him no place in Old Blue. That thing ain't got no heater in it.

There are heavy footsteps on the stairs overhead, BIG BEN, Ben's father, enters the kitchen. He is wearing slippers and a pair of tan gabardine slacks with suspenders over a long sleeved winter undershirt. He has on three or four very expensive rings that he wears when not working. He weighs over two hundred and fifty pounds and he goes to the stove with the rolling gait of heavy people and takes his cup and pours coffee from the percolator.

MAMA That ain't done perkin.

He continues to pour and then takes up his cup and takes his watch out of his pocket although there is an electric clock on the stove and another clock on the wall. He puts the watch back in his pocket and shuffles back across the kitchen and out the door.

BEN (To Papaw) You want some coffee?

PAPAW Might have just a little coffee this mornin.

Ben goes to the stove and takes two cups and pours coffee. Mama is busy cooking at the stove. In the front room offstage the door slams.

BIG BEN (Offstage) Who got the paper?

MAMA Ain't nobody got the paper. He ain't run yet.

Ben takes the cups to the woodstove and gives one to his grandfather. Mama takes a platter of sausage to the table.

MAMA You all come on now.

Ben and Papaw start towards the table. Soldier reaches and takes a patty of sausage from the platter and it is on the way to his mouth with it when she intercepts it and puts it back on the platter and slaps him on the back of the head with her open hand and sets the platter down all in one motion as if she'd had practice at it.

MAMA Get the chair boy, get the chair. You all come on now. Carlotta! Benny where's Maven? I ain't cookin no two breakfasts.

Ben's sister CARLOTTA enters on her high heels dressed for work. Soldier brings the extra chair from its place against the wall and Ben goes to the door and calls downstairs for Maven. Big Ben appears and takes his place at the head of the table and begins to help his plate to eggs. Ben comes to the table and Mama brings the percolator from the stove and sets it on the table.

MAMA Carlotta, did you want to say grace?

CARLOTTA Bless O Lord this food to our nourishment and us to thy service. Amen.

FAMILY Amen.

BIG BEN Where's Maven?

Ben pushes his chair back and rises.

MAMA Set still. Soldier you run downstairs and see if she comin to breakfast this mornin.

BEN I'll go.

MAMA Maybe she sick.

SOLDIER What she got?

MAMA Just eat, boy.

Ben exits. The family continues to eat, to pass plates. A radio on the sideboard is giving local news, the volume comes up slowly.

CARLOTTA What do they say about school?

SOLDIER Ain't said nothin yet that I heard.

MAMA Well you better be for findin out.

SOLDIER Well let me call Jeffrey.

MAMA How he supposed to know?

SOLDIER Cause he the man that knows, that's how.

CARLOTTA Don't smart mouth your grandmama.

SOLDIER Ain't smart mouthin nobody. She ast me and I told her.

CARLOTTA And don't smart mouth me either. And you better stay away from that boy. If he's not on his way to the penitentiary there's no use in having one.

SOLDIER Shoot.

Big Ben casts a suspicious glance at Soldier. Soldier crams a last forkful of food into his mouth and rises from the table. He makes his way around the table and goes to the telephone on the sideboard and dials a number. He stands with his back to the table and puts his thumb down on the receiver. He talks a little too loud. The family continues to eat.

BIG BEN Pass the preserves yonder, Carlotta.

SOLDIER Yeah. Soldier. You heard anything bout school? Mm hm. Ain't goin be none. Called your mama? Yeah. On the radio too? Naw we didn't hear it. Bout half a hour ago?

The telephone rings. Soldier freezes. The family at the table stop eating and look at Soldier. The telephone rings again. Carlotta and Mama rise at the same moment. Soldier holds the telephone away from his ear and looks at it and puts it to his ear again.

SOLDIER Hello? Hello?

Ben enters the kitchen. The phone rings again. Carlotta reaches Soldier first.

MAMA Fool. If I don't put a knot on your head.

SOLDIER There's somethin wrong with this phone.

Carlotta snatches the phone from him and raps him on the top of the head with it.

SOLDIER Ow!

CARLOTTA (Putting the receiver to her ear) Hello. Yes. Hi Jenny.

Soldier goes wide around Mama, who is taking her place at the table again. He is holding the top of his head.

SOLDIER Shit.

BIG BEN What did you say?

Soldier mutters something that no one can hear. Big Ben reaches down the table and takes a swipe at him. Soldier ducks and falls backward and the chair goes to the floor. Big Ben stands up to deal with him further and Mama stands up and takes Big Ben by the arm.