Jebediah Brown was sleeping under a trellis of Clematis. The fumes from two days of bathing in whisky and beer had left Jeb smelling like a turd. He was curled into ball. Jeb's thumb was stuffed in his mouth, his whole manner gave the impression on an infant. But Jeb was not dreaming the dreams of a child. There were no innocent thoughts converging from the back of his mind..

From this sleep he could see her. Forty years in reverse, forty years in the flash of drink and smoke.

"Maggie, sweet Maggie, why don't you show big Jebby your tits?"
"Jeb stop playing around. You know we can't do this her. Not public. What if somebody sees us?
"
"Baby, it don't matter no ways, this is Harlem. You think this is the first time these boys ever seen a blackie like me snuggling up to purty white muffin like yous.Here, I'll pour yous another bourbon and tea. Now come my little red haired cutes lets you and me dance."
At the sound of the word "dance" Maggie's eyes sparkled.
"Oh Jeb, a woman is always won on the floor."

"Yeah baby shake that thang, Red, Shake that thang"

From under the bush Jeb was smiling. "Maggie, Maggie,Maggie."

Jeb

Muse