Corbett Mack: The Life of a Northern Paiute

7. Some Real Old-Timers (1896-1940)

7 Some Real Old-Timers (1896-1940) 118. Never Mix, Never Worry! And so, no more moohoo '00, everybody just start in on that heebee [wine]. ... Drinkin' that all the time, you know.... 'Cause I know I'm doin' that pretty near twenty-five years, partner. Yes, sir! Three time every day.... One glass with every meal. And I can buy that pint, half-gallon, gallon from my boss every night, too-depend on what I got left over.... 'Cause them Aytayay, you know, they don't pay too much.... No, sir! Pretty cheap on the wage! Same as on Saturday night, and [for] all day Sunday, too.... Yes, sir! 'Cause stay drunk all Sunday, too! 'Cause when you're usin' either kind moohoo'oo, a fellow don't wanna drink at all. No, sir! Don't like to use 'em both.... 'Cause you see why? They say, "[You will] lose your mind, [it] you mix!" 'Cause I know I'm that way.... [It] you offer a hophead a drink, why, he won't take it! No, sir! Anyway, I and my wife, we're drinkin' pretty steady after that moohoo '00 business go out of this country, partner.... Just so long [as] Macarini give us our wine! Jackass, that home brew, and [especially] Aytayay homemade wine.... What[ever] they're sellin' to these Indian around here.... 'Cause [it] you don't buy from them Aytayay, why, you just gotta get some wa 'eets taivo [hobo] to buy for you. 'Cause like I already told you, liquor's all closed down 173 174 Corbett Mack that time [Prohibition]; Indian can't drink. Still, you can always get somebody to buy for you. 'Cause I know one guy, Henry Fredericks-he's a nomogwet ; from Sweetwater: father's a taivo, mother is Nuumuu. ... But they always serve him in bar. When he's not drinkin', Henry Fredericks always sayin' how he's a DAtsaman; looked, though, like he's Indian-buy for us all the time.... And same way George Dick.... 'Cause he's also a light [-skinned, i.e., half-breed] guy, you know. Yes, sir! Look pretty near like he's Porty-gese, George Dick: the only light one outta that whole Dick outfit from Coleville.... Anyway, he can [also] buy heebee, George Dick. Help a sufferin' guy out. . . . 'Cause that's pretty near the same as with moohoo'00, that drinkin' business.... Yes, sir! 'Cause them government bull, they're [also] always watchin'. Can give marked money to some crazy Indian, too-to find out by that way who's sellin' and not. ... 'Cause I know that's what crazy Andrew Penrose is doin'. Yes, sir! Help 'em to clean them bootlegger outta these valley.... Then, later on, they open up them bar to these Indian [1953], and some line up and go crazy! Not me.... 'Cause I know I'd rather drink Macarini's wine. Yes, sir! Stay home on my drunk; better that way. 'Cause when I'm home, I know I can drink as much as I want. Yes, sir! 'Cause [I] always have my own jug at home.... But that's one thing I [still] like to know: how come my boss never treat us? Sure is tight that Macarini-Never give I and my wife a treat! And same way, too, Amos don't drink with us, neither. 119. Another Time . .. Another time, I and my wife, we're drinkin', and SS and Irene Thompson, they're with this Indian guy named Poncho. (He's related to Mike Rube, Poncho. Work for Fred Fulstone.) And so they're all drinkin,' walkin' handin -hand down the road; ask us for help. So I do; pack Irene Thompson's baby. . . . That young boy [Benny] she's got. . . . And so, when my wife pass out, why, I make yogho with them two girl! Yes, sir, fuck 'em both! And I tell 'em, too, "Don't tell my wife!" Then [when] I go back to my wife, find her with Poncho! Throw him off! [Yet] another time, I'm fuckin' Catherine Bender ... doggie-style. And she say, "Hurry up, Corbett!" But I can't. 'Cause you see why? I'm drunk! So gee, we sure go crazy with that heebee! Some Real Old-Timers (1896-1940) 175 120. I Am Arrested! And only two times I'm arrested.... You know, drinkin' and get on a...