Home To Harlem

XV. RELAPSE

RELAPSE XV S l L L Y BIASSE telephoned to the doctor, a young chocolate-complexioned man. He was graduate of a Negro medical college in Tennessee and of Columbia University. He was struggling to overcome the prejudices of the black populace against Negro doctors and wedge himself in among the Jewish doctors that prescribed for the Harlem clientele. A clever man, he was trying, through Democratic influence, to get an appointment in one of the New York hospitals. Such an achievement would put him all over the Negro press and get him all the practice and more than he could handle in the Belt. Ray had sent Jake to him. . . • The landlady brought Jake a rum punch. He shook his head. With a premonition of tragedy, she waited for the doctor, standing E219] Home to Harlem against the chiffonier, a blue cloth carelessly knotted round her head. . . . In the corridor she questioned Billy Biasse about Jake's seizure. "All you younger generation in Harlem don't know no God," she accused Billy and indicted Young Harlem. "All you know is cabarets and movies and the young gals them exposing them legs a theirs in them jumper frocks." "I wouldn't know 'bout that," said Billy. "You all ought to know, though, and think of God Almighty before the trumpet sound and it's too late foh black sinners. I nevah seen so many trifling and ungodly niggers as there is in this heah Harlem." She thought of the broken white bowl. "And I done had a warning from heaben." The doctor arrived. Ordered a hot-water bottle for Jake's belly and a hot lemon drink. There was no other remedy to help him but what he had been taking. "You've been drinking," the doctor said. "Jest a li'l' beer," Jake murmured. [220] Relapse "O Lawdy! though, listen at him!" cried the landlady. "Mister, if he done had a glass, he had a barrel a day. Ain't I been getting it foh him?" "Beer is the worst form of alcohol you could ever take in your state," said the doctor. "Couldn't be anything worse. Better you had taken wine." Jake growled that he didn't like wine. "It's up to you to get well," said the doctor. "You have been ill like: that before. It's a simple affair if you will be careful and quiet for a little while. But it's very dangerous if you are foolish. I know you chaps take those things lightly. But you shouldn't, for the consequences are very dangerous." Two days later Ray's diner returned to New York. It was early afternoon and the crew went over to the yards to get the stock for the next trip. And after stocking up Ray went directly to see Jake. Jake was getting along all right again. But Ray was alarmed when he heard of his re- [ 221 ] Home to Harlem lapse. Indeed, Ray was too easily moved for the world he lived in. The delicate-fibered mechanism of his being responded to sensations that were entirely beyond Jake's comprehension . "The doctor done hand me his. The landlady stahted warning me against sin with her mouth stinking with gin. And now mah chappie 's gwina join the gang." Jake laughed heartily. "But you must be careful, Jake. You7 re too sensible not to know good advice from bad." "Oh, sure, chappie, I'll take care. I don't wanta be crippled up as the doctor says I might. Mah laigs got many moh miles to run yet, chasing after the sweet stuff o' life, chappie." "Good oh Jake I I know you love life too much to make a fool of yourself like so many of those other fellows. I've never knew that this thing was so common until I started working on the railroad. You know the fourth had to lay off this trip." "You don't say!" [ 222 ] Relapse "Yes, he's got a mean one. And the second cook on Bowman's diner he's been in a chronic way for about three months." "But how does he get by the doctor? All them crews is examined every week." "Hm! . . ." Ray glanced carelessly through The Amsterdam News. "I saw Madame Laura in Fairmount Park and I told her...