bg Ferdie Pacheco (Continued from page 16) He pulled on his big gold chain yourself to go to work." Sam Sam said after he had washed "No, that's the point. He Part Two and held a large pocket watch let the boy take the watch key his hands with a garden hose. can't, or won't play it. And The shiny blue Ford delivery in his hand, clicking the lid and wind the watch, a ritual "How are you today?" that's not all. He has a wife, truck pulled into the driveway open with his thumb. A beauti- they had performed hundreds "Fine, Sam, fine. I've got Leona, and she can't or won't at twelve o'clock and a ten year ful melody filled the air, and he of times. As Sam went to the your favorite lunch today. talk." oid boy was waiting with a dust showed it to the boy. back porch, Master Ferdie Picadillo, black beans, rice and "You mean he won't sell the rag in his hand. "Right on time," the boy began to polish the gleaming plantains." piano? Hell, in the middle of Sam carefully rolled up the said. blue car. I window and locked the door. "Master Ferdie, prepare "Good day, Mrs. Pacheco, THE YERRID LAW FIRM "CopyrightedMaterial . SG Syndicated Content Available from Commercial News Providers" The word is procastinate. Look it up. Sam sat at an old linoleurr the depression he could live for covered table, a straight back five years on what.he gets for chair as his seat. His place held that piano." a blue tin plate, a set of cheap "I know, but don't even men- silver from Kress' and a large tion it to him. Hell clam up for mouthed jar of ice tea. a week." Carefully, Sam placed the The thought.of a black man large napkin in his celluloid owning an expensive piano and collar, covering his tie. He not playing it, or attempting pulled up his sleeve garters to sell it, made everyone laugh so that the white cuffs on his and Ferdie would flinch as he striped shirt were out of the would invariably hear one of way. Sam was a fastidious the men end up saying, "Dumb dresser and could not tolerate nigger, owns a piano and can't spots on his vest or shirt. play it." Ferdie could remember the The boy would wince when many nights when guests he heard Samn called a dumb would ask J.B. about Sam's nigger. Ferdie knew better but strange ways. After all he in a Spaniard's home, small certainly wasn't the run of boys did not speak at the sup- the mill helper. J.B. somehow per table unless spoken to by always treated Sam as the the parents. family mystery and the source Ybor City was an enclave of of hilarity. Spain stuck in the middle of "You think it strange that the Southern town of Tampa, my delivery man dresses better Florida. Its inhabitants were than the druggist he calls on?; mostly Spaniards, with a mix- That his truck is shinier than ture of Cubans and Italians, the Bank President's Buick? and they furnished the work Well, here's one for you. Sam force for the expanding cigar owns a grand piano." industry. "Can he play it?" (Continued on page 18) wotuld Iike to alish euer!one an ElnjoJable, gaC us, and Safe 7flerjy S~(3hristmas, 'fappj %ewl AJear and S_ ffappg _i0lidays! Gwendolyn "Gwen" Miller for Tampa City Council, District 1 HAPPY HOLIDAYS!, "e-G ,vpnpnt ert e" iptical advertisement pad for and approved by the Gwen Miller capaigi Committee.(andidate forTampa ity Couni0. District AND BeST WISHES FOR A HAPPY NEW YEAR = ~',: a Joyous New Year from Bill McBride BARNET, BOLT, KIRKWOOD, LONG & MCBRIDE ..-.- e ( f "