b9 Ferdie Pacheco (Continued from page 23) and be done with it? them make fun of the piano. the storm blew up, and she was was dying down, the rain let- weak, as though he might faint. When Sam enteredthe room What does it mean to you? Why stuck at the store until the rain ting up. Then slowly fright changed to he found Ferdie with his fist don't you sell it?" stopped. They were alone. They "AI right, but only one anger. Who was this worthless clenched, tears in his eyes, and The lace curtains blew in were isolated from the outside more. If I'm going to tel you black man to call Sam a'dumb his jaw thrust forward. He'd the wind and rain that care world. about jazz we have to begin nigger'? Again, Sam had to seen the look many times in in the half open window. The "What is it Sam, can't you with Scott Joplin." Sam started withstand the jibes about his J.B.'s eyes. floordarkened as the rain play it?" Ferdie was now sob- out a tinkling happy tune, piano and the mute Leona. "Why do you.let them call pooled under it. Sam looked bingout the words, anger and who invented ragtime." Why? Why did he keep taking you a dumb nigger. You're undecided. Obviously Leona -indignation mixed with disap- Sam was playing his happy it? Why not just Sell the piano not! You're notl Why do you let had. left to go shopping before pointment pouring out, lashing tune when he stopped and- at Sweet Sam's heart. looked at the hallway. Leona Sam moved to the piano, stood there with a hurt and adjusting the sleeve garters so furious look on her face, which S that his cuffs were halfwayup caused Sam to instantly close Y his arm. He was deliberate in the piano, and walk Ferdie to 57va./ o-. A/t c /@cy a g -. .. ; the way he lifted the lid from he front door, as if in a rush Sthe keys.-His face was a mask. to get out of her sight. SWithout the rimless glasses The truck pulled up in front i he looked different. He ranhis of the house on Columbus hands ver his wet straight *Drive. No words hd been ,C C o- w{t hair. spoken, only both knew that S' ^ The first notes hit Ferdie like the summer had drawn to a /LX- d a cj ,U a thunderbolt. Theywere-slow, close, and that therewould be harmonious, dep notes, and no more deliveries, no more they were dirge-like in mood. vocabulary tests, no more "I went down to St. James. Cuban sandwiches; no more Infirmary... to see my baby late afternoon bonuses, and no Sthere..." more piano concerts. Sam's eyes' were closed, his Without being asked Ferdie Shigh cheek bones and straight turned to Sam and said, nose gave the boy the impres "Don't worry Sam. I won't sion of- High Plains Indian tell a soul about jazz and the chanting a funereal tune. His piano." voice was strong and sure and Impulsively, Sam hugged very pleasing to the ear. For the him as he had at th end of first time Ferdie heard a dia- every day when Ferdie was a lect in Sweet Sam's voice. He' toddler. had never been out of Tampa "I know you won't," said in his life and had no way of Sam, and rode off down the identifying it as New Orleans -re brick street, ending what- Creole patois. had become the introduction "Let her go, let her go, God of the boy into the perplexing bless her! world of adulthood. Wherever she may be, Part Six She may roam the whole Soon the war came, J.B. world over, decided to go into the retail Shell never find a drugstore business, and Sweet Sweet Sam like me..." Sam was lost in the shuffle. Now the tempo picked up By1948 Ferdie was in col- and Sam swung into the tune, lege and during the Christmas joy leaping from the keyboard break was visiting a friend KRISTOPHER E. FERNANDEZ replacing the sadness of the who worked in an Emergency opening chorus. Ferdie felt it as Room. An old rough looking Attorney At Law his hands flew over the keys, black man was being tended his feet beating time, his eyes to and as he talked Ferdie closed and his smile as wide as become aware that this was 114 S. Fremont the Mississippi. Snow, Sam's old argumenta- Sam came to a stomping tive neighbor. Immediately Tampa, Florida 33606 swinging finale and when he Ferdie asked about Sam. stoplSed he put his hand on "Sam in bad shape. Leona (813) 832-6340 Fax (813) 514-0438 Ferdie's shoulder. died a few years back. Can- "That, Master Ferdie, was cer they say. Took up all his jazz. That's what I did long ago, money. Sold the house. Now but I can't do it no more. And Sam's sick. His heart. Cain't let that be our secret." work. Gets a piece of change "Please. Please, play some from the gub'ment." < more. What is jazz? What does "Where is he? Where does it sound like? Why don't you he live?" Splay it? It sounds great! I never "Oh, on Morgan Street, in heard no one play like that..." Miss Louise Boarding House. Ferdie was excited and happy Has a room there to hisself He and curious all at one time don't see nobody though." and could not stop begging Impulsively Ferdie got into for more. his car and drove straight to Sam looked out the window the Morgan Street Boarding to check the storm. The wind (Continued on page 25) "k ", Fel{ces Pascuas y ? rspero AnAo VNlvuev'o from 'Your Frinends at Heritage Bank, Of Florida West Tampa Office Land O'Lakes'Office 3015 W. ColumbusDrive 23000 StateRoad54 R. R. Berdeal, O .D. Comer of Columbus/MacDill Corner Of Collier Parkway/State Road 54 (813) 873-8663 (813) 909-8663 Eye Care & Wesley Chapel Office Contact Lens Wear 28909 State Road 54 1000 N. Ashley Dr., Suite 512 Westley Chapel, FL 33544 The Times Building (813) 907-3256 Member Downtown Tampa, FL 33602 2 www.heritagebankfl.co m BFD (813) 223-5162 Page 24 Section B/Friday, December 22, 2006