De Todo Un Poco

“The Man Who Was Almost a Man”
Richard Wright

Dave struck out across the fields, looking homeward through paling light. Whut’s the use of talking wid em niggers in the field? Anyhow, his mother was putting supper on the table. Them niggers can’t understan nothing. One of these days he was going to get a gun and practice shooting, then they couldn’t talk to him as though he were a littleboy. He slowed, looking at the ground. Shucks, Ah ain scareda them even ef they are biggern me! Aw, Ah know whut Ahma do. Ahm going by ol Joe’s sto n git that Sears Roebuck catlog n look at them guns. Mebbe Ma will lemme buy one when she gits mah pay from ol man Hawkins. Ahma beg her t gimme some money. Ahm ol enough to hava gun. Ahm seventeen. Almost a man. He strode, feeling his longloose-jointed limbs. Shucks, a man oughta hava little gun aftah he done worked hard all day.
He came in sight of Joe’s store. A yellow lantern glowed on the front porch. He mounted steps and went through the screen door, hearing it bang behind him. There was a strong smell of coal oil and mackerel fish. He felt very confident until he saw fat Joe walk in through the rear door, then hiscourage began to ooze.
“Howdy, Dave! Whutcha want?”
“How yuh, Mistah Joe? Aw, Ah don wana buy nothing. Ah jus wanted t see ef yuhd lemme look at tha catlog erwhile.”
“Sure! You wanna see it here?”
“Nawsuh. Ah wans t take it home wid me. Ah’ll bring it back termorrow when Ah come in from the fiels.”
“You planning on buying something?”
“Yessuh.”
“Your ma letting you have your ownmoney now?”
“Shucks. Mistah Joe, Ahm gittin t be a man like anybody else!”
Joe laughed and wiped his greasy white face with a red bandanna.
“Whut you planning on buyin?”
Dave looked at the floor, scratched his head, scratched his thigh, and smiled. Then he looked up shyly.
“Ah’ll tell yuh, Mistah Joe, ef yuh promise yuh won’t tell.”
“I promise.”
“Waal, Ahma buy a gun.”
“A gun? Whutyou want with a gun?”
“Ah wanna keep it.”
“You ain’t nothing but a boy. You don’t need a gun.”
“Aw, lemme have the catalog, Mistah Joe. Ah’ll bring it back.”
Joe walked through the rear door. Dave was elated. He looked around at barrels of sugar and flour. He heard Joe coming back. He craned his neck to see if he were bringing the book. Yeah, he’s got it. Gawddog, he’s got it!“Here, but be sure you bring it back. It’s the only one I got.”
“Sho, Mistah Joe.”
“Say, if you wanna buy a gun, why don’t you buy one from me? I gotta gun to sell.”
“Will it shoot?”
“Sure it’ll shoot.”
“Whut kind is it?”
“Oh, it’s kinda old … a left-hand Wheeler. A pistol. A big one.”
“Is it got bullets in it?”
“It’s loaded.”
“Kin Ah see it?”
“Where’s your money?”
“Whut yuhwan fer it?”
“I’ll let you have it for two dollars.”
“Just two dollahs? Shucks, Ah could buy tha when Ah git mah pay.”
“I’ll have it here when you want it.”
“Awright, suh. Ah be in fer it.”
He went through the door, hearing it slam again behind him. Ahma git some money from Ma n buy me a gun! Only two dollahs! He tucked the thick catalogue under his arm and hurried.
“Where yuhbeen, boy?” His mother held a steaming dish of black-eyed peas.
“Aw, Ma, Ah jus stopped down the road t talk wid the boys.”
“Yuh know bettah t keep suppah waitin.”
He sat down, resting the catalogue on the edge of the table.
“Yuh git up from there and git to the well n wash yosef! Ah ain feedin no hogs in mah house!”
She grabbed his shoulder and pushed him. He stumbled out of the room,then came back to get the catalogue.
“Whut this?”
“Aw, Ma, it’s jusa catlog.”
“Who yuh git it from?”
“From Joe, down at the sto.”
“Waal, thas good. We kin use it in the outhouse.”
“Naw, Ma.” He grabbed for it. “Gimme ma catlog, Ma.” She held onto it and glared at him.
“Quit hollerin at me! Whut’s wrong wid yuh? Yuh crazy?”
“But Ma, please. It am mine! It’s Joe’s!...