"Been that bad for years," he said. "Old Mayor Teale won't come in here, and what the old mayor won't do, nobody else white will do neither. Except old Mr. Gray from the station house, came in here regular as clockwork three, four times a week, until he went and hung himself, God rest his soul. You're the first white face in here since last February, yes sir, that's for sure. "
"Why won't Teale come in here?" I asked him.
"Man's got a problem," the old guy said. "I figure he don't like to sit all swathed up in the towel while there's a black man standing next to him with a razor. Maybe worried something bad might happen to him. "
"Might something bad happen to him?" I said.
He laughed a short laugh.
"I figure there's a serious risk," he said. "Asshole. "
"So you got enough black cust
