Chapter 25
Ruby’s was big, dark and smoky. There was a heavy scent of chicory and BBQ sauce in the air. A fat man smoking a chubby cigar sat in the back singing along with Bessie Smith on the jukebox. Everyone was black, except for Neal. The floors were uneven, the walls covered with a mish-mash of artwork of black leaders and athletes. The tables were big, round and shiny and people shouted across the room to one another. Dewalt stood and waved from a back corner, not too far from the cigar smoker. Billie replaced Bessie on the jukebox and Neal wanted to run out the door. As he approached the table, he began to think of excuses: work just called, Annie had an emergency, the press blew up.
“This is Jimmy and Boney,” Dewalt said pointing to the two young men at the table. “My boys, this
