Chapter 18
Little Street Docks
“MR. REEMS, I thought the bill needed to be paid next week. Irishtown isn’t safe for a Colored man at night,” Horace explained to his boss.
“Listen, Horace, you’re doing a good job, but paying bills on time is important. You’re the bookkeeper and you should understand the payment dates for all the bills. I shouldn’t be the one telling you.”
“Sir, Irishtown at night…I can’t…”
“Goddamn, Horace. My wife warned me about this—hiring a Darkey for a White man’s job. You take this payment over to our supplier before they close, or we can’t do our work tomorrow. This is your job, and either you’ll do all of it, or you’ll do none of it. Your choice.”
Horace resigned himself to making the trip in the interest of maintaining his employment, and headed out to the wo
