maria took another turn around the ticket office, on the unlikely chance that her bag might somehow be there.
but it was not.
she went back inside the office. she immediately knew she was not alone.
the little old man in the straw hat, the one who had identified the ticket salesman as “the preacher”, was back.
he was slumped on the bench as if he might be asleep, but maria knew that he was not.
“excuse me,” maria asked in a loud voice, in case the old man was deaf, “do you know if there is a pay phone in here?”
“no need to shout, miss, but what did you say?”
“i asked if there was a pay phone here. i need to call pittsburgh.”
“ain’t all phones pay phones, miss? folks allius complaining about their bills. i don’t have one myself.”
maria approached the ticket counter. she could see a phone on a low shelf behind the counter.
“do you think,” maria asked the old man, “that anyone would mind if i used this phone?’
“that is bus company property, miss. i think the bus company would very much mind, and so would old preacher.”
“but - it’s an emergency.” maria told the old man her story about losing her bag. he seemed even less interested or impressed than the waitress in the coffee shop had been.
“don’t sound like no emergency to me,” he said. “anything real valuable in it?”
“um - just my clothes.”
the old man shrugged. “it will turn up. or it won’t.”
“so you don’t think i could use the phone here.”
“i would not advise it.”
maria wondered what the old man would do if she reached for the phone. would he try to wrestle it out of her hand? start shouting?
“is there anyplace else i might find a phone?” she asked. “or anybody?”
the old man did not answer right away. had he fallen asleep?
finally he said, “i can think of one person.”
“and who might that be?’
“old mother jepson. she lives down the road apiece. she has one, so she can listen in on folks.”
“oh. and do you think she might be awake at the time of night?”
“more likely than not. up, and up to no good. she’s a conjure woman, you see. casts spells, and such. maybe you might best stay away from her. being a city person and all.”
“no - i think i will take a chance. columbus took a chance. can you tell me where she lives?”
“just down the road a piece. i can show you, take you there, if you like.”
“why thank you, i very much appreciate it.”
“let’s go then.” the old man stood up. he was taller than he looked sitting down, and not as bent.
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