Sailor & Lula by Barry Gifford Page B

ordered two Lone Star beers. The bartender, a tall, heavyset man in his early fifties, served the beers, took Sailor’s money and gave him his change with a big smile.
    â€œThis is a friendly place, son,” said the bartender. “You folks just relax and have a nice time.”
    â€œNo problem,” said Lula. “You got a real fine band here.”
    The bartender smiled again and moved on down the bar.
    â€œYou notice that woman when we come in?” Lula said to Sailor. “The white woman sittin’ by herself?”
    â€œUh huh,” said Sailor.
    â€œWell, she ain’t talked to nobody and ain’t nobody spoke to her that I could tell. What you make of that?”
    â€œHoney, we bein’ strangers here and all, this is the kinda place we don’t want to make nothin’ of nothin’.”
    â€œYou think she’s pretty?”
    Sailor looked at the woman. She lit a new cigarette off a butt, then squashed the butt in an ashtray. She was thirty years old, maybe more. Shoulder-length bleached blond hair, black at the roots. Clear skin, green eyes. Long, straight nose with a small bump on it. She was wearing a low-cut lavender dress that would have emphasized her breasts had she not been so flat chested. Slender.

    â€œI tend to like ’em with a little more meat on the bones,” said Sailor. “Face ain’t bad, though.”
    Lula got quiet and sucked on her beer bottle.
    â€œWhat’s wrong, sweetheart? Somethin’ botherin’ you?”
    â€œAw, it’s just Mama. I been thinkin’ about her. She’s prob’ly worried to death by now.”
    â€œMore than likely.”
    â€œI want to call her and tell her I’m okay. That we’re okay.”
    â€œI ain’t so sure it’s a great idea, but that’s up to you. Just don’t tell her where we are.”
    â€œPardon me?” Lula said to the bartender. “Y’all got a phone here I can use?”
    â€œStraight back by the gents’.”
    â€œBack in a bit,” she said to Sailor, and kissed him on the nose.
    Marietta answered the telephone on the second ring.
    â€œI have a collect call from Lula Fortune,” said the operator. “Will you accept?”
    â€œOf course!” said Marietta. “Lula? Where are you? You all right?”
    â€œI’m fine, Mama. I just wanted to tell you not to worry.”
    â€œWhy, how could I not worry? Not knowin’ what’s happenin’ to you or where you are? Are you with that boy?”
    â€œIf you mean Sailor, Mama, yes I am.”
    â€œAre you comin’ home soon, Lula? I need you here.”
    â€œNeed me for what, Mama? I’m perfectly fine, and safe, too.”
    â€œYou in a dance hall or somethin’? I can hear music behind you.”
    â€œJust a place.”
    â€œReally, Lula, this ain’t right!”
    â€œRight?! Mama, was it right for you to sic Johnnie Farragut on us? How could you do that?”
    â€œDid you run into Johnnie in New Orleans? Lula, are you in New Orleans?”
    â€œNo, Mama, I’m in Mexico, and we’re about to get on a airplane to Argentina!”
    â€œArgentina! Lula, you’re outa your mind. Now you just tell me where you are and I’ll come for you. I won’t say nothin’ to the police about Sailor, I promise. He can do what he wants, I don’t care.”

    â€œMama, I’m hangin’ up this phone now.”
    â€œNo, baby, don’t! Can I send you somethin’? You runnin’ low on money? I’ll wire you some money if you tell me where you are.”
    â€œI ain’t that dumb, Mama. Sailor and I been on a crime spree? Knockin’ off convenience stores all across the South? Ain’t you read about it?”
    Marietta was crying. “Lula? I love you, baby. I just want you to be all right.”
    â€œI am all right, Mama. That’s why I called, to let you know. I gotta