A Short Short Story

As this is National Women's Month, and I started Women Write Now! to strengthen the voices of women where I live, it is my pleasure to post here a short short story by Ms. Kaye Williams, a member of my writing circle.

Dapper Cat

by Kaye Williams
(c) 2015

      James’ first job in Chicago was as a maintenance man for the housing authority, he was assigned to a building on West Lake Street, an apartment for him and Naomi, his wife, came with the position. They were both gamblers, James liked dominos and Naomi preferred black jack.  Soon after moving in, they began inviting their neighbors over for gambling parties.

     People started showing up to their small, cluttered and dusty apartment after work on Fridays.  Most everyone was from Mississippi, they all talked and laughed loudly, mostly about an ole mule and the girl or the guy they left behind when they jumped on the train bound for Chicago.  They also spoke regularly about the house they grew up in, where they heard gospel songs hummed throughout the day and at night they listened to the tunes of bluesmen such as Muddy Waters. Both sounds found their way to Chicago, it was the Mississippi blues that was always playing at James and Naomi’s casino parties.

     Among the regulars were Doris and Lindsey.  Doris, a beauty queen in her own right, had the looks to be a cover girl on a widely circulated fashion magazine.  Her shoulder length light brown hair was always freshly pressed and tightly curled. Her clothes flattered her, she wore see through blouses with a lace slip and bra clearly visible underneath, and a nice dark skirt, all ways worn much shorter than a church going woman.  She carried herself as though she was available, even asking for it, which is why she showed up at James and Naomi’s.  Lindsey, James’ nephew, always brought the same girl with him. They crammed into the high back chair in the corner, allowing the casino activity to go on without them.

     One Friday night, a tall, thin, dapper “cat” strolled in, capturing everyone’s attention instantly.  An obvious silence came quickly upon the apartment, as Chester, made his way through the small crowd of new friends.  Wearing a fedora, tipped to the right, he stood still once he reached the table.

     James took control of the game, ordered his friend, Eddie, up from the table and motioned for Chester to sit down.  Chester placed his hat on the table before taking the seat.  The regulars knew the scheme as James dealt from a deck that he kept in a drawer next to the table.  The pace picked up, the normal chatter resumed.  Chester recognized that everyone was suspicious of him, his palms started to sweat.  He abruptly asked for a quick bathroom break.  This was an old trick, James along with everyone else at the table had pulled this one before.  They all pulled their guns and followed Chester.   Chester grabbed the bathroom door, opening it, took two steps in and in a single motion, raised the window and jumped.

     The game was over, James claimed the hat as his own, and they all spent the next several hours laughing, to the break of day!