Tishomingo Blues

The woman's voice said, "A beautiful dive, perfectly executed."

Robert said, "See?"

"Our champion," the woman's voice said, "is getting ready now for what's called a spotter three and a half."

De

"A spotter is a back somersault to land back on the diving board. And at night, under these lighting conditions, we hope De

Robert said, "Hey, shit."

"Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, the spotter three and a half requires absolute silence."

"Watch," Robert said. And a moment later said, "Man, perfect. Did you see that?"

"He did a back flip," A

"You don't appreciate it," Robert said, "keep it to yourself, all right? De

"I don't get it-like you're a big fan. On the phone, `Wait till you see this guy.' "

"How many people you know can do what he does?"

"He ever saw what you get into he'd die of fright."

"Listen."

The woman's voice telling the crowd world champion De

A

"He is, but don't know it yet."

"Wait till you see what I'm wearing. Jerry comes in while I'm packing? `Where's the hoop for the hoopskirt?' I said, `Tell me how to get a fucking hoop in the bag and I'll bring it.' I've never had any intention of wearing a hoopskirt. I haven't told him yet, but I'm going to be a quadroon camp follower."

"Cool. You'll be the show."

"Hang a red lantern on the tent."

"How much you charge?"

"I don't know. What do you think, back then?"

"High-class whore? Maybe two bucks. Camp follower? About four bits." He said, "Listen what she's saying."

The woman's voice telling the crowd, "Chickasaw Charlie Hoke, Tishomingo's popular celebrity host, would like to say a few words to you as our champion climbs all the way to the top of that eighty-foot ladder. Charlie?"

Now Charlie's voice came over the speakers.

"Thanks, Diane. Folks, let's give a big hand to Diane Corrigan-Cochrane, the Voice of the North Delta."

"Good crowd," Robert said. "Hundred and a half easy."

"For eighteen years," Charlie's voice told them,

"De

Robert said, "That man is all scam. I can't believe he's never done time."

"You haven't," A

"Jail, no prison. Charlie says he's go

"What about the diver?"

"Go

"But he doesn't know it yet?"

"He don't know shit, but he's learning."

"How'd you do with the house-trailer guy?"

"Manufactured homes they're called. Got him lined up."

"You've been a busy boy." Giving him the look again.

They heard the key in the lock as De

"Hey, Jerry, you just missed the eighty-foot dive, man." It seemed strange, seeing him with a beard.

Jerry took a cashier's check from his pocket, laid it on the table and began opening a bottle of red saying, "How do you know it's eighty feet?"

"I either went up there with a ruler," Robert said, "or I counted the rungs. Take your pick. You win?"

"Course I won. You think I'd play if I lose?" He said to A

"I took a nap while Robert looked at the view."

"The show," Robert said, "it's still on." It didn't make sense to him, A

Robert said, "Listen, I'm go

Wants me to check out his landlady. Says she's fine." It was for A

Jerry was shaking his head. "You're crazy, you know it? This whole business."

"You're go

Jerry stopped him. "Wait. I want to show you my uniform."

They were in Charlie's ten-year-old Cadillac he'd bought used in Memphis, on their way home.

"You did it again," De

"What I said out there? I was making the point of what you have to go through to be a wi

"I've been diving longer'n eighteen years."

"They don't know that. I say eighteen years each, right away it's like I know what you been through."

"Charlie, it was all about you."

"Hey, didn't me and Diane keep referring to you as the world champ? What do you want? All that getting 'em to applaud? You know what I'll never understand? That business about you needing absolute quiet, like a pro golfer getting ready to take his shot, or one of those te

"Anything you talk about," De

"I missed that."

"She said it started in some bar and now it's going around."

"There you are, bar talk."

"She couldn't remember who told her, but thinks it was someone in the sheriff's office. Like one of the clerks."

Charlie didn't say anything.

They got home and went in the house.

Vernice said, "You think I'm terrible, letting you down like that."

So then De