Doom Fox by Iceberg Slim Read Free Book Online

jiving! Why you signifying 'bout her so tough Pops?'
    Elder Joe up-ends the mug of scotch laced coffee, says 'I'm worried that the lady is too fast for you, which is bad news for a young fighter who is prepping his body and head to be heavyweight champion of the world.'
    He drapes his arm around Junior Joe's shoulders, slurs with visceral passion, 'Don't get trapped now in your young life like I was and blow the chance to live like a king with a world full of luxuries and fabulous broads panting to lay poontang on you after you become champ. Don't wind up like me in the funky ghetto reaming shit for the white boss for chicken feed and trapped in hell with a Jesus crazy old ...'
    The hurt, shocked expression on his stepson's face as he jerks from his embracing arm abruptly sobers him, checks his scotch loosened tongue. Sweat bubbles his forehead as he creaks to his feet, says shakily, 'I'm sorry Lil Joe ... that wasn't my heart speaking about Zen ... just my scotch.'
    Young Joe stares up at him shaking his head incredulously as tears flood his eyes. He whispers in a ragged monotone 'Pops, I can't dig you, cracking you in Hell and bad mouthing Mama after all the years she's been in your corner, slaving to make it with you. Pops, you don't love Mama, don't wanta be with us?'
    'Son, you know I love and cherish you and Zen,' elder Joe whispers with anguished downcast eyes.
    'Pops, me and you been tight like you my real pa. But we gonna fall out if you ever call Mama bad names again.'
    Elder Joe says, 'Son, it won't happen again. I promise. Can you forgive me?' He extends his hand.
    Young Joe stares at it, says, 'I don't know right now Pops.'
    Elder Joe turns and leaves the room with leaden feet. Junior follows him into his bedroom, embraces him, says 'Pops, I forgive you. You still my main man.'
    As they disengage, elder Joe says 'And you mine, Son.'
    Young Joe says, 'I'm not going to bed and leave Mama down there sleeping in her clothes.'
    Elder Joe says, 'I'll go down and wake her up,' as he picks up his pearl grey suit coat to put on a hanger.
    Young Joe snatches the coat and stares at the crimson smudge of Marguerite's lipstick on a lapel. 'Oh Pops!' he exclaims with a contorted face.
    He flings the coat to the carpet, stomps on it, says harshly 'Nigger, you done gone crazy?! You know Mama's got high blood pressure. Heavy stuff like that lipstick could give Mama a stroke. Nigger, don't waste my mama!'
    They freeze at the sound of Zenobia's ponderous feet on the stairway.
    Elder Joe stage whispers, 'Panther Cox's girlfriend branded my coat dancing with me. I ain't never played around on Zen. I swear, Son!'
    Young Joe dashes across the hall into his bedroom and eases the door shut. He gets into bed and cuts off the nightstand light. His need to believe in his stepfather forces him through a wall of doubt to accept the lipstick fable as truth.
    He listens to his parents' conversation: 'Midnight Creeper, is my chile home in one piece from the prize ring?'
    'Yeah Zen, except for a light scratch on his nose that don't matter a hill of beans.'
    'I didn't nap until after midnight. I done told you and told you I don't want my chile in them streets prowling late at night.'
    'We were off the streets, inside playing whist at Panther's with a few fighters and handlers ... Junior's been asleep a long time.'
    Junior Joe hears his mother grunt dubiously, go to her bedroom for a moment, then go into the bathroom. He drifts into sleep listening to her draw a tub of bath water.
    Later, refreshed by her long nap and bath, Zenobia makes up her face. She leaves the bathroom with her bulk swathed in a tent-like white satin bathrobe. She opens elder Joe's bedroom door as Joe is coming out. He pecks her forehead.
    She follows him to the kitchen, stands beside him as he brews coffee, croons 'Big Joe, I brought you some of that catered choclit moosie from the white folks' party you crazy 'bout.'
    'Thank you Zen. I'll eat it tomorrow' he murmurs as he