ain't. (strangles a sob.) He done filled every little corner in my heart. Ain't nothing been left out. He done showed his love in every way a man could do. (moans sdadly, triumphantly) I done had love from on high. (rises) I got to pick some flowers for him to rest under because he was that kind of a man - big, and and sweet-smelling and clean, like magnolias. (S
(She enters gate and pulls down a limb and begins to break blooms hurriedly. RUBY sees her and begins to pick roses frantically. Both keep looking off-stage, left. The wierd chant breaks out again right at hand. The group are about to enter, left. LINA comes out of the gate with a large bunch of flowers and stands trying to be brave.)
These flowers in my hand don't keep the water out of my eyes, though.
(sings)
Stand by me, Lord, stand by me
Stand by me, Lord, stand by me
Standing in the world, Lord, the world don't like me
Stand by me, Lord., stand by me.
(The cortege enters. Six men bear a crumpled body on an improvised stretcher. A wide, new board with three short lengths of timber beneath it as handles. RUBY stops picking roses and starts down-stage. EVALINA walks resolutely to meet the group and wipes her eyes and looks lovingly down. Then starts violently, puzzled for a moment. Then joyfully drops the flowers from her hand. A flower or two rolols off on to the ground.)
EVALINA. Tain't Spunk! It's old man Bishop!
WILLIE JOE. Yeah, death took the old man kind of sudden-like.
(They move on. EVALINA nearly bursts with joy. RUBY also expands. The sound of a guitar is heard off left. Joyful. LINA'S feet fly that ways as SPUNK comes walking fast and joyfully.)
SPUNK. Hello, Sugar! How's papa's lil ground angel!
