≡ high windows ≡

Ret is a black guy Mac knows. When Glasseye, Ret's cousin, disappears, he gets an automobile, to Mac's immense satisfaction. Parked along the curb is a 1968 convertible Delta 88. With rare volubility Ret explains this is his first vehicle since leaving the service. He's been saving up, beyond support of his mother, sister and her crippled husband and another younger sister, plus the time was right, having to cover so much ground lately. "Hey—I'll help you find him—" Ret demurs, noncommittal. "Really—I'll go with you." "Naw, man I know you got things to do."
"Believe it or not, I don't."
"Maybe some other . . ." But Mac's face looks for all the world like it's about to beg please—a nakedness to be avoided at any cost. After some indecision and much glancing around the sidewalk they get into the car and embark down DeSiard.
Before long Mac observes repeating patterns around Third and Fourth, circles between DeSiard and Louisville. "This here's downtown—we ain't going to find him around nowhere close. We'd better head down to Burg Jones—don't y'all live right around Winnsboro road?" Ret pulls over by the newspaper plant and seems to be thinking. He insists on putting the top up. Holes in the fabric and all.
Down Burg Jones Ret is recognized and saluted in typical fashion by other vehicles and pedestrians, nods of the head, a soft raised palm, the pace down here musical, rolling. Unpainted cinderblock washaterias, fried chicken enterprises, abandoned sno-cone stands. The upper limits of the zoo runs along the asphalt, evidenced by mysteriously-bulged hurricane fencing.
Mac is noted with obvious confusion. Sometimes muted hostility. He waves cheerily to all.
"I know this ain't no pretty thing to say, but maybe you ought not come out down here so much. I know you drive around a lot. I mean, it's my own folks, it's not you."
"Never had no problem down here. Only time I ever got shot at, was up in my part of town."
Soon Ret has them in other neighborhoods, heading north up Jackson and out Louisville. "I keep tellin' ya—he won't be around here, but that's cool, I don't mind riding around."