Sho’ nuff—!
LUCY BELLE (shaking her head)
Seem like five yeahs.
(Pause. Lucy Belle sits staring into space. Slim nonchalantly rolls a cigarette.)
SLIM
W’at become ob Jeff?
LUCY BELLE
I don’ know. Dey nevah done nuffin’ ter him. He was in de hospital fo’ a while. He lef’ town soon as he gits out an’ I ain’ nevah seen him since.
SLIM (at length, as he lights the cigarette)
How long is Sam up fo’?