My Review of a Novel by James McBride
The Shooting
One afternoon, a drunken, 71-year-old Cuffy Jasper (aka: The Deacon) nicknamed Sportcoat, walked up to Deems Clemens, the local drug dealer, and shot him. He did this in The Cause Plaza in front of 16 witnesses.
Some Backstory
Deacon King Kong takes place in the fictional Causeway Housing Project (called The Cause) in New York City. The year is 1969. Like any small town, the residents of The Cause know each other and each other’s business. But that’s not the focus of this amusing tale.
The focus is the old, drunken Sportcoat. He drinks the local brew, King Kong and is driven to set a few things straight.
Christmas Fund
Sportcoat’s late wife, Hettie, collected money weekly from fellow members of the Five Ends Baptist Church. She kept it in a safe place. This was how folks saved for Christmas gifts for the children.
For reasons unknown, Hettie drowned in the river two years prior. She never told anyone where the money was kept. Sportcoat has numerous conversations, or rather, arguments with his dead wife regarding the location of the money. To no avail.
Now that the money was missing, the assumed amount has grown from a few hundred to a few thousand. Sportcoat needs to find it or consider himself obligated to pay out of his own pocket.
Baseball
The Cause used to have a good baseball team. Coached and refereed by Sportcoat. Deems Clemens and his pitching skills brought them to the attention of college scouts. Sportcoat had practically raised Deems, who had no guidance from his drunken mother. Sportcoat taught the boy how to pitch.
Then heroin came into The Cause. Young Deems decided selling drugs was more profitable than playing baseball. Though he did have doubts about selling drugs.
In The Meantime
Just outside The Cause lives an Italian bachelor, Thomas Elefante, carrying on the family business of moving stolen goods. Thomas refuses to get into the drug business. He’s also getting tired. He’d like to find a nice, plump country girl and get married. Move away.
One day, Thomas is visited by an old cellmate of his late father’s. An Irishman called The Governor. Before he dies, the Governor would like Thomas to find an artifact that the elder Elefante hid away. Thomas isn’t interested; he’s got enough to do. That is, until he meets the Governor’s plump and single daughter, Melissa.
Another Irishman, NYPD Sergeant Kevin Mullen, aka: Potts, is planning to retire soon. He loves The Cause and the people who live there. Potts is looking for Sportcoat. If for no other reason than to protect him from the retaliation of the drug suppliers. During his search, Potts meets Sister G. Sister G, a leading member of The Cause community, is smitten with Potts. Potts feels the same. But they don’t talk about that. They mostly talk about finding Sportcoat.
The Cheese
Expensive, white folks’ cheese. It’s delivered to the Cause every month and has done for years. No one knows where it comes from except, maybe, Sister Paul. Sister Paul is 102 years old and lives in a nearby home. Sister Paul and Sportcoat’s late wife were friends. Sportcoat ventures out to visit Sister Paul. Perhaps she will shed some light regarding the whereabouts of the Christmas Fund.
James McBride’s tale is witty, sad, beautiful, and ugly in its depictions of love and of prejudice. The multiple characters and cultures are colorful and captivating. The prose is the result of an obvious love for creative writing. I look forward to reading more of his work.
Note: This blog is sponsored by me, Karen J Adams. Any recommendations or suggestions are purely my own opinion without the exchange of money.
Unpublished work © 2021 Karen J Adams
