How Long 'Til Black Future Month?

Tookie walks home during a rising hurricane and settles on his porch to watch. A lizard comes up and starts warning him to evacuate before the storm hits, but the man defensively explains he doesn’t have the means to do so. He tells the lizard that he gave his mother all the money he had so that she, her sister, and her sister’s children could survive. He tells the lizard his teachers referred to him as a “waste” and he never amounted to much (375). The lizard challenges this, however, asking him how he has a house if he never amounted to much. Tookie answers honestly, saying he sells marijuana and ecstasy to make ends meet. This relaxes the lizard for a second, but then he perks up and asks if Tookie has any pets that might attack him. Tookie says no and invites the lizard on the porch for some “Vienna sausages” (375). The lizard turns down the invitation and chooses to lay in the rain instead. Tookie glances over at his elderly neighbor Miss Mary’s house—the only other person who didn’t evacuate in his area—then goes inside to take a nap.

The next morning Tookie’s house and street are completely flooded.