Chapter XXI Summary

In chapter twenty-one, Jake and Felice celebrate Saturday night after being together for a week. They go to a nice restaurant, see a movie in so-called Nigger Heaven and go to a cabaret. This is a new cabaret with a distinguished black and white clientele. The cabaret is gaudy with bright decorations, and Felice walks in wearing an elegant orange dress. She and Jake start to dance, and then a fine singer sings a melancholy blues. He sings about not letting someone break his heart. Billy Biasse is also there and buys some champagne for Jake and Felice. Jake meets other friends from the railroad.

Then Jake hears Felice screaming and runs to see his old friend Zeddy grabbing Felice and calling her his woman. Jake stops Zeddy and declares that he is now Felice's new man. Zeddy takes out a...