Thank You Ma'am

What prevents Roger from being successful in his attempt to steal Mrs. Jones's purse?

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Roger's attempt to steal Mrs. Jones's purse was futile because of his weight and the weight of the purse. He lost his balance and fell on his back on the sidewalk with his legs up. This gave Mrs. Joness a chance to turn and kick Roger then caught him by his shirt front hence he could not get away. But the boy's weight and the weight of the purse combined caused him to lose his balance so, instead of taking off full blast as he had hoped, the boy fell on his back on the sidewalk, and his legs flew up. the large woman simply turned around and kicked him right square in his blue-jeaned sitter. Then she reached down, picked the boy up by his shirt front, and shook him until his teeth rattled. (Page 1)

What reason does Roger finally give for trying to steal the purse?

Roger explains to Mrs. Jones that he was try to snatch her purse so that he could acquire so pair of blue suede shoes. | I wanted a pair of blue suede shoes, said the boy. (Page 2)

What does Mrs. Jones guess about Roger's home life? What is apparently true of her own home life?

Mrs. Jones thought that Roger would have had someone at home who could at least tell him to wash his face that was dirty. Mrs. Jones lived in a large room with other occupants and the room had a large kitchenette. Um-hum! And your face is dirty. I got a great mind to wash your face for you. Ain't you got nobody home to tell you to wash your face?(Page 1)

Why does Mrs. Jones respond as she does to Roger's attempted theft? What does her attention to Roger indicate about her? Why is her manner so gruff? Why does she give Roger the ten dollars?

Mrs. Jones was trying to teach Roger what is wrong and what is right. She was trying to make Roger more responsible even about his own cleanliness. The attention she gives to Roger indicates that she is sympathetic and she offers to help him despite that fact that her had tried to steal from her. She tends to be gruff since she was a victim of attempted theft and now that she has overpowered Roger who was snatching from her is wants to teach him a lesson on why he should not steal simply to get what he wants. She explains to him that when she was his age she did not have everything she ever wanted hence, Roger is not justified to steal from her to acquire the suede shoes. Mrs. Jones gave Roger the ten dollars so that he could buy the pair of sued shoes that had made him attempt to snatch her purse., Now, here, take this ten dollars and buy

yourself some blue suede shoes. And next time, do not make the mistake of latching onto my

pocketbook nor nobody else because shoes come by devilish like that will burn your feet. I got to

get my rest now. But I wish you would behave yourself, son, from here on in. (Page 2)

How does Roger feel when Mrs. Jones first takes him home? Later, why doesnt he run away when he has the chance? Why does Roger ask if he can go to the store for her? How do you think he feels when he leaves her?

Roger feels scared when Mrs. Jones takes him home he even thinks she is going to take him to jail. Later he does not run away even when h has the chance since he realizes that Mrs. Jones has good intention and she even leave the purse he had tried to snatch her on the day bed. Roger asks if he can go to the store for Mrs. Jones since he now finds her very hospitable and he feels within him he owes it to her. He was trying to give a helping hand to her since she is now good to him having offered him even a place to shower. Roger feels guilty that he had tried steal from Mrs. Jones and then she turns to be very hospitable to him. As he leaves he is short of words to express his gratitude to her. The boy wanted to say something else other than Thank you, mam to Mrs. Luella Bates

Washington Jones, but he couldnt do so as he turned at the barren stoop and looked back at the

large woman in the door. He barely managed to say Thank you before she shut the door. And he

never saw her again.

Do you think that Mrs. Jones's approach to Roger's problem is a good one? Is it practical one? Are the events in the story believable? Explain your answer.

I find Mrs. Jones approach to handling the situation appropriate. It is practical in real life and the story is believable. Mrs. Jones decided to teach Roger on the best way of acquiring what one desires. She says that Rogers should have asked for the suede shoes instead of trying to steal to get them. Mrs. Jones is being hospitable to Roger even after the incidence since she understands how it feels to want something you cannot afford. She tells him that she has done equally bad things when she was young and she is not proud of them. She goes ahead and hosts him even before she knew his name since they were strangers and this really transforms Roger who even offers to go the o the store. At the end Roger is so touch by Mrs. Jones act that he is not able to even thanks her. The woman said, Um-hum! You thought I was going to say but, didnt you? You thought I was

going to say, but I didnt snatch people's pocketbooks. Well, I wasn't going to say that. Pause.

Silence. I have done things, too, which I would not tell you, son neither tell God, if he didn't

already know. So you set down while I fix us something to eat. You might run that comb through

your hair so you will look presentable.(Page 2)