A woman, Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones, encounters a boy named Roger who tried to steal her pocketbook. Instead of turning him in, she instructs him to wash his face and offers him food, realizing he may be hungry. Roger admits he wanted blue suede shoes, and Mrs. Jones tells him he could have simply asked instead of resorting to stealing. The interaction highlights themes of compassion and understanding.
summerizw this She said, “What is your name?”“Roger,” answered the boy.“Then, Roger, you go to that sink and wash your face,” said the woman, whereupon she turned him loose—at last. Roger looked at the door—looked at the woman—looked at the door—and went to the sink.Let the water run until it gets warm,” she said. “Here’s a clean towel.”“You gonna take me to jail?” asked the boy, bending over the sink.“Not with that face, I would not take you nowhere,” said the woman. “Here I am trying to get home to cook me a bite to eat and you snatch my pocketbook! Maybe, you ain’t been to your supper either, late as it be. Have you?”“There’s nobody home at my house,” said the boy.“Then we’ll eat,” said the woman, “I believe you’re hungry—or been hungry—to try to snatch my pockekbook.”“I wanted a pair of blue suede shoes,” said the boy.“Well, you didn’t have to snatch my pocketbook to get some suede shoes,” said Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones. “You could of asked me.”“M’am?”
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