"Thank You, Ma'am" by Langston Hughes

• Langston Hughes wrote "Thank You, Ma'am."

Plot and Characters

• A large woman walking alone at night is accosted by a boy attempting to steal her purse.
• The strap breaks, and the boy loses balance due to the combined weight of himself and the purse.
• The woman kicks him, picks him up, and shakes him.
• The woman demands the boy pick up her pocketbook.
• When asked why he tried to steal her purse the boy says "I didn't aim to."
• The woman accuses him of lying and asks if she turns him loose, will he run, to which he responds yes.
• Knowing he would run, she does not turn him loose.
• The boy apologizes, and the woman notices his dirty face.
• She drags him to her home despite his protests.
• The boy looks 14 or 15, is frail, and is wearing tennis shoes and blue jeans.
• She states that he should be her son and that she should teach him right from wrong.
• The woman insists on washing his face and asks if he is hungry.
• The boy says he only wants to be turned loose, to which she ignores.
• The woman introduces herself as Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones.
• They enter her kitchenette in a large house with other roomers.
• She makes him wash his face and offers him a clean towel.
• The boy, named Roger, fears being taken to jail.
• She says she would not take him anywhere with a dirty face.
• The woman assumes he tried snatching the pocketbook because he was hungry.
• Roger admits to wanting a pair of blue suede shoes.
• Mrs. Jones points out he could have just asked for the shoes instead of stealing.
• The woman shares that she, too, once wanted things she could not get.
• She admits to doing things she is not proud of.
• The woman tells him to wash his face so he can look presentable.
• Mrs. Jones fixes them something to eat.
• She does not watch him to see if he will run or steal.
• Roger is careful to sit where she can see him, not wanting to be mistrusted.
• The boy offers to go to the store for milk or something.
• She heats some lima beans and ham, makes cocoa, and sets the table.
• The woman avoids asking personal questions that might embarrass the boy.
• She is a hotel beauty-shop worker and discusses here job with him as they ate.
• The woman cuts him a piece of ten-cent cake.
• She gives him ten dollars to buy blue suede shoes.
• She tells him to behave and not repeat this mistake.
• Mrs. Jones states that shoes obtained that way will burn his feet.
• She leads him to the front door, says goodnight, and tells him to behave himself.

Themes

• Roger wants to express more gratitude than just "Thank you, m'am" to Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones.
• He could not say anything else as he looked back at her from the stoop before she shut the door.
• He is not stated to have seen her again.