Story Review of Thank You, M’am

The story Thank you, M’am by Langston Hughes is about a woman and a boy where the boy tries to steal the woman's pocketbook but she cleverly stops him. As the boy is lying on the ground, the woman picks him up and shakes him. He talks to him and asks meaningful questions like, "will you run ", and " why did you try stealing my pocketbook." The boy lies first but begins to trust the women. The woman also begins to soften up to the boy and brings him home. She leaves him alone to clean himself up but when he has the chance to escape, he doesn't take it. The boy volunteers to go shopping for her and she accepts. When he comes back with a cake the woman gives him half of it. After they are done, the women say bye and they never see each other again. This book teaches us about kindness and compassion, forgiveness and second chances, and trust and responsibility.

Kindness and compassion are two synonymous qualities that are wonderful to show to others.They show you care about others’ misfortunes or suffering, which can contribute to making you a great person. In the story, the woman is compassionate because when she stopped Roger from robbing her, she didn’t just call the police. She realizes that he was also suffering so she took the time to understand and help him. “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?”. This shows she cares about him. She is kind when she brings him home and cleans him up. He listens to his thoughts and helps him think through his actions. She even gives him some food after he goes to the store for her. At the end they both soften to each other and they say their goodbyes. Kindness and compassion can have a profound impact on individuals who are in desperate need of help and are facing difficult times.

Forgiveness and second chances show you are willing to give others a new start instead of immediately labeling them as a bad person. This may be challenging for certain people who are victims to others. Ms. Luella was the victim of an attempt to steal her pocketbook and after she stopped Roger. She grabbed him and asked him questions like he was a thief. She starts to pity him after she realizes the situation he is in and gives him a second chance. He brings him to her house and cleans him up. Roger takes this opportunity and even when he could escape, he doesn’t. At the end, Ms.Luella forgives Roger and lets him go just saying “bye”. “I have to get my rest now. But I wish you would behave yourself, son, from here on in.” ” This shows that he hopes the boy will change and the future using the opportunity she gave him. Forgiveness and second chances can give desperate people a chance at fixing their hasty mistakes.This support may help them make changes or even a new start.

Trust is a privilege given to you by others, which comes with the hope that you will use it wisely. They rely on you to act responsibly and make the right decisions.In the story,  “The door was open. He could make a dash for it down the hall. He could run, run, run, run, run!” This was the situation the boy was given but he did the right thing and stayed and showed he was trustworthy to the women. Even though he wasn’t the most responsible at the start, trying to steal the pocketbook, he showed he was trustory and responsible during the end. Then she cut him a half of her ten-cent cake. This was what he got from the store and he could have ran away again but he finished the chore. Trust grows when you show responsibility, as doing the right thing helps others feel they can rely on you.

The story THank you, M’am by Langston Hughes is an inspirational story that teaches us about kindness and compassion, forgiveness and second chances, and trust and responsibility. Kindness and compassion are shown through being sympathetic to other people's misfortune and actually caring about them. Forgiveness and second chances are when you give others second opportunities to redeem themselves and show their best self.  Trust and responsibility are proven and earned rather than given. They are shown by doing the right thing even when nobody's watching. This builds trust between you and others. The women exhibits all these traits and left a mark on Roger so gripping that it changed him for the better.