“Thank You, Ma’am” by Langston Hughes
Thank You, Ma’am” by Langston Hughes Summary of the Story The story revolves around a teenage boy, Roger, who tries to snatch the purse of a large, strong woman named Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones. However, Roger fails because he is weak and loses his balance. Instead of letting him run away, the woman catches him firmly. Rather than taking him to the police, she drags him to her house. Roger is frightened and expects punishment. But to his surprise, Mrs. Jones treats him kindly. She asks him to wash his face and prepares food for him. Roger confesses that he wanted the money to buy a pair of blue suede shoes. Mrs. Jones does not scold him harshly. Instead, she understands his situation and tells him that she too has done wrong things in her life. After feeding him, she gives him ten dollars to buy the shoes—but advises him to behave properly in the future. Roger is deeply moved by her kindness. When he leaves, he wants to say more than just “Thank you, Ma’am,” but he cannot find ...