Thankyou ma'am
She was a large women with a large purse that had everything in it but hammer and nails. It had a long strap and she carried it slung across her shoulder. It was about 11 o'clock at night and she was walking alone when a boy ran up behind her and try to snatch her purse. The strap broke with the single tug the boy gave it from behind. But the boy't weight and the weight of the purse combined caused him to lose balance so instead off taking of full blast as he had hoped, the boy fail on his back on the side Walk, and his legs leg flew up. The large women simply turn around and kicked him hard. Then she reached down, picked the boy abbai his shirt front and shook him until his teeth rattled.
After that women sad pick up my pocket book boy and give it here she still held him. But she went down enough to permit him to stoop and pick up her purse then she said now ain't you ashamed of yourself.
Firmly gripped by his shirt front ,the boy said 'yes'm.'
The women sad what did you want to do it for
The boy said I did not aim to
She said you a lie.
By that time to or three people passed stopped turned to look and some stood watching. If I turn you loose will you run asked the women yes ma'am said the boy then I wont turn you loose said the women. She did not release him. I am very sorry lady I am sorry whispered the boy.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. No'm' said the boy.
Then it will get washed this evening said the large women starting up the street dragging the frightened boy behind her. He looked as if he were 14 or 15 frail and willow wild in tennis shoes and blue jeans. The woman said you ought to be my son. I would teach you right from wrong. Least I can do right now is to wash your face. Are you hungry.
No mam set the boy being dragged I just want you turn me loose. Was I bothering you when I turn that corner asked the women .
No mam
But you put yourself in contact with me said the woman if you think that that contact is not going to last a while you got another thought coming. When I get through with you sir you are going to remember. Mrs Washington Jones .
Sweet poked out on the boys face and he began to struggle. Mrs Jones stopped jerked him around in front of her put a half Nelson about his neck and continued to drag him up the street. When she got to her door she dragged the boy inside down a hall and into a large kitchenette furnished room at the rear of the house. She switched on the light and lift the door open. The boy could hear other rumours loughing and talking in the large house. Sum of their doors were open to so he knew he and the women were not alone. The women is still had him by the neck the middle of the room. She said what is your name? Roger answered the boy. Then robber you go to that think and what your face sad the women whereupon she turn him loose at last. Roger looked at the door looked at the women looked at the door and went to the sink. Let the water run until it gets form 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 now here I am trying to get home to cook me a bike to eat and you snatch my pocket book maybe you ain't been to your supper either late as it be. Have you?
They are nobody home at my house said the boy. Then we eat said the women I believe you are hungry or been hungry to try to snatch my pocket book. I want a pair of blue suede shoes said the boy.
Will you did not have to snatch my pocket book to get some suede shoes Mrs Washington Jones you could have asked of me.
Mam mam?
The water dripping from his face the boy looked at her. There was a long pause. A very long pause. After he had dried it again the boy turn around wondering what next. The door was open. He could make a dash for it down the hall. He could run run run run run!
The women was sitting on the day bed after a boy and she said I were young ones and I wanted things I could not get. There was another long pause. The boy mouth opened. Then he frowned not moving frowned.
The women sad um hum! You thought I was going to say but did not you you thought I was going to say but did not snatch peoples pocket books will I was not going to say that.pause. silence. I have done thing to which I would not tell you son neither till God if he did not already know. So you said down while I fix us something to eat. You might run that comb throw your hair so you will look present table.
In another corner of the room behind a screen was a gas plate and an ice box. Mrs Jones got up and went behind a screen. The women did not watch the boy to see if he was going to run now no did she watch her purse which she left behind her on the day bed. But the boy to care to sit on the far side of the room where he thought she could easily se him out of the corner of her eye if she wanted to. He did not trust the women not to trust him. And he did not want to be mistrusted now.
Do you need somebody to go to the store asked the boy maybe to get some milk or something. Don't believe I do sad the women unless you just want sweet milk yourself. I was going to make cocoa out of this canned milk I got here.
That will be fine said the boy. She heated some lima beans and ham she had in the ice box made the cocoa and set the table. The women did not ask the boy anything about where he lived, or his folks, or anything else that would embarrass him. Instead as the ate she told him about her job in a hotel beauty shop that stayed open late what the work was like and how all kinds of women came in and out blondes, redheads and Spanish. Then she cut him a half of her ten-cen cake.
Eat some more son she said.
When they were finished eating the got up and said now here take dys $10 and buy yourself some blue suede shoes. And next time do not make the mistake of latching on to my pocket book nor nobody else's because shoes come by devilish like that will burn your feet. I got to get my rest to now. But I wish you would be have yourself sun from here on in. She lade him down the hall to the front door and opened it. Good night behave yourself boy!
She said looking out into the street.
The boy wanted to say something else other then thank you ma'am to Mrs Washington Jones but he could not do so as he turned at the barren stoop and looked back at the large women in the door. He barely managed to say thank you mam before she shut the door. And he never saw her again.