Thank You Ma'am Alternate ending

Thank you ma’am response

By: Elias Dorsey

Authors note: In this alternate ending to the story “Thank you ma’am” by Langston Hughes, Roger returns to his path of thievery and greed, only to realize what he’d done

            After that woman took me in, housed me, fed me, I knew I wanted to change my ways from there on out. I went home, brushed my teeth and washed my face then proceeded to turn over a new leaf. I said to myself in my bathroom mirror “I can do this.” Then went to bed. The next day I wanted to go to school but I saw my friends outside waiting for me to meet them in the alley outside my neighbor’s apartment. I chose meeting them rather than going to school.

Bad decision number one. When I met them they were passing a cigarette between them. They offered me a cigarette and a lighter. I took it. Terrible decision number two. My friend, Dominic, then explained how they had all planned to rob this one ladies house. They said her name was Luella Bates Washington Jones.  I was too stunned to speak. Remembering what she taught me I had realized I was ashamed of myself. I knew that if she’d seen what I had done today, she would be ashamed as well. So I ran. I ran as fast as I could straight to Ms. Jones’s house and told her what had happened. She immediately sympathized for me and forgave me for the mistakes and took me in. Ms. Jones gave me a home, knowing I didn’t have one, or parents for that matter.

            It seemed as though she felt my pain, like she had experienced it before. The pain of losing your parents at young age, of being alone at home everyday even though that wasn’t even the case for her. I knew I was in good hands. She was nice enough to take care of me. She taught me everything I know. Manners, the dangers of living on the streets alone, even though it’s been ten years from then and my caretaker Ms. Jones has passed on, I’m still thankful she raised me. RIP Ms. Luella Bates Washington Jones.