Roger Washington Jones Quotes

Roger lay on the dusty streets of East Los Angeles; nothing happened there except people picking fights. His family had left him when he was the size of a pea: he was released at the age of seven. His life had consisted of stealing from people. He believed that he had no other choice, he was born to receive bad luck. Until a woman turned his life around: Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones.
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“That woman had everything in that purse, I bet she has those blue suede shoes I want. I would pay millions for those. To bad they are sold out,” explained a little girl with two pigtails that stopped just above her shoulders. Roger was walking across the street, kicking the rock that occasionally appeared before him. His ears were open ready to hear
“No’m.” “But you put yourself in contact with me,” said the woman,”if you think that that contact is not going to last awhile, you got another thought coming. When I get through with you, sir, you are going to remember to remember Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones.” Roger’s face began to break a sweat, he began to struggle as he thought ,“What did I get myself into?” Luella questioned, “What is your name?” “Roger,” he answered. “Then, Roger, you go to that sink and wash your face,” said Luella. “Let the water run until it gets warm,” she said. “Here’s a clean towel.” “You are gonna take me to jail?” Roger questioned, cringing at the thought. “Not with that face, I would not take you nowhere,” said the woman. “Here I am trying to get home to cook me a bite to eat and you snatch my pocketbook! Maybe you ain't been to your supper either, late as it can be. Have you?”
“There’s nobody home at my house,” said Roger, swallowing hard, as he thought about it. “Then we’ll eat,” said Luella, “i believe you’re hungry-or been hungry- to try to snatch my pocketbook.” “I wanted a pair of blue suede shoes,” said
Luella Bates Washington JOnes. “You could of asked me.” “M’am?” The water dripped from his face, Roger turned his head towards her. There was a long pause. Too much silence. He wiped his face clean, the door ws open, “Maybe I can make a run for it,” Roger thought. Luella said, “I were young once and I wanted things I could not get.” Silence broke once more. Roger opened his mouth but no words came out, he frowned. Luella said, “Um-hum! You thought I was going to say but, didn’t you? YOu thought I was going to say, but I didn’t snatch people’s pocketbooks. Well, I wasn't going to say that.” Silence approached the room again. “I have done things, too, which I would not tell you, son-neither the God, if he didn’t already know. So you set down while I fix us something to eat. You might run that comb through your hair so you look presentable.” Roger thought, “I mustn't trust this woman, what if I’m being played?” “Do you need somebody to go to the store,” Roger said, “maybe to get some milk or something?” “Don’t believe I do,” Luella said, “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,” Roger spoke, nodding his