U 8.

THANK YOU, MA’AM

Reading.
A. Answer these questions.
1. When the boy tugged at the woman’s purse, the strap broke with a single tug .The boy’s weight
and the weight of the purse combined caused him to lose his balance. So, instead of running away,
the boy fell on his back on the sidewalk. The woman kicked him and held on to him tightly.
2. The boy expected Mrs. Jones to catch him and hand him over to the police.
3. Mrs. Jones took Roger to her house and made him wash his face and gave him food to eat.
4. Mrs. Jones gave Roger ten dollars to buy himself a pair of blue, suede shoes.
5a. Mrs. Jones is talking about shoes that are bought using stolen money.
5b. It means that if you steal money to buy shoes, eventually, the guilt will make you feel bad. She
means that shoes bought with stolen money won’t be comfortable and he won’t enjoy wearing
them.
B. Complete these sentences.
1. Mrs. Jones was kind to Roger because she realises that he is just a sad boy with no one to look
after him properly and she understands what that feels like.
2. When Mrs. Jones let him loose to wash his face, Roger did not run because he realised that she
was being kind to him and didn’t judge him. He wanted her to trust him.
3. Mrs. Jones said that she had wanted many things she could not get. However, she did not add
that she never snatched pocketbooks because she had also made many mistakes in her life.
4. Roger could not say much more than "Thank you' because he was very overwhelmed by
emotions like gratitude, happiness at being trusted and accepted by Mrs. Jones and not being
judged for his behaviour.
C. Think and answer.
1. Roger had never been treated with such maturity, trust and empathy before. Mrs. Jones had
invited him into her house without judging him or his character. She called him her ‘son’, which
touched his heart and made him want her to believe in him. She completely transformed him. So
Roger wanted to say ‘Thank you’ to Mrs. Jones but he felt it would fall short of the deeper
gratitude and respect that he felt for her.
2. Yes the title is appropriate.
The words of the title, ‘Thank You, Ma’am,’ are from the final words uttered by Roger to Mrs.
Jones, and they impart the deep meaning of his encounter with her. Despite Roger trying to steal
her purse, Mrs. Jones took him into her house and gave him food. She spoke to him lovingly and
made him realise that money wrongly earned will not lead you to a happy life. Roger learned the
true meaning of trust and giving second chances to people from Mrs. Jones. What Roger feels for
Mrs. Jones is pure gratitude and this is best expressed by the title ‘Thank you, Ma’am’.
No, I don’t want to suggest an alternative. This title is the apt one for this story.
[[ If the title is not appropriate---then give your justification.....give your alternative title too.
]]
Appreciating the Text.
1. When Mrs. Jones catches Roger, she asks him whether he has any family at home to tell him to
wash his face or take care of him. Roger says that he doesn’t—there is nobody for him at home.
This tells us that he has grown up without any love or care. He has not had anyone to guide him
about what is right and wrong. He has also probably grown up without too much money to buy him
things he wants and needs. This kind of background probably led him to make some mistakes—
including trying to steal from Mrs. Jones.
2. Mrs. Jones is both physically and mentally strong. When Roger tried to steal her purse, she
manages to stop and catch him. She ‘shook him until his teeth rattled.’ She is able to protect
herself. But she is an understanding woman—instead of turning him in to the police, she genuinely
tries to help him.
She is very perceptive and realises that he doesn’t have adult supervision or guidance at home. She
sets about helping him by taking him to her house and offering him guidance along the way. Mrs
Jones also had a troubled life as a young person, and she did not want Roger to make the same
mistakes.
She is very generous to Roger. She gives him money for the shows he wants and does not expect
anything in return. She just wants him to understand that shoes bought with stolen money won’t be
comfortable and he won’t enjoy wearing them.
Mrs. Jones believes in giving people a second chance. Roger starts to change into a respectful and
responsible young man because of Mrs. Jones’ kindness and trust.
3. The story Thank You, Ma’am contains three main themes: [1] love and trust, [2] forgiveness,
and [3] dignity. The theme or main message of the story is about trusting people and giving them a
second chance. Mrs. Jones brings the boy home without any trace of fear. She wants to help him,
not punish him.
Mrs. Jones is the embodiment of dignity. She is noble and loving and she understands what it
means to be young and misunderstood. Even though Roger was trying to steal her purse, she
accepts him into her house without judging him or his character. She calls him ‘son’ which touches
his heart and makes him want to change.
Using Words:
1. I could eat a horse!
2. a million times.
3. My feet are killing me.
4. in ages.
5. are going to explode