When beginning to read Thank You M'am by Langston Hughes, the reader has certain expectations after reading that Mrs. Jones " kicked him right square in his blue-jeaned sitter." The reader is soon aware that Mrs. Jones will not tolerate bad behavior for any reason and she sets high standards. Accordingly, having stopped the boy and picked up her own purse, Mrs. Jones may be expected to take him straight to the police station, and the boy certainly fears just such a thing which is why he is so anxious to get away from her if possible. However, after the boy (Roger) tries to steal her purse, Mrs. Jones is more concerned about his dirty face and the fact that he looks hungry than her purse and his attempted theft.
Mrs. Jones's behavior reveals her social awareness and her propensity to consider Roger's position rather than her own. This is most unusual but Mrs. Jones's kindness does not stop at her ability to recognize Roger's vulnerability. She sets a fine example and even gives him the precious $10 he needs to buy the blue suede shoes he craves. It is particularly significant as Mrs. Jones is not a wealthy woman (as evidenced by her own circumstances) and parting with her hard-earned $10 will no doubt require sacrifice on her part.
Mrs. Jones does not know Roger and she has no idea whether he will put her $10 to good use. She doesn't know whether he will learn his lesson but she hopes that her message is powerful enough to have a positive effect on the boy. What is also unusual is that she makes no demands on Roger, expecting nothing in return for her kindness except to remind him to "behave."
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