The Road (Post #2)

“In the morning they stood in the road and he and the boy argued about what to give to the man. In the end he didnt get much. Some cans of vegetables and of fruit. Finally the boy just went over to the edge of the road and sat in the ashes. The old man fitted the tins into his knapsack and fastened the straps. You should thank him you know, the man said. I wouldn’t have given you anything.
Maybe I should and maybe I shouldnt.
Why wouldnt you?
I wouldnt have given him mine.
You dont care if it hurts his feelings?
Will it hurt his feelings?
No. That’s not why he did it.
Why did he do it?
He looked over at the boy and he looked at the old man. You wouldnt understand, he said. I’m not sure I do.
Maybe he believes in God.
I dont know what he believes in.
He’ll get over it.
No he wont.
The old man didnt answer. He looked around at the day.
You wont wish us luck either, will you? the man said.
I dont know what that would mean. What luck would look like. Who would know such a thing?
Then all went on. When he looked back the old man had set out with his cane, tapping his way, dwindling slowly on the road behind them like some storybook peddler from an antique time, dark and bent and spider thin and soon to vanish forever. The boy never looked back at all” (173-174).

(You may have noticed that some words in the excerpt don’t have correct punctuations. Just letting you know that that’s the author’s own personal style and not me being retarded.)

It is amazing to me how a small child would have that much wisdom. The devastation has made the boy grow up faster. The man wanted to save everything for themselves, so when they came upon the old man on the road, the man didn’t have the intention to give away anything or to even speak to the old man. However, the boy’s heart was still good and not of stone. The boy believes in helping others, even though they are as much needing help.

The quote “The boy never looked back at all” is very interesting. Particularly because some time before, the man and the boy came upon another little boy and dog. The boy wanted so much to help them, but his father said no. As they were leaving, the boy kept looking back with worry in his eyes. And now after the old man incident, the boy was satisfied with his work and knows that he has done something good. The boy believes in treating people the way he’d want to be treated and it would do the world good if everyone followed in those steps.