48. The Friendship

Title: The Friendship
Author: Mildred D. Taylor
Publisher: Puffin Books
Copyright Date: 1987
Number of Pages: 53
Reading Level: 9+
Genre: Fiction/Historical

Summary
The kids need to get medicine for their aunt and need to go into a store that neither they or their parents enjoy going in. Little Man is told not to touch anything. He leans up against the glass in the store and is told to get his filthy hands off it by the angry, white store owner. Little Man protests saying he isn’t dirty but the men make jokes and Little Man feels really bad. They get the medicine and leave as quick as possible. They see Mr. Tom Bee outside and he asks them to wait for him while he goes in to get some tobacco. The kids sit outside and talk, they try to make Little Man feel better. There is shouting inside because Mr. Tom Bee called the store owner by his first name. The two angry men are his sons and they tell Tom to get out. John, the storeowner comes in and gets Tom what he needs. His sons look at him and say that Tom can’t go around disrespecting him like that. John ignores them and tells them to leave. Tom keeps calling John by his first name and John starts to lose his patience. Tom leaves after he gets his things and then gives the kids candy canes he bought for them. They start walking and Tom says he forgot to get some tobacco and heads back to the store. The kids know this won’t end well. Tom goes in and there is now a huge group of white people. Tom calls John by his first name and John is told not to take it. Tom keeps carrying on and suddenly there is a blast. John comes out as Tom is on the ground holding his bloody leg. John says he can’t call him by his first name that it just isn’t right. Tom swears that he better kill him because he will call him John by his first name until he dies. Tom keeps muttering this and then dies as he’s pulling himself away.

Recommendation
I would recommend that each child read this. It is such an eye opening subject. I think the more knowledge you have the less likely we will be to repeat it.

Problems/Conflict
This book is hard to read at times because she uses dialogue that can be hard to understand. She also uses many derogatory terms toward African Americans.

My Reaction
All in one day this story takes place. I think that the story is not only simple but has such a strong message. African Americans were so wrongly treated and the hypocrisy is atrocious.