Shewasalargewomanwithalargepursethathadeverythinginitbuthammerandnails.Ithadalongstrap,andshecarrieditslungacrosshershoulder.Itwasabouteleveno鈥檆lockatnight,andshewaswalkingalone,whenaboyranupbehindherandtriedtosnatchherpurse.Thestrapbrokewiththesingletugtheboygaveitfrombehind.Buttheboy鈥檚weightandtheweightofthepursecombinedcausedhimtolosehisbalanceso,intseadoftakingofffullblastashehadhoped,theboyfellonhisbackonthesidewalk,andhislegsflewup.thelargewomansimplyturnedaroundandkickedhimrightsquareinhisblue-jeanedsitter.Thenshereacheddown,pickedtheboyupbyhisshirtfront,andshookhimuntilhisteethrattled.

　　Afterthatthewomansaid,"Pickupmypocketbook,boy,andgiveithere."Shestillheldhim.Butshebentdownenoughtopermithimtostoopandpickupherpurse.Thenshesaid,"Nowain鈥檛youashamedofyourself?"

　　Firmlygrippedbyhisshirtfront,theboysaid,"Yes鈥檓."

　　Thewomansaid,"Whatdidyouwanttodoitfor?"

　　Theboysaid,"Ididn鈥檛aimto."

　　Shesaid,"Youalie!"

　　Bythattimetwoorthreepeoplepassed,stopped,turnedtolook,andsomestoodwatching.

　　"IfIturnyouloose,willyourun?"askedthewoman.

　　"Yes鈥檓,"saidtheboy.

　　"ThenIwon鈥檛turnyouloose,"saidthewoman.Shedidnotreleasehim.

　　"I鈥檓verysorry,lady,I鈥檓sorry,"whisperedtheboy.

　　"Um-hum!Andyourfaceisdirty.Igotagreatmindtowashyourfaceforyou.Ain鈥檛yougotnobodyhometotellyoutowashyourface?"

　　"No鈥檓,"saidtheboy.

　　"Thenitwillgetwashedthisevening,"saidthelargewomanstartingupthestreet,draggingthefrightenedboybehindher.

　　Helookedasifhewerefourteenorfifteen,frailandwillow-wild,intennisshoesandbluejeans.

　　Thewomansaid,"Yououghttobemyson.Iwouldteachyourightfromwrong.LeastIcandorightnowistowashyourface.Areyouhungry?"

　　"No鈥檓,"saidthebeingdraggedboy."Ijustwantyoutoturnmeloose."

　　"WasIbotheringyouwhenIturnedthatcorner?"askedthewoman.

　　"No鈥檓."

　　"Butyouputyourselfincontactwithme,"saidthewoman."Ifyouthinkthatthatcontactisnotgoingtolastawhile,yougotanotherthoughcoming.WhenIgetthroughwithyou,sir,youaregoingtorememberMrs.LuellaBatesWashingtonJones."

　　Sweatpoppedoutontheboy鈥檚faceandhebegantostruggle.Mrs.Jonesstopped,jerkedhimaroundinfrontofher,putahalf-nelsonabouthisneck,andcontinuedtodraghimupthestreet.Whenshegottoherdoor,shedraggedtheboyinside,downahall,andintoalargekitchenette-furnishedroomattherearofthehouse.Sheswitchedonthelightandleftthedooropen.Theboycouldhearotherroomerslaughingandtalkinginthelargehouse.Someoftheirdoorswereopen,too,soheknewheandthewomanwerenotalone.Thewomanstillhadhimbytheneckinthemiddleofherroom.

　　Shesaid,"Whatisyourname?"

　　"Roger,"answeredtheboy.

　　"Then,roger,yougotothatsinkandwashyourface,"saidthewoman,whereuponsheturnedhimloose--atlast.Rogerlookedatthedoor鈥攍ookedatthewoman鈥攍ookedatthedoor鈥攁ndwenttothesink.

　　Letthewaterrununtilitgetswarm,"shesaid."Here鈥檚acleantowel."

　　"Yougonnatakemetojail?"askedtheboy,bendingoverthesink.

　　"Notwiththatface,Iwouldnottakeyounowhere