Document Information

• Chapter: Chapter 29
• Scene: Jefferson’s Diary, children’s visit
• Draft: Manuscript
• File location: Box 11, folder 5

Discussion Questions

1. How does this pilgrimage to the jail by members of Jefferson's community demonstrate resistance to unjust systems? How does it break the narrative the white elites are trying to construct about Jefferson?
2. Why do you believe the authorities allowed this visit to take place?

When you axed me if it be all right if some of your chilren could come up and speak to me I told you no I didn’t mind but I didn’t know what I could say to nobody seem look like they all just showed up there in the room sitting on the floor all quiet and I could see that some of them was scared of me but that most of them was brave enough to speak and my little old cousin Ruth Ann even kissed me on the jaw and I couldn’t hold it back Mr Grant

And then the old folks come—and looked like everybody from the quarter was here so and so and so and so and so and so and so and so and so and Mr. O’Feull and Mrs Ofelia and Mr. Grant she had them little beeds and just a praying all the time they was sitting there and all the other people standing round looking and saying how good I look and they was all was praying for me and Mr. Grant how did you and how y’all ever get Bok to come here old Bok in that suit [indecipherable] suit he done had ever since at he he was little and now too little for him sitting there talking to me like he know what he talking about seem I could tell he know me just didn’t know how to say he know me just babbin and babbin and miss Selina saying he saying he glad to see me and if I want one of his aggies

Lord Mr Grant lord

And I’m saying old Bok old Bok old Bok you’d give me one of the aggie and I felt like then I reached over my hand Bok Bok didn’t turn it loose till Miss Selina had to tell him let go Bok couple times and Bok still wouldn’t let go till Miss Selina took it from him and give it to me and Bok started babbin till Miss Selina reached out her hand for me to give it back to her and told Bok he cud have this one back but he had to give me one of the others he had in his pockets.

I said no maam then she said she knowed Bok wanted to give me one and she asked him if he did and Bok took out a pe-wee rattled the hand in his pocket and took out a pewee and gived me that and me [indecipherable] as Bok and [indecipherable] and it looked like I was more glad to see Bok ‘an I was everybody else and then they took me back –

I cried when they locked the door and this was the first time I cried when they locked the door and I set on the bunk crying but I didn’t let them see I was crying ‘cause I didn’t want them to guess wrong but I was crying ‘cause Bok and the marbles and ‘cause of the people and ‘cause they hadn’t never done me that before now what Revnd mose call giving flowers while you can still smell them.

Document Information

• Chapter: Chapter 29
• Scene: Jefferson’s Diary, children’s visit
• Draft: Early typescript
• File location: Box 11, folder 5

Discussion Questions

1. In the earlier draft, the idea of giving Jefferson the marble originates with Bok's grandmother, while in the later typescript and the published version, Gaines emphasizes that the desire to give Jefferson a gift stems from Bok himself. What does this change indicate about how Gaines is contemplating agency in the novel, particularly as it relates to disability?

lord have mercy sweet jesus mr grant where all them folks come from when you ax me if some chilren can come up here and speak to me i didnt know you meant all them children in your class an they just sittin there on the floor all quiet (in they clean clothes) lookin at me and i cud see some of them was scared of me but the most of them was brave and spoke and my little old cousin janis even kiss me on the jaw and i cudnt hol back mr grant

after the children the old folks look like ever body from the quarter was here so and so and so and so and so and so an mr ofal an mis ofelia and she had them little beed and just praying and prayin all to hereslef and all the people sayin how good i look and they was prayin for me too and lord mr grant how you got bok here in a suit an that little short tie an that suit too tight cause i member when mis selina first got bok that suit ten lebn yers ago and bok babbin there like he know me an mis selina saying he want say he glad to see you and an he want give you a aggi an im just lookin at bok shakin my head and i cant stop saying old bok old bok old bok you want give me a aggi all right give me one but old bok wouln turn it loosetill miss selina had to tell him let go bok couple times and still bok wudn till miss selina took it from him and give it to me and bok start to babbin till mis Selina reach out her hand for me to giv it back to her and told bok he could have this one but he had to give me on of them other he had in his pocket an i say nome (thats all right) but she say she know bok want to give me somethin and she say dont you bok bok bok an bok rattl the marbles round in his pocket and come out with the littles pewee he cud find a little clear pewee with some gray in it an I think its the best present anybody ever give me in my life

this was the first time i cry when they lok that door behind me the very first time an i just set on my bunk cryin but not let them see cause i didnt want them to guess wrong but i was crying cause bok an the marbles an cause of the people an cause they hadn never done me this fore now an what rebn mose call giving you flowers while you can still smell