Document Information
- Chapter: Chapter 31
- Scene: Grant and Paul chat about Jefferson
- Draft: Manuscript
- File location: Box 10, folder 54
Discussion Questions
- In the final draft of this scene, Gaines omits the line, “Tell them they should be proud of their teacher.” How does that cut change the scene?
“What are you going to do after school?”
“I don’t know. Depends on Vivvian, I suppose.”
“She’s beautiful,” Paul said. “She’s You’re so lucky.”
“Yes, I’m lucky.”
“I’m sorry, Grant Wiggins,” Paul said. “I am very sorry.”
We had stopped for a moment. Now we started walking again.
“If I can be of any help anytime, I would like you to call on me. I mean that with all my heart.”
We were passing by Miss Emma’s house. The minister’s car was parked before the door. now.
“Isn’t that you’re Reverend’s car?” Paul asked.
“Here’s where Jefferson lived. Here’s his nannan’s house.”
Paul looked at the house as we went by. He looked at it over his shoulder as though he never wanted to forget it. We came up to the church and stopped at his car.
“Well, I better go in to the church.” I said.
Paul stuck out his hand.
“Allow me to be your friend, Grant Wiggins. I don’t want to ever forget this day. I don’t ever want to forget him.”
I took his hand. He held mine with both of his.
“I don’t know what you’re going to say when you go in there, Grant Wiggins. But tell them they would have been proud of him. Tell them they should be proud of their teacher.
“Maybe one day you will come back and tell them this.”
“I would be honored, Grant Wiggins.”
I turned from him and went into the church. Irene Cole told the class to rise with their shoulders back. I went up to my desk and turned to face them. I was crying.