Hitting a Straight Lick With a Crooked Stick
Who are the Unnamed Young Lady and Boy from the short-story, A Bit of Our Harlem?
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The unnamed boy in “A Bit of Our Harlem” is a hunchbacked teenager selling candy for extra money. The unnamed young lady is lonely and wishes to spread goodwill whenever possible, motivating her to speak to the boy. Out of sympathy and generosity, the young lady buys a piece of candy despite her lack of funds. The boy enjoys her company, lingering to speak more with her after revealing his orphanhood, limited education, and interesting religious beliefs. Upon learning the young lady is an orphan, the boy exhibits sympathy in return. The young lady receives what she offers to others, which she acknowledges is “seldom” “within her own class” (43).
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