Summary

"Nan."

The author describes a trip to the grocery store and seeing his mother’s picture on a a notice board that says to “NOT ACCEPT NAN CHECK FROM THESE CUSTOMERS” (30). The author tried to get his mother out of the store without seeing the sign, but was not able to do so. As they drove home, conversation centered around the use of the word “nan” (which meant “any”); how the use of “nan” suggested a lack of education; how the author’s mother told him to not use that kind of slang; and how Grandmama’s use of “nan” was the result of how she had to live when she was younger – working, instead of studying. The author describes wondering how it felt for his mother to be a recognized, highly educated, frequently quoted political scientist and...