The Cuts on Joshua's Hands

Cuts on Joshua's hands represent his work and the difference between his lifestyle as a young man working on a manual labor job and Christophe's daily routine of selling drugs. These cuts may also be the basis for the title of the book, because they travel along the lifeline of his palms.

Food

Food is a symbol of life and necessity. Joshua and Christophe have healthy appetites and are often conscious of how much they eat because there is seldom an abundance of food in the house. When Ma-mee feels uneasy because Samuel has been around and with the knowledge that Cille is planning to visit, she decides to “cook them a big meal, make them lay and easy with food” (124). This is an indication that she sees food as a comfort.

Cocaine

Cocaine represents the drugs that are ruining lives in...