In this coming-of-age story by William Saroya, an eleven-year-old boy redeems himself after being caught stealing a hammer from a department store. Rather than calling the police, the store manager makes him sweat for a while and lets him off with a warning. The boy spends the rest of the day plotting how to get the hammer and respond to what he considers humiliating treatment. The confusion in his mind is contrasted with the peace and tranquillity of his mother’s “parsley garden”, where everything is free for the taking. Themes include temptation, choices and consequences, shame/humiliation, anger, redemption, self-image.
It is unclear whether Al has stolen from the store before. He is wandering around inside “without a penny to spend”, and one wonders whether he is ashamed because of a first-time act of stealing or the fact that he was caught.
Another question is why Al didn’t take the dollar or job the store manager offered. He has clearly externalized his shame into hatred of the two men, even though he knew they hadn’t done anything they shouldn’t have done. He could not in good conscience accept favours from them.