In this coming-of-age story by William Saroya, an eleven-year-old boy is caught stealing a hammer from a department store. Rather than calling the police, the store manager lets him off with a warning. The boy spends the rest of the day plotting how to get the hammer back 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 his shame is because it was his first act of stealing or the fact that he was caught. Another question is why Al didn’t take the dollar and job the store manager offered. It seems that has externalized his shame into hatred of the two men, and does not want any favours from them.