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Short Story Samuel By Grace Paley

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Samuel Death is an inevitable event. Most times we have no control over how or when it will happen and in the short story, “Samuel,” by Grace Paley, a young boy loses his life while he and his friends partake in a very dangerous game. An unfortunate situation, it was and it leaves you to ask yourself the question “Who’s to blame?” After thoroughly reading the story, it becomes quite clear that though the boys were taking a huge risk and acting childish, they were just kids being kids and the people surrounding them could have done more to help them. The onlookers couldn’t have known what would happen, but they also didn’t do much to prevent such a tragedy. The four young boys in the story “Samuel” are acting careless and risky as they think …show more content…

Among the people watching was a group of ladies who were very angry as they watched the boys. Most of them looked stern in the face, hoping that the boys would sense their extreme disapproval. One of the ladies stated she wanted to get up and say, “be careful you dumb kids, get off that platform or I'll call a cop.” But then decided against it because they boys were Black and she was afraid they would laugh at her and embarrass her. Another lady figured the kid’s mothers knew where they were so she didn’t feel the need to intrude. With no interference from anyone the boys continued on playing around and the train began to slow down and as it was slowing down the lady who was afraid of embarrassment, saw the boys jerk forward and backward and grab the swinging guard chains. The lady then decided it was finally time to save the boys for good so she stood up determined as ever and went over to the boys and said, "You boys will be hurt. You'll be killed. I'm going to call the conductor if you don't just go into the next car and sit down and be quiet." Listening to the lady two of the boys said “Yes’m” and acted as if they were about to go. The other two boys just looked at her and blinked their eyes. Moments later just, as she suspected the boys began laughing at her and she was just as embarrassed as she thought she would be. Fed up by this time, one

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