Monthly Archives: May 2019

Young and Poor, but Not Out

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One of the Census Bureau’s poverty thresholds in 2016 was $24,339 for a family of four with two children under age 18 and, according to their 2017 estimate, 37.9 million Americans lived in poverty.  Poverty in literature is not uncommon either but whether one grows up in reality or fiction, lives that are young and poor can overcome their experiences and that’s what we’ll be exploring in today’s Counterparts in Literature.

Charlie Bucket from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

According to The Borgen Project’s webpage, young Charlie lived with his parents and four grandparents in a little wooden house and was extremely poor. But he found the golden ticket in a Wonka chocolate that enabled him to enter Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory.

“Charlie’s personality and good education leads him to become Wonka’s successor. His good manners and the way he is compared to the spoiled rich kids presents Charlie’s personality positively to the audience.”  Charlie obviously defeats his environment and becomes someone many wouldn’t have expected.

Willis Jefferson from Bluebell

My dad pictured Willis Jefferson as a poor, 12 year-old black boy, who in 1927 was facing death on the plains of Kansas during a violent storm.  His ‘golden ticket’ came via the rescue and family love of Rowena Kramer, a kindly white woman.  Later, we find him on a pathway which will prove his early years didn’t prevent him from becoming a strong man.

“He was nearly abreast of the building when a woman’s scream shattered the rural stillness.  He broke his stride, continuing to move in a hesitating half step.  A second scream mingled with the echo of the first, and a third ended prematurely as it was smashed back against the lips that had uttered it…Willis had no idea of how long he stood rooted in indecision, nor was he ever certain as to who or what ended his hesitation.”

Some say authors write from personal experience.  Is that what made Roald Dahl and my father compose stories featuring Charlie Bucket and Willis Jefferson?  Wow…that sounds like the topic for a future post, so until that day, here’s a few ways to further immerse yourself in my dad’s stuff.

Life was Black and White

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Willis Jefferson, a lead character in my dad’s novel, “Bluebell”, was about twenty-six and walking toward trouble, in the book’s opening pages, while reminiscing about a woman featured in two other stories by my father.

“Long ago it had ceased to trouble him that he could love a white woman as deeply as his own mother; and there were times when the two, both so kind, giving and loving, became as one, inseparable.  Because of Miss Rowena he could read, write and speak correctly.  But far beyond that, her teachings had also reinforced those of his mother, which, having seemed inapplicable, he had been ready to cast aside.”

Think Rowena had an impact on this man?  For over 10 years, she had been a force of love in his life; one that challenged him to go where he should go, whatever the cost.  Hopefully, the novel will be available to purchase soon but until I make that announcement, here’s a few ways to dig deeper into my dad’s writings.

  1. Get a FREE short story – I’ve selected three of dad’s to choose from and all you have to do is pick your favorite and let me know which it is.
  2. Learn about Miss Rowena – You’ll find links to previous articles about her, a brief synopsis of “Rowena” and even a free downloadable copy of the book.
  3. Follow our Social Media platforms – There’s a Facebook page for Read My Dad’s Stuff and you can find Miss Rowena on Twitter.