"Thank You, Ma'am" is a 1958 short story by Langston Hughes about an attempted theft that turns into a lesson about empathy, trust, and dignity. The story utilizes situational irony to demonstrate how generosity and trust can transform people driven by desperation.
In the story, Mrs. Jones catches a young teen, Roger, who tries to steal her purse. She quickly deduces based on his appearance and the attempted theft that he has nobody at home to care for him. So, instead of dragging Roger to the police station, Mrs. Jones brings him home with her. There, Mrs. Jones instructs Roger to wash up and explains that she can relate to his circumstances, "I were young once and I wanted things I...
