Richard Wright

The Man who was Almost a Man

• What does Dave want? A gun? Why does he want a gun? so he can be a man. You aren't a man until you own a gun. This is the south, right. Any of you watch that show King of the Hill, Bobby was wanting to learn how to shoot, and his dad was so proud they were going to go the gun section of the toy store and buy him a gun. He said Dad can I get a gun rack for my gun. Hank says Bobby do you know how long I have waited for you to ask me the that. Your truck is not complete until it has those lights on top and the gun rack with a few guns in it, and Louisiana has a gun law that you can carry your gun around with you. He goes to the store and what does he borrow? A catalog and what does mama say about this? Good for the outhouse. Generations of Americans went to the toilet with the catalog and not to just read it either, you had to use that paper, waste not want not. The catalog sure does beat those leaves. He doesn't get his gun that way how does he get his gun? He buys an old gun, one that he can afford, what good is it if it has to stay in your pocket? So what does he have to do with his new gun. Going out and shooting it, ans what does he wind up doing? shooting Jenny, the mule, what does he do next? he plugs up the hole , maybe if I plug up the hole she won't bleed to death. This is so teenager. The mule is a goner, he just killed him a mule, that happens a lot during hunting season. They are black. The owner of the mule says that too bad he needs to work it off and pay for the mule, he has other plans what does he do? Hops the train, he is going off to find his fortune. This is the great American adventure, Huck Finn, Ben Franklin, any number of others. Leaving home to go into the wilderness you'll either find great luck or great difficulty, or at least you'll be grown up, can he be a man if he is living under his father's roof? not really his father and mother will be telling him what to do.