PINK and SAY by Patricia Polacco
I don't think I have ever read a children's story that has had such a profound emotional impact on me. I was reading it outloud to Cody tonight and about half-way through, he just put his arm around me, laid his head on my shoulder and let me read the story through my sobs. Just when I thought I couldn't cry any harder, I would turn the page and be pushed even further into tears.
The story is about two boy soldiers, one white, one black - both fighting for freedom. Pinkus (Pink) was a slave in Georgia who was taught to read by his owner simply because the owner liked being read to. Sheldon (Say) was a fifteen year old boy from Ohio fighting in a man's war. He was wounded in battle and left for dead in a blood soaked pasture. Pink found him and carried him for several days to a place where he knew Say would be able to heal. Say awoke with so many sweet smells and sounds he was sure he had landed in heaven. Pink had brought Say to his old plantation where his mother (Moe Moe Bay) had remained long after the marauders had pilfered and plundered everything in sight and set fire to the house. Moe Moe Bay nursed Say back to health but Say didn't want to go back to fightin'. During the battle, he had run away and been shot and was living with more guilt and shame than he could bear. It was Moe Moe Bay who once again nursed his wounds. Even though these wounds of Say's were on the inside, she knew they hurt just the same. The words of love and wisdom Moe Moe Bay shared with Say endeared her to me. Or perhaps reading of her son's homecoming just a day after my own son came home, made me connect to this woman despite pages and years. My heart stopped when the single gun shot was heard and I made an audible gasp. I couldn't turn the page. I didn't want to see the illustration and I didn't want to read about Pink's reaction. But Cody held my hand and turned the page for me while I cried openly.
I don't think I have ever read a children's story that has had such a profound emotional impact on me. I was reading it outloud to Cody tonight and about half-way through, he just put his arm around me, laid his head on my shoulder and let me read the story through my sobs. Just when I thought I couldn't cry any harder, I would turn the page and be pushed even further into tears.
The story is about two boy soldiers, one white, one black - both fighting for freedom. Pinkus (Pink) was a slave in Georgia who was taught to read by his owner simply because the owner liked being read to. Sheldon (Say) was a fifteen year old boy from Ohio fighting in a man's war. He was wounded in battle and left for dead in a blood soaked pasture. Pink found him and carried him for several days to a place where he knew Say would be able to heal. Say awoke with so many sweet smells and sounds he was sure he had landed in heaven. Pink had brought Say to his old plantation where his mother (Moe Moe Bay) had remained long after the marauders had pilfered and plundered everything in sight and set fire to the house. Moe Moe Bay nursed Say back to health but Say didn't want to go back to fightin'. During the battle, he had run away and been shot and was living with more guilt and shame than he could bear. It was Moe Moe Bay who once again nursed his wounds. Even though these wounds of Say's were on the inside, she knew they hurt just the same. The words of love and wisdom Moe Moe Bay shared with Say endeared her to me. Or perhaps reading of her son's homecoming just a day after my own son came home, made me connect to this woman despite pages and years. My heart stopped when the single gun shot was heard and I made an audible gasp. I couldn't turn the page. I didn't want to see the illustration and I didn't want to read about Pink's reaction. But Cody held my hand and turned the page for me while I cried openly.
In a land ravaged by hate and judgement, these two soldiers grasped onto a friendship that would help them both through their darkest hours. An early unwarranted death would take one soldier but a long life awaited the other. And in that lifetime the soldier told the story of PINK and SAY to his daugher Rosa, then Rosa told her daughter Estella, and Estella told her son William. William then told his daughter Patricia. And Patricia, the great-great-grandchild of Sheldon (Say) Russell Curtis and author of this incredible story of friendship and honor, finally wrote it down.
The symbolism behind the many outstretched hands in this story is one that makes my heart warm with tenderness. The story compells me to outstretch mine whenever I am able. The story obviously compelled Cody to do the same. I take Cody's now while he is sleeping and give praise and thanks to God for little boys and stories of mothers, soldiers and friends.
awww i would love to read this novel
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