Story Cue Card

Story Cue Card # 3: Adult

Patricia H. Roberts

INLS 121: Storytelling

November 26, 2001

Bibliographical Information: Pink and Say, Polacco, Patricia. Philomel Books, N.Y., N.Y. 1994.

Ethnic Origin: United States

Running Time: Approximately 15 Minutes

Power Centers: I chose the following power centers to reflect the wave of emotions felt throughout the story:

Compassion and courage of Pinkus Aylee as he risks his life as a black union soldier to rescue Sheldon Curtis who has been left to die on a bloody battlefield;

The love and devotion of Moe Moe Bay as she nurses and protects Pinkus and Sheldon.;

The fear and grief as the Marauders raid Moe Moe Bay’s home and kill Moe Moe

Bay as she tries to protect her boys;

The courage and pride of Pink and Say attempting to return to their units;

The fear and grief as Pink and Say are captured and then separated.

Characters: Sheldon Russell Curtis (Say)

Pinkus Aylee (Pink)

Moe Moe Bay

Scenes: Battlefield; Pinkus discovers Sheldon.

Moe Moe Bay’s/Pinkus’ home; nursing Say back to health; preparing to return to war; Moe Moe Bay’s death.

Pink and Say attempt to return to their units; they are captured by the Confederate Army.

Andersonville prison camp; Pink and Say are separated.

Synopsis: Sheldon Curtis, a young white soldier, is wounded and left to die on a civil war battlefield when Pinkus Aylee, a young black soldier, rescues him. Sheldon (Say) is nursed back to health by Pinkus’ mother, Moe Moe Bay. Fearing that they are putting Moe Moe Bay in great danger, Pink and Say prepare to return to the war. Marauders raid Moe Moe Bay’s home and Moe Moe Bay dies in her attempt to protect Pink and Say. Pink and Say are captured by the Confederate Army as they try to find their units. They are taken to Andersonville prison camp and separated.

Story Cue Card #3: Adult

Patricia Roberts

Rhymes/Special Phrases/ "Flavor": Their are no rhymes or particular special phrases in Pink and Say, however, there is a rolling rhythm of emotions; it moves back and forth from fear to love to sadness and grief. The dialect is that of poor, rural upbringing with little or no formal education. The values of love and respect of other people are reiterated throughout the story.

Audience: Adolescent to Adult

Pink and Say addresses many issues that comprise characteristics of developmental growth from adolescent to old age. An adolescent would identify with Erikson’s idea that there are boundaries between childhood and adulthood. This is reinforced when Say says, "For almost a year I’d been in this man’s war." and " Being just a lad, I was wishin’ I was home." Another example is when Moe Moe Bay consoles Say because he is ashamed that he is afraid of the war and that he ran like a coward. She says, "You ain’t nothin’ of the kind. You a child...a child! Of course you scared. Ain’t nobody that ain’t."

Charlotte Huck reminds us that adolescents are sensitive to complexity in human relationships and feelings. This is prevalent throughout the story. Say learns to love and trust a black boy and his mother as if they were his own family.

This is meaningful especially since he says " I’ve never seen a man like him so close before." He witnesses Moe Moe Bay’s deep love for her son and she says, "You ain’t never gonna leave your momma again are you, child?" He feels for Pink who fears that their presence is putting Moe Moe Bay in great danger, and therefore he must leave her.

Erikson’s young adult stage of establishing meaningful intimate relationships with others and feeling a connectedness describes what takes place between pink and Say. When Say asks Pink to call him Say instead of Sheldon, because that’s what his family calls him and he specks Pinkus is his family now, Pink agrees and an intimate bond is formed.

Erikson’s middle adulthood’s characteristic of caring for others is portrayed in Moe Moe Bay’s devotion to her son and another mother’s "beautiful baby boy." She is protective and nurturing around the clock. She doesn’t sleep, but watches over them and stokes the fire to keep them warm throughout the night.

The conclusion of the story, Pink and Say, reveals Erikson’s final stage of development, old age. The story, true and passed down for four generations, is a review of past life and a consideration of that life’s meaning and impact...life’s worth.

Biographical Information on other versions or variants: Because this is the author’s, Patricia Polacco’s, true and intimate family story passed down through generations, there are no other versions or variants.