Roger, who we are first introduced to in this memorable story
when he tries to steal the bag of Mrs. Jones, is described as a young teenage boy who is clearly
not looked after at home. Note how the text describes him:
He looked as if he were fourteen or fifteen, frail and
willow-wild, in tennis shoes and blue
jeans.
Mrs. Jones comments on the fact
that his face his dirty, and adjectives in the description above such as "frail" and
"willow-wild" suggest that he is very thin and gangly. In addition, "frail" suggests that there
is something breakable about him or that he is particularly weak. We can also infer that he has
nobody to look after him at home. Roger himself says, "there's nobody home at my house." Although
he tries to steal Mrs. Jones' bag, it is clear from how he acts later on in the story that he is
a good boy at heart. He obeys instructions, and behaves respectfully towards Mrs. Jones, and they
have a pleasant evening together. He shows that he is able to reform himself and change his ways,
and we remain convinced by the end of the tale that he will do his best to change his life and to
make something of himself thanks to his encounter with Mrs. Jones.
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