1. neighbors
1.1. the author believes that sometimes you won't know what is happening in your neighbors life
1.1.1. "now at the end of that life she had nothing except a falling down hut, A wrecked body, and john Burke the mindless son of her passion." page 5
1.2. the author believes that Neighbors don't always have to be nice but sometimes when you are mean to them they will be snippy with you
1.2.1. "Miss Lottie didn't like intruders either, especially children. She never left her yard, and nobody ever visited her. we never knew how she managed those necessities that depend on human interaction- how she ate, for example, or even whether she ate. when we were tiny children, we thought Miss Lottie was a witch and we made tales that we half believed ourselves about her exploits" page 2
2. coming of age
2.1. the author believes that realizing your mistakes
2.1.1. " of course I could not express the things I knew about Miss Lottie As I stood there awkward and ashamed. The years have put words to things that I knew at that moment, and as I look back upon it, I know that that moment marked the time of innocence. Innocence involves an unseeing acceptance of things at face value, an ignorance of the area below the surface. In that humiliating moment I looked beyond myself and into the depths of another person. This was the beginning of compassion, and one cannot of both compassion and innocence."
2.2. the Author believes that what once was fun as a kid can change fast
2.2.1. " The truth was that we grew tired of the formlessness of our summer days. the idleness of whose prospect had seemed so beautiful during the busy days of spring now had degenerated in an almost desperate effort to fill up the empty mid day hours."
3. family
3.1. the author believes that its important show how much you love and care for your family through tough times
3.1.1. "Twenty two years ,Maybelle Twenty two years," He was saying," And I got nothing for you nothing, nothing."
3.2. The author believes that even family's fight
3.2.1. " It ain't right. Ain't no man out to eat his woman's food. Year in and year out, and see his children run wild. Ain't nothin right about that
4. childhood
4.1. The author believes that your parents try to hide the bad things that happen away from you
4.1.1. "Look we aren't starving I git paid every week, And Mrs.Elis is real good about giving me things. She gonna let me have Mr.elises's old coat for you this winter-"
4.2. the author believes that when you're a kid you sometimes hurt and bully people not understanding peoples feelings
4.2.1. Miss Lottie was Gazed warily across the road and cautiously returned to her weeding. ZING- Joey sent a pebble into the blooms, and another marigold was beheaded.