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23. Salty
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in With the Fire on High, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Coming of Age and Teen Parenthood
Creativity vs. Professional Norms
Food and Connection
Caregiving, Independence, and Identity
Support, Community, and Mentorship
Summary
Analysis
As Emoni finishes reading Babygirl a bedtime story, Babygirl asks Emoni to read it again. Emoni says it’s time for bed: she has to go do homework. As Emoni carries Babygirl up the stairs, Babygirl screeches and starts to throw a tantrum. This will disturb ’Buela, who’s absorbed in the first Eagles game of the season. Emoni explains that they can’t read it again, wondering if Babygirl has been throwing more tantrums recently because Tyrone and his parents are spoiling her.
School and parenting once again battle for Emoni’s attention. And though she’s been able to give Babygirl quality time together, it’s now time for Emoni to focus on school and herself. That Emoni immediately wonders if Tyrone is spoiling Babygirl highlights again that Emoni doesn’t see Tyrone as an ally. Instead, he’s someone who is, perhaps, undermining her efforts to raise Babygirl.
Themes
As Babygirl wails and tosses stuffed animals out of her crib, Emoni counts under her breath. ’Buela appears behind Emoni and says Emoni screamed the same way when she was little. But ‘Buela doesn’t step in to help. This used to upset Emoni, but now, Emoni appreciates that ‘Buela lets her be Babygirl’s mom. When Babygirl throws a doll at Emoni, Emoni uses Emma’s real name and scolds her. Emoni wants nothing more than to stroke her exhausted daughter and read her the book again, but soon, Babygirl quiets and falls asleep.
As Emoni gets older, she appreciates ’Buela more and more. She realizes that ’Buela is allowing Emoni to be independent and make choices for herself, something that will prepare Emoni for true adulthood after she graduates high school. ’Buela also makes it clear that she knows exactly what Emoni is going through, since ’Buela raised Emoni. This suggests that Babygirl’s tantrum is probably normal, not Tyrone’s fault.
Themes
Downstairs, Emoni trades out The Runaway Bunny for her math textbook and apologizes to ’Buela for interrupting the game. ’Buela says it was halftime anyway and pulls Emoni into a hug. She offers to read Emoni a story, but Emoni points out that there are no fun characters in her math textbook. Still, ’Buela picks up The Runaway Bunny and begins to read.
The Runaway Bunny is a poignant choice in this situation—it’s about a young bunny who wants to run away, and it’s possible to read that young bunny as a symbol for Emoni. Emoni craves independence and fewer responsibilities, but unlike the bunny, she can’t run away from ’Buela and Babygirl. And reading Emoni a picture book also highlights that despite Emoni’s age, she is still a child who craves support and attention from her caregiver.
Themes
