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81. Money Talks
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
Before Emoni knows it, it’s March; she’s going to Spain in less than a month. She’s quit the Burger Joint, and she and Malachi are still “Friends who hold hands and sometimes flirt.” He’s going to Morehouse, so no matter what they’ll be far away come fall. To make matters worse, Tyrone is taking Babygirl this weekend. After he carries her out to the car, Emoni asks ’Buela if they can have lunch together and watch a sports movie. But ’Buela pulls on her coat and says she’s going out. Emoni doesn’t ask where she’s going, but she knows ’Buela is having “Gloria Time.”
Though Emoni is excited to go to Spain soon, the rest of her life seems to be unraveling. She knows she’ll soon have to say goodbye to Malachi when he leaves for college, Babygirl is moving ever further away from her as Tyrone becomes more involved in Babygirl’s life, and ’Buela’s need for time alone seems to still sting. However, Emoni does her best to be respectful of ’Buela’s needs. This suggests that Emoni realizes that both she and ’Buela need and deserve time to themselves—’Buela through her “Gloria Time,” and Emoni by going to school and Spain.
Themes
Once ’Buela is gone, Emoni considers calling Angelica or Malachi. Instead, she goes to the kitchen and puts together a lasagna and a salad. She desperately wants to talk to someone on her phone, but instead, she sets the table, pours herself a small glass of wine, and sits down to eat. She doesn’t know what she’s going to be, but soon she’s going to be an adult.
Emoni has done a lot of work to let people into her life. Now, though, she recognizes that she also wants to be able to be okay by herself, entertaining and feeding herself. This, she believes, is something adults should be able to do—and with adulthood looming, it’s time to practice.
Themes
