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97. Children
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
Emoni hasn’t kissed anyone in a long time. A passing couple whistles at her and Malachi, so Malachi leads her back to the street where they started to kiss some more. Tyrone never kissed or touched Emoni like this, like he genuinely loved her body. When they pull apart, Malachi asks what they’re supposed to do. Emoni says they should enjoy Europe and each other. She thinks of Babygirl and ’Buela, and the choices she’ll have to make about her future when she gets home. She has so many responsibilities at home, but she loves how she feels now. Emoni says that they’ll figure out what to do when they get home. Malachi asks where they’re going next, so Emoni points to a bar across the street.
Finally, Emoni is willing to listen to herself and what she really wants, so she’s willing and able to kiss Malachi and acknowledge her feelings for him. Their kiss exists in a bubble of sorts, since it takes place in Spain, a thousand miles away from Philadelphia and all of Emoni’s responsibilities there. It’s a huge thing for Emoni to feel so good and at peace about letting herself do what she wants for once. It reminds her that she can enjoy fun things—and that she deserves to do so.
Themes
