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Babygirl/Emma
Malachi is a new student in Emoni’s grade from Newark; he quickly becomes her love interest. Though Malachi is tall and adorable, Emoni is initially unwilling to get close to him or give him a chance. Part of this is because Malachi and Pretty Leslie quickly form a close friendship, though Malachi doesn’t realize that Pretty Leslie has a crush on him (while Emoni is well aware). When it comes to his budding relationship with Emoni, Malachi is kind, courteous, and accommodating. He tries to make it clear that he doesn’t need to have sex in order to enjoy a relationship with her, and he’s willing to take it slow if that’s what Emoni wants. He also has no issue with the fact that Emoni is a mother; indeed, he adores Babygirl. Though he’s a good cook, Malachi dreams of becoming a doctor and eventually returning to practice in Newark. Eventually, he shares with Emoni and ’Buela that he moved to Philadelphia after his younger brother was shot, and his mom feared for his safety.
Malachi Johnson Quotes in With the Fire on High
The With the Fire on High quotes below are all either spoken by Malachi Johnson or refer to Malachi Johnson. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
33. Santi
Quotes
But Malachi isn’t listening to Leslie. His eyes are on me. If there was one thing I learned once my belly started showing it’s that you can’t control how people look at you, but you can control how far back you pull your shoulders and how high you lift your chin. Boys think of only two things when they find out you had a baby: thing (1) that you’re too much baby-mama drama, or thing (2) that you’re easy.
Related Characters:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
98. Smooch
Quotes
I think about Babygirl. How I wake up every day expecting to see her crib and how it clogs my throat with tears not to be near her. How I miss ’Buela’s shuffling slippers, and her yelling directions at the Eagles’ quarterback. How I need to find a new job and figure out what I’m going to major in if I’m accepted into college. My life when I get back is full of people I love and the responsibilities I have. And I love them, and miss them, but I also want to hold this feeling of freedom tight in my fist, because it has wings and I know as soon as I loosen my grip it will fly straight away.
109. Surprises
Quotes
“I go to the doctor so much because sometimes I need to get away from all of…” She swirls her hand in the air and “all of” must mean everything in the house. “I go to the doctor to remind myself I am more than a great-grandmother to a toddler, and a grandmother to a teen mother, and a mother to a rascal of a son.”
She clears her throat. “Okay… The real reason I ‘go to the doctor’ so much is because of Joseph, Mr. Jagoda. […] And nena, it’s…” she pats her chest, and I know just what she means. “He isn’t perfect! I mean, he’s a Giant’s fan, for God’s sake, but he makes me feel like a woman. Not only a mother so many times removed.”
Get the entire With the Fire on High LitChart as a printable PDF.
Malachi Johnson Quotes in With the Fire on High
The With the Fire on High quotes below are all either spoken by Malachi Johnson or refer to Malachi Johnson. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
33. Santi
Quotes
But Malachi isn’t listening to Leslie. His eyes are on me. If there was one thing I learned once my belly started showing it’s that you can’t control how people look at you, but you can control how far back you pull your shoulders and how high you lift your chin. Boys think of only two things when they find out you had a baby: thing (1) that you’re too much baby-mama drama, or thing (2) that you’re easy.
Related Characters:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
98. Smooch
Quotes
I think about Babygirl. How I wake up every day expecting to see her crib and how it clogs my throat with tears not to be near her. How I miss ’Buela’s shuffling slippers, and her yelling directions at the Eagles’ quarterback. How I need to find a new job and figure out what I’m going to major in if I’m accepted into college. My life when I get back is full of people I love and the responsibilities I have. And I love them, and miss them, but I also want to hold this feeling of freedom tight in my fist, because it has wings and I know as soon as I loosen my grip it will fly straight away.
109. Surprises
Quotes
“I go to the doctor so much because sometimes I need to get away from all of…” She swirls her hand in the air and “all of” must mean everything in the house. “I go to the doctor to remind myself I am more than a great-grandmother to a toddler, and a grandmother to a teen mother, and a mother to a rascal of a son.”
She clears her throat. “Okay… The real reason I ‘go to the doctor’ so much is because of Joseph, Mr. Jagoda. […] And nena, it’s…” she pats her chest, and I know just what she means. “He isn’t perfect! I mean, he’s a Giant’s fan, for God’s sake, but he makes me feel like a woman. Not only a mother so many times removed.”
