Journal #7

When Janie wakes up one morning about a week after marrying Tea Cake, she realizes that her secret stash of two hundred dollars is gone. Tea Cake returns home a day later and explains to Janie that when he found the money, he took it and "made up his mind to see how it felt to be a millionaire" (Hurston 122). Janie now faces the decision of whether or not to believe (and forgive) her husband. Surprisingly, Janie is very quick to forgive him for stealing her money and wasting it on a party with food for people he doesn't even know. I think that Janie makes this decision without hesitation because she is afraid to lose Tea Cake by upsetting him with her doubt. This demonstrates her dependence on her husband, but also shows her genuine love for him as she does not want to start a fight that will come between them. Another reason Janie is not mad at him for taking her money is because she honestly believes him when he says that he will win it all back for her by gambling. Janie's belief in Tea Cake highlights one of her main qualities as a character - her trust in others. Many times, Janie is not sure what is going to happen in a situation, but she trusts that by relying on the guidance of her loved ones she will not be misled.

But what if Janie decided not to forgive Tea Cake?
" ' Ah see what it is. You doubted me 'bout de money. Thought Ah had done took it and gone. Ah don't blame yuh but it wasn't lak you think ' " (Hurston 121).

Pastiche:
"Not what Ah think, you tellin' me? Ah s'pose you never heard 'bout ol' Missis Tyler. Well, that's what Ah'm thinkin' 'bout now, and Ah can't see no difference between her gettin' robbed of her money and me gettin' robbed of mine now. Ah came here and married you thinkin' you wuz different than all de ones back in town who wanted me for mah things. You'se awful sneaky you know that? Waitin' a good long time tuh get yo' hands on mah money."

"Janie, whut you talkin' 'bout? Good Lawd, you gotta listen tuh me. Ah don't want none of yo' things, Ah jus' want you. You know that Ah love you, that's why Ah married you."

"Ah thought Ah knew that, but Ah can't be sho no mo'. Anyway whut you still doin' wid an ol' woman lak me? Ah'm almost twelve years older than you, and Ah ain't gettin' younger. You'se jus' a young boy. If Ah didn't have a big ol' bank account, you wouldn't be wid me no mo' anyway."

"Ah didn't mean no harm by takin' yo' money. Aw, Janie, Ah thought you would understand me. Ah didn't mean no harm."

"Tea Cake, Ah gotta go back home. Maybe Ah'd still love you if you didn't take mah money, but I was bound tuh find out some day. All this got me thinkin' and Ah can't do this no mo'. Ah need to talk wid Pheoby and think 'bout what to do next. Maybe that fella from Sanford is still waitin' on me. Maybe Ah don't care 'bout him one way or de other. But Don't give me no reasons, Ah shoulda followed mah first thoughts back in de town when Ah first met you at mah store and was gettin' caught in yo' mysteries. By now Ah sho had mah share of muddy relations and Ah know all Ah'm lookin' for now is clear water."

So Janie gathered her things and set off for the train. This time she did not hear the engineer's whistle. The train trudged on as every heavy teardrop stained her new blue dress.