AML 4604
Davis 1/2/2014
The Gilded Six-Bits Summary
The story takes place in Eatonville, Florida in the early 1930s. Joe and Missie May Banks are a newlywed couple living a happy life. Every Saturday afternoon Missie May leaves the front door open while she cooks and cleans for Joe. Joe works the night shift at G&G Fertilizer plant during the week. As Joe comes home from his job he is very playful, he usually stops by the store to get fifty-cent pieces. As he arrive home he begins to toss the money at the front door porch. While Missie May is cleaning and tending to her food, she hears the coins as they land on the floor. She finally walks outside to find Joe hiding from her. She finally greets him at the door and looks into his pockets. There she finds the ritual candy kisses he always bring her. This particular afternoon Joes surprises her. In addition to their usual routine, Joes tells her that he will be taking his wife to the new ice cream parlor that a new man from Chicago just opened. After dinner they put on their Sunday’s best and head to town for dessert. Otis Slemmons was the new guy around town and well known for his plentiful gold’s he wears frequently. He greets the couple at door; Joe introduces Missey May and Otis. With slick remarks from Otis trying to flirt with Missy May, the couple eat their dessert and leave. Otis continues to flirt with Missy may which eventually leaves them caught in the bed together one night while Joe comes home from work. Joe is hurt, Missy Mae tells Joe “he kept coming for me and told me he would give me gold.” Missy Mae had been trapped in his deceit. Weeks passed and Joe had yet to talk to her. She continued to cook and clean while Joe worked and came home to sleep. Eventually one night he told her he was in pain, she rubbed and caressed and they eventually made love. While making the bed the next morning she finds the coin under her pillow. She wonder if Joe put It there to signify if she