Chapter 1

"We sat there, just a few feet from each other, both silent, pondering an absence." (page 4)
- The theme I am tracking in this quote is the importance of the absence of a father. As both of the Wes's sit in silence, they ponder about the impact their fathers had on their lives. One of the Wes's state that their absences are different because one of the Wes's are mourning because their father died, and the other ones father wasn't there because he didn't want to be there.

"but with a gentle laugh, reminded her that cursing at a young boy wasn't the most effective way of making a point." (page 6)
- The theme I am tracking in this quote is learning from experiences. In this part of the book Wes's mother was livid about Wes hitting his sister Nikki, which from personal experiences she learned wasn't a path she wanted her son to go down. But while exclaiming that he is wrong for hitting him, she curses which contradicts the lesson she is trying to teach, for she is still teaching him something (cursing) that isn't a good trait to accommodate.

"'revenge will not be sought,'' ... "Watende sounded too big, too complicated for such a tiny baby. It wasn't until later in life that she understood why it was so important to my father that Watende be a part of me." (page 7)
- The theme I am tracking in this quote is the family. With Wes's family giving Wes a name with much meaning, it shows the morals that Wes's family carry throughout their family. With Wes growing up and better understanding his name and its meaning, he applies it to his life and wears it as a badge of his being.

"If you try that shit again, I will kill you" ... "My mom vowed to never let another man put his hands on her. She wouldn't tolerate it in others either." (page 10)
- The theme I am tracking in this quote is overcoming obstacles. In this quote Wes's mother overcame obstacles that will soon later be life lessons for her own children.

"You must defend them, not fight them." (page 11)
- The theme I am tracking in this quote is mentoring. With Wes's father being there to lend him advice when he was unsure of what he has done in his early years, made him a better person growing up and even though he wasn't there for a long time he was still a mentor to him being his father.