Chapter 17
Huck finds himself welcomed into the Grangerford household, a wealt...
head out, and says: “Be done, boys! Who’s there?” I says: “It’s me.” “Who’s me?” “George Jackson, sir.” “What do you want?” “I don’t want nothing, sir. I only want to go along by, but the dogs won’t let me.” “What are you prowling around here this time of night for—hey?” “I warn’t prowling around, sir, I fell overboard off of the steamboat.” “Oh, you did, did you? Strike a light there, somebody. What did you say your name was?” “George Jackson, sir. I’m only a boy.” “Look here, if you’re telling the truth you needn’t be afraid—nobody’ll hurt you.…
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Critical Thinking Exercise
Map the Hidden Costs
Think of a situation where someone treated you very well - a boss, romantic partner, friend, or organization. Write down what they gave you (kindness, opportunities, gifts, attention). Then list what they might have expected in return, even if they never said it directly. Finally, note any warning signs you ignored because you were grateful.
Consider:
- •Real kindness doesn't require you to ignore your instincts
- •Gratitude can make us overlook red flags we'd normally notice
- •Look at how they treat people with less power than you
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when someone's kindness made you ignore warning signs. What would you do differently now?
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