Journal 7 Pastiche

The day of the baseball game, Janie is left at the store when a mysterious man named Tea Cake arrives to charm her to her feet. Janie had set a latest time of 6:00 PM, but when Tea Cake arrives, she ignores her own deadline and allows him to stay until the other men arrive back from the game. Janie offered her hospitality and Tea Cake "took a seat and made talk and laughter witht he rest until closing time" (Hurston 89). Janie's acceptance of another affectionate man in her life reveals her willingness to move on officially from Joe's death. This is the moment that will decide the town's gossip for the next while. But, because nobody was around to provide their own bias towards Tea Cake, Janie chose him out of her own independent decision. This is her growth of character because she can ignore or disregard societal expectations.

However, had Janie turned Tea Cake away when he first arrived or even at the original closing time of 6:00 PM, Janie's future would be both much different and similar to what is presented in the novel.

Pastiche: Janie turns Tea Cake away out of her cynical views of life.

"Good evenin' Mis' Starks," he said with a sly grin on his face. An enigmatic spark was present in his eyes.
Janie hesitated, remembering Joe despite her own protests. She erased any creases in her apron. "Good evenin', sir." A dream floated before her, blowing away in the wind with any hopes of life.A visible flicker of doubt bolted across Janie's face.
"Oh, Ah don't mean no hurtin' to yuh. I wuz lookin' inter some smokin' tobacco'. Got any camels?"
She slid open the drawer and handed him a pack. She threw a glance at the clock showing hands near six, pointing towards the man's deep bronze hide. The light reflected off of his skin and showed beads of sweat in the heat. My, he is somethin' tuh look at. "Ah gotta close up soon, why don't you an' you'se tobacco git on out an' let me finish my duties."
"Dun' worry 'bout me, lak Ah said, I dun' wanna harm yuh," he saide, leaning on the counter with his elbows. He glimpsed the checkerboard by the chair behind Janie. "Aftuh you'se is done heah, wanna play checkers?" he said, breaking Joe's customs with one question.
"Ah'm no fool, and if this is your way of teasin' me, den you can jus' hurry on out faster, Mr. . . what did yuh say yuh name wuz?"
"Didn't think Ah would be needin' it heah. I kin see Ah'm not exactly wanted 'round heah, so you'se can skip mah short name. Yuh see, I offen come across as sweet, so Ah git called Tea Cake fuh short. But you kin skip dat and call me Woods. Mah name is Vergible Woods."]
This man sho' is lak de rest of 'em, playin' up their names tuh sound more than they are. Putting out a hightone, Janie said, "Mr. Woods, mah store is closed. G'night."
Janie spied the shadow of Tea Cake melt into the darkness as the light faded into the porch lamps and the other towns people returned from the day. She felt the regret and dreams well up and punish the middle of her throat.
Men walked past the shop and saw her gazing towards the man they all walked by. "You just remembuh Joe an' do yuh sad thing. Let me take care uh you'se store an' trouble," Hezekiah said.