The story is really sad.The author,Jo Goodwin Parker,writes about a situation of a lonely mother,who lives in poverty.The mother doesn’t have money for food,medicine,soap,electricity,toothbrushes,diapers or hand cream.When she asks for help,she feels humiliated.A life in poverty means for her,the life in the darkness,with worries and troubles. There is no hope for her children.She sees their future in black colors.The mother lost her hope for better life,she has only the dreams.The author is showing us how life in poverty really like.This story definitely make me appreciate the things that I have right now and not wanting more.I think the purpose of the essay is to let the society know that there are the poor citizens out there,looking for help.The author is passing a message to the public to not to be arrogant to people but to treat everybody equally regardless of wealth and what they look like.