The entire community is African American but depends on a white-owned company, G and G Fertilizer. In spite of this and the fact that they are poor, Missie May and Joe are happy. Painted for us is a picture of contentment and simple happiness. Everything is sparkling clean and in its place, from "the porch and steps scrubbed white" to the "fresh newspaper cut in fancy edge on the kitchen shelves." On Saturdays, nothing is overlooked. The opening scene is of a place that is peaceful, untainted, and pure. Every Saturday is a joyous occasion for Joe and Missie May; it is the day that Joe gets paid. The couple has a playful battle every week. This begins by Joe chucking nine dollars into the doorway and ends with Missie May riffling through his pockets for candy kisses and other indulgent goodies he has brought for her. This ritual seems to show that the only value of money to the young couple is monetary, they would be just as happy if Joe came home with less or more. Their real happi

In the beginning of the story, Missie May seems very content and proud to be Joe's wife. It is a job she takes very seriously. "Don't you mess wid mah business, man. You git in yo clothes. Ah'm a real wife, not no dress and breath. Ah might not look lak one, but if you burn me, you won't git a thing but wife ashes." As we see at supper, Joe is not as satisfied as his wife is. He is going to take Missie May to an ice cream parlor owned by a seemingly prosperous lady's man, Mr. Otis D. Slemmons. Joe is envious of Slemmons. Contrary to what his name suggests, Slemmons is a heavy-set man with a "mouth full of gold teeths." Slemmons has only one line in the story, making his character symbolic. He represents everything Joe believes he lacks in his life, white money, white women, and white power. Missie May ensures her husband that he is just as good and even better than Slemmons. Missie May sees right through Slemmons, knowing that he must be lying about all the wealthy white women he has been with and supposedly gave him gold money. She is not impressed with Slemmons' wealth or what he represents. She remarks "Ah don't see whut de womens see on 'im. Ah wouldn't give 'im a wink if de sheriff waz after 'im."

It comes to pass that Missie May and Joe have sex again. The next morning Joe leaves the gilded half piece on the bed for Missie May to find; she ponders why Joe left it. Hurston leaves it up to the reader to make the final decision why Joe left the coin. Missie May becomes pregnant. She has a baby boy, and he is the "spittin' image" of Joe. This unifies them once more. Joe spends the gilded half dollar on candy kisses, returning it to its original monetary value. The white clerk at the candy store remarks, "Wisht I could be like these darkies. Laughin' all the time. Nothin' worries 'em." With this, Hurston makes a strong statement about the times; the clerk wrongly assumes since Joe

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1297
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)