Everything That Rises Must Converge

Everything that rises must converge is a story written in 1961 by Mary Flannery O’Connor. It was written in the middle of the American civil rights movement. Julian's mother has refused to take the bus alone since integration. So Julian escorts his mother to her weight loss class. They board on the bus where Julian’s mother is happy because there's only white people on the bus. Soon, a black woman and her son get on the bus. The little boy seat next to Julian’s mother and the woman seat next to Julian. Both mothers and sons got off the bus at the same time. Besides, Julian didn't like the idea that his mother will try to give the little boy a nickel despite the fact that she does this with all kids. As she looked in her purse, she only found a penny. Ignoring Julian’s warnings, she calls after the little boy, Carver, and gives him the penny. Carver’s mother gets mad and swings her purse and knocks Julian’s mother onto the sidewalk. As she got up, she stumbles off. Julian reaches out to grab her arm then soon sees a strange expression on her face. She tells him to call Grandpa or Caroline, her nurse. Julian starts to run for help but returns quickly as she crush to the pavement. He rushes towards her and finds out that she actually had a stroke. He felt bad after he realizes it and he couldn't help her since it was too late.