Why do you think Mrs. Jones handles the situation the way she does in the story, and how do you think the experience is likely to affect Roger's future?

Mrs. Jones's reaction to Roger is one that is often looked at as odd. Here is this young man that has attempted to rob her while she is on her way home at night. Roger, a skinny young man, wanting money to by a par of shoes, has chosen to target her thinking it should be an "easy score". Little does Roger know that Mrs. Jones is far from that easy target.
This older woman places the young man in a head lock and instead of calling for help or calling the police, she drags this young man into her home, makes him wash his face, and feeds him dinner. But why? Mrs. Jones explains this to him near the end of the short story. She too has wanted things; she remembers what is like to be young and wanting. She admits to Roger, without telling him out-right, that she has done things that she would not admit to him nor to God, "if he didn't already know."
Roger may be misguided. Roger certainly is lacking in supervision and likely an adult figure that would teach him right from wrong. Mrs. Jones can see this in this young mans dirty face and the hour that he is out on the streets. It is possible that the kindness and trust that Mrs. Jones offers to him could set him on the right path. It is possible that she hopes her trust in him will change the course of his life.

In "Thank You Ma'am" by Langston Hughes, young Roger meets his match when he attempts to steal the purse of Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones. Instead of grabbing the purse and running away, Roger falls when the strap of the purse breaks. Mrs. Jones lands a kick before pulling Roger up by his shirt. Although she is clearly angry, Mrs. Jones reacts in an unexpected way. Instead of calling for help or calling the police, she proceeds to march the young man to her home. Once there, Mrs. Jones instructs Roger to wash his face and then feeds him dinner. Before bidding him goodnight, she hands him some money.
Why does Mrs. Jones react the way she does? Near the end of the story, Roger shares that he wanted money for a pair of shoes. Mrs. Jones confides that she was also young once and that she wanted things. Roger expects her to continue by saying that she never tried to steal from anyone. However, she doesn't. Instead, she says, "I have done things, too, which I would not tell you, son—neither tell God, if he didn’t already know." It is as if she is communicating to Roger that she has also made mistakes when she was young. She wants him to know that she learned and recovered from her mistakes.
Mrs. Jones wants Roger to know that she cares for him. Although she scolds him and drags him to her home, she instructs him to wash his face. She prepares dinner for him when she realizes no one is home waiting for him. Mrs. Jones wants him to be accountable for his bad choice, but she shows him through her actions that she forgives him.
Roger's experience with Mrs. Jones most likely has a positive impact on him. At one point in the story, Roger has an opportunity to run. However, he chooses to wash his face as she instructs him to do. Then, he notices that her purse is left on the bed. Again, Roger remains trustworthy. Perhaps he remains trustworthy because Mrs. Jones trusts him to do so. Roger "did not trust the woman not to trust him." Mrs. Jones has set an expectation for him and he chooses not to let her down. Her final act of giving him money reinforces her message of caring and forgiveness.