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105. Not Everywhere
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Out of the Dust, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Nature, Survival, and the Dust Bowl
Poverty, Charity, and Community
Coming of Age
Family and Forgiveness
Summary
Analysis
Billie Jo tells Louise that although she looks like her father, she has her mother’s hands—“piano hands.” She tells Louise about how much she loves playing piano even though hers is covered in dust. She also talks about her mother’s love of apples; apparently, she used to put apples in a bowl and place them on a shelf near the piano. Additionally, she tells Louise that she and her family, although they struggled, were happy before her mother’s accident.
Here, Billie Jo starts opening up to Louise and telling her about all the most important things in her life. The intimate details of the conversation suggest that Billie Jo has started to trust Louise more. It is an important moment, as Billie Jo finally feels like she has a maternal presence to whom she can talk and seek comfort.
Themes
Louise listens to Billie Jo calmly, meeting her gaze with confidence. Billie Jo continues discussing her life. She talks about how her hands are starting to hurt less now and how she hopes to play her piano again if she can clean the dust out of it. As Billie Jo talks, she notices that Louise just listens and nods. She never tries to give Billie Jo advice or tell her what to do. Billie Jo appreciates this about Louise. Louise understands everything Billie Jo says and some of the things she doesn’t say.
Louise knows why Billie Jo is guarded around her and wants to ensure she does not impose herself in inappropriate ways. She does not want Billie Jo to think she is trying to act as a replacement for her mother. Louise is also emotionally intelligent enough to know that Billie Jo is much too mature to be pitied or babied. She treats Billie Jo like an adult and respects her maturity and complexity.
Themes
