Discovering Wes Moore

Wes’s mother’s perfume wakes him at night and is a comforting scent that allows him to fall back asleep. Joy’s perfume is a symbol of comfort and stability, reinforcing the theme of the importance of having a support network. Joy woke the kids up for school before leaving the house to go to work. Moore writes, “At night, my grandparents prepared dinner for the family and got us to bed. Mom would come in from her last job late and walk straight to our rooms, pull the covers tight around us, and give us our kiss good night. The smell of her perfume would wake me as soon as she walked in, and then comfort me back to sleep” (29-30). The comforting presence of his mother provides Wes with the validation that he has a mother there supporting him even if she has to be away from him. Her absence is for the betterment of the family not out of a lack of love or support, and the smell of her perfume reminds him that she is always there for him even if she isn’t always there physically.