Why do Roger's actions change in "Thank You, M'am"?

Roger decides to stay with Mrs. Jones because she takes an interest in him.

Although we do not know much about Roger, we can infer that he does not have a very good home life.  There is no one home at 11 o’clock at night to either feed him or wash his face.  He decides to try purse-snatching because he wants some blue suede shoes.

Mrs. Jones seems to alter the course of Roger’s life.  He is likely not an experienced purse snatcher when he tries to grab her handbag.  Instead of being frightened and giving him the purse, she grabs him and takes him home.  Mrs. Jones feels sorry for Roger, and decides to use the experience to teach Roger some life lessons.

“Um-hum! And your face is dirty. I got a great mind to wash your face for you. Ain’t you got nobody home to tell you to wash your face?”

“No’m,” said the boy.

“Then it will get washed this evening,” said the large woman starting up the street, dragging the frightened boy behind her.

Mrs. Jones wants Roger to understand that he is at a turning point in his life.  He does not have to face a life of crime.  If Roger decides to become a purse snatcher, it will not help him get what he wants.  Mrs. Jones wants Roger to appreciate that life is difficult, but that he can still make a choice.

The first choice Roger has to make is whether or not to stay.  This is a struggle for him.  If he leaves and runs away, he can go back into the woodwork.  However, if he stays he may learn something about himself and about life.  Roger decides to stay.

The woman was sitting on the day-bed. After a while she said, “I were young once and I wanted things I could not get.”

There was another long pause. The boy’s mouth opened. Then he frowned, but not knowing he frowned.

Mrs. Jones also tells Roger that if he wanted the money, he would have been better off asking for it.  But for Roger, the shoes are symbolic.  He feels as if he has no one.  Wherever his family is, they are not there to look after him.  Roger’s purse-snatching attempt was a cry for help, and Mrs. Jones recognized that.

We do not know for sure that Roger changed, but the “contact” with Mrs. Jones seems to have altered the course he was on.  Roger first does not flee, and then asks Mrs. Jones if she needs anything.  Although the two part company, Roger has had an interaction that will give him pause before he finds himself on the street again in the middle of the night.