John: Hey Jane! How are you? Whatcha’ reading?

Jane: Hey John! Working on a book for my American Lit class. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.

[John sits down on the bench next to Jane, clearly enthusiastic about her response.]

John: Really?! I love that book! It’s a such a great statement on how painful the struggle to change social conditioning is. Huck talks about his own struggle with this in such a heartbreaking way. It’s right around the time they reach Cairo. How far along are you?

Jane: Just past that part actually. Huck just arrived at the Grangerford’s house.

John: Ohhh! Well you’re in for a wild ride in the next couple of chapters for sure then. But do you remember that part after he pranks Jim right before Cairo where Huck is talking about how awful he feels for helping Jim run away from Miss Watson? His grief and guilt are so poignant:

"Conscience says to me 'What had poor Miss Watson done to you, that you could see her nigger go off right under your eyes and never say one single word? What did that poor old woman do to you, that you could treat her so mean?...' I got to feeling so mean and so miserable I most wished I was dead."

[Jane’s jaw drops open in shock as she just stares at John. John, with his head down, doesn’t notice and continues talking.]

Man, the last line just breaks my heart every time I read that book. Reminds me of the whole allegory of the cave, ya’ know? When Plato describes how painful it is to break free from that false reality we’re all born into?

[John now looks up at Jane in anticipation of a response and notices her shocked face.]

What?? What’s the matter?

Jane: Did you really just use the n-word? I would never have thought you capable of using language like that.

John: Oh! Gawd no! I would never do that! I was just quoting from the book! I swear. That’s how it was written. Twain was obsessed with getting the vernacular and dialect of his character’s just right. And the n-word was definitely in common usage in that time among almost everyone

in society.

[Jane is looking confused.]

Jane: John, I think you might be mistaken? That word has not been used once in this book. If it really was common back then, it’s not reflected in this story. Although, I do see what you mean about the dialect. He writes the dialogue of his characters phonetically and it’s pretty cool actually. Helps me feel like I’m right there in the story, travelling along with Jim and Huck.

[Jane chuckles. John looks confused.]

John: Jane, I’m not mistaken. That book is one of my all time faves. I’ve read it at least a dozen times; probably a lot more actually. The n-word is used regularly and often in the dialogue. Here, save your page. I’ll show you.

[Jane bookmarks her page and then hands the book to John. John flips the pages in the book looking for the chapter where the quote appears. He stops turning pages as he appears to have found it. He reads and then looks up at Jane with shock on his face.]

It’s been changed! I don’t understand? It’s been replaced with the word slave. Why would they do that? How could they do that? I don’t understand....

[Fade to black.]