The Last Penny

"The Last Penny" by Edwin Lefevre is a story from long ago about a young man named Thomas Leigh who just finished college and now has to face real-life problems. Tommy has a strained relationship with his father, and things get even more difficult when he finds out his dad has been struggling with money. The story begins with Tommy thinking back to his easy college days and getting ready to talk to his father about grown-up stuff like money and what's expected of him. When Tommy discovers his father's financial troubles, it changes everything. He feels mixed up and uneasy because he realizes how much his father gave up for him, which included hiding some things about their money situation. This makes Tommy want to show what he's made of. He knows he owes his father a lot for raising him, so he decides to make a new life for himself and become independent in Dayton, Ohio. The story hints at some important ideas, like how much people sacrifice for each other, the importance of love, and how people try to find their own value.