Dreamland Burning

Stan Tillman agrees to Joseph’s proposed payment plan, which he normally only extends to white customers. The terms of the sale are beyond stringent. Not only will Joseph forfeit all money paid if he is a moment late on a single payment, but Stan refuses to give Joseph a receipt. A receipt would implicate Stan for violating Jim Crow segregation laws. Without the receipt, Joseph must trust that Stan will remain honest; however, Stan’s interests are completely protected whether he trusts Joseph or not. In fact, as Joseph makes his payments faithfully every week, Stan seems offended, as if he had expected Joseph to default.

The receipt Will writes wouldn’t force his father to honor the money paid, but it is significant because it creates the paper trail that his father was avoiding and represents Will’s trust in Joseph and Ruby. Giving Joseph the receipt is a way of choosing Joseph and Ruby over his father, who Will now knows is not to be trusted. In the end, Will fulfills the promise of the receipt without his father’s knowledge and permission, even paying the last of the debt before delivering the Victrola. When Rowan returns the receipt to Joe Tillman, his response shows that the receipt became a symbol in family legend.