This painting steps away from realism somewhat and moves towards expressionism with a mild distortion of shape and color to make a point. El Greco of sorts on cornbread. The point is poverty; or more correctly poverty unregarded and unremarked. In this area people with the most to offer leave to better themselves elsewhere where economies have more to provided them and their families. The boarding house in the painting shows a holding way of life and the gathering account of neglect. The darkening sky, a dreaded future and the new red bicycle, the hope that is held and measured in miles.