There are many different observations that can be made while looking at this painting.  At first glance, we notice three figures in the image, the server, the police officer and the little boy. One observation that is apparent is that the two adults in the picture are both wearing a smile. We also notice that there is a white material that is sticking out of the knapsack under the little boys stool. In addition, with these immediate observations, one can conclude that this particular scene serves a purpose.
            There are other observations that can be made throughout this illustration. It is shown through symbolism the size of the officer in comparison to the little boy. Naturally, police officers are very respectable and hold authority, which is why the officer holds such a large presence in this painting. The little boy is sitting with his arms pulled in to show that he is hiding something. It can be easily assumed that the police officers asking the little boy questions in regards to his decision to runaway. Questions such as “What is your name?” and “What is your family situation?” may be asked by the officer to try and persuade the little boy to not runaway. Furthermore, to make the little boy more comfortable, the police officer may ask the boy if he would like a piece of pie. I mention this because this eatery specifically looks like a coffee shop, and pie can be seen behind the counter to the left.

            The audience can perceive this painting to convey many different messages. In my opinion it is conveying a theme of education. Naturally, the police officer is educating this little boy on why he should not run away from home and how it could affect his life in the future. While it may be true that, the police officer is speaking to the boy in what seems to be an appropriate setting for my explanation, it does not necessarily follow that the police officer is specifically speaking to the boy about running away. In fact, they may just be speaking about the weather recently. Moreover, is not uncommon for little boys to think of police officers as role models. Thus, the boy may be influenced positively to listen to the officer because of his authority and the respect he receives from the community. This painting immediately conveys a message of education to others, it can be implied that through a lecture one can be educated on what is right and wrong. Education does not always have to be a direct correlation to an educational system. After all, the most valuable lessons are the ones that are not taught to one by a school teacher but by a role model. In this case, for the little boy, we can infer that the police officer takes up the position of the educator.