Steffie Can't Come Out to Play by Judie Angell
"Steffie Can't Come Out to Play" by Judie Angell is a poignant exploration of a young girl's quest for independence and the complexities of growing up. The story follows fourteen-year-old Stephanie Ruff, who leaves her home in search of fame as a model in New York City, believing her family cannot understand her aspirations. Upon her arrival, Steffie encounters a mix of fear and excitement, quickly being drawn into a relationship with Favor, a smooth-talking pimp who offers her a false sense of safety and allure. As Steffie navigates her new environment, she grapples with her desire for love, security, and material possessions, becoming increasingly entangled in Favor’s controlling world.
Despite her initial dreams, Steffie's journey reveals the harsh realities of dependency and the consequences of her self-deception. The narrative intricately portrays the dynamics of power and vulnerability, as Steffie's relationships with other women and her mentor, Glory, highlight the challenges faced by young runaways. Angell's writing addresses serious issues such as exploitation and personal responsibility with sensitivity, while also presenting Steffie's innocence and the impact of her choices. The story ultimately invites readers to reflect on Steffie's fate and the broader themes of identity and agency within the context of adolescent struggles.
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Subject Terms
Steffie Can't Come Out to Play by Judie Angell
First published: 1978
Type of work: Social realism
Themes: Coming-of-age, emotions, sexual issues, and social issues
Time of work: The 1970’s
Recommended Ages: 13-15
Locale: Clairton, Pennsylvania, and New York City
Principal Characters:
Stephanie “Steffie” Ruff , a pretty but naive girl from a Pennsylvania mining town, who falls in love with a pimp and his offers of security and fancy clothesFavor , a New York pimp, who lures Steffie into prostitutionGlory , Favor’s “Main Lady,” who is an experienced prostituteBrenda , Steffie’s New York roommate, who is another young prostituteCal Yarbro , a police officer, who helps Steffie escape city lifeEd Felcher , Yarbro’s younger partner
The Story
Steffie Can’t Come Out to Play begins with fourteen-year-old Stephanie Ruff’s good-bye note to her family, who, she believes, cannot understand her desire to leave and seek fame as a model in New York. The conflict begins as soon as Steffie steps off the train in New York. She experiences her first taste of fear but is then approached by the handsome and understanding Favor, who assures her that she will be safe if she goes home with him. Steffie’s desire for independence and her dream of becoming a model conflict with her desire for security, love, pretty things, and someone to take care of her.
From the start readers see through Favor, the smooth-talking pimp; they also foresee the jealousy that erupts among the women who work for Favor. It takes Steffie longer to catch on, however; and by the time she does, she has convinced herself that she loves Favor, that he loves her, and that she will marry him. The situation is ironic, however, because Favor is honest with her: He promises to protect her and give her a chance to enjoy nice things; he never lies to her. Favor does not offer her drugs, nor does he touch her sexually, until she has slept with other men. It is Steffie who reads love and marriage into Favor’s words. It is her own dependence and self-deception that bring her rapidly under Favor’s control.
Feeling safe and protected in Favor’s expensive rooms, Steffie suspects that she is not unique when another young woman named Brenda telephones. Favor’s actions with other women confirm Steffie’s fears, but she clings to her fantasy of marrying him. Once she acquiesces to Favor’s insistence that she make money to pay for her fancy new clothes and jewelry, however, Steffie is quickly removed from Favor’s rooms. He places her under the instructive wing of Glory, who is known as his “Main Lady” on the street; it is her responsibility to make certain Steffie understands the pecking order. Steffie moves further from her dream when Favor moves her into Brenda’s tiny apartment. Dependent and anxious to please her increasingly distant protector, Steffie works harder. Her success increases the tension between her and Glory, until she finds herself set up with a client who slips a powerful dose of LSD into her drink.
Context
This story is consistent with the body of Arrick’s work which includes other novels about social issues: Tunnel Vision (suicide) in 1980, Chernowitz! (racism) in 1981, and God’s Radar (religious fundamentalism) in 1983. All show young protagonists struggling to define their identities while attempting to cope with the sometimes overwhelming problems of daily life.
Taking its place in the realistic tradition, this book explores the problems of teenage runaways, forcing Arrick to deal with an issue all young adult writers face: How much explicit detail should an author include? Arrick handles sexual matters discreetly. She develops emotional themes, describing with intensity and detail Steffie’s situation and the pain she brings upon herself.
For young readers, Arrick demystifies a profession about which information has often been withheld. She does not portray Steffie as unredeemable, but she puts responsibility on Steffie herself. Hometown flashbacks show Steffie as a hardworking, innocent teenager. The unflappable Officer Yarbro draws attention to her youth and innocence (symbolized by the bear she carries when times get rough). Steffie has an unexpected effect on the seasoned Yarbro: He intervenes when Favor abandons Steffie, in effect giving Steffie a second chance. Whether she now deals realistically with her choices is a question readers must decide for themselves.