I believe Hughes was disillusioned, sad and disappointed. He went to church with the expectation that he was going to see Jesus. He believed his Aunt Reed when she told him that he would see a light and Jesus would come to him. He waited enduring pressure and discomfort while all of the other children went to the altar but Jesus didn’t come to him. With mounting pressure from the congregation, he grows tired of waiting and realizes that Jesus isn’t coming. He stands, walks to the altar and lets everyone in the church believe he was saved. He feels sad and disappointed because religion was an important part of his life that he no longer believes in.
