A Long Way from Chicago The Weidenbachs Quotes

"Mrs. Dowdel, you falsified those so-called Lincoln items. They're bogus. I could have the law on you."

"That's right." Grandma gazed above him at the wide-mouthed bass. "The banker throws the poor old widder in the pokey. That'll look real good for your business." (6.122-123)

Even threatening to call the police doesn't work on Grandma Dowdel. She's unapologetic about having made fake Abraham Lincoln antiques, and she's not going to be bullied by Mr. Weidenbach into backing off.

The Weidenbachs

Quote 2

Mrs. Weidenbach sighed. "Mrs. Dowdel, these are desperate times. Don't hide your light under a bushel. It's up to you to hold high the banner for our town."

Grandma putting herself out for the fame of the town? I thought Mrs. Weidenbach was on the wrong track. On the other hand, Grandma liked to win. (4.29-30)

Joey knows that Grandma doesn't care at all about representing the town with her pie, but she does care about winning. By appealing to her spirit of competition, Mrs. Weidenbach can convince her to enter the pie-making contest on behalf of the town.