How we cite our quotes: (Chapter. Paragraph)
Quote #7
This year I discovered something really strange. I discovered that my mother was sending a Christmas card to her parents in Ohio. I found out because I was looking through the pile of cards one day when I had a cold and stayed home from school. There it was—just like that. The envelope said Mr. and Mrs. Paul Hutchins, and that's them. My grandparents! I didn't mention anything about it to my mother. I had the feeling I wasn't supposed to know. (12.4)
This is a pretty big secret for Margaret's mom to keep, isn't it? But it's also probably a pretty scary move for her to make. What if her parents reject her all over again? Ugh.
Quote #8
My father hollered. "I can't believe you, Barbara! After fourteen years you sent them a Christmas card?"
"I was feeling sentimental. So I sent a card. I didn't write anything on it. Just our names." (20.4-5)
Religion has made a righteous mess in Margaret's family. Her mom's parents stopped speaking to her when she married Margaret's dad, all because he isn't the same religion as them. It makes sense that feelings run high when her dad finds out her mom wrote to them.
Quote #9
I ran out of the kitchen and stormed up the stairs to my room. I slammed the door. I hated it when they had a fight in front of me. Didn't they know how awful they sounded? I could still hear them, shouting and carrying on. (20.11)
Margaret's right—fighting is pretty awful. But sometimes people disagree. How could Margaret's parents have handled this differently, or are they being reasonable?