How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
Mostly it's checking everybody out. Seeing what they look like after the summer. Almost everybody looks different, changed at least a little bit. And not just different, but different better. (9.2)
Does this sound familiar at all? Have you ever had this experience—either when going back to school in the fall or just seeing people you haven't seen for a while?
Crash is young enough that he sees getting older as a good thing. That's not the case for all the characters, though.
Quote #2
As usual, when he came to his picture in the hallway gallery, he had to stop and say, "Now there's a handsome young man. I wonder who that is."
The painting shows this sailor with his white hat cocked down to one eyebrow and his mouth open like he's saying something. (20.2-20.3)
This is the first time we hear about the portrait of Scooter, but of course, we see it again after Scooter has his stroke. Take a minute to compare and contrast this scene with the one at the end of the book, when Scooter revisits his portrait.
Quote #3
On the other team, Uncle Herm did most of the passing. Abby and Scooter were receivers. Whenever Scooter got the ball, I tried to picture him as a speedy little kid in the streets, but I couldn't do it. (29.15)
Sounds like Scooter has lost some of his speed in his old age. He kept the adorable nickname, though. Fair enough. Riddle us this: is it easier to picture what someone young might look like as an older person or what an older person may have looked like when they were younger? Why? Do you think your answer has anything to do with your age?