How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
Don't misunderstand me—a funeral is a funeral. Though my sister wasn't in that pine box, a body lay in it sure enough. Remember, I told myself many times during the reverend's eulogy, and then as people started shoveling dirt into the hole, that coffined body down there is dead. That's a d at the beginning and a d at the end. There's no forward or backward from "dead," and no breath either—"dead" stops a person cold. It does not make that body your sister, but it is sad, sad news. (1.4)
The funny thing is, we think Georgie is just in denial, but she's right: The body isn't Agatha's—it's Darlene Garrow's. Darlene's story turns out to be every bit as tragic as Georgie asserts. Why does Georgie need to remind herself here that no matter who's in the coffin, death is serious business?
Quote #2
My sister would never die and then lie there. It made no sense. (1.34)
This sounds like straight-up denial to us since people die and lie there all the time, no matter who they are.
Quote #3
If Ma had only wanted an apology for causing a scene at the funeral, I might have yielded. But she wanted me to voice my sorrow. She wanted me to say my sister was dead, deceased, perished, passed on. I would say no such thing. (4.3)
Yep, more denial, except that it turns out that Georgie is right and everyone else is wrong. Do we have any indication before Agatha's letter that she might not be dead? Is everyone else too quick to jump to conclusions, or do those conclusions make sense?