How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
"Your father and I have always been good parents, and we're not going to stop just because of some… some… special problem. So just mind your manners and keep a civil tongue in your head. We'll do everything we can—you know that." (1.57)
Leave it to a parent to scold a kid for talking back when he's freaking out about having turned invisible overnight. Things may be crazy right now, but Bobby's mom hasn't lost any of her mom-ness, and she'll totally still scold him.
Quote #2
I can't believe what I'm reading: "Watch TV or something"? And then, "Call me if there's an emergency"?
So let me get this straight, Mom: Your kid going invisible, that's not an emergency? (2.55-56)
Well, this is kind of ridiculous. Apparently, Bobby's parents don't see him turning invisible as an emergency that should warrant them all staying at home together. It's no wonder he ends up going out by himself.
Quote #3
My family's not on TV. My family's messed up. And I'm probably the most messed up of all.
I make my first decision: I've got to go see Mom and Dad. Because that's what you do if your family gets in a car wreck, right? You go and see them.
Because they're your family. (5.43-45)
So what if Bobby's parents were getting on his nerves earlier on in the day? All of that goes out the window when they get hurt in a car accident. He may be annoyed with them, but that doesn't mean that he doesn't love or care about them.
Quote #4
I'm missing the old Mom, who would show up once or twice a day, give an order, and then get on with her busy life. Suddenly, it seems like I'm her life. (8.4)
Bobby's mom doesn't leave him alone more now that he's invisible, and instead, she turns up the nag factor. He'd better find a cure for his situation quickly—otherwise he's going to go crazy stuck at home with just his parents for company.
Quote #5
"And it was like my parents couldn't see me either. They just saw this thing that was suddenly helpless. They're better now, but still, I'm not their wonderful daughter they were so proud of anymore. Now I'm a big job, a job they can't get rid of even if they wanted to." (13.47)
Ever since Alicia's accident, her role in the family has shifted dramatically—but for the worse. She's no longer her parents' bright, successful daughter. Now she's just like an infant to them; they have to take care of her and fuss over her all the time.
Quote #6
Alicia makes a face. "Yeah, she works on me. I'm her big job. She used to work for a public relations company, did a lot of traveling to New York and LA. Now she does a little writing and a little consulting and a lot of looking after Alicia." (18.22)
It's obvious that Alicia would much prefer it if her mom just stopped nagging and stalking her. But she knows that it's out of love… her mom doesn't know how else to take care of her daughter now that she can't see.
Quote #7
But what I focus on as I head down toward sleep is what Mom says when she tucks me in. Because she says what I want to believe.
"Now, don't worry, Bobby. You get a good night's rest. I just know that everything's going to be fine." (18.151-152)
Even with everything that's going on, Bobby's mom still knows how to say the right mom things. She's not going to tell him that he's doomed to a life of invisibility forever; she's going to say that everything will turn out just fine. That's what moms are there for.
Quote #8
The look on Mrs. Van Dorn's face makes me feel sorry for her. She seems so sad and alone. She's wearing the same look I keep seeing on Mom's face. I'll walk quietly into the den or the kitchen, and Mom will be in the middle of something, but stopped, not paying attention to the computer or the book she's reading, and she'll have the same kind of sad, distant look in her eyes. (20.9)
Even though Mrs. Van Dorn is putting a kink in Bobby's plans, he can't help but feel badly for her because he recognizes what she's going through. She and his mom are both suffering a lot because they can't reverse their kids' situations.
Quote #9
"…And you haven't heard from her since?"
"Only once. She called, asked if we could send her two thousand dollars […] So I did it. Probably stupid, but if you have kids, you know why I had to do it. That's about two years ago. Since then, nothing—'cept a note last Christmas. And it's not like it was even a card or something nice for her mother. Just one of those computer messages." (22.30)
When Bobby talks to Sheila's dad, he realizes how lucky he is that his parents know about his invisibility. After all, he wouldn't want to put them through the kind of pain and confusion Sheila's parents are experiencing.
Quote #10
Then he says, "Of course. You're right. Sorry, Bobby. We'll work with this, and see where it leads ups. Quite right, son. Have to keep your word."
And it's like the whole world has shifted about ten feet to the right. I'm not where I used to be, and I see it, and Dad sees it too, and he sees me seeing him see me. (24.145-146)
Finally Bobby's dad is starting to see his teenage son as a man. Instead of telling him what to do, he's listening to Bobby's decisions and respecting them, which is quite a change in the family dynamic.