How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
Aunt Ethel. I have to hand it to Mom. Even in an emergency room she knows how to put a good story together. It must be from reading all those novels. Aunt Ethel is real, but having her be my baby-sitter? That's pure fiction. Aunt Ethel lives in Miami. (5.35)
You've got to hand it to Mrs. Phillips—she sure does tell a credible lie. Even when she's doped up in the hospital, she manages to come up with a story to tell the authorities when they ask who is taking care of Bobby at home.
Quote #2
Mrs. Trent doesn't get a good look at Aunt Ethel for three reasons. First, the collar on the pink robe is turned up; second, there's a bath towel wrapped around her head; and third, the real Aunt Ethel is about twelve hundred miles southeast of here. (8.21)
Now that Bobby's mom has come up with the Aunt Ethel story, it looks like the whole family's got to be in on it. Bobby even manages to dress up as Aunt Ethel to fool the neighbors. It's like something out of a Robin Williams movie.
Quote #3
But now I'm mad too, because she has no right to yell at me. I haven't done anything wrong. I haven't lied to her. And I'm not going to. I'm not a creep, and I won't let her think that about me for the rest of her life. (11.34)
Well, here's the moment of truth. Bobby doesn't want to lie to Alicia and tell her that he's just walking around naked for the thrill of it, so he needs her to know the truth. He's not a weirdo, he's just invisible. That's better… right?
Quote #4
I'm a rotten liar, even when people can't see my face. And besides, why should I have to lie? So I take a deep breath and say, "Yes I have. I met a girl, a blind girl. And she knows about everything, but it's okay. She's not going to tell anyone, and like she said to me, no one would believe her if she did." (13.10)
Bobby needs friends, and he refuses to lie to his mom about the new one he's made, even though he knows it will upset her. After all, his parents can't just tell him to lie to everyone and expect him to follow their instructions without question. He does have free will.
Quote #5
So the school nurse calls the Monday after my mom gets home from the hospital. Mom tells her I've still got the flu. The nurse has heard about the car accident, that Mom and Dad were in the hospital. Mom tells her that Aunt Ethel was here to take care of me. The nurse is glad I'm doing much better now—how much longer will he be missing class? Another week? Fine. (14.28)
Bobby's mom plays it cool when the school starts calling and asking when he'll be back in class. It turns out that she can be a pretty good liar, especially when her son's future is in danger.
Quote #6
"Not at all. It's so cold and damp this time of the year in Chicago. What with his illness and the accident and all, Mr. Phillips and I decided that some time away would be good for Bobby. He left Thursday to stay with a relative in Florida for a month or so." (15.18)
Whoa, this story is spinning out of control. Now the Phillips family isn't just lying about Bobby staying home from school—they've invented a whole reason for him to be out of the state.
Quote #7
Mom runs to the den and calls her aunt and tells her that if she gets a contact from anyone asking about me, she's to say that I've been there since March thirteenth, and that I arrived by train. (15.35)
Is everyone in Bobby's family just a natural at being a secret agent? Even his old Aunt Ethel doesn't bat an eyelash when she's asked to lie to the authorities about her missing nephew. She just agrees right away.
Quote #8
"You think I'm a better actor? What does that mean? You think I'm a good liar, is that it?"
"Jeez—touchy, touchy. It's a compliment. I mean you could probably sound like you know something, and I'm just gonna sound like this dumb kid, that's all. So will you do it?" (19.40-41)
The web of lies and deceit that the Phillips family has woven is getting out of hand. They're pulling all sorts of people into it. First they ask Aunt Ethel to lie for them, and now Bobby is asking if Alicia will help him steal legal documents.
Quote #9
And that's true. I probably will end up at Alicia's house. Just not right now.
And then I'm down the kitchen steps out and the side door. I'm off to commit my first real crime. (19.74-75)
Bobby's parents may not approve of him breaking into the Sears, Roebuck and Company headquarters, but he knows that it's his only chance of getting his hands on information about the electric blanket. Sometimes you have to lie to get what you need… right?
Quote #10
Without breaking stride or turning her head, Alicia hisses, "I know! She can always tell when I'm lying, and it makes me crazy! And she's so stupid that she thinks I can't tell when she's following me! Our front door makes this squeaking groan, and I can hear it half a block away." (20.5)
Alicia's mom isn't going to just let her daughter waltz out of the house without figuring out where she's really going. She probably wouldn't be too pleased if she knew that Alicia was committing crimes with a naked fifteen-year-old boy. Good thing Bobby's invisible, eh?