How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
"She can't," Dale said, swinging his legs over the side of his bed. "Me and Mo are opening the café today." (1.25)
Only a true friend will wake up at the crack of dawn to help you out with work… for free. That's the kind of friend that Dale is, though, so when Mo tells him that she has to open the café, he hops out of bed and comes along with her.
Quote #2
"Tomorrow, then." He grinned, grabbing the CLOSED sign and flipping it to OPEN.
Dale's my best friend. By now, you can see why. (1.42-43)
Dale doesn't even complain about the fact that they can't go fishing like he wanted and that they have to work instead. He's definitely the easygoing Robin to Mo's Batman.
Quote #3
Dale exasperates me to tears. He hates fighting. I figure it's because of his daddy. Fortunately, I'm a good enough scrapper for both of us, most days. "Hands up!" I shouted. Dale raised his fists, looking awkward and scared. (7.92)
This best friendship isn't a one-way street, and Dale's not just always helping Mo out when she gets into scrapes. She's always there for him, too. She's brave and will fight off anyone (or anything) to protect him.
Quote #4
"Whatever you're thinking, I'm innocent." As I may have noted, Dale doesn't think well on his feet.
"Dale just now dropped by," I said quickly. "We've started a small business—Desperado Detective Agency. Dale's here to sort clues. Since school's out, we thought it would be okay. Plus, that's the kind of work ethic we got." (8.18-19)
As a true friend, Mo works hard to cover for Dale when he lets incriminating information slip. She'll even use her fast-talking wiles to divert Miss Lana's attention—and to save Dale from doing something stupid.
Quote #5
She turned to Starr. "I've known Dale since he was a baby, and I've never known a gentler soul. I can't even pay him to kill a garden snake. The idea that he murdered Jesse is ludicrous. Please stop wasting time on him and find the killer. We're all worried to death." (12.96)
Dale is terrified that he's going to be tried for Mr. Jesse's murder, but he doesn't realize how many people in town will vouch for him. He's a good kid who has been a good friend to many people, and they'll tell Detective Starr all that.
Quote #6
"No you ain't," I told him. "You're a juvenile. Besides, even if you do, it won't be so bad. You can bond with the incarcerated side of your family. And I'll bring you your homework assignments so you don't fall behind in school." (13.35)
Aw, isn't that nice? Mo offers to bring Dale the last thing he'd want while he's in prison… more homework. Still, it's nice of her to think of how she can help him if he becomes incarcerated.
Quote #7
Lavender laughed. "Thanks for offering, Mo. You're a true friend. But don't worry your pretty head. Sam and I will come up with the cash for the car. All you got to do is keep my desperado brother here out of trouble." (16.45)
Mo has a loud mouth and a temper, but she's willing to help her friends at any costs. She even offers to help Lavender raise the extra thousand bucks that he needs. He doesn't believe that she can do it, but he doesn't know how resourceful Mo is.
Quote #8
Dale leaned away from her. "She already said she don't know," he said. "Plus, Mo's a kid. If somebody's thinking, I think it should be you and Starr." (22.35)
Dale usually doesn't stand up to authority, but when Deputy Marla starts bugging Mo about any money that the Colonel might have, he snaps back at her. He's not going to let his best friend get bullied.
Quote #9
"Nobody?" He dropped the reins and stared at me, so angry his lips went pale. "You got people driving out here to sit with you, bringing you food. You got Skeeter helping. You got Sal breaking her family rules for you. You got Anna Celeste helping, and she can't stand you. You got, me, and Mama, and Lavender. You got a town full of nobodies, in case you haven't noticed," he said, his voice picking up steam. (22.71)
Mo's been so busy feeling sorry for herself since Miss Lana's disappearance that she hasn't taken the time to feel grateful for all the friends around her. Everyone in town is surrounding her with their love and care, and she doesn't even notice it.
Quote #10
Dale sat up on the settee. "There's no point in arguing when she gets like this," he said. He sighed and scanned the cords binding Mr. Macon's hands and feet. "You're safe, Mama," he said, his voice soft. "And Mo and me are partners. I'm going too." (27.29)
Dale's scared of a lot of things, but he's not going to let his fear get in the way of helping out his best friend. He'll follow Mo to the ends of the earth… even if that means confronting a known murderer. Gulp.