Belle Prater's Boy Family Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote #4

"Then Woodrow was born, and we went to see him. She was nicer to us, so we went back now and again. And we would give her books, because that was the only thing she would take from us.

"We figured out she was embarrassed with her living conditions, so we didn't go as often. Ever' now and then we'd bump into her and Woodrow down on Main Street doing some shopping, and she was friendly enough. Then one Decoration Day the two of them came to the ceremonies at the cemetery to put flowers on the family graves." (13.51-52)

It takes a long time for Aunt Belle to become friendly with her parents and sister again. And she never quite gets to the point where she can feel comfortable being close with them again. The whole thing with Love and Amos has hurt her too much.

Quote #5

"Well, let's see. You remind me a whole lot of your Aunt Belle, the way you're so talented with music."

It was the second time that summer I had heard that, and it tickled me.

"And you're wonderfully imaginative and creative like her. But she was mad at the world because she wasn't Love. You're also a fine person in your own right. Nobody can outshine you if you can just be yourself. Belle never learned that, and it caused her a lot of grief." (16.116-118)

Because Gypsy never got to know her Aunt Belle well, she's happy to hear about how they are similar in temperament and talent. She can even learn from her aunt's mistakes.

Quote #6

"Porter Dotson?" Mr. Collins said. "Yes, he is one person I have met since I've been here. A very fine man."

"Not as fine as my real daddy!" (17.81-82)

Whenever someone says a nice word about Porter Dotson, Gypsy has to come in and defend her real father. It's almost as if she feels that by letting him into her family, she's being unfaithful to her father's memory.