How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
I said, "I'd trade you in a minute. The worst thing that's going to happen to you is that they're going to make you play house a lot […] I tickled Jerry under his chin and said, "Ga-ga, goo-goo, baby-waby."
Jerry couldn't help but smile. I said, "You're going to be great."
Jerry looked like he wasn't so scared anymore so I went over to my bed and started getting ready. (1.21-23)
Bud really shines as a kind person in this part. Even though he is lying about wanting to trade, he is talented at putting Jerry at ease about the new home he will be living in.
Quote #2
I can't all the way blame Todd for giving me trouble, though. If I had a regular home with a mother and father I wouldn't be too happy about other kids living in my house either. (4.6)
Whoa! After being totally beaten up and then scammed out of sleeping inside the house and locked inside a shed and stung by hornets, Bud can still see Todd's side of the story and understand it. Would Bud really feel this way if he were Todd?
Quote #3
I was wrong when I said being hungry for a day is about as bad as it can get, being hungry and having a big knot on your head from a black leather strap would be even worse. […] A very tall, square-shaped man in old blue overalls looked down at me and said, "Clarence, what took you so long?" (6.14-16)
Just when Bud is about to get himself into a heap of trouble, his "pretend poppa" comes to the rescue and pulls Starving Bud into line. The whole family plays along perfectly. How did they all know what to do so well? Had they done this before? This was a big risk for them since they could have been kicked out of line, too. This shows that some people were willing to go out on the line to help others during a difficult time like the Depression.