Quote 4
"Why did you ask your father about the number of square feet in an acre? Why not your mother?"
Abby had a yellow mustache from melted cheese. She looked stumped for a minute. "I think…I thought…acres was men's stuff." (13.61-13.62)
What Abby really means is math is men's stuff. Oh, no, she didn't! (Oh, yes, she did.) Thankfully, her mom sets her straight.
Quote 5
Before he could stop her, Abby snatched the top pair of shorts and pulled them on over her jeans. She checked herself in the mirror. "Oh, Scooter, can I have these, please? Just one pair." (20.11)
Yes, Abby is asking for her grandfather's old underwear. Truly the fashion dream of every 10-year-old girl. Okay, probably not, although these sorts of fads do come and go. But why do you think Abby is so interested in wearing her grandpa's old knickers?
Quote 6
Abby raised her arms and swung around with a grin as big as a hoagie roll. "We all ate a meal together!"
I headed off. The living room was getting dark. I twirled my finger. "Whoopee. Just like a real family." (13.74-13.75)
Abby's excitement over a simple family dinner suggests that it doesn't happen in the Coogan household very often. What do you make of Crash's reaction?