Character Analysis
Poetry-loving Tootie gets the scare of her life when she accidentally vacuums up a squirrel, but somehow it all works out for the best. Tootie is around to provide some commentary and grown-up help when Flora has nowhere else to turn, but we don't get to know much about her aside from that.
We know that she's got a big heart—why else would she take in her great-nephew when he needs help?—and we also find her reading poetry after Ulysses pens some of his own. In fact, she even takes a crack at it herself, saying, "'I've been inspired by Ulysses to write a little poetry of my own'" (50.27). Seems Flora isn't the only one who believes in our favorite squirrel.