How we cite our quotes: (Part.Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
The house was before them, overgrown with honeysuckle, dark-windowed, looking abandoned. Off to the right, Dicey saw the lopsided barn. It had once been red, but the paint had weathered, faded and peeled, until it looked pink as a bad sunburn. The tin roof was rusted in large patches.
"Anyway," Dicey said, "this is where Momma lived."
"It's beautiful," Maybeth said.
"It's a wreck," Dicey answered. "The fields out front—and look at that barn. It's gone to ruin. She hasn't taken care of it."
"But it's big," James said. "Big enough for all of us." (2.8.107-111)
Yeah, Abigail's house looks pretty terrible, but the kids see the potential. Now if they could just do something about this honeysuckle…
Quote #8
"You are in my home," their grandmother said. She looked around the table at the four pairs of hazel eyes, none as dark as hers. And none, except Dicey's, as angry as hers. "My home, not yours," their grandmother said.
We might as well have it out now as any other time, Dicey said to herself. She felt as if she had been running away from this for days, and she had only the last of her strength left. She had to turn and fight now. She took a deep, shivering breath.
"Are you expecting us to stay then?" she demanded. Her voice sounded thin and hard.
Her grandmother's mouth worked, and she looked surprised, as if she hadn't understood what it was they were fighting about this time. Her mouth formed words, but no sound came out. Finally she spoke:
"No." (2.10.118-122)
Oh, man—this is stone cold. Their grandmother gives them the old "you're in my house, you'll follow my rules" line and then tells them they can't stay anyhow. Will these kids ever find a home of their own?
Quote #9
Dicey belonged here. She belonged here; yet she was being blown away. Well, it wasn't her house, that was true. It was their grandmother's house and they were not welcome. They would stay together, at least that. She could go along with Cousin Eunice on everything except about that; she wouldn't agree to sending Sammy or Maybeth away. She'd say that right away. (2.11.8)
This is super sad. Even though Abigail's house doesn't belong to them, the kids feel a connection to it. Maybe it's because their Momma grew up there. Whatever it is, Dicey is pretty bummed to be pushed out and heading back to Cousin Eunice's.