How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
Mrs. Weidenbach sighed. "Mrs. Dowdel, these are desperate times. Don't hide your light under a bushel. It's up to you to hold high the banner for our town."
Grandma putting herself out for the fame of the town? I thought Mrs. Weidenbach was on the wrong track. On the other hand, Grandma liked to win. (4.29-30)
Joey knows that Grandma doesn't care at all about representing the town with her pie, but she does care about winning. By appealing to her spirit of competition, Mrs. Weidenbach can convince her to enter the pie-making contest on behalf of the town.
Quote #8
"There's no private matters in this town, Merle," Grandma said. "Everybody's private business is public property."
"Yes, and you've stuck your nose in ours!" Mrs. Stubbs said, speaking up sharp. "You got that Eubanks gal upstairs this minute." (5.137-138)
The thing about living in a small town is that everyone knows everyone else's business—and that's definitely the case when Mary Alice sneaks Vandalia into Grandma Dowdel's house.
Quote #9
"The Centennial Celebration? Nothin' but an excuse for people to mill around, waste time, and make horses' patooties of themselves. I hope I never see another one." (7.8)
Grandma Dowdel is not the kind of person who is into fairs and big celebrations. She loves her community, but she's not into big shows or lots of activity; she'd rather just carry on with her everyday life.