How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #4
And for a fleeting moment he pretended: Mama and Daddy in the ground, he told himself. Dead a long time. That's not so bad. They lived to be each a hundred. The kids, grown old, too, and died. I lived longer than each of them. I'm old now but I can still get around. Never did leave the mountain. None of the others did, either. But buried here. Ghosts. Just like Great-grandmother Sarah and the other old ones who really did pass away long ago. (2.8)
M.C. has some pretty morbid daydreams, but then, if we heard and felt the ghosts of our ancestors like M.C. apparently does, then maybe we wouldn't think the daydream is all that morbid. In fact, for M.C. this is a good dream because it shows his desire to stay on the mountain and keep his family around him (even if they're dead and buried).
Quote #5
"Hope that girl gets lost." He studied the hills, but could see no one, not even a glint. "Then I'll have to find her and lead her by the hand." Smugly he turned his face to the sky and swung his gleaming pole into the stifling air. (2.296)
Usually M.C. dreams some pretty big plans, but when it comes to girls, he hopes for something as simple as getting the chance to "find her and lead her by the hand." Why are his hopes so much smaller and simpler when it comes to girls?
Quote #6
"After he takes her voice out," M.C. said finally. "When he sends for her, she goes. When the records are made and you hear them on the radio." Wide-eyed, the children stared at him. "We'll leave here, too," he said.
He didn't mention they would leave their father behind, that they would live without him. (6.57-58)
We think it's pretty interesting how M.C. is willing to leave his father behind when he's planning their escape from the mountain. It's not an easy thing for him to come to; he definitely does try to convince his father to leave the mountain. But the way the kids look up to him and the way he's already planning a life for the family without his father makes it seem like M.C. wouldn't mind being the head honcho of the family.