How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
Mam was always saying that she was going to whup me but she would have walked barefoot across Egypt before she even thought about spanking me. (12.68)
Whenever Mam threatens Victor, he doesn't take it all too seriously. She loves him way too much to ever punish him when he's done something wrong. She's only bluffing.
Quote #8
I knew the last thing my father wanted to do after flying his plane all day was pitch and catch with me. I wasn't much interested in throwing ball either. I still felt empty with all my tears gone. But I pretended that pitching ball was just what I wanted. So both of us ended up doing something we didn't really want to so we could make the other feel good. (19.69)
By the end of the book, Victor realizes that true love means doing things to make other people happy—even if it's not exactly what you want to do. By that definition, it's clear that Victor and his father love each other very much.
Quote #9
Walking home from Paul's house late one afternoon I turned the corner and there were Mr and Mrs. Worthington walking ahead of me on Melrose. They were holding hands and swinging them like girls on a playground. They were acting happy but whether they really were or not I couldn't say. (20.16)
Love is complicated, and after getting a glimpse into Mrs. Worthington's life and her marriage, Victor can't tell if she and her husband actually love each other. They certainly have a lot of problems.