Quote 1
As they walked back to the door Melanie asked, "Do you want to play some more tomorrow?" April was adjusting her fur stole around her shoulders for the trip upstairs. "Oh, I guess so," she said with a sudden return to haughtiness. (3.50-51)
Talk about playing hard to get. April totally likes hanging out with Melanie, but she'll still act aloof when asked if she wants to continue playing. That doesn't mean that she won't show up again tomorrow, though.
Quote 2
"None of my friends know how to play imagining games the way you do," Melanie said. "Some of them can do it a little bit but they mostly don't have any very good ideas. And a lot of them only like ball games or other things that are already made up. But I like imagining games better than anything." (3.52)
April and Melanie may not go beyond their neighborhood when they explore and play together, but they do explore lots of imaginary worlds and scenarios in their heads. Which, for creative kids like these two, is one of the best ways to go travelling.
Quote 3
"Do you like to read?" Melanie asked. "Reading is my favorite occupation."
"That's for sure." Mrs. Ross laughed. "A full-time occupation with overtime. Your grandmother tells me that you do a lot of reading, too." (3.27-28)
Melanie may not share April's love of false eyelashes or bouffant hairstyles, but she does have one thing in common with her new neighbor: they both love to read. Their shared thirst for knowledge helps them become fast friends.