How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
Mom and Dad would never let them go alone, and if Dad went with them, the other Egyptians would never forgive them for giving away Egypt to a grown-up. Melanie had known that Marshall understood the importance of what she was saying and that he was trying awfully hard to believe that it was all more important than finding Security. (18.4)
Melanie feels awful about poor Security sitting all by his eight-legged self in Egypt, but she knows they can't explain all this to their parents. Adults just wouldn't get the whole Egypt Game thing. Plus, they'd probably get in trouble for sneaking out on Halloween.
Quote #8
"You know what? I'll bet you didn't leave Security in Egypt at all. Now that I think about it, I don't remember seeing him there today. I'll bet you left him at nursery school. I'll bet he's safe and sound in the playroom at nursery school, and you can get him in the morning when you get to school." (18.7)
Being the grown-up in the situation sometimes means padding the truth. Melanie doesn't actually believe that Security is at nursing school, but she says so in order to comfort Marshall anyway.
Quote #9
That day Marshall wouldn't even take part in the ceremony. He just sat on a box against the fence and watched with big sad eyes. Everybody tried to talk to him and cheer him up, but he wouldn't answer. Looking at him, the others remembered with a feeling of shock that he was awfully little. He usually seemed bigger. (18.11)
Poor Marshall. Sometimes the older kids forget that he's only four years old, but his maturity is put to the test when he loses Security and suddenly starts looking like a baby again. He's obviously heartbroken, and they don't know what to do in order to make him feel better.