How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
Big studies my burning face, then says gently, "Whose dream, Len?" He positions his hands like he's playing an invisible clarinet. "Because the only one I used to see working sooooooooo hard around here was you." (26.23)
Big confirms what we already saw in the earlier flashback: Julliard was not a concrete dream that Bailey was actively working toward. Lennie was the one working hard, with her clarinet lessons, and she gave up on a very real dream because of a pipe dream her eleven-year-old sister had.
Quote #8
Maybe he's right and she didn't have it—whatever it is. Maybe what my sister wanted was to stay here and get married and have a family.
Maybe that was her color of extraordinary. (27.4-5)
Finally, Lennie's starting to separate her dream from her sister's. She even sounds positive about the whole Bailey-being-engaged thing here, which is different from her initial what? Looks like she's figuring out that not all dreams look the same, and that being a mother and going to a good school are equally valid things to want.
Quote #9
"No." My voice surprises me again with its certainty. "I want the solos, Rachel." At that she stops fiddling with her clarinet, rests it on the stand, and looks up at me. "And I'm starting up again with Marguerite." This I decided on the way to rehearsal. I have her undivided totally freaked-out attention now. "I'm going to try for All-State too," I tell her. This, however, is news to me. (35.9)
Go Lennie—get it, girl. Taking back your dream and confronting the mean girl at the same time? So satisfying.