How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
He wondered if the Warden would send out a search party to look for him. It didn't seem likely. She didn't send anyone to look for Zero. But no one cared about Zero. They simply destroyed his files.
But Stanley had a family. She couldn't pretend he was never there. (36.40-41)
Whew, this one really makes us appreciate our families. And then some.
Quote #8
"Some kids had a birthday party," Zero said. "I guess it was about two weeks after my mother left. There was a picnic table next to the playscape and balloons were tied to it. The kids looked to be the same age as me. One girl said hi to me and asked me if I wanted to play. I wanted to, but I didn't. I knew I didn't belong at the party, even though it wasn't their playscape. There was this one mother who kept staring at me like I was some kind of monster. Then later a boy asked me if I wanted a piece of cake, but then that same mother told me, 'Go away!' and she told the kids to stay away from me, so I never got the piece of cake." (43.64)
What's going on with the birthday-party mom here? Is she just a crotchety lady who's getting her mean on? Or is she trying to protect her children from what she sees as a danger?
Quote #9
"She's going to ask a lot of questions," said Mr. Sir. "And this time she'll have the A.G. with her."
"Let her ask her questions," said the Warden. "Just so long as I have the suitcase, I don't care what happens. Do you know how long…" Her voice trailed off, then started up again. "When I was little I'd watch my parents dig holes, every weekend and holiday. When I got bigger, I had to dig, too. Even on Christmas." (45.21-22)
We know that the Warden is a descendent of Trout and Linda Walker, but this whole digging-on-Christmas thing is the only information we get about her family. Pretty awful, right? Family, for her, isn't a source of protection and love: it's a burden.