Moral value: Responsibility
- · Adults need to be more responsible when making decisions that concern the children.
- · Richard’s mother
o
She
was manipulated by Reverend Coldstone and married him without thinking of the
consequences that affect her children, especially Richard who was grieving for
his father’s death. Her irresponsibility had caused Richard to suffered under
the wrath of his stepfather
o
“All
my mother did was lower her eyes, or look away, or press her fingers to the throbbing
in her temples and beg Lucy for yet another powder ‘for my poor, aching head’
- · Claudia’s mother
o
She
refused to tell Claudia the truth about the split. She did not think about
Claudia’s interest and was not supportive when Claudia became closer with her
dad and Stella.
o
“‘Nothing,’
they kept saying. ‘Don’t worry. It will all be sorted out’”
- · Claudia’s father
o
He
split with his wife without thinking of his daughter’s well being.
- · Colin’s mother
o
Being
caught up with her own problems, she has no spare energy to really understand
Colin and his wants.
o
“she
was always too busy doing things like making toast and finding clothes for the
next day to listen what to anything I said about school, and too tired to talk
about much herself”
- · Colin’s stepfather
o
He
did not bother to get a proper job
- · Ralph’s mother
o
Takes
advantage over Janet’s efficiency
o
“and
credit where it’s due, I’ve never seen your clothes come home so beautifully laundered.
She even got those oil stains off Edward’s shirt.”
- · Ralph’s father
o
Allows
Annabel to run things her own way at the expense of the children’s feelings.
o
Does
not want any hassles or to face up to Annabel over the children
o
“‘and
she disapproved of coffee, so we all had to drink dandelion tea,’ he shuddered
at the memory.”
- · Pixie’s father
o
Selfish
parent/spouse
o
“and
rather than come in and help us sort it out, he’d just decided to tsay safely
out of things, as usual.”
o
Cowardly
o
“‘That’s
right!’ she hissed scornfully at the door. ‘Creep away! Leave it all to the
Wicked Stepmother, as usual!’”
- · Pixie’s mother
o
Demanding
o
Critical
of Lucy
o
“
‘You take your mother! She expects me to do everything for you while you’re in
this house"
o
Unfair
house”
o
Unfair
