CHAPTER 18

Summary

Patty goes to stay at her grandmother’s house, in Memphis. As she is walking through Jenkinsville, on her way to Memphis, she gets harassed by some of the local townspeople.

While Patty is at her grandparent’s house Charlene Madlee, the reporter from earlier in the story, calls and makes an appointment to come visit Patty. Charlene discussed the possible penalties with Patty and her grandparents. Charlene heard that Patty may be too young to be prosecuted under the Treason Act.

Notes

In this chapter Charlene comes to visit Patty; however, she does not come as a reporter, she comes as Patty’s friend. Charlene calls Patty’s grandparents asking if she can come visit Patty and they are reluctant since she is a reporter. Charlene assures Patty’s grandparents that she is a friend of Patty’s.

Charlene, Patty and her grandparents discussed the possible prosecution options that Patty may receive. Charlene told them that Patty is most likely too young to be prosecuted under the Treason Act. Treason is the betrayal of one’s country by either waging war against it, or by purposely aiding its enemies. Patty was fully aware that she was housing a POW and therefore committed treason. However, Charlene feels that America would appear barbaric to the other countries if they sentenced a child to prison, for housing a POW.

CHAPTER 19

Summary

Mr. Calvin Grimes is taking Patty to reform school. Mr. Grimes and Patty stop at a gulf station for dinner on the way. They talk about Anton, lawyers and Patty’s sentence. After they finish dinner, they continue their travel to The Jasper E. Conrad Arkansas Reformatory.

Notes

In this chapter we find out Patty’s sentence: She is to be committed to the Arkansas Reformatory for Girls anywhere from four to six months. Patty reports that, in court, she was called a traitor and described as a person with no loyalties. This expresses the irony of the story; for it was Patty’s loyalties and her genuine giving spirit, which got her into trouble.

When Patty recalls an encounter with her lawyer, Mr. Kishner, she notes that he says to her, “...you have embarrassed Jews everywhere. Because your loyalty is questionable, then every Jew’s loyalty is in question” (205). This statement illustrates the conflict between the Jewish and the Germans, during WWII. Since the Germans were initiating mass genocide of the Jews in Europe, the Americans, especially the Jewish Americans were extremely hateful towards Germans. Since Patty is Jewish, Mr. Kishner is telling her that she has betrayed her country as well as her religion, by housing Anton.

CHAPTER 20

Summary

Patty awakes in the reformatory and daydreams about, one day, visiting Anton’s parents in Germany. The morning bell sounds and she and her roommate, Mavis head down to eat breakfast.

Patty returns to her room after breakfast and Miss Laud, notifies her that Ruth has come to visit. Ruth brought Patty her ring, from Anton, some fried chicken and ginger snaps. Patty asks Ruth if she knows what is wrong with her, since her parents do not love her and she always gets into trouble. Ruth assures Patty that there is nothing wrong with her and that she loves her. She tells Patty that her parents are not good people and that they are the problem, not Patty.

Notes

This chapter is very important because Patty finally learns that she is not a problem; it is her parents that are the bad people. Patty tells Ruth that she still wishes her parents will love her one-day. Ruth tells Patty that things are not going to change with her parents and that she should not waste her time trying so hard for her parents to show emotion that they never will. Ruth assures Patty that she is a very genuine person and will do wonderful things with her life. She encourages Patty not to give up school and not to run away; instead she inspires her to return home after her sentence is over, finish her schooling and be anything she wants to be.

Ruth tells Patty that she loves her “the most” (220). This means the world to Patty. It seems that Patty has always known, in a way, that Ruth loved her; however now that Ruth has admitted to loving Patty, her inhibitions seem to be cleared and she seems to feel like she has value.

Ruth gives Patty back her ring and Patty’s faith and hope in herself is restored. When Patty gets her ring back, she kisses it and states that she feels “like a good person” (222). Patty realizes the truth that has been suppressed within her: she is a good person and she does not feel bad about anything she did or what people think of her; she realizes how good she is and that becomes very important to her.

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