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Post by psychoseal on Feb 2, 2012 12:58:51 GMT -5
My cat is allowed out but she doesn't go very far, she wont leave the back garden or go out the front. She also won't let anyone else in "her" garden.
But I can relate to what Mary Anne was going through My old cat did get catnapped and I have wanted Kerry grounded for life if she had kidnapped one of my cats. Or at least locked in her own closet for 5 days, about cleaning up the mess - surely someone would have smelt it?? Or aren't the Brunos housetrained??
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Post by BuckinghamAlice on Feb 2, 2012 21:02:46 GMT -5
^Or are we supposed to believe that Kerry used her own money to not only buy cat food, but also a box, litter, and a scoop? And not only that, but she would have had to be super diligent about declumping the box multiple times a day and sneaking the waste out to the outside trash can.
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Post by zoar3 on Feb 2, 2012 22:10:57 GMT -5
^I think that's exactly what we were supposed to be believe BuckinghamAlice. Did Mrs. Bruno work outside the home? I'm not sure it was ever mentioned. If she were home all day, it's even more far-fetched that Tigger remained a secret for so long. Also, school was still in session during this book so that meant Tigger was alone for a good 6-7 hours for at least 2 days. Crazy.
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Post by sparklymouse on Feb 2, 2012 22:40:02 GMT -5
^I've accidentally locked various cats in various closets for hours at a time. I think they just chill out and sleep for the most part. I've never shoved any of them into a box though. I don't think they'd be so calm then.
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Post by shannon86 on Feb 3, 2012 9:10:52 GMT -5
I only read this book once and don't remember much about it, and thought it was pretty boring. That boy could be Nicky and that girl we will never know who she is. Yes, Ann does has an obsession with cats.
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Post by anzuhana on Feb 3, 2012 9:16:27 GMT -5
Zoar, I think in Mary Anne to the Rescue, it was said that Mrs. Bruno worked part-time but I'm not completely sure.
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Post by sugarfrostedflake on Feb 3, 2012 12:14:32 GMT -5
Shannon86: I always thought the boy was Nicky and the girl was Charlotte Johanssen. I could be wrong though.
Did Kerry even get punished for taking Tigger? (I seem to remember she had to do extra chores or something. Whatever it was, it wasn't enough. She at least should've apologized to MA.)
I never really understood what the big deal was with Tigger being left outside though. Maybe it's just because my cat always preferred to be outdoors (We wouldn't let her out if it was too cold/wet, not that she would've liked being out in that kind of weather but obviously we were horrible to her for not using our human powers to make the weather less inclement/warmer so she could go out.) but what made Kerry think that MA was an irresponsible pet owner just because Tigger was outside?
And I understand that Tigger didn't want to go in but if MA was so worried about him being out, why not just pick him up and put him inside? She has that advantage over Tigger. Or why not take him with her to Claudia's? I know that still would've been inside but it would've been a change of scenery for him. And Tigger's been to Claud's before so...?
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Post by zoar3 on Feb 3, 2012 12:32:26 GMT -5
Anzuhana, I skimmed through "MA to the Rescue" just now and couldn't find it. The complete guide only lists Lyman and Louise as Logan's parents. Regardless of whether she works or not, someone should have found Tigger.
Sugarfrostedflake, I think the "big deal" was Tigger (potentially) could have run away or someone grab him. She totally could have taken him to Claudia's house, I never thought of that. As for Kerry, she was "punished lightly." It hinted at that might translate into washing the family car. How that has to do with being considerate of Hunter (not to mention Tigger's needs) are beyond me. I also disliked that not one BSC member ever "helped" Kerry make some friends, even Vanessa who was the same age. I know Hunter and Kerry were practically unheard of other than in "Rescue" and "Secret Life."
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Post by anzuhana on Feb 3, 2012 12:37:46 GMT -5
Then I was mistaken, zoar. Sorry.
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Post by sugarfrostedflake on Feb 3, 2012 13:00:31 GMT -5
zoar3: Thanks for the reply. I guess MA was proven correct then because that's exactly what happened, Kerry took him. I totally remember the car-washing thing, now you mention it. (I also don't understand how washing the Brunos' car had anything to do with teaching Kerry right from wrong/not stealing/not lying/not endangering your brother's health, etc.)
It was very weird that the BSC didn't help Kerry make any friends, they do it for every other friend-less child in the series (Charlotte, Natalie Springer, etc.)
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Post by zoar3 on Feb 3, 2012 13:34:01 GMT -5
Anzuhana, no problem. It could be there. I didn't exactly read the book (it's one of my very least favorite of the series).
Sugarfrostedflake, the main thing that I never got was how car washing and going on a pet buying spree addressed what Kerry was feeling. I get she wanted a "friend" but it sounded a little deeper than that. The book basically suggested once Kerry was allowed to get a menagerie, everything was fine. Was it that simple? It would be great (for her) if was just doesn't seem believable that after a few weeks of pets she wouldn't be (overall), lonely again.
It was weird that she and Hunter vanished. Every other sitters' siblings were featured, even though Becca and Squirt didn't get much mention as charges, they were still there. I think its safe to say Kerry was in either Vanessa, Haley, Shea Rodowsky, or Charlotte's (when Char was correctly in 4th grade) class at school. I was trying to think of all the 4th graders in the BSC. Wait! Kerry was 10 wasn't she? Still, especially in BSC-land that's close enough to be friendly with 9 year olds. In any case, it was wrongly weird (lol at that expression) how she never had any friends. Hunter at least a couple times played with Johnny Hobart.
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oldhickory
Sitting For The Arnolds
Heather Loves Boys and Gym
Posts: 3,263
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Post by oldhickory on Feb 3, 2012 14:48:09 GMT -5
It was very weird that the BSC didn't help Kerry make any friends, they do it for every other friend-less child in the series (Charlotte, Natalie Springer, etc.) not sure what this says about me, but if someone stole my pet i wouldn't help her find friends either. but somehow i doubt the bsc members were that immature :] honestly i just don't think kerry was that interesting. charlotte was supposed to be an extension of stacey and natalie was so hopeless that she was fun to read about, but kerry didn't have either of those things going for her. and after this book i wouldn't be surprised if she were really unpopular with readers.
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Post by sugarfrostedflake on Feb 3, 2012 15:18:45 GMT -5
zoar3: I understand what you meant now and yes, Kerry's situation seemed deeper than that and I don't think the menagerie would have solved Kerry's loneliness. If it did, I'm glad for her, but having pets to take care of doesn't take the place of having friends if you're lonely enough that you kidnap your brother's girlfriend's pet when (in your opinion) she doesn't take good enough care of it.
I never really thought before about how little there was of Kerry and Hunter in the series.
Yes, I believe Kerry was ten but that's no reason why she couldn't've been friends with Haley, Vanessa, Becca, Charlottle, Danielle, they're all about the same age. Or even the Rodowsky boys. It's canon that they lived close to each other (Kristy mentioned that Logan would be a good permanent sitter for the R. family because they're all boys and Logan lives close to them) and she and Shea are the same age and they, too would've likely been in the same class at SES.
oldhickory: I'm right there with you about how if someone had stolen my pet, I wouldn't want to help them but I think MA might've just to make sure Kerry wouldn't have to resort to stealing Tigger (or anyone else's pet) again. Also, I meant that I thought it was weird that when the Brunos moved (before Kerry stole Tigger), the club wasn't over there inviting Kerry to join in their bands, and talent shows and pet shows and carnivals that they have every weekend. I guess they didn't really sit for the Brunos much though so maybe that accounts for it, that they'd help their charges but because they didn't sit that often for Kerry and/or Hunter they'd have less opportunity/reasons to find friends for Kerry.
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Post by zoar3 on Feb 3, 2012 17:43:40 GMT -5
Oldhickory, I admit Kerry didn't hold much of any interest for me. I wasn't a Danielle fan, either. Lol, I know its not necessary to say what I think of Tigger. I DO feel badly for him in this book. That really is a good point about MA not wanting to take Kerry under her wing following what happened. I just thought it was odd how in a sense she (K) was a one-time character of sorts. Probably if Logan had been a regular member (more often) his family might have been featured more, too. Sugarfrostedflake, I am thinking about this now and supposedly this story took place in June. We know there is no such thing as constant time in Stoneybrook. We also (very well) know how the girls cycled through 8th grade 13 times and still did not turn 14 at the end. All that said, Kerry would have been at SES for 9 months (1st time). Surely during that period someone in her family and/or a teacher/school administrator would have noticed that she was not feeling at home in CT. I know, asking that is similar to wondering how the Kishis could have missed Claudia's hidden candy. Not going to happen.
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Post by virgoscorpio on Feb 3, 2012 18:03:40 GMT -5
^ I feel that Kerry and Hunter had a good amount of book time throughout the series. IMO, when Abby came, it would have been doubly annoying to read Hunter's allergy speech.
Also, I don't think Kerry's loneliness problems were mentioned after this book. Why didn't they make her friends with Haley, Vanessa, Becca or Charlotte? They made Dana Cheplin friends with them and she's only in one book! Charlotte and Becca, especially, seem like pretty easygoing girls and seem like they'd let others into their "club".
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