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Post by greer on Jun 5, 2011 14:27:48 GMT -5
^That's what I was trying to say Wiggirl, thanks. I felt like Ann and the Ghosties didn't want to take the time to write Patrick's story (not that he's worthy of one, but you know), so they decided, "Kristy's mom got a divorce, made it on her own, later met Watson, the end." I wish we had gotten to read what happened and that Patrick either kept in touch or he didn't. The other thing I always found odd, was when Elizabeth told Kristy that she (E) wanted to sell their home for as much as possible not only to finance 4 college educations but because half the money would go to Patrick. I believe in being honest, almost to a fault. But, if that creep truly walked out, never looked back, didn't he also forfeit his "right" to any house-money? We can assume he never sent child support and/or (did she?)? Elizabeth never tried to get any from him? So much focus was on the "Spier-Shafers," reminding us at every glance how old their house was, scatterbrained Sharon, food problems (though MA and Richard bowed to D and S), that maybe that "used up" the more detailed family explanation? Although it is kind of weird that they didn't settle Patrick's part ownership of the house in the divorce, Elizabeth couldn't just sell it and not tell Patrick. That is the same as theft. I got the impression that Patrick DID send some alimony/child support, but that he just didn't really have anything to do with the kids otherwise and maybe wasn't the best at sending it on time, etc. My ex's dad left when he was a baby and he only saw him once when he was six years old, but his dad still sent child support payments. Having a legal obligation is different from wanting to actually parent and/or care.
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Post by zoar3 on Jun 5, 2011 17:02:14 GMT -5
Lila, thanks, I'll have to re-read KB. My only true memories of it are the drawn out Camp Topnotch and wasn't that where we got a glimpse of how Elizabeth foisted a ton of chores on her kids once Patrick left? Or is that what you meant? I understand your point about Kristy keeping whatever details to herself. As I said initially, what bothered me most were the writers basically saying, as Wiggirl said, that the Thomases situation (divorce) was the same as the other girls'. Greer, maybe my opinion of Patrick is just so low that I don't see him sending child support. However, that's where another contradiction comes in. If the guy truly up and left one day, never intending to look back, that made it pretty clear he wanted zip to do with his family. I remember Kristy telling us (I think in Mother's Day Surprise, actually or was it, KBD)? that her mom once said trying to get money from Patrick was like trying to squeeze thought out of a rock or something like that! My point is, if Elizabeth had pressed for child support (unless Patrick, somehow sent money on his own), and Patrick did not want to "pay" wouldn't he have stayed "hidden?" I wonder, too, if any "search" was put on for him after he vanished. I remember reading somewhere, unless it was a fanfic, that Elizabeth spoke to Patrick's boss who told her Patrick had cleared out his desk and was gone. If nothing else, he should have been made to sign over his "parental rights," along with paying shild support.
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Post by greer on Jun 5, 2011 17:22:39 GMT -5
Greer, maybe my opinion of Patrick is just so low that I don't see him sending child support. However, that's where another contradiction comes in. If the guy truly up and left one day, never intending to look back, that made it pretty clear he wanted zip to do with his family. I remember Kristy telling us (I think in Mother's Day Surprise, actually or was it, KBD)? that her mom once said trying to get money from Patrick was like trying to squeeze thought out of a rock or something like that! My point is, if Elizabeth had pressed for child support (unless Patrick, somehow sent money on his own), and Patrick did not want to "pay" wouldn't he have stayed "hidden?" I wonder, too, if any "search" was put on for him after he vanished. I remember reading somewhere, unless it was a fanfic, that Elizabeth spoke to Patrick's boss who told her Patrick had cleared out his desk and was gone. If nothing else, he should have been made to sign over his "parental rights," along with paying shild support. I'm pretty sure that was fanfic, in the babysitters100 community. Like I said, you can't make someone want to parent, but there are laws. They *knew* where he was and he sent letters, etc. sporadically. Have you read Kristy's Big News?
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Post by zoar3 on Jun 5, 2011 18:28:14 GMT -5
I am not a fan of the Friends Forever Series. I have read them all a few times. I think Kristy's Big News, might have been my least favorite of the bunch because of how the Patrick wedding invite was handled and played out. True about the laws. I just wonder what if anything Elizabeth did to ensure they (laws) were carried out. In any case, I'll have to check out some of the LJ fanfics, thanks for that info.
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Post by greer on Jun 5, 2011 20:08:19 GMT -5
I am not a fan of the Friends Forever Series. I have read them all a few times. I think Kristy's Big News, might have been my least favorite of the bunch because of how the Patrick wedding invite was handled and played out. True about the laws. I just wonder what if anything Elizabeth did to ensure they (laws) were carried out. In any case, I'll have to check out some of the LJ fanfics, thanks for that info. I think it depends. Like, it seems like she had a good job by the time she met Watson, so it may have cost her more time and effort to get the money from him than she would have received in alimony/child support. It's my understanding, also, that child support and alimony probably would have been wired directly to her account, so no real contact would have been necessary.
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Post by zoar3 on Jun 5, 2011 21:26:55 GMT -5
^That is a really good point, Greer. Before she met Watson, when times were financially and probably most otherwise harder, Elizabeth may not have had the time period to go after Patrick.
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oldhickory
Sitting For The Arnolds
Heather Loves Boys and Gym
Posts: 3,258
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Post by oldhickory on Jun 8, 2011 16:28:08 GMT -5
well, elizabeth obviously sold the house. does it ever say if patrick got any of that money?
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Post by anzuhana on Jun 8, 2011 16:40:28 GMT -5
^ I don't think it ever said whether or not Patrick got any of the money.
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Post by zoar3 on Jun 8, 2011 18:54:06 GMT -5
This is an O/T "odd" thought I just had. I wonder if Elizabeth ever met with the Perkinses either during the closing or right after. Also, depending on how they paid for the house, its possible the Perkinses send Edie a check each month. It could have been funny to read Mrs. Perkins giving Kristy a check to give to her mother.
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lilafowler
Sitting For The Johanssens
Posts: 1,163
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Post by lilafowler on Jun 8, 2011 20:21:48 GMT -5
Hahaha, even though the sitters were freakishly responsible, I can't imagine trusting an eighth-grader with my house payment.
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Post by zoar3 on Jun 9, 2011 11:26:51 GMT -5
Lol, probably not. I remember, in "Kristy and Mr. Mom," was it?, Kristy describing all the various compartments and pockets of her backpack. The bag sounded ginormous and very easy to "lose" something in.
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Post by virgoscorpio on Mar 21, 2012 19:58:58 GMT -5
Reading this thread I realize that this was many people's favourite mysteries and one of the first mysteries they read. I think it's okay. Although I have to admit that this time around I confused it with the Barrett plot and thought that Jake's dad had taken him.
One thing that did bother me that hasn't been mentioned yet was how Jake was in the basement hole for days and no one noticed. Jake does mention that there were even construction workers around. I'm sorry but I've been on construction sites and I know that they would hear a little boy calling for help. There's not noise going on every single second. Also, Jake mentions how it was so loud that no one could hear him and yet he could nap? That doesn't make sense to me. They should have had it were the workers DIDN'T return for a few days, or mapped out the day Jake goes missing so that it happens over a weekend and it's more realistic workers weren't there. That kind of bothered me.
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Post by zoar3 on Mar 21, 2012 20:08:35 GMT -5
^Those are good points, Virgo. As I've said before, I was super happy Jake was (basically) okay and found. That said, if it weren't for Matt Braddock he (Jake) may have spent a whole lot more time in that hole. Shades of Island Adventure (I.A.) and the mirror and break in the haze. The other thing is we never saw Mrs. Kuhn searching! I know she was busy coordinating efforts with the police but if I was a mom and my son were missing, possibly kidnapped, I would sure as heck be hitting the ground trying to find him! It seemed like she (Mrs. K) spent more time calling Kristy repeatedly than helping. I also hated how convient it was that Mr. Kuhn like Mr. Schafer (I.A.) couldn't be reached. Both stories could have been much more interesting if the dads had come to Connecticut. Differences aside, and help look for your child(ren).
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Post by virgoscorpio on Mar 21, 2012 20:11:30 GMT -5
^ I agree with the Mrs. Kuhn thing. For some reason, I really didn't feel for her that much during this one. Maybe because I know she ends up jumping-the-gun on Mary Anne in MA Breaks the Rules -- the BSC found your lost kid, basically, and yet you're still jumping on their backs?! Maybe she's not my favourite parent.
Also, I loved Jake and Matt's relationship in this one and wish it was shown more. They seem like good friends but I feel this is the only book where that's really shown.
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Post by zoar3 on Mar 22, 2012 11:37:07 GMT -5
^Another thought to go with the bad ears or not too brightness of the construction workers. didn't Jake fall through a literal hole in the floor that was one day going to have stairs (to the basement)? I think someone said the hole was possibly covered by something very light or maybe it was left completely open. IDK. Either way, unless Jake was absolutely buried by whatever fell on him, there's no way not one worker would have missed hearing or seeing him! Maybe that batch of workers were as inept as the Stoneybrook Police are at times?
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