Judy Bolton Fans discussion
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The Mysterious Half Cat
#09: Mysterious Half-Cat
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Chapter 6: Something Wrong
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What time of year is this? Half Cat comes right after Voice in the Suitcase which was Thanksgiving time. However I don’t think the Farringdon-Petts and the Boltons would have lawn parties in late Nov or December. Did I miss any reference to springYes. Judy graduates from High school in this book so Hal Cat probably starts sometime in May.
When Judy tells her there is another mystery Scottie says petulantly, “I thought you could leave your other mystery alone long enough to help me.” Judy tells her that of course she will help then Scottie says “Then you will leave your other mysteries alone.” Judy cries “Scottie you can’t mean that. Things have been disappearing, and people are depending on me.” After Scottie tells her that she is depending on her too, Judy tells her that she’ll do what she can but that Scottie is asking too much.As a reader, I understood both Judy's and Scottie's point of views. In Invisible Chimes, Judy simultaneously tried to solve the stolen antiques and Honey's identity. She could do so now, but Scottie's problems seem too remote.
Scottie is desperate and has been saddled with problems too complicated for such a young girl to have. Margaret does a great job of showing not telling in this chapter. Now that Judy has been told what Scottie has been through and the toll it has taken on her, I hope she is more sympathetic. I didn't blame her for pushing back at Scottie at first. After all, Scottie just invited herself and her sister to the Bolton's and tried to dump all of her problems on her.When Judy nominated her mother to bring up Carol, amusement was not my first reaction. But now that you mention it, it is pretty funny.
Rebekah wrote: I didn't blame her for pushing back at Scottie at first. After all, Scottie just invited herself and her sister to the Bolton's and tried to dump all of her problems on her.It took me a long time to like Scottie because of this fact. Isabel helped me see Scottie from another perspective.
Not only did Judy generously volunteer her mother to bring up Carol, a commitment of years, she also says her father will doctor her at no charge. I am sure he would but she needs to think before she volunteers her family. I think Judy was awful to Scottie to suggest that it was probably Scotties fault that Carol was that way. After all that Scottie has gone through, it must have felt like a physical punch. Of course Judy is only a teen but she was thoughtless in my point of view.
Scottie must be desperate to think an aunt would take on such a problem though.
I wonder where Scottie got the money to take Carol to doctors or how she was able to afford passage from Alaska to Farringdon.
I also think it is surprising that Alaska carries a newspaper from Farringdon.
Faye wrote: "Not only did Judy generously volunteer her mother to bring up Carol, a commitment of years, she also says her father will doctor her at no charge. I am sure he would but she needs to think before s..."I wonder where Scottie got the money to take Carol to doctors or how she was able to afford passage from Alaska to Farringdon.
maybe insurance money from her parents.
re the newspaper. her parents or her probably subscribed to it. she'd get it very late though.
it was thoughtless to say. But if I were Judy, The thought would have crossed my mind too.
That is a good explanation for the newspaper, Becky. I certainly hope there was insurance money but it apparently all used now. The Boltons are in a tough situation because how could they ever tell Scottie and Carol that they must leave when they have no where to go.
I never thought what a difficult position The Boltons are all in now. Good point.
Rebekah wrote: "I never thought what a difficult position The Boltons are all in now. Good point."I've learned to be more careful before I volunteer and ask myself, "Can I see this through to the end." Of course, when Scottie was allowed to visit, the Boltons had no idea about Carol.
Mrs. Bolton has another smaller party on their lawn after the marionette show, and Horace is helping out. Scottie is reluctant to not have Carol sit beside her, but Horace shows her that there is a table set up for the children on the porch with child size dishes so she relents. Judy tells Scottie that she has something to tell her, and Scottie eagerly asks if she has found her relatives. When Judy tells her there is another mystery Scottie says petulantly, “I thought you could leave your other mystery alone long enough to help me.” Judy tells her that of course she will help then Scottie says “Then you will leave your other mysteries alone.” Judy cries “Scottie you can’t mean that. Things have been disappearing, and people are depending on me.” After Scottie tells her that she is depending on her too, Judy tells her that she’ll do what she can but that Scottie is asking too much.
There is a crash from the children’s table. Dishes are broken and lemonade is spilled. Judy asks “Who did it?” Rosalie admits she did but says it was Carol’s fault, she wouldn’t play and she is eating everyone’s cake. As Carol just stood there cramming cake in her mouth, Scottie turns to Judy and says “There! Now am I asking too much?” Judy says, “Yes I think you are. I intended to help you and expected you to help me. You have no right to demand so much and give so little, and if Carol is a trial and a nuisance it’s most likely your fault.” Scottie answers “Yes it is my fault. I know it is. I’ve done something wrong about bringing her up, and she won’t mind or talk or anything. That’s why I’m so anxious to find an aunt or a cousin or someone who will take her away from me.” "You might let Mother try bringing her up,” Judy suggested. “She has a way with children” Mrs. Bolton and Horace are helping Carol so Judy suggests Scottie have a little fun.
Judy takes Scottie up to her room and shows her the secret drawer and the dream book. Scottie is interested in the mystery and asks Judy if she tried to trace the dream book and suggests that the beggar found it by Wing Lee’s shop. Judy is happy that she is interested. They hear Carol start to squeal and Scottie leaves to calm her. She tells Judy that you can’t tell Carol things, you have to show her. She says Carol can’t hear. Judy tells her that Carol was fond of the music at the marionette show and goes inside to turn on the radio to show her. Carol stopped in the middle of a scream to listen to the music. Scottie thinks she does it to torment her.
Scottie says that Carol acts ‘dead.' She used to be a chatterbox and now Scottie thinks Carol just acts that way to worry her and get attention. Judy sees that Scottie and Carol need to rest and goes to talk to her mother. Judy hopes her father can help, but Mrs. Bolton isn’t sure if it is a medical case.
Judy thinks Scottie has fallen asleep on the hammock but she is reading the dream book. They talk about dreams and where the beggar got the book but Judy says she doesn’t care where the beggar got the book. Then Scottie says, “You don’t care about anything, do you, Judy—except catching thieves and getting your name on the front page of Horace’s paper?” That wasn’t fair, but there was enough truth in it to make Judy wince.
Judy assures her that she does care about her and about Carol and asks if she has taken Carol to a doctor. Scottie tells her that she has taken Carol to doctor after doctor. They all ask her if she has locked her in closets or otherwise frightened her as a punishment. They ask if she has been seriously ill, fallen on her head and then say she is a little backward when the answer is no. Scottie says that Carol used to be so bright that people turned and stared and that she knew a dozen popular songs but the doctors didn’t believe her. Judy makes her promise to have Dr. Bolton look at her. Scottie says she can’t afford it but Judy promises that it won’t matter. Scottie wants Judy to promise that no matter what Scottie says to keep thinking of her as a friend.
Scottie says that she took Carol to doctors after her Mother died and left Carol in her care. It sounds like Carol had the problem before her Mother died. I don’t see any mention of their Father.
I feel very bad for Scottie. I think Margaret succeeds in making us feel the desperation that Scottie feels, she is so exhausted and depressed over the impossible situation she is in. Up to this point I think Judy could have been a little more understanding and sympathetic.
Was anyone else amused when Judy suggested her Mother might bring up Carol? How nice of Judy to offer her Mom’s services at such a hard task.
What time of year is this? Half Cat comes right after Voice in the Suitcase which was Thanksgiving time. However I don’t think the Farringdon-Petts and the Boltons would have lawn parties in late Nov or December. Did I miss any reference to spring?