Rachel Chance Quotes

“Hank nodded. “There’d be plenty of time, even if we have more trouble with the truck.”
“Hush,” Annie said. “Don’t say it out loud.”
Grandpa scowled at her. “You think the truck’s listening?” He rubbed his leg for a moment, and then began laughing. “Maybe you’re right. It’s sitting over there eavesdropping and planning what it’s going to do to us next.”
“Ha,” Hank said gloomily. “I can believe it.”
― Jean Thesman, Rachel Chance

“Why don't we all go!" Grandpa cried. "We'll form a caravan. Everybody in town can tag along!”
― Jean Thesman, Rachel Chance

“Do you go to school in those clothes?” she asked.
My face burned. “I’ve been working in the barn. I can’t wear a dress there.”
Hank chose that moment to burst in the kitchen door, shouting for me before he knew we had enemies among us.
“Rachel!” he bawled. “Get out here. You said you’d be right back.”
He stopped in the doorway and stared.
Miss Meedly stared back. “Who is this?” she asked.
I explained that Hank was our hired helper.
“Mr. Chance,” Miss Meedly said, “do you let this girl spend much time in the barn with the hired man?”
Hank turned and left, banging the kitchen door behind him.
“Judas Priest,” Grandpa cried, “what the hell is that supposed to mean?”
― Jean Thesman, Rachel Chance

“Abel," the chief shouted, "if you don't quit this letter writing, I'm going to have to take serious steps."
"Off the end of the old dock, I hope," Grandpa replied as he slammed the door in the chief's face.”
― Jean Thesman, Rachel Chance

“Your uncle hits your aunt?” I asked. “Does she hit him back?”
“No, of course not,” Grandpa interrupted, “and that’s why he hits her again. If she’d haul off and knock him over the outhouse once or twice, he’d learn better. Mike Webster was behind the door when the brains were passed out, but he could remember a lump on the skull if you gave him one that was big enough.”
Mama was signaling me with her eyebrows, but I ignored her. “Why does your uncle Mike hit his wife?” I asked Hank.
Hank stuffed a large piece of meat in his mouth and chewed. I waited. “Well?” I asked, unable to contain my impatience.
“Rachel,” Mama said, warning me, her hands fluttering.
“He hits her because he hits everybody,” Hank said finally.
“She ought to hit him back,” I said. “Hard.”
Mama raised her gaze to the ceiling. “That wouldn’t solve anything, Rachel. She’d be as bad as he is, then.”
Grandpa and I exchanged a meaningful glance. We weren’t passive sufferers like Mama. “If I hit him, it would solve things,” I said, and Grandpa shouted with laughter.
“That’s the Chance in you talking,” he said, delighted.”
― Jean Thesman, Rachel Chance