BSC #99, Stacey's Broken Heart, Chapters 9-11
(Part One: http://bsc-snark.livejournal.com/440659.html)
Previously, in BSC #99, Stacey's Broken Heart, Sheila MacGregor wore a tight purple jumpsuit, Robert went on a date with Pete Black, and Abby lost Marnie Barrett inside a papier-mâché dragon and failed at being a cult leader.
Chapter Nine: Stacey and her dad take a cab from his apartment on East 65th street to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Just for kicks, I google-map'd "East 65th Street" in Manhattan, and 1.) that must've been a short cab ride (okay, I'm not sure I'd want to walk 1.7 miles, especially if it was a hot summer day out, though I've noticed Stacey always seems to "run" from place to place in these books, so you'd think she'd be up for it) and 2.) according to the map, there are at least 3 hospitals in that vicinity. I'm not sure why I'm bothering to point this out, except that it seems appropriate for our Brittle Diabetic.
Moving along. At the museum, Edward wants to visit the medieval armor exhibit. (Remember when Claudia thought medieval meant "halfway evil"?) Stacey snots that this particular exhibit doesn't "thrill" her and gazes at her reflection in a glass museum case, noting how the "sophisticated museum setting" makes her look older.
Edward makes an awkward attempt at some father-daughter bonding. Stacey confesses to him that Robert "has been acting kind of weird." Edward frowns and is all "Whaddya mean, weird?" but Stacey will say no more. That's for her to know and Edward to find out!
They go to look at the Egyptian stuff. Edward launches into a spiel about how Stacey is only 13, and she has her whole life ahead of her and will meet all kinds of guys in college, and isn't 13 too young for a steady boyfriend? Stacey points to a mummy and is all, "This guy was a faro farrow at 14!" Edward still thinks that Stacey is too young to go steady. He encourages her to meet other guys so she can "compare." (Ah, these ghosties and their ever-so-subtle foreshadowing. And "compare" what, Edward?) Stacey doesn't appreciate the advice, and storms away to go pout. Which she does for the entire rest-of-the-outing, and all the way home. Didn't her dad see the FLOWERS? Doesn't he know that means Robert LUVS her?
Chapter Ten: The next morning, Stacey and Edward pretend like nothing happened. Stacey thinks this is because (according to Maureen) she and her dad are both "non-confrontational." (I dunno about that, Maureen; if roaring "YOU SPENT $600 ON JEWELRY AT TIFFANY'S? DO YOU THINK I'M MADE OUT OF MONEY?!?!" so loudly that Stacey could hear it clear down the hallway at your old apartment counts as "non-confrontational", I'd hate to see Edward confront somebody.)
Speaking of the McGill's old apartment. It's time for Stacey's week-long sitting job at the Walkers'. Stacey rejects a "straight, black sleeveless dress" (for baby-sitting? I should hope so) and instead wears a "sundress with flowers all over it." Suzanne, if you're going to describe outfits, please be a little more... descriptive. (In case you're curious, Edward McGill wears "a light gray summer suit.")
(The top result for a Google Images search of "light gray summer suit." Well, the mask kinda looks like a Hodges illustration.)
Edward tells Stacey that he's going to (where else?) work and offers her a "lift" in the cab. Stacey says sure, she just needs to grab her Kid-Kit.
(Wait, she packed it with her? Aren't those supposed to be filled with board games and other crap, that all somehow magically fits into a shoe box? Seems like a giant pain to lug to a nearby house... much less on a train and down the streets of New York City...)
Reading about Kit-Kits honestly always makes me crave one of these:
Good thing I'm not Stacey, or it would be like craving a grenade. Anyhow, Stacey makes it to her old apartment building (after a breakfast-on-the-go of "a corn muffin and milk"). She's happy to hear that Isaac the doorman remembers her name -- even though he doesn't have a name in this book and is simply "the doorman." (But I'm pretty sure in previous books he was Isaac...?)
Stacey greets Dramatic! Mrs. Walker and her charisma-free kids, Wandering Henry and Not-Charlotte Grace, who shriek with laughter and play hide-and-seek and show off their little art projects. Grace reaches out her "small, warm hand" to Stacey (was the "warm" really necessary, Suzanne?) before they embrace in a hug. Blech. I mean, awww.
Lunchtime rolls around, and Stacey finally says hi to Mr. Walker. They make a little small talk. Then Mr. Walker pours Stacey a drink of "club soda" and -- with "sparkling" eyes -- scoffs at the idea of a "city girl" like Stacey in a hick town like Stoneybrook. Mr. Walker is all, "You belong where things are happening, Anastasia. You'll be back... I know you'll be back." Was Mr. Walker always so sleazy? Anyway, apparently Mr. Walker is one of the "few" people Stacey lets call her Anastasia (along with her parents, her dad's secretary, Mr. Zizmore, Isaac the doorman, Wes...)
What an endless chapter. During a healthy lunch of peanut butter and marshmallow fluff sandwiches (no mention of what Stacey eats this time), the phone rings a zillion times because, lest we forget, the Walkers are *~*famous*~*! Stacey also hears the disembodied voice of Ethan, but doesn't think much about it at first, other than that his voice sounds "nice."
It's only after the Walkers go off to do their art and Stacey's playing some cutesy game with the kids and pretending to be a chicken that she gets her first glimpse of her soon-to-be boyfriend, Earring Ethan. We get the same dumb verbatim physical description of Ethan we get in all of his books, which I for some reason hate:
"...deep blue eyes and long, almost black hair. He had high cheekbones, a straight nose and a wide mouth. A tiny gold hoop earring dangled from one ear. He was tall with broad shoulders. A Mexican print shirt was loosely tucked into his faded jeans."
I imagine him to look like Ethan Hawke (who I don't hate or anything, so I'm not sure why it bugs me when the ghosties describe Ethan).
I guess that sexy-sounding outfit is a bit of a variation on his usual description. On that note, Stacey sure has a thing for those Mexican print shirts, doesn't she? (I seem to remember Toby wearing something similar in book #8.)
Anyhow, Stacey doesn't declare L-U-V just yet (and she doesn't want Ethan to call her Anastasia!) but she certainly notices how "gorgeous" he is, and how great he is with Henry and Grace. Later, with hearts in her eyes, she tells Mrs. Walker all about their afternoon together. She does the same with Mr. McGill at dinnertime.
Finally, Stacey is like, "Oh, yeah, Robert" and tries to call him, but the line is... busy. For an hour and a half. Uh-oh...
Chapter Eleven: Stacey is having too much fun at the Walkers' to care much about Robert and his busy signal, though she does devote a few minutes of thought to him over the next couple of nights. She's too lazy and "exhausted" to call him; meanwhile, she wonders, why hasn't he called her?
Finally, on "Wednesday", her phone does ring -- but it's only Claudia. (Stacey actually thinks "Oh, well." The best friends you'll ever have!) They chat for a bit (Stacey: "Ethan Ethan Ethan Ethan Ethan. Did I tell you about Ethan?" Claudia: "Who's Ethan? The Mexican festival is such a disaster. Kristy would never let this happen. I'm one of the coolest kids at SMS. Where is that Twix bar?" Stacey: "Ethan wore a Mexican print shirt...")
Finally, Claudia drops her bombshell. The real reason she called is to tell Stacey that Robert... has been seeing Andi Gentile. Color me SHOCKED!
Stacey shuts up about Ethan long enough to ask Claudia if she's sure. Claudia replies that Emily Bernstein saw them again at Casa Grande, that Mal and Jessi saw them playing tennis (does this mean Mal and Jessi were playing tennis?) and that Claud herself saw them kissing on the streets of downtown Stoneybrook. (Robert and Andi sound very classy.) Stacey, who's now in a daze, thanks Claudia and hangs up the phone.
Stacey thinks sadly about how the "Stacey and Robert 2-gether 4-ever" doodles all over her school notebooks are now a lie. (I'd scoff at the "2-gether 4-ever", but at least the silly number-spelling makes her sound a little more like a 13-year-old? She probably learned it from a U4Me song.) A tear rolls down Stacey's cheek, and suddenly she starts to cry and cry. How dare Andi Gentile steal her boyfriend! How dare she!
Edward comes home and gasps at the very sight of his little Boontsie in tears. He demands that Stacey go out for dinner with him and Samantha. He also suggests that Stacey call Robert. Stacey will have none of THAT!... but she reluctantly agrees to dinner. They go to "Joe Allen" -- which a Google search confirms is a real place (with entrees that are cheaper than I would've pegged Edward for, and in today's prices are "only" about $20-$30, according to their online menu).
Later, Stacey finally does muster up the courage to call Robert. His Nameless sister answers once again; this time, she manages to summon Robert to the phone, but Stacey loses her nerve and is only able to let out a "croaking" sound. She hangs up and cries and cries. Poor Stacey.
Sorry to end things on such a tragic note. Will non-confrontational Stacey confront Robert? Will Ethan's "wide mouth" comfort Stacey with a gentle kiss? Will that Mexican Festival (remember it?) be a total disaster?
Find out soon in the thrilling conclusion!
Previously, in BSC #99, Stacey's Broken Heart, Sheila MacGregor wore a tight purple jumpsuit, Robert went on a date with Pete Black, and Abby lost Marnie Barrett inside a papier-mâché dragon and failed at being a cult leader.
Chapter Nine: Stacey and her dad take a cab from his apartment on East 65th street to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Just for kicks, I google-map'd "East 65th Street" in Manhattan, and 1.) that must've been a short cab ride (okay, I'm not sure I'd want to walk 1.7 miles, especially if it was a hot summer day out, though I've noticed Stacey always seems to "run" from place to place in these books, so you'd think she'd be up for it) and 2.) according to the map, there are at least 3 hospitals in that vicinity. I'm not sure why I'm bothering to point this out, except that it seems appropriate for our Brittle Diabetic.
Moving along. At the museum, Edward wants to visit the medieval armor exhibit. (Remember when Claudia thought medieval meant "halfway evil"?) Stacey snots that this particular exhibit doesn't "thrill" her and gazes at her reflection in a glass museum case, noting how the "sophisticated museum setting" makes her look older.
Edward makes an awkward attempt at some father-daughter bonding. Stacey confesses to him that Robert "has been acting kind of weird." Edward frowns and is all "Whaddya mean, weird?" but Stacey will say no more. That's for her to know and Edward to find out!
They go to look at the Egyptian stuff. Edward launches into a spiel about how Stacey is only 13, and she has her whole life ahead of her and will meet all kinds of guys in college, and isn't 13 too young for a steady boyfriend? Stacey points to a mummy and is all, "This guy was a faro farrow at 14!" Edward still thinks that Stacey is too young to go steady. He encourages her to meet other guys so she can "compare." (Ah, these ghosties and their ever-so-subtle foreshadowing. And "compare" what, Edward?) Stacey doesn't appreciate the advice, and storms away to go pout. Which she does for the entire rest-of-the-outing, and all the way home. Didn't her dad see the FLOWERS? Doesn't he know that means Robert LUVS her?
Chapter Ten: The next morning, Stacey and Edward pretend like nothing happened. Stacey thinks this is because (according to Maureen) she and her dad are both "non-confrontational." (I dunno about that, Maureen; if roaring "YOU SPENT $600 ON JEWELRY AT TIFFANY'S? DO YOU THINK I'M MADE OUT OF MONEY?!?!" so loudly that Stacey could hear it clear down the hallway at your old apartment counts as "non-confrontational", I'd hate to see Edward confront somebody.)
Speaking of the McGill's old apartment. It's time for Stacey's week-long sitting job at the Walkers'. Stacey rejects a "straight, black sleeveless dress" (for baby-sitting? I should hope so) and instead wears a "sundress with flowers all over it." Suzanne, if you're going to describe outfits, please be a little more... descriptive. (In case you're curious, Edward McGill wears "a light gray summer suit.")
(The top result for a Google Images search of "light gray summer suit." Well, the mask kinda looks like a Hodges illustration.)
Edward tells Stacey that he's going to (where else?) work and offers her a "lift" in the cab. Stacey says sure, she just needs to grab her Kid-Kit.
(Wait, she packed it with her? Aren't those supposed to be filled with board games and other crap, that all somehow magically fits into a shoe box? Seems like a giant pain to lug to a nearby house... much less on a train and down the streets of New York City...)
Reading about Kit-Kits honestly always makes me crave one of these:
Good thing I'm not Stacey, or it would be like craving a grenade. Anyhow, Stacey makes it to her old apartment building (after a breakfast-on-the-go of "a corn muffin and milk"). She's happy to hear that Isaac the doorman remembers her name -- even though he doesn't have a name in this book and is simply "the doorman." (But I'm pretty sure in previous books he was Isaac...?)
Stacey greets Dramatic! Mrs. Walker and her charisma-free kids, Wandering Henry and Not-Charlotte Grace, who shriek with laughter and play hide-and-seek and show off their little art projects. Grace reaches out her "small, warm hand" to Stacey (was the "warm" really necessary, Suzanne?) before they embrace in a hug. Blech. I mean, awww.
Lunchtime rolls around, and Stacey finally says hi to Mr. Walker. They make a little small talk. Then Mr. Walker pours Stacey a drink of "club soda" and -- with "sparkling" eyes -- scoffs at the idea of a "city girl" like Stacey in a hick town like Stoneybrook. Mr. Walker is all, "You belong where things are happening, Anastasia. You'll be back... I know you'll be back." Was Mr. Walker always so sleazy? Anyway, apparently Mr. Walker is one of the "few" people Stacey lets call her Anastasia (along with her parents, her dad's secretary, Mr. Zizmore, Isaac the doorman, Wes...)
What an endless chapter. During a healthy lunch of peanut butter and marshmallow fluff sandwiches (no mention of what Stacey eats this time), the phone rings a zillion times because, lest we forget, the Walkers are *~*famous*~*! Stacey also hears the disembodied voice of Ethan, but doesn't think much about it at first, other than that his voice sounds "nice."
It's only after the Walkers go off to do their art and Stacey's playing some cutesy game with the kids and pretending to be a chicken that she gets her first glimpse of her soon-to-be boyfriend, Earring Ethan. We get the same dumb verbatim physical description of Ethan we get in all of his books, which I for some reason hate:
"...deep blue eyes and long, almost black hair. He had high cheekbones, a straight nose and a wide mouth. A tiny gold hoop earring dangled from one ear. He was tall with broad shoulders. A Mexican print shirt was loosely tucked into his faded jeans."
I imagine him to look like Ethan Hawke (who I don't hate or anything, so I'm not sure why it bugs me when the ghosties describe Ethan).
I guess that sexy-sounding outfit is a bit of a variation on his usual description. On that note, Stacey sure has a thing for those Mexican print shirts, doesn't she? (I seem to remember Toby wearing something similar in book #8.)
Anyhow, Stacey doesn't declare L-U-V just yet (and she doesn't want Ethan to call her Anastasia!) but she certainly notices how "gorgeous" he is, and how great he is with Henry and Grace. Later, with hearts in her eyes, she tells Mrs. Walker all about their afternoon together. She does the same with Mr. McGill at dinnertime.
Finally, Stacey is like, "Oh, yeah, Robert" and tries to call him, but the line is... busy. For an hour and a half. Uh-oh...
Chapter Eleven: Stacey is having too much fun at the Walkers' to care much about Robert and his busy signal, though she does devote a few minutes of thought to him over the next couple of nights. She's too lazy and "exhausted" to call him; meanwhile, she wonders, why hasn't he called her?
Finally, on "Wednesday", her phone does ring -- but it's only Claudia. (Stacey actually thinks "Oh, well." The best friends you'll ever have!) They chat for a bit (Stacey: "Ethan Ethan Ethan Ethan Ethan. Did I tell you about Ethan?" Claudia: "Who's Ethan? The Mexican festival is such a disaster. Kristy would never let this happen. I'm one of the coolest kids at SMS. Where is that Twix bar?" Stacey: "Ethan wore a Mexican print shirt...")
Finally, Claudia drops her bombshell. The real reason she called is to tell Stacey that Robert... has been seeing Andi Gentile. Color me SHOCKED!
Stacey shuts up about Ethan long enough to ask Claudia if she's sure. Claudia replies that Emily Bernstein saw them again at Casa Grande, that Mal and Jessi saw them playing tennis (does this mean Mal and Jessi were playing tennis?) and that Claud herself saw them kissing on the streets of downtown Stoneybrook. (Robert and Andi sound very classy.) Stacey, who's now in a daze, thanks Claudia and hangs up the phone.
Stacey thinks sadly about how the "Stacey and Robert 2-gether 4-ever" doodles all over her school notebooks are now a lie. (I'd scoff at the "2-gether 4-ever", but at least the silly number-spelling makes her sound a little more like a 13-year-old? She probably learned it from a U4Me song.) A tear rolls down Stacey's cheek, and suddenly she starts to cry and cry. How dare Andi Gentile steal her boyfriend! How dare she!
Edward comes home and gasps at the very sight of his little Boontsie in tears. He demands that Stacey go out for dinner with him and Samantha. He also suggests that Stacey call Robert. Stacey will have none of THAT!... but she reluctantly agrees to dinner. They go to "Joe Allen" -- which a Google search confirms is a real place (with entrees that are cheaper than I would've pegged Edward for, and in today's prices are "only" about $20-$30, according to their online menu).
Later, Stacey finally does muster up the courage to call Robert. His Nameless sister answers once again; this time, she manages to summon Robert to the phone, but Stacey loses her nerve and is only able to let out a "croaking" sound. She hangs up and cries and cries. Poor Stacey.
Sorry to end things on such a tragic note. Will non-confrontational Stacey confront Robert? Will Ethan's "wide mouth" comfort Stacey with a gentle kiss? Will that Mexican Festival (remember it?) be a total disaster?
Find out soon in the thrilling conclusion!