Mary Anne and Miss Priss! Part 1!
I'd never gotten this far in the series so, I had no idea what to expect from this book. You can imagine my horror to find out it's about child neglect. Again. Why does Ann always write such horrible parents?! I understand that the series focuses on the BSC so, the parents are really just stage dressing but she does this all the time. You could probably count the number of well adjusted families on one hand.It's like a weird storybook land where everything seems all sunshine lollipops on the outside but if you look deeper, everything's fucked. It's almost a talent. Almost. Well, let's go!
-Song of the Day!-
Lets start with the cover.
Mary Anne is looking pretty cute if a tad sloppy. I don't really see that as an outfit she'd wear. Jenny looks okay but very 80s. Which is weird as this book came out in '94. 'Too perfect to play? Jenny thinks so.' Lies! The problem with Jenny is she doesn't think she's perfect enough. So, of course with have the usual bullshit demonizing of the innocent. A true Ann classic!
Chapter 1!
Mary Anne is sitting at the Pikes with Mal and gives us the oh, so vital information on the kidlings hair and eye color. And just for us continuity police, Mallory's hair is reddish brown and her eyes are blue. Also she's the only one with curly hair so I gotta wonder if Pa Pike wonders about his paternity. They're outside looking for signs of spring and Mary Anne goes right into club exposition. This is book #73, I think the readers know about that by now. Mary Anne mentions that Dawn is in California and I weep grateful tears of joy that I won't have to read about her. She also mentions that Mal just got over mono and that her parents made her drop out of the club. But she still had to sit for her siblings because God only knows what would happen if the Pikes watched their own kids for a change. Also in this book, Logan is on the volleyball team even though he was on the baseball team in ' Dawn the Shit Stirrer'.
While Mal is bitching about that, the triplets come up all pissed because they're too old to be babysat. And I gotta say, if I was Ma and Pa Pike, I would agree. How come Mal had to have an unreasonable amount of responsibility pushed on her at a young age while all the other little apes get to have a childhood? Mal was watching her siblings by age 10, they can certainly look after themselves if she could. But they'll probably end up doing some impossible task like cleaning up a spill and come crying to Mal. They point out that Mallory is only a year older and has privileges and Mal points out her only privilege is sitting and their parents aren't even allowing that. Which is damned sad when you think about it. Ma and Pa come home then and Mary Anne needs to run to a BSC meeting. Mal tells her to tell everyone she misses them and Mary Anne says they all miss her too. I'm sure she, Jessi and maybe Claudia do but let's be honest, K Ron only misses having another servant who worships and fears her.
Chapter 2!
I've been reading too much Stephen King because I read 'Claudia Kishi's' as 'Crimson King's'. Anyways, Mary Anne gets to Claudia's which means I can skim the rest of the chapter only stopping to hate Ann for being a coward and pointing out that Claudia is skinny when she should be fat. The rest of the chapter is unremarkable with Mrs Prezzioso calling about needing a sitter for every weekday till Jenny is 18. Of course no one can make that schedule so the only one to make it is Mary Anne for every Monday/Wednesday/Thursday and then they'll fill in the others as they come. Mary Anne wonders what's up with that, yo and says she'll find out Monday.
Chapter 3!
Monday afternoon, Mary Anne arrives at the Prezziosos and Jenny is seriously so cute I want to hit the BSC with a shovel. And I hate kids! When Jenny opens the door Mary Anne 'almost faints' because she's wearing-'Two pink lace boys [sic] perched in her dark brown hair. Her pink dress had a delicate lace collar, lacey puffed sleeves, and a big satin-and-lace sash around the waist. Even her socks were topped with lace.' And for that you almost faint? Isn't that how she always dresses? And again, what's the big deal with a kid being neat and girly? I would rather sit for Jenny than some kid who rolls around in mud and runs around like a maniac.
Mrs P comes down carrying Andrea who's also bedecked in lace and says she has no time to talk. She gives her instructions and gets gone. Mary Anne asks Jenny if she would like to play with the kid kit but Jenny says she wants some juice. Mary Anne serves her some and a drop gets on Jenny's dress and she flips the fuck out. She runs to her room and completely changes her outfit saying her mommy likes to be neat. And all ready my heart is breaking for this girl because it's obvious her parents are ignoring her for Andrea. I always hated the Prezziosos for this. I think it's absolutely unforgivable when parents do this. It just cements my absolute hatred of babies. Jenny also runs to the bathroom to wash her hands, all but muttering 'Unclean! Unclean!'
She goes downstairs and sits up straight on a chair and Mary Anne asks her if she wants to go outside. Jenny is enticed till Mary Anne says she'd have to change into her play clothes then she refuses because she might get dirty. Are you proud of yourself, Mrs P? You've legit given your child a disorder. Of course, because Ann never would give her characters a reason to be the way they are, Jenny is Miss Priss. Mary Anne is like, 'Well, I want to go outside, so that's what we're doing!' and drags Jenny out the front door. They walk down the sidewalk and Matt, Buddy and Nicky go by on their bikes which makes Jenny yell at them to be careful of her dress. They pass Claire and Margo playing beach in the dirt and Jenny says they're like pigs. Which is rude, but she's four. We're supposed to see all this as Jenny being unbearable, but it's really just sad. Now, I don't really expect Mary Anne to know what's wrong with her because she's 13 but reading this as an adult is mortifying.
When Jenny refuses to hula hoop with Jamie, Mary Anne takes her home, making sure to blame Jenny for alienating the others. Okay, so she doesn't want to get dirty and isn't the most polite with the other kids. But I ask you, what is the big fucking deal?! Again, I would have no trouble with a kid wanting to keep clean. I would be more concerned at the levels she's taking it too rather than think she's a problem. Because when she gets home, Jenny immediately goes to wash her hands again. She even makes sure her fingernails are clean. Again, I don't blame Mary Anne for not knowing what's going on. But I am pissed that the Prezziosos aren't even noticing this. I was always neutral on them but I can see them placing themselves in Pike hate territory because of this.
Chapter 4!
Tuesday is a repeat of Monday, with Mrs P breezing on out with Andrea and Jenny just sitting in a chair. She notices a spot on her pinafore and runs to change again. And again this is so sad because when Mary Anne suggests she wear a jean jumper, Jenny says it makes her ugly. This four year old little girl thinks she's ugly if she's not perfect. Yeah, I hate the Prezziosos. I also really wonder at Ann for always writing such awful characters. And the victim blaming. My God, the victim blaming. Even though she's pretty dim, Mary Anne does realize this isn't normal. She tries to distract Jenny by taking her outside where the triplets are forming a kickball team. Mary Anne tries to push Jenny into joining because she thinks it'll take her mind off cleanliness. Jenny finally agrees and when she asks everyone starts bitching about her. And my heart breaks because she's four. And Jenny is way more mature than Mary Anne because she just takes it. Why is she a brat again? Can you imagine if someone had refused Karen? Or Claire? Karen has declared war on classmates for them refusing to obey her whims. And she makes her friends ostracize people she doesn't like. What the fuck is wrong with Ann?!
The triplets tell Jenny they'll figure something out when Mrs P comes back home. Mary Anne takes her home and ponders over Jenny's problem. When she gets home, asks Richard about Jenny's behavior. He says it sounds like obsessive behavior and when they're done talking, Mary Anne checks out some books on psychology in his office. She reads that obsessive behavior is usually caused by emotional disturbance and actually worries about Jenny. She wonders what could be causing Jenny to act this way as she seems to have a happy home life. She thinks it could be sibling rivalry but claims Jenny is over that. Gee, ya think? Because it's not like it's glaringly obvious her mother's ignoring her. Mary Anne wonders whether she's equipped on dealing with Jenny and Mary Anne, hun? Go to her parents. If there's something psychologically wrong with her they need to know. But of course, Mary Anne is a BSC member and they wouldn't go to a parent if their kid was on fire.
Chapter 5!
I don't give a shit about Jessi and Mal sitting the apes and the triplets being annoying. So, instead I offer the exciting continuation of my BSC Sims tales. Today: The Death of K Ron and Karen! Enjoy!
Karen and K Ron hit it off talking about their lovely fireplace and wooden chairs
Uh oh! Trouble in paradise!
And Karen is down!
K Ron up in smoke!
The two most annoying piles of ashes in the universe
Death comes for Karen
And for K Ron
Two graves, two ash piles. Who's gonna clean that mess?!
-Song of the Day!-
Lets start with the cover.
Mary Anne is looking pretty cute if a tad sloppy. I don't really see that as an outfit she'd wear. Jenny looks okay but very 80s. Which is weird as this book came out in '94. 'Too perfect to play? Jenny thinks so.' Lies! The problem with Jenny is she doesn't think she's perfect enough. So, of course with have the usual bullshit demonizing of the innocent. A true Ann classic!
Chapter 1!
Mary Anne is sitting at the Pikes with Mal and gives us the oh, so vital information on the kidlings hair and eye color. And just for us continuity police, Mallory's hair is reddish brown and her eyes are blue. Also she's the only one with curly hair so I gotta wonder if Pa Pike wonders about his paternity. They're outside looking for signs of spring and Mary Anne goes right into club exposition. This is book #73, I think the readers know about that by now. Mary Anne mentions that Dawn is in California and I weep grateful tears of joy that I won't have to read about her. She also mentions that Mal just got over mono and that her parents made her drop out of the club. But she still had to sit for her siblings because God only knows what would happen if the Pikes watched their own kids for a change. Also in this book, Logan is on the volleyball team even though he was on the baseball team in ' Dawn the Shit Stirrer'.
While Mal is bitching about that, the triplets come up all pissed because they're too old to be babysat. And I gotta say, if I was Ma and Pa Pike, I would agree. How come Mal had to have an unreasonable amount of responsibility pushed on her at a young age while all the other little apes get to have a childhood? Mal was watching her siblings by age 10, they can certainly look after themselves if she could. But they'll probably end up doing some impossible task like cleaning up a spill and come crying to Mal. They point out that Mallory is only a year older and has privileges and Mal points out her only privilege is sitting and their parents aren't even allowing that. Which is damned sad when you think about it. Ma and Pa come home then and Mary Anne needs to run to a BSC meeting. Mal tells her to tell everyone she misses them and Mary Anne says they all miss her too. I'm sure she, Jessi and maybe Claudia do but let's be honest, K Ron only misses having another servant who worships and fears her.
Chapter 2!
I've been reading too much Stephen King because I read 'Claudia Kishi's' as 'Crimson King's'. Anyways, Mary Anne gets to Claudia's which means I can skim the rest of the chapter only stopping to hate Ann for being a coward and pointing out that Claudia is skinny when she should be fat. The rest of the chapter is unremarkable with Mrs Prezzioso calling about needing a sitter for every weekday till Jenny is 18. Of course no one can make that schedule so the only one to make it is Mary Anne for every Monday/Wednesday/Thursday and then they'll fill in the others as they come. Mary Anne wonders what's up with that, yo and says she'll find out Monday.
Chapter 3!
Monday afternoon, Mary Anne arrives at the Prezziosos and Jenny is seriously so cute I want to hit the BSC with a shovel. And I hate kids! When Jenny opens the door Mary Anne 'almost faints' because she's wearing-'Two pink lace boys [sic] perched in her dark brown hair. Her pink dress had a delicate lace collar, lacey puffed sleeves, and a big satin-and-lace sash around the waist. Even her socks were topped with lace.' And for that you almost faint? Isn't that how she always dresses? And again, what's the big deal with a kid being neat and girly? I would rather sit for Jenny than some kid who rolls around in mud and runs around like a maniac.
Mrs P comes down carrying Andrea who's also bedecked in lace and says she has no time to talk. She gives her instructions and gets gone. Mary Anne asks Jenny if she would like to play with the kid kit but Jenny says she wants some juice. Mary Anne serves her some and a drop gets on Jenny's dress and she flips the fuck out. She runs to her room and completely changes her outfit saying her mommy likes to be neat. And all ready my heart is breaking for this girl because it's obvious her parents are ignoring her for Andrea. I always hated the Prezziosos for this. I think it's absolutely unforgivable when parents do this. It just cements my absolute hatred of babies. Jenny also runs to the bathroom to wash her hands, all but muttering 'Unclean! Unclean!'
She goes downstairs and sits up straight on a chair and Mary Anne asks her if she wants to go outside. Jenny is enticed till Mary Anne says she'd have to change into her play clothes then she refuses because she might get dirty. Are you proud of yourself, Mrs P? You've legit given your child a disorder. Of course, because Ann never would give her characters a reason to be the way they are, Jenny is Miss Priss. Mary Anne is like, 'Well, I want to go outside, so that's what we're doing!' and drags Jenny out the front door. They walk down the sidewalk and Matt, Buddy and Nicky go by on their bikes which makes Jenny yell at them to be careful of her dress. They pass Claire and Margo playing beach in the dirt and Jenny says they're like pigs. Which is rude, but she's four. We're supposed to see all this as Jenny being unbearable, but it's really just sad. Now, I don't really expect Mary Anne to know what's wrong with her because she's 13 but reading this as an adult is mortifying.
When Jenny refuses to hula hoop with Jamie, Mary Anne takes her home, making sure to blame Jenny for alienating the others. Okay, so she doesn't want to get dirty and isn't the most polite with the other kids. But I ask you, what is the big fucking deal?! Again, I would have no trouble with a kid wanting to keep clean. I would be more concerned at the levels she's taking it too rather than think she's a problem. Because when she gets home, Jenny immediately goes to wash her hands again. She even makes sure her fingernails are clean. Again, I don't blame Mary Anne for not knowing what's going on. But I am pissed that the Prezziosos aren't even noticing this. I was always neutral on them but I can see them placing themselves in Pike hate territory because of this.
Chapter 4!
Tuesday is a repeat of Monday, with Mrs P breezing on out with Andrea and Jenny just sitting in a chair. She notices a spot on her pinafore and runs to change again. And again this is so sad because when Mary Anne suggests she wear a jean jumper, Jenny says it makes her ugly. This four year old little girl thinks she's ugly if she's not perfect. Yeah, I hate the Prezziosos. I also really wonder at Ann for always writing such awful characters. And the victim blaming. My God, the victim blaming. Even though she's pretty dim, Mary Anne does realize this isn't normal. She tries to distract Jenny by taking her outside where the triplets are forming a kickball team. Mary Anne tries to push Jenny into joining because she thinks it'll take her mind off cleanliness. Jenny finally agrees and when she asks everyone starts bitching about her. And my heart breaks because she's four. And Jenny is way more mature than Mary Anne because she just takes it. Why is she a brat again? Can you imagine if someone had refused Karen? Or Claire? Karen has declared war on classmates for them refusing to obey her whims. And she makes her friends ostracize people she doesn't like. What the fuck is wrong with Ann?!
The triplets tell Jenny they'll figure something out when Mrs P comes back home. Mary Anne takes her home and ponders over Jenny's problem. When she gets home, asks Richard about Jenny's behavior. He says it sounds like obsessive behavior and when they're done talking, Mary Anne checks out some books on psychology in his office. She reads that obsessive behavior is usually caused by emotional disturbance and actually worries about Jenny. She wonders what could be causing Jenny to act this way as she seems to have a happy home life. She thinks it could be sibling rivalry but claims Jenny is over that. Gee, ya think? Because it's not like it's glaringly obvious her mother's ignoring her. Mary Anne wonders whether she's equipped on dealing with Jenny and Mary Anne, hun? Go to her parents. If there's something psychologically wrong with her they need to know. But of course, Mary Anne is a BSC member and they wouldn't go to a parent if their kid was on fire.
Chapter 5!
I don't give a shit about Jessi and Mal sitting the apes and the triplets being annoying. So, instead I offer the exciting continuation of my BSC Sims tales. Today: The Death of K Ron and Karen! Enjoy!
Karen and K Ron hit it off talking about their lovely fireplace and wooden chairs
Uh oh! Trouble in paradise!
And Karen is down!
K Ron up in smoke!
The two most annoying piles of ashes in the universe
Death comes for Karen
And for K Ron
Two graves, two ash piles. Who's gonna clean that mess?!