I was amazed reading all about her exploring. I remember vividly going out in fields "hiking" looking for treasures. I would spend hours out finding rocks that I could break open to see if any fools gold might be hiding inside. Every now and again I talk to friends about my explorations as a kid, and they never share the same experiences. I suppose when parents are basically non-existent a kid must learn to entertain themselves.

Jeanette shows glimpses of parental enthusiasm throughout the novel. I remember being piled into the car on Sundays to go to Open Houses. We would walk through the show homes in our ratty clothes, collecting pamphlets and imagining our lives in the various rooms. Then on the car ride home Mom and Dad would talk excitedly about buying the house, upgrading it in every way imaginable. Then upon getting home, sharing a pack of kool-aid powder and water- no sugar for the poor- for dinner. I understood her let downs, but I also understood her excitement, even while knowing in the back of her mind that nothing was ever going to change. Those moments of excitement were almost like a performance, a way to entertain each other, and forget about the grim reality of life.