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   dymatsuoka

   eNotes Editor

   I am assuming that you are referring to Jamie's comment made in response to Mrs. Frankweiler's question as to whether she frightens him.  Jamie replies that she does not, because he is "quite used to frightening things".  He also adds that Mrs. Frankweiler is "really not so bad looking".

   In response to Jamie's comment, Mrs. Frankweiler asks Parks to bring her a mirror.  She has not thought about the way she looks for quite awhile, and "everyone wait(s) in silence...as (she) pick(s) (the mirror) up and (begins) a very long and close inspection of (her) face".  Mrs. Frankweiler observes that "it's not a bad face", and notes that "lately (her) nose seems to have grown longer, and (her) upper lip appears to have collapsed against (her) teeth", things that occur as people get older.  Mrs. Frankweiler reflects that she ought to do something about her hair, which is "altogether white now and looks like frayed nylon thread".  Ordinarily, she just has Parks cut it for her, but now she considers going to the beauty parlor to get a permanent wave.

   Having taken note of the way her face looks, Mrs. Frankweiler tells the children that it is of "no matter" that she is beginning to show the ravages of age.  She says that she "never really look(s) past (her) eyes...that way (she) always feel(s) pretty" (Chapter 9).

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   Posted by dymatsuoka on Tuesday July 7, 2009 at 3:14 PM