Editor's Choice
Why could Holling get the cream puffs despite lacking enough money?
Quick answer:
Holling acquires cream puffs without enough money by impressing the baker with his knowledge of Shakespeare. Initially, he attempts to clean Mrs. Baker's room for a cream puff, but accidentally ruins them with chalk dust, prompting classmates to demand replacements. Lacking funds, Holling offers labor to the baker, who instead requests someone familiar with Shakespeare. Holling recites passages, earning the cream puffs, but must also participate in a play, wearing an embarrassing costume.
Holling is able to get the cream puffs from the baker without enough money because he performs some Shakespeare for the baker. Earlier in the story, Mrs. Baker has some wonderfully delicious-looking cream puffs in the back of her classroom. She tells Holling that he may have one, if he cleans up her room really well. A 7th grader will do anything for food, so Holling cleans erasers like a fiend. Unfortunately the cloud of chalk dust settles on the cream puffs, which causes the kids who eat them to get sick. The kids threaten Holling and tell him he had better get them some clean cream puffs. Holling doesn't have enough money to buy them from the baker, so he offers to do some work for the baker. The baker tells Holling that he doesn't need any work done.
"What I should really need," he said, "is a boy...
Unlock This Answer Now
Start your 48-hour free trial and get ahead in class. Boost your grades with access to expert answers and top-tier study guides. Thousands of students are already mastering their assignments—don't miss out. Cancel anytime.
Already a member? Log in here.
who knows Shakespeare."
Holling has just started reading Shakespeare with Mrs. Baker and announces that he knows Shakespeare. The baker is doubtful, but Holling successfully recites several passages from Shakespeare plays. The baker is impressed and gives Holling the twenty-two cream puffs that he needs.
Why did Holling buy the cream puffs cheaply, and why did his plan fail?
The answer to this question can be found in the November chapter. Holling needs to buy the class some cream puffs to make up for the ones that he accidentally tainted with chalk dust, which caused all of the kids to get sick, and they threatened him if he didn't get them some clean cream puffs. The problem is that Holling doesn't have enough money to buy from the baker. Holling attempts to trade labor for the cream puffs, but the baker says that he doesn't need any work done. What the baker needs is somebody who knows Shakespeare.
"What I should really need," he said, "is a boy who knows Shakespeare."
Holling has just started going through works of Shakespeare on his Wednesdays with Mrs. Baker, so Holling announces that he knows Shakespeare. The baker is skeptical, but Holling proves his knowledge by reciting a few passages. The baker is impressed and gives Holling the cream puffs that he needs. Getting the cream puffs cheap is a win for Holling, but it does sort of backfire on Holling. Holling also agrees to be in a Shakespeare production that the baker is putting on, and Holling gets to play Ariel and wear tights with feathers on his butt.
How did Holling buy the cream puffs so cheaply?
Holling was able to get the cream puffs for a reduced price, because he does a favor for Mr. Goldman.
While Holling was able to get the cream puffs for a reduced price, he doesn't necessarily think it is at a reduced cost. The cost that Holling has to pay in exchange for getting cheap cream puffs is that he has to play the part of Ariel in Mr. Goldman's production of The Tempest. Holling is not thrilled to begin with, but when he sees his costume, Holling tries to back out of his commitment. The part of Ariel may be a part for a boy, but the costume is anything but "manly." Holling's costume consists of wearing yellow tights with white feathers on the butt. He may have gotten the cream puffs cheaply because of his acting, but having his picture appear in the newspaper while wearing those tights and feathers was a heavy price to pay.