Proud The Description of Polly Farrell’s Character

“No Laurel Smith today?” Ivan teases Polly as she gets the kids into the Blazer. “Don’t make fun of Laurel,” Polly tells Ivan. She leans on the open door of the Blazer, only now remembering she has appointment to take it in for new shocks this afternoon. “I knew it” Ivan says. “You’re falling for her garbage. You’re so suggestible.” “I am not,” Polly says :p.12. From conversation above, it is shown that Polly does not want Ivan to tease and make fun of Laurel Smith. Betsy Stafford, Polly’s partner, does not believe Laurel’s talent. Betsy thinks that Laurel is a crazy person. When they have a conversation, Polly is not sure that Laurel Smith has an ability to read people but she does not give any bad comment although Betsy says bad thing to Laurel. “Either she’s a great actress,” Polly once told Betsy Stafford, “or something real is going on here.” Betsy, who is much more of cynic than Polly, had smiled and said, “You’ll have to wait and read the book to find out the answer.” Even after she’d seen some of the photographs, Betsy had refused to admit that Laurel might be anything but a charlatan. “Let’s just accept Laurel for what she is,” Betsy insisted. “A nut” :p.14. Betsy also finds out Laurel’s background and she makes her own conclusion. Hearing what Betsy has said, Polly still thinks positively. She does not want other people to influence her in giving opinion on Laurel Smith. Betsy, who unbeknownst to Laurel has been researching her background and discovered a small trust fund left to Laurel by her parents, doesn’t give Laurel any credit for generosity. But Polly is not so quick to judge her :p.16. When Polly comes to the school to watch the gymnast competition she meets with another parents. Polly meets Fran, Evelyn Crowley’s mother. Fran is asking about the occult. Fran considers that it is a strange thing for Polly. “Polly, I’m hearing strange things about you.” It is Evelyn Crowley’s mother, Fran. […] Fran sits down next to Polly. “The occult?” Fran says :p.18. Having that kind of question, Polly does not get angry, otherwise she responds it calmly and does not take it as a big problem. “If you mean I’m photographing Laurel Smith, you’re right,” Polly says, more coolly than she means to. “It’s pretty darned occult,” she adds with a laugh :p.19.

4.1.5 Wise and Patient

Children will pass stages in their life. There is a stage in which children make a distance with the parents and enjoy their own world and it happens to Amanda. Polly realizes that now Amanda keeps a distance with her. She does not want to listen what Polly has said but she prefers to listen what Ivan has said. When Polly has to say something she has to say it twice then Amanda will hear it :Murphy, 1972:170. Suddenly, Amanda is interested in how Ivan feels and what he thinks. When he talks, Amanda listens. When Polly talks, Amanda puts on her Walkman. And, Polly knows, it’s only the beginning :p.9. As she’s backing down the driveway, Polly gets a glimpse of Amanda’s thoughtful, unreadable face in the rearview mirror. Amanda is always distant before a meet; her nervousness takes the form of an unearthly calm so that Polly has to say everything to her twice before Amanda hears :pp.13-14. Every mother does not like to have this kind of situation. Every mother wants to have a close relationship with her children. Realizing the situation between Amanda and her, Polly does not want to force herself to get closer with Amanda. She does not want the situation will getting worse by forcing herself although she really wants to. Maybe Polly can persuade Amanda to give up one day’s practice and go to the beach with her tomorrow, just the two of them :pp.23-24. Having two children who are growing up sometimes spend a lot of energy and emotion. Polly has to manage her feeling to be patient in handling Amanda and Charlie. The children fight often and Polly has to control them and she has trained herself to be patient with the children squeezing.