Hey, guys! I am finally wrapping this up. Part of this segment is sad and makes me really hate Karen even more than usual. Stay tuned!
Chapter 16- On With the Show
They are getting ready to leave for Andrew's play. Karen actually gives us this: "I could not wait to see what everyone thought of Fluffy. Maybe Andrew would say, 'My sister Karen helped me. She has been in many plays.' "
Yes, this is an actual line.
Oh my GOD. The ego on this kid, seriously. When is she going to learn that Andrew's play and projects are not about HER or her need for attention, her need for an ego boost, and her need to be make everything into a competition. This is really just sad.
For some reason, the adults find seats and leave Karen to help Andrew get ready in his classroom. Because children must do everything and adults are useless.
Karen goes to help Andrew put his costume and makeup on. Why couldn't they have done this at home before coming to the play? Would have made things easier to do it somewhere where there are no other kids running around.
As they're getting ready, they realize they can't find the clothespin which is supposed to keep Karen's way too big pants on Andrew. See, this is part of why he should have gotten ready at home with adults, or had an adult help him in his classroom instead of Karen, or had an adult help him prepare his costume to begin with. Because now he is stuck with pants that are way too huge and no way to keep them up, which is obviously going to lead to trouble.
Karen says "they almost fit him" and that he doesn't need a clothespin, because all she cares about is her ego and not her brother's well-being. Andrew says he will get Ms. Jewel to help him, which shows he is the more responsible of the two and knows that adults are here to help.
Chapter 17- All Eyes on Andrew, or saddest chapter ever
The program sounds adorable, with different kids singing songs and reciting poems. Then it is time for the play.
Andrew comes out and the poor thing is holding the pants up with one hand. Karen starts to get a "bad feeling." A little late for that, Karen. You should have had it before you forced Andrew to wear those pants.
Andrew does great with the play but at one point he lets go of the pants and... yeah, obviously they fall down. My poor baby. I hate this chapter. The kids laugh at him too which freaking sucks. There's a sad illustration of it, too. Do his parents do anything about it? Lol, you must be kidding.
Luckily, Karen gets her karma again. Later on going home, a rightfully furious Andrew is yelling at Karen that it was her fault. He says great stuff that Karen really needs to hear too; like "You made me wear those stupid pants!" And "you're bossy!" This is sweet. I know Karen won't learn her lesson though since she didn't after the food thing.
And still, you hear nothing from the parents.
Karen feels remorse, but not so much for the fact that Andrew was humiliated, but because Andrew is her "only little brother" and she "wanted to help him as much as [she] could and be a good big sister." So once again, this is about her pride, not about Andrew. She does admit she hasn't been doing such a good job as a big sister, so at least she is acknowledging something.
Chapter 18- Another Brilliant Idea (uh oh...)
Granny cheers Andrew up by letting him help her with her needlepoint, and Karen stomps off to her room, saying she needs to think about her bossiness. Lisa says that sounds like a great idea, which is hilarious. Second time now that she isn't being praised after doing something wrong like usual.
Then we get this:
"Usually I do not mean to be bossy. But sometimes I have so many good ideas, they have to come out."
Looks like we have a mini Kristy! Yay! Also, Karen sure does a good job of not meaning to be bossy, considering she's bossy in pretty much every book.
"Sometimes it's hard being me."
So now we get a guilt trip and a whining session, instead of acknowledgment from Karen that she's done wrong. Of course.
She makes a list of ways not to be bossy. It's a good list, but there's no evidence that she follows it later on.
She then gets an idea about the rabbits and Andrew's classroom. It's supposed to be some huge surprise but obviously, her idea is that the rabbits become Andrews class pets. Anyway, she says "I was trying not to butt into Andrew's business, but my brain just would not listen" aka Karen has no self-control. But I wouldn't say she's butting in this time, since it has to do with her rabbits, and she had volunteered to help find homes for them.
Anyway, she runs down and tells everyone her idea that Princess and Spot can go to Andrew's school. It's a good idea in theory, and certainly a realistic one for a seven-year-old, but again I have to wonder about the suitability of it. rabbits are different from gerbils, which was the previous class pet. The teacher would have to know how to care for them, and really teach the kids about it, plus as mentioned, kids are not the best owners for bunnies, and a classroom is full of kids. But everyone in the house thinks it's a good idea, and Andrew is cheered up because it means he doesn't have to say goodbye to Spot.
Karen makes a whole plan to call the teacher because she has learned nothing, but luckily Andrew cuts in and says that HE will talk to the teacher because she's his teacher and it's his class. And Karen backs off. Good.
Chapter 19- A Farewell Dinner
Ms. Jewel likes the idea and says that the class will vote on it the next day.
The next day, Karen comes home and finds out that the class voted pro bunnies so now Princess and Spot have a home.
Karen asks Andrew if he's still mad at her. He lets her off easy because he says no, BUT adds that she needs to try to stop being bossy. I love this kid.
Both Granny and the rabbits are leaving the next day and they have a big dinner. Karen will miss Princess but is glad the hard stuff is over. Not really anything to snark here. Her feelings make sense, and she's happy she will get to see the bunnies if Andrew ever takes care of them during a school vacation.
Chapter 20- Good-bye, Good-bye
Again, not too much to snark. The rabbits go to Andrew's school. Ms. Jewel is going to read the class stories about rabbits, which is great because you should always have knowledge of an animal before you have it as a pet, which was the whole basis of this.
Granny leaves, and Karen feels sad but glad at the same time, again normal emotions.
The End!
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So I desperately need a break from Karen... she is fun to snark, but it is also rage-inducing. So next I am going to snark Kristy's Book, and then I'll write out my available Karen titles and you guys can pick which one. I had a specific request for Karen's Copycat, which I have yet to access, but as soon as I am able to, I will snark it. Until then, good night guys!