After their trip to the principal’s office, Edgar and Allan try to explain to Uncle Jack and Aunt Judith that they have been “the victims of some kind of treacherous fix” having “to do with an ‘institution’ dedicated to messy science experiments. . . . [a]nd unauthorized hair removal” (22). The boys are definitely on to something! However, because Uncle Jack and Aunt Judith have already “heard too many tall tales from their nephews” (22), they don’t take the boys’ concerns seriously. As a result, Edgar and Allan are left to connect the dots on their own.
- Have you ever had an experience where adults have dismissed your ideas, observations, or concerns?
- How did it make you feel?
- What happened?
- Why do you think adults sometimes underestimate the reasoning and observation skills of spirited and imaginative kids?