Clari, the main character, is an independent-minded thirteen-yearold who at first seems too self-absorbed to heed the advice of others and take responsibility for herself.

Although warned by her father not to climb Mrs. Murphy's fence in order to take a shortcut home, she does so anyway. When she is caught her father punishes her and tells Clari, "Don't climb over the fence!" though the lesson Clari prefers to absorb is "Stay clear of Mrs. Murphy! The old lady was trouble." She transfers the blame for her transgression to someone else: "Mrs. Murphy was a grouch who complained about everything." Her efforts to manipulate her parents do not make her seem any better, and they may make her life more difficult: "I really work up a sweat going the long way. But .. . if you'd rather do more laundry."

"Don't worry about the laundry.

I'll...