One for the Murphys

Toni accosts Carley at school, upset that Carley wasn’t there the day before to work on the project. Carley is sick of Toni pushing her around and tells her that they can work at Toni’s house that afternoon or not all. Toni clearly doesn’t want to meet at her own house but has no choice when she sees that Carley is serious.

Toni lives in a nice house. Her mother is a tall, polished-looking business professional who comments on how nice Carley’s brand-name shirt is. Once in her room, which has a strongly Wicked theme, Toni admits that she likes the Wicked character Elphaba because she can relate to Elphaba’s conflict: She feels like she doesn’t fit in, but it’s everyone else who is off, not her. She also admits to feeling as though her mother would prefer a different daughter who liked fashionable clothes and styles. Toni says that her mother has taken her to see Broadway musicals and that her father, who takes frequent, long business trips to Japan, supports her unique style and traits. As Carley listens, she realizes that she too feels ostracized and misunderstood when others make assumptions about her. She turns her “popular” shirt that Toni says makes her a “clone” backwards and inside out, so that when she leaves, Toni’s mother will see it. Toni gives Carley a genuine smile.

When Carley returns to the Murphy house, she offers to help Daniel, who is practicing basketball in the driveway. At first he refuses, but Carley steals the ball and shows him how to shorten his dribble as he tries to get it back. She returns it to him and lets him practice while she tries to take the ball back—though she doesn’t take it. She tells Daniel that she wants a truce. He tells her that he wants to play basketball even though his father would much rather he play the “thinking man’s game,” baseball (108). Daniel reveals that his middle name is a famous baseball player’s because his father wanted him to play baseball from the time he was born. He’s adamant and upset: “He’s such a jerk about it that even if I liked baseball—which I don’t—I could never play it” (108). Carley is surprised to hear of any strife under the Murphy family’s surface.

Carley boards a bus for a field trip to Mystic Seaport. Toni hails her to share a seat. Carley has a bagged lunch that Mrs. Murphy packed, but Toni has $40 in cash for the gift shop and lunch counter. They dissect the packed lunch, which includes a kind note from “Mrs. M.” (Carley tells Toni that’s a small joke meaning “Mrs. Mom”), and Toni then offers Carley half her cash for the packed lunch. That way, she says, Carley can have money for the lunch counter and gift shop. She tells Carley to leave the note: “It’s part of the lunch, Connors. That’s why” (111). Carley eagerly sells Toni the lunch.

Mrs. Murphy convinces Carley to invite Toni over for dinner. In Carley’s room, the two talk about Rainer and Toni’s real name, Charity. She goes by Toni because she intends to win a Tony award someday for performing on Broadway. Carley has opportunities to tell Toni the truth about her background and her mother but chooses not to; she wants to keep pretending for a while. Toni calls Carley her best friend.

Mr. Murphy is watching a baseball game when Toni arrives. At first he approves of her eagerness and knowledge of the game, but then she makes comments that show she’s against his team, the Red Sox. Toni and Carley go to the kitchen. Adam and Michael Eric come in to play cars on the grout lines of the tile floor. Toni asks if Carley’s mom will let her go for a walk, which prompts Michael Eric to ask, “Is Carley’s mommy here?” (120). Carley tries to speed Toni outside and change the subject, but the boys follow and reveal in front of Toni that Carley is in foster care. Toni is angry and hurt that Carley misled her and leaves in a huff. When Mrs. Murphy tries to comfort Carley, Carley retreats to her room.

Later, Mrs. Murphy encourages Carley to try to talk to Toni when she can. At dinner, Mrs. Murphy reprimands Michael Eric for falling from his seat on purpose. When he tries to leave the table, she reseats him, but Mr. Murphy tells her to calm down. She leaves angrily. Mr. Murphy follows her into the bathroom as Adam begins to cry. Carley tries to bribe the boys into good behavior, promising her dessert to whomever can keep the quietest. Carley goes to listen in and discovers Mr. Murphy telling Mrs. Murphy that she’s “spread too thin with this girl” and warning her that Carley will eventually return to her mother. He says more, but Carley can’t hear it. Mrs. Murphy leaves the bathroom angrily, rushes to the kitchen, and throws a mug, smashing it into the sink. She tells the boys that she isn’t angry at them but tells Mr. Murphy to leave her alone. Then she heads off to shower. By the time she’s done, Carley has cleaned up the kitchen. Mrs. Murphy is very appreciative, but Carley worries that if Mr. Murphy wants to get rid of her, Mrs. Murphy will allow it.

After the dinnertime upset, Carley, frazzled and worried, calls Mrs. MacAvoy. Initially she blurts, “I need to get out” (129), which prompts Mrs. MacAvoy to ask if Carley is unsafe or in a crisis. Carley assures her that she isn’t and even tries to persuade Mrs. MacAvoy that she phoned just to say hello, but Mrs. MacAvoy tells her that she’ll visit soon.

Carley tries to talk to Toni at school, following her into the faculty restroom. She tries to explain and to apologize, but Toni is terribly upset that she confided in Carley about her feelings, her life, and her family only to be misled about Carley’s background. Toni feels tricked into thinking Carley was “the real deal” (132). Carley tells Toni that she’s sorry and wants another chance, but Toni won’t relent. Carley angers then, saying that Toni isn’t perfect either but is still Carley’s friend. They part ways, and Carley feels as though she really messed up.

Carley tries to finagle a cupcake away from Mrs. Murphy, who just baked two dozen for Adam’s class, but Mrs. Murphy refuses. As they talk, the doorbell rings. It’s Mrs. MacAvoy. Mrs. Murphy is concerned to hear that Carley called Mrs. MacAvoy and asks if she wants to leave. Carley insists vehemently that she wants to stay. Mrs. MacAvoy leaves. When Mrs. Murphy questions Carley, she admits how she feels: “I hate it…that I don’t hate it…that you’re good to me” (137). Mrs. Murphy tells her repeatedly that she deserves good things and that she should let her defenses down, but Carley leaves, heads for the bathroom, and tells herself again she doesn’t belong with the Murphys. Now, though, a voice inside her suggests that she does.