Mary Chris Wall: Ellen Talbot

Quotes 

• Ellen Talbot : Joe, you know dogs aren't allowed in the library.

  Wishbone : Uh-huh, and they wonder why so few of us read.

• Joe Talbot : So he's back for a visit, why do you keep saying it couldn't be him?

  Wishbone : Yeah, give us one good reason!

  Ellen Talbot : Joe, Ezra Knutson is dead.

  Wishbone : ...That's, a good reason.

  Ellen Talbot : His wife sent a letter to the library a couple of weeks ago, I even sent her a card myself.

  Sam Kepler : So who was the man in the library?

  Ellen Talbot : Somebody must've been playing a trick on you, and one of Mr. Knutson's index volumes was missing today too.

• Ellen Talbot : [about the man passing himself off as the dead Mr. Knutson]  Must be some kind of a practical joke.

  Joe Talbot : Mom, he seemed pretty serious.

  Ellen Talbot : [finds an article]  Ah! Here it is. Okay kids, have a look at the real Ezra Knutson.,

  [shows a picture] 

  Joe Talbot : Mom, that's him!

  Ellen Talbot : Are you sure?

  [Joe nods] 

  Ellen Talbot : Well, that can't be!

• Ellen Talbot : [entering the library]  Marion said I'd see it right away, whatever it is.

  [stops] 

  Ellen Talbot : Oh, no!

  Sam Kepler : What's wrong?

  David Barnes : Remember I told you that volume one of the index was missing this morning? Well, now volume two is gone!

  Sam Kepler : That's Mr. Knutson's index, right?

  Ellen Talbot : That's right, and I haven't even put volumes four, five and six on the computer yet.

• Ellen Talbot : [finds two volumes have been stolen from the library]  I'm glad Marion called.

  Joe Talbot : Uh, Mom? I don't think that's why she called you.

  Ellen Talbot : What do you mean?

  Joe Talbot : Look.

  [hands Ellen the magazine her article was featured in] 

  Ellen Talbot : [reads the big red letters scrawled on top of the article alongside her picture which has been Sed out]  "Give back what you've stolen! abandon the project now!"?

  Sam Kepler : Who could've done this?

  Wishbone : Well, whoever it was, you know it wasn't a dog, 'cause we're not allowed in here!

• David Barnes : [Sam asks who could've stolen the index volumes and trashed Ellen's article]  Well, whoever is it, they'll be coming back.

  Ellen Talbot : How do you know?

  David Barnes : I mean, why didn't they take all those books? That would stop your project.

  Sam Kepler : Well, they probably couldn't carry them all at once.

  Joe Talbot : So they'll be back!

• Ellen Talbot : I'm not going to let myself be intimidated by this person.

  Joe Talbot : What're you going to do?

  Ellen Talbot : Well, I guess I'll have Marion watch my desk for the rest of the day, and then when the library closes I'll guard the books, all night.

  Joe Talbot : I'll stay with you!

  David Barnes : Me too!

  Sam Kepler : And me!

  Wishbone : Count me in, I love slumber parties! Who's bringing the snacks?

  Ellen Talbot : Well, that's really nice of you kids, but...

  Joe Talbot : Mom, we're not going to leave you here all alone.