All Quotes

"[Across from her, Jack leans back in his high chair and points to the ceiling]"

"Jack: Whaa-haa-haa."

"[Eva looks up and sees Dodger moving across a wooden ceiling beam]"

"Eva: Shut up, Jack! Shut up and eat!"

"[Just as she has hoped, her mum turns her attention separately from the baby to yell at her. By then, Jack has started crying and forgotten all about the monkey. To calm him down, Amy grabs a little doll]"

"Amy: [sings] One little monkey, jumping on the bed. He fell over and bumped his head. Mama called–––"

"[Eva collapses in her chair from the strain. Is her mother trying to torture her?]"

"Eva: Please, wait! I hate all these rhymes!"

"Amy: Eva, what's the matter with you? Jack loves them."

"[From the corner of her eye, Eva spies Dodger sneaking back to the bedroom. She grabs her plate and fork]"

"Eva: I'm sorry, sing all you want. I'll go eat in my room for some peace and silence. Excuse me from the table, please."

"[She rushes out, plate in hand. After tonight's weirdo performance, her family probably thinks she has a few screws loose, but she doesn't care. Right now, she has more reluctant senses on her mind]"

"[Eva gets up early Tuesday morning]"

"[Now that she is taking care of Dodger, she has to be responsible for him as well as for herself. Somehow owning a pet makes it easy to get up and clean her room. She puts all her clothes aside, makes the bed and has herself dressed in a neat and matching outfit by the time her mum comes in]"

"Eva: Good morning, Mum."

"[Amy's jaw drops]"

"Amy: You cleaned up! You dressed, you––"

"[Eva smirks at her]"

"Eva: I'm supposed to learn responsibility, remember? Let's have some breakfast––I'm starved!"

"[Eva eats a solid meal, sneaking seconds into her knapsack for Dodger. She makes her own lunch where she can take extra portions and leaves the apartment with plenty of time to go to school. This morning is special because she has Dodger with her. Eva makes sure her friend Paul has gone on ahead where she can walk alone. With Dodger zipped up in her knapsack, Eva heads down the sidewalk with a confident step]"

"[Back in the apartment, her mum can't get over the changes in her daughter]"

"Amy: Something's up with Eva. Last night she gave up her favorite show to do her homework. As I went to wake her up this morning, she was already washed and dressed. At breakfast, she asked how Jack was thinking about on his toilet training. She was real curious about how I'm teaching him. Then she made her own lunch, with two bananas and an extra sandwich..."

"[Tom sits up and shakes his head, no]"

"Tom: Sounds like she met a guy. That would explain the two bananas and the extra sandwich."

"Amy: Right. And she's teaching this "guy" to use the potty?"

"[Not realizing that her family is wondering about her, Eva is shooting down the spiral slide at the park. A frightened Dodger hangs onto her shoulders, his hands grabbing her face. Together, the two of them hoot and shriek all the road down. They jump on the swings and then play on the jungle gym. Her pet deserves some fun before she leaves him away for the day. Eva has worked it all out. There is no daycare for monkeys in her neighborhood, but there is the pet shop. She'll ask Annie to keep Dodger for her while she is in school]"

"[Eva puts Dodger back into her knapsack and heads for the pet shop. She waits at a red light next to an elegant woman and several other people. The zipper of the knapsack silently opens. Eva doesn't notice her monkey's hand creep out to steal a coin purse from the handbag of the well-dressed woman]"

"[Eva slips into the pet shop. She greets Annie, but unzips the knapsack. Dodger has fallen asleep]"

"Annie: A capuchin! Where did you get it?"

"[Eva stares at her]"

"Eva: What the? Capu-what?"

"Annie: Isn't it a capuchin?"

"[Now Eva knows. Her pet is called a capuchin. Speak about special]"

"Eva: I wish it is. My, um, my father brought him from the Caribbean. He's had it from a pirate. There's one fashion he isn't sure of. Is he going to grow up to be as big as a gorilla?"

"[Annie laughs heartily]"

"Annie: Oh, dear! I'd say he's probably completely grown now."

"Eva: Whew! I, ah...it's supposed to be like a surprise present for my mum, but my dad wants me to train him first. And since I know this place is safe because my mum will never, ever come in here––could you keep him while I'm at school?"

"Annie: Of course! I'd love to."

"[Eva lets out a big cheer. Now her major problem is solved]"

"Annie: What a grand surprise for your mum. Can you imagine her face if she sees it?"

"[Eva stops cheering. That is the last nonsense she wants to think about]"

"Eva: No, and I don't really want to."

"[Eva leaves the pet shop and heads toward school]"

"[She rounds the corner and sees Katie waiting for her. But Katie isn't alone––she has fifteen other girls with her]"

"Katie: Eva! We've all been waiting to hear the news! What's going on?"

"[Eva frowns at Katie and keeps walking. All the girls follow, pressing in close to hear what Eva is saying]"

"Eva: News? It's not news, it's a secret!"

"Girls: We won't warn anybody! Promise!"

"[Katie shoos the girls aside]"

"Katie: Go ahead, go inside! You can't listen to our secret!"