Chapter 6: The Hundred Dresses–II

Introduction

"The Hundred Dresses–II" continues the story of Wanda Petronski, focusing on the aftermath of her disappearance and the feelings of guilt and regret experienced by Peggy and Maddie. This chapter explores themes of apology, understanding, and the realization of the impact of one's actions, culminating in a surprising and heartfelt discovery.

Story Summary

The chapter begins after the declaration of the drawing contest results, where **Wanda Petronski** was revealed as the talented artist behind the "hundred dresses" displayed in the classroom. The girls in Room 13 are now fully aware of Wanda's talent, and Miss Mason tells them about a letter she received from Wanda's father. The letter states that Wanda and her family have moved to a big city, where no one will make fun of their "funny" name or their poverty. This news shocks the entire class, especially **Peggy** and **Maddie**.

Maddie feels an overwhelming sense of guilt and remorse. She can't sleep and keeps thinking about Wanda, realizing how badly they had treated her. She feels terrible for standing by and not saying anything, equating her silence to being as bad as Peggy's teasing. Maddie decides that she must find Wanda and apologize.

Peggy, initially less affected, also starts to feel bad, admitting that she never intended to hurt Wanda's feelings. Together, Peggy and Maddie decide to go to Boggins Heights to find Wanda's house and apologize. They go after school, but they find the small, shanty house empty and deserted. It's clear the Petronskis have moved away.

On their way back, Peggy suggests that Wanda must have known they were making fun of her because otherwise, she wouldn't have left. Maddie, however, is consumed by her regret. She thinks about what she could have done to stand up for Wanda and vows never again to be silent when she sees someone being treated unfairly. She decides that if she ever finds someone being teased, she will speak up, even if it means losing Peggy's friendship.

Before the Christmas holidays, Miss Mason reads another letter from Wanda. In this letter, Wanda expresses her appreciation for her old school and gifts two of her drawings to the girls. She tells Miss Mason that Peggy can have the green dress with the red trimming, and Maddie can have the blue one. The girls eagerly go to collect their drawings.

When Peggy and Maddie look at their respective drawings, they are astonished. Peggy discovers that the face in her green dress drawing is actually a sketch of **herself**, and Maddie finds that the face in her blue dress drawing is a sketch of **her own face**. This final revelation brings tears to Maddie's eyes. They realize that Wanda, despite being teased, had a generous and forgiving heart and had immortalized them in her art. This act of kindness from Wanda deeply touches Peggy and Maddie, solidifying their understanding of Wanda's true character and the profound impact of their past actions.

Wanda's drawings of the two girls, revealed.

Main Characters

Key Themes

Textbook Questions and Answers

I. Oral Comprehension Check (Page 74)

  1. What did Mr. Petronski’s letter say?

    Mr. Petronski's letter said that Wanda would not come to school anymore because they had moved to a big city. He stated that in the new city, nobody would make fun of their funny name or their poverty.

  2. Is Miss Mason angry with the class? Or is she unhappy and upset?

    Miss Mason is not angry with the class, but rather unhappy and upset. Her tone is serious, and she expresses her disappointment that no one thought about the teasing or spoke up against it. She feels responsible for not preventing the situation.

  3. How did Maddie feel after listening to the note from Wanda’s father?

    After listening to the note, Maddie felt very bad and sick to her stomach. She felt a deep sense of guilt and shame for her silence and for not standing up for Wanda, realizing the extent of the hurt they had caused.

  4. What did Maddie and Peggy do on Saturday?

    On Saturday, Maddie and Peggy decided to go to Boggins Heights to find Wanda's house and apologize to her in person. They hoped to tell her that they thought she was wonderful and to ask her not to move away.

II. Oral Comprehension Check (Page 77)

  1. What did the girls write in the letter to Wanda?

    In the letter to Wanda, the girls wrote a friendly note. They wrote that she won the drawing contest and how pretty her drawings were. They asked her if she liked her new school and her new teacher. They also expressed their desire to meet her, hoping she was doing well.

  2. What did they receive in reply?

    They received a letter from Wanda, sent via Miss Mason. In her letter, Wanda wished everyone Merry Christmas and stated that she was giving the green dress drawing to Peggy and the blue dress drawing to Maddie. She also mentioned that she had a hundred new dresses in her new house.

  3. How did the girls know that Wanda liked them even though they had teased her?

    The girls knew that Wanda liked them even though they had teased her because when they closely examined the drawings she gifted them, they realized that the faces in the drawings were their own – Peggy's face in the green dress and Maddie's face in the blue dress. This act of kindness and thoughtfulness showed that Wanda held no grudges and cherished them.

III. Thinking about the Text (Page 78)

  1. What important decision did Maddie make? Why?

    Maddie made the important decision that she would never again stand by silently when she witnessed someone being treated unfairly or teased. She would speak up for what is right, even if it meant losing Peggy's friendship or facing similar ridicule herself. She made this decision because she felt immense guilt and remorse for not having spoken up for Wanda and realized the pain her silence had caused.

  2. What did Miss Mason think of Wanda’s drawings?

    Miss Mason thought very highly of Wanda's drawings. She called them "exquisite" and stated that any single one of the hundred drawings was worthy of the prize. She recognized Wanda as a truly talented artist.

  3. Why do you think Wanda’s family moved to a different city?

    Wanda's family moved to a different city primarily to escape the prejudice and teasing Wanda faced due to her name and poverty. Her father's letter explicitly stated that in the new city, they would not be targeted for being different, implying they sought a more accepting environment.

  4. Do you think the girls were sorry for their behavior? What do their actions tell you?

    Yes, both Peggy and Maddie were genuinely sorry for their behavior. Their actions tell us this: Maddie felt sick and couldn't sleep, constantly thinking about Wanda. Both girls made the effort to go to Boggins Heights to apologize. They wrote a friendly letter to Wanda. Finally, their emotional reaction (Maddie crying) upon seeing their own faces in Wanda's gifted drawings confirms their deep regret and a profound realization of Wanda's kind nature despite their unkindness.



(Uses browser's print-to-PDF function. Appearance may vary.)