More Orphans

We seem to have orphans on the brain. Louise and I have been reading a novel based on the screenplay of Annie (as in Little Orphan Annie). It's not really a kid's book. The chapters are endless, the words are difficult, the description is copious, the historical references are oblique. Nonetheless, Anna begs for it, gets mad at me if I only read one chapter (20 dense pages), and seems to understand every word. I wonder how she does. But it's clear that she does.

I'm a bit concerned about Asp and Punjab, the "Oriental" and "nine-foot Indian", respectively. Even in these early chapters, they seem like little more than racist caricatures. And it's not like their nationalities are important to the story (except in their stereotypical roles as guards). And, honestly, I'm not crazy about Warbucks, so far the ruthless capitalist, as our hero, even if, as the foreshadowing seems to portend, he saves Europe from evil.

Meanwhile, in the car on the way home from Acting, we were talking about all the little orphan girls we've read about. Pollyanna and Anne of Green Gables, Mary Lennox and Annie. Louise was interested in the fact that each has a stern, gruff character who has the most power in the story, a friend in the house who helps her, but isn't as powerful, and then a kid-friend.