Chapter Sketch
In the second part of the story, Wanda leaves the school without any prior information. She does not even attend the school when she was being announced a winner of the drawing contest. Her father writes a letter to Miss Mason about the reason. The students feel ashamed for their behaviour especially Peggy and Maddie. They both realise their mistake and write a letter to Wanda in a friendly manner. Wanda replies and requests Miss Mason to give her two drawings to Peggy and Maddie.
About the Characters
Wanda Petronski
A poor Polish girl with a funny name, wears same blue dress always, boasts of having a hundred dresses.
Peggy
Always teases Wanda, creates a game to ask Wanda about dresses, different from others, never made Wanda cry by teasing, the most popular and pretty girl in the school.
Maddie
Always teases Wanda, does not want others to tease her, a very close friend of Peggy, a poor girl but never boasts like Wanda.
Miss Mason
Their class teacher, who helps the students and supports them.
Mr Petronski
Wanda’s father who wrote the letter to Miss Mason about Wanda’s absence in the school.
Summary of the Chapter
Letter to Miss Mason from Wanda’s Father
When everybody was praising Wanda’s art and drawings of a hundred dresses drawn by her, a notice from the principal came. Everybody was asked to assemble. Miss Mason announced that she had a letter from Wanda’s father and she would read it loudly before the class.
Miss Mason Reads the Letter
Miss Mason read the letter in which Mr Petronski, Wanda’s father, told about Wanda’s absence and informed that she was leaving the school because she was fed up of all the bullying that was going on. He informed that his family was going to settle in a big city, where people are not going to laugh or tease them for their name which everyone considered funny.
Miss Mason’s Reaction to the Letter
When Miss Mason finished the letter, she understood the matter and asked everyone not to hurt anyone’s feelings due to his or her name. She asked them to think about this matter. As Mr Petronski hadn’t blamed anyone, the students of the class felt ashamed.
Peggy and Maddie’s Reaction
When Miss Mason left the class, everybody was silent and feeling ashamed of their behaviour towards Wanda. Though Wanda’s father hadn’t blamed them but Peggy and Maddie were guilty of their behaviour. Maddie was very upset though she never teased Wanda directly. She remained a silent sjigtator and never stopped Peggy. Peggy who teased Wanda everytime also felt ashamed and both of them decided to go to her home to seek forgiveness.
Repentance of Peggy and Maddie
After the school was over, both Peggy and Maddie went to Wanda’s house at Boggins Heights. Peggy still believed that she hadn’t done any harm but Wanda had taken it otherwise. Wanda’s house had a worn-down look but was neat and clean just like her faded blue dress. But the family had already left. Maddie was very upset and felt that she would never be able to express her gratitude to Wanda.
A Friendly Letter to Wanda from Peggy and Maddie
Peggy tried to defend herself although she felt sorry for her behaviour. She said if she hadn’t teased Wanda about her hundred dresses, she would not have got such an idea to draw the dresses and won the contest. But Maddie decided that she would never be silent and oppose others against teasing anyone even if she had to loose her friend. They wrote a letter, telling Wanda about the result of drawing competition. They meant to ask forgiveness for their rude and mean behaviour by doing so.
Wanda’s Reply
Maddie and Peggy waited long for Wanda’s reply to their friendly letter. After few months, they got the reply addressed to Miss Mason. She asked Miss Mason to give the drawing of the green dress to Peggy and the blue one to Maddie. She told her that she had joined a new school but missed her old school and her teacher. _tddie ran through thoughts about the events and pinned the dress on her wall. She could see her face in iat dress. She ran over to Peggy’s home and they both looked at the green dress with red trimming so that they could see Peggy’s face in it. Maddie started to cry remembering all the insulting statements she passed for Wanda. Peggy consoled her.