Fudge-a-Mania

Peter finds out from Mrs. A that Big Apfel will be away on a fishing trip for the next few days and that next Sunday’s game will be cancelled due to an antique show. Horribly disappointed, he goes home to tell his family the bad news. Fudge is relieved, because he wants to get his own “mitt-sy” before the first big game. The next day, Mitzi comes over and proudly tells Fudge she can read, showing him a book called “Tell Me a Mitzi” (69). Fudge claims to be able to read as well, but Peter isn’t sure if that’s quite true or not.

When their father takes them out to the local shops to get Fudge his new baseball glove, Fudge then asks to stop at the library. He asks the librarian for a book called “Tell Me a Fudge” (73), and Peter nearly chokes. The librarian looks up the book but doesn’t find anything by that title, and Fudge breaks down in tears, which leads to a full tantrum. The librarian, Isobel (Izzy for short), who is about 16, helps Fudge calm down by suggesting that he and Peter could write a book about him themselves. Peter starts thinking about Isobel’s skin and imagining himself deserted on an island with her. Isobel asks Peter if he wants to check out the baseball book he’s holding, but Peter panics and leaves. Afterward, he feels light and airy. That night, Peter lies in bed thinking about Isobel and staring into his Kreskin’s Crystal, hoping Isobel is thinking of him too. Fudge interrupts him, asking to start his book, and comes up with the title for Chapter 1: “How Turtle Got His Name” (78). After that, Peter goes back to thinking about Isobel. To his disappointment, he dreams about Sheila instead.

Sheila gets a phone call from her friend, who regretfully tells her she is sick with chicken pox and can’t come to Maine. Sheila gets off the phone and starts crying, wailing about how everything happens to her and accusing Peter of laughing at her misfortune. Grandma comforts Sheila and reminds her that sometimes bad things happen. When Tootsie flings oatmeal at Sheila’s face, Sheila has had enough and runs out of the room.

Later, Peter and his mom prepare for Jimmy’s arrival by moving Fudge into Grandma’s room. Grandma is happy to have him and welcomes the extra company. Fudge asks Grandma if she still snores, adding that “snoring keeps the monsters away” (82). He clarifies that when he gets married, there won’t be any more monsters in his room. In fact, that’s his entire reason for wanting to marry Sheila. Peter recommends Fudge talk to Mitzi, who carries a special monster spray. Moments later, Fudge jumps on his rollout bed too hard and it collapses.

Later, Fudge tells Buzzy Senior about his experience with the bed and asks Buzzy if he snores. Buzzy admits that since he sleeps alone these days, he isn’t sure; Fudge’s solution is to recommend that Buzzy sleep with Grandma, which shocks his mother and makes Peter laugh. Buzzy and Grandma have been spending time together over the trip, and Fudge seems to have noticed their connection.

Sheila and her family go out to visit a nearby town and do some shopping, and Peter is relieved that they won’t be around when Jimmy arrives. Jimmy and his father come to the house soon after, and Peter is excited to see his friend. Jimmy says hello to everyone, including Uncle Feather. Sheila and her family arrive next and explain to Jimmy that the house is shared. He seems shocked at first, but when he sees Sheila’s dog, he instantly melts. His father, Mr. Fargo, brings in the luggage and announces that he plans to stay. Peter’s mom looks horrified, but the couch is offered as the last available bed, and Mr. Fargo seems satisfied. Later that evening, Jimmy apologizes for his father’s unannounced stay, noting how embarrassed he feels. Peter apologizes for not warning Jimmy about Sheila and her family being in the same house. Both boys resolve to make the most of the situation. Just as they head off to sleep, Fudge appears in the doorway, and Peter has to take him back to his bed.

Peter and Jimmy wake up the next morning and head downstairs for breakfast, where everyone is already gathered. Fudge starts giving Jimmy all of the details about everyone, including how close Grandma and Buzzy Senior are, the fact that Libby works at the ice cream shop, and how Peter got “dizzy for Izzy” when they went to the library the other day (96). Sheila starts teasing Peter and singing the line over and over again, and Jimmy briefly joins in the teasing. Peter reacts with his usual defensiveness and irritation and doesn’t understand why Jimmy is suddenly being so friendly with Sheila. Sheila suggests biking down to the library to see Isobel and lends Jimmy one of her family’s bikes. On the bike ride, Peter becomes angry and jealous and bikes ahead of the others. Along the way, he accidentally swallows a fly. Sheila suggests taking Peter to Bicycle Bob, the man who owns the bicycle shop in town. Bob welcomes Peter to the “I.S.A.F. Club”—“The I Swallowed a Fly Club” (102). He suggests that Peter get some ice cream to wash it down. Afterward, the kids bike to the library, but Isobel isn’t working. At dinner that night, Fudge hears about Peter swallowing a fly and recalls the time he swallowed Peter’s pet turtle. This enrages Peter, for whom the memory is not a funny event, and he dumps his juice on Fudge.