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Little Q.T. was staring hard at the sailboat and you could see he wanted it bad. But he too little and somebody’d just take it from him. So what the hell. “This boat for kids, Miss Moore?”

These lines come from Sylvia as the kids are in the toy store discussing the toy boats they have owned in the past, and she sees Little Q.T. still staring at the expensive one on display. Sylvia senses that Little Q.T. really likes the toy boat. Aside from the fact that the kids could never afford such an extravagant toy, Sylvia remarks that Little Q.T. could never own the boat without someone stealing it from him because experience has taught her that a small, poor kid like Little Q.T. has little strength and therefore very little power.

Miss Moore is besides herself and I am disgusted with Sugar’s treachery. So I stand on her foot one more time to see if she’ll shove me. She shuts up, and Miss Moore looks at me, sorrowfully I’m thinkin. And somethin weird is goin on, I can feel it in my chest.

This quote comes during the climax of the story, when Miss Moore is asking the children to reflect on their experience at the toy store. Sugar has offered an answer, which demonstrates her inner growth, even as a surprised Sylvia tries to silence her by stepping on her foot. Sylvia feels like Sugar’s persistence is a betrayal because the two are supposed to be united against Miss Moore, but Sugar has begun to recognize the truth of the lessons Miss Moore is imparting.

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