First Flight – Chapter 11: The Hundred Dresses – II

About the Author: Eleanor Estes was an American children's author and illustrator, known for her books about growing up in a small town.

Summary: This is the continuation of the story of Wanda Petronski. After Wanda's family moved away, the girls discovered that she had indeed drawn a hundred beautiful dresses for the drawing contest — each one unique and exquisite. Peggy and Maddie felt terrible for having teased her. They wrote a letter to Wanda, apologizing for their behaviour. They also asked her if she liked the drawing contest. Wanda's father responded that Wanda had received the letter but would not be coming back to school. Later, Maddie noticed that Wanda had drawn her and Peggy in her dress designs — the heads of the drawings were their faces. This made Maddie realize that Wanda had forgiven them and had not been angry. The story ends with Maddie promising herself never to stand by silently when someone is being bullied. The story teaches lessons about empathy, regret, and forgiveness.

Wanda Petronski: Wanda was a talented and creative girl who expressed her dreams through her beautiful dress designs. Despite being teased for claiming to have a hundred dresses, she proved her claim by drawing a hundred exquisite dresses. She showed great maturity and forgiveness by including Peggy and Maddie's faces in her drawings. She did not hold a grudge against her bullies and moved away with dignity.

Maddie: Maddie felt guilty for not stopping Peggy from teasing Wanda. She wrote a letter of apology to Wanda and was deeply moved to see that Wanda had drawn her face in the dress designs. She realized that she had also hurt Wanda by her silence. She decided never to stand by silently when someone was being bullied, even if it meant losing a friend. Her character shows growth and change.

Peggy: Peggy felt guilty after realizing that Wanda had actually drawn a hundred beautiful dresses. She was not a cruel person; she just did not understand the pain she was causing. She joined Maddie in writing a letter of apology to Wanda. She did not intend to be mean, but she learned that even "harmless" teasing can hurt others.

Answer: When the girls went to Wanda's house, they found it empty. The Petronski family had already moved away to the big city. The house was bare, and no one was there.

Answer: After they found that Wanda had moved away, Peggy and Maddie decided to write a letter to Wanda apologizing for their behaviour. They wanted to tell her that they were sorry for teasing her and that they admired her beautiful dress designs.

Answer: Maddie noticed that the heads of the drawings in the dress designs looked like her and Peggy. Wanda had painted their faces on the drawings of two of the dresses. This showed that Wanda had forgiven them and had remembered them fondly.

Answer: At the end of the story, Maddie learned that she should never stand by silently while someone is being bullied. She decided that even if it meant losing a friend like Peggy, she would speak up against teasing and injustice. She promised herself that she would not be a silent bystander ever again.

Answer: Peggy and Maddie wrote a letter to Wanda because they felt guilty for teasing her. They wanted to tell her that they were sorry for their behaviour. They also wanted to tell her that they thought her dress designs were beautiful and that she had won the drawing contest. They wanted to apologize and show that they admired her talent.

Answer: Wanda's letter said that she and her family had moved to a big city. She said that she missed the school and her teacher. She also said that she hoped the girls would keep the dresses she had drawn. The letter made Peggy and Maddie feel even more guilty because Wanda was so kind and forgiving. She did not mention the teasing at all.

Answer: Maddie felt deeply moved and emotional after seeing that Wanda had drawn her face in the dress designs. She realized that Wanda had forgiven her and Peggy. She understood that Wanda had not been angry; instead, she had remembered them fondly. This made Maddie feel both happy and guilty. She decided to never be a silent bystander again.

Answer:
(i) She wore an embellished gown decorated with sequins.
(ii) He exaggerated the story to make it more interesting.
(iii) Spending money on luxury items during a crisis is frivolous.
(iv) I was dismayed to see the damage caused by the storm.

Exquisite: extremely beautiful and delicate
Dismayed: feeling distress or disappointment
Embellished: decorated or enhanced
Exaggerated: represented as greater than it actually is
Frivolous: not having any serious purpose
Contempt: the feeling that something is worthless
Regret: a feeling of sadness about something wrong done
Forgiveness: the action of forgiving someone
Bystander: a person who is present but not involved
Empathy: the ability to understand another's feelings
Apology: a regretful acknowledgement of an offence
Remorse: deep regret for a wrong committed

Answer:
(i) Peggy felt sorry because she realized that Wanda was actually a talented artist and that her teasing was wrong.
(ii) Maddie felt worse because she had not done anything to stop the teasing, even though she knew it was wrong.
(iii) This reveals that both girls have a conscience and feel guilty about their actions. It shows that they are not cruel by nature and are capable of change.

Answer:
(i) Maddie felt sorry for Wanda because she was also poor and wore hand-me-down clothes. She could relate to Wanda's situation.
(ii) Maddie was poor. We know this because she wore hand-me-down clothes and could not afford new dresses.
(iii) This reveals that Maddie is empathetic and humble. She understands the pain of being poor because she shares the same experience.

Answer: Wanda proved that she truly had a hundred dresses by drawing a hundred beautiful and unique dress designs for the drawing contest. Each design was different, exquisite, and colourful. The drawings were displayed all over the classroom, and everyone could see her talent. Her claim was not a lie but a reflection of her dreams and creativity.

Answer: The story teaches that bullying, even if not intended to be cruel, can cause deep pain to the victim. Wanda was hurt by the teasing but never complained. The story also teaches forgiveness — Wanda forgave her bullies and even drew their faces in her designs. It shows that it is never too late to apologize and that those who bully can learn from their mistakes. The story also highlights the importance of speaking up against injustice.

Answer: Maddie promised herself that she would never stand by silently while someone was being teased or bullied. She decided that even if it meant losing a friend like Peggy, she would speak up against injustice. This promise was significant because it showed her growth from a passive bystander to someone who takes a stand. It reflects the importance of courage and empathy in stopping bullying.