Splendor in the Grass - Unspoken Worries Between Mother and Daughter
Mrs. Loomis:
What's been the matter the past few days?
Deanie:
I'm sorry I've troubled you. I don't want to worry you. I don't want to worry anyone.
Mrs. Loomis:
Is it all on account of...because of Bud? Because he doesn't call for you anymore?
Deanie:
I don't know. I don't know, Mom.
Deanie:
Don't you dare! Don't you dare, Mom! Don't you dare! Don't you dare!...No, Mom! Momma, if you do something like that, I'll do something desperate! I will, I will, Mom! I will!
Mrs. Loomis:
Deanie, how serious had you and Bud become? I mean, well, you know what I mean. Deanie - had he - had anything serious happened? Did he - did he spoil you?
Deanie:
Spoil??? Did he spoil me? No. No, Mom! I'm not spoiled! I'm not spoiled, Mom! I'm just as fresh and I'm virginal like the day I was born, Mom!
Mrs. Loomis:
Stop it! Stop it!
Deanie:
I'm a lovely virginal creature who wouldn't think of being spoiled! I've been a good little girl, Mom! I've been a good little, good little, good little girl! I've always done everything Daddy and Mommy tell me. I've obeyed every word. I hate you, I hate you, I HATE YOU!
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Splendor in the Grass - A Mother's Concern for Her Daughter's Reputation
Mrs. Loomis:
What were you and Bud doing all this time, for Heaven's sake?
Deanie: [''Awkward, suspicious pause.'']
We were stu—udying together. I'm going to bed, Mom; I'm awful tired.
Mrs. Loomis:
Deanie. Now, Wilma Dean.
Mrs. Loomis:
Deanie. I want to talk to you. Now, Wilma Dean, Bud Stamper could get you into a whole lot of trouble—and you know how I mean. Boys don't respect a girl they can go all the way with: boys want a nice girl for a wife. Wilma Dean, you and Bud haven't gone too far already, have you?
Deanie:
No, Mother.
Mrs. Loomis:
Tell me the truth, Wilma Dean.
Deanie:
No, Mom; we haven't gone too far.
Mrs. Loomis:
That's a relief.
Deanie:
Mom.
Mrs. Loomis:
Mhm?
Deanie:
Is it so terrible to have those feelings about a boy?
Mrs. Loomis:
No nice girl does.
Deanie:
Doesn't she?
Mrs. Loomis:
No. No nice girl.
Deanie:
But, Mom, didn't—didn't you ever—well, I mean didn't you ever feel that way about Dad?
Mrs. Loomis: [Deanie stands with her back toward her mother]
Your father never laid a hand on me until we were married. And, then, I—I just gave in because a wife has to. A woman doesn't enjoy those things the way a man does. She just lets her husband come near her in order to have children. Deanie, what's troubling you?
Deanie:
Oh, nothing, Mom.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Splendor in the Grass - The Uncertainty of Life and Upbringing
Mrs. Loomis:
You know, it would be nice if children could be born into this world with an absolute guarantee that they were going to have just the right kind of bringing up and all lead happy, normal lives. Well, I guess when we get born, we just all have to take our chances.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.