Free Nobody's Family is Going to Change by Louise Fitzhugh Page B

The committee informed the Bonifaces that they would contact the Institute of Foreign Exchange, which arranged for the boy’s visa, unless the Bonifaces agreed voluntarily to send the boy back to Italy. Mr. Boniface said thathis daughter was lying. It was the opinion of this committee, having known and worked with Mary Ann Boniface, that she was not a liar. We told the Bonifaces the facts, brought the Italian student into it, and talked to him until he finally admitted that he thought all American girls were that way, from American movies, and that he thought she would think he wasn’t a man if he didn’t do this. He finally came to understand that this kind of behavior not only was not required of him but was definitely not wanted by Mary Ann and was, in fact, making her hate him. Mary Ann then agreed that if he changed and stopped all that nonsense, he could stay on. The Bonifaces were told that they should know that among her friends Mary Ann has never been known to lie.”
    Another roar of applause went up. Emma was stunned by it all. These people acted as if they had been doing this for a hundred years, and doing it well.
    â€œHow long has this Army been in existence?” she whispered to Cathy.
    â€œFive years. It started when Harrison Carter was eleven. He’s sixteen now.”
    â€œReporting for Committee 3 is Sissy Hendriks.”
    Sissy Hendriks was small and ratty-looking, with a speech impediment.
    â€œCommittee 3 had bad luck. We went to the home of Jimmy Madden, one of our members, whose father is a down-and-out punch-drunk prize fighter by the name of Mad Dog Madden. Mr. Madden was not in the leastinterested in what we had to say and simply tried to beat up all twelve of us. He has beaten up Jimmy for years, so that Jimmy stutters badly and his left arm doesn’t work very well, because years ago Mr. Madden broke it. It was never set properly, and healed crooked.
    â€œJimmy is fifteen. Next year he can get a job and move away. He wants to continue with his schooling, but living with Mad Dog and being afraid is making him unable to concentrate on his schoolwork. Arrangements have been made to have Jimmy live in the home of another of our members, Jake Matthews. Mrs. Matthews runs a dry-goods store, she likes kids, and she can use Jimmy’s help in the store after school. The twelve committee members were treated for bruises and cuts at Saint Vincent’s Hospital, after Mr. Madden tried to throw all of us down the steps. Mr. Madden’s only response to Jimmy’s moving out was: ‘Good riddance.’ I say good riddance to Mr. Madden and to all parents like him!”
    Sissy Hendriks raised her hand in the power salute and brought down the house. The noise was deafening. Harrison Carter had to beat his sticks together for several minutes to get everyone quiet.
    â€œTime is up. Each brigade will gather complaints and bring them up here. Until next week then. Welcome to our new members. Children First!” Harrison also gave the salute, and there was more applause as he jumped down.
    â€œI’m handing in the ones we have. Do any of you new members have any complaints?”
    Ketchum looked as if she’d swallowed a toad. “I’ll have to think about this,” said Saunders, borrowing Emma’s line and looking vastly important. Goldin nodded as though Saunders spoke for her too.
    â€œI . . .” Emma began.
    â€œYes?” asked Cathy.
    â€œIs any kind of complaint valid?” asked Emma.
    â€œYes. I mean, if you want the wallpaper in your room changed, or something, the committee takes a dim view of that. In general, the children who qualify are being hurt, either now or in the future, by something the parents are doing.”
    Emma looked uncertain.
    â€œWant to think about it?” asked Cathy.
    Emma nodded gratefully.
    â€œSome of our members never hand in complaints. You know, you don’t have to. It’s just that