Summer of the Monkeys

“With that monkey running around in your head, you’d probably forget half the things I need.”

Mama says this to Jay Berry after he discovers the first monkey in the river bottoms near their home. Her tone suggests that her character is no-nonsense, as she is more focused on daily needs and Jay Berry’s errand to the store than the curious possibility of a wild monkey in the Ozarks. Her attitude toward the monkey echoes Papa’s, who tells Jay Berry he must get the fields planted no matter how many monkeys happen to appear, and contrasts with Jay Berry’s excitement. His parents’ indifferent reactions to the monkeys establishes that the conflict of their capture belongs primarily to Jay Berry.

“That’s the most important monkey of the whole works. He’s worth his weight in gold. They’re offering a hundred dollar reward for him.”

Grandpa’s line about the prize for catching and returning the escaped circus monkeys adds to Jay Berry’s excitement. The reward money raises the stakes; if Jay Berry can capture the monkeys, especially the big one (who is a chimpanzee, not a monkey), he can get the .22 rifle and pony he covets. The line also demonstrates Grandpa’s use of hyperbole with the phrase “weight in gold,” and characterizes Grandpa as expressive, fun, and a little dramatic.