The Mighty Miss Malone

“We are a family on a journey to a place called Wonderful.”

Deza includes her family’s motto in her essay for the end of the school year. The motto (and the fact that Deza shares it with her teacher) represents the closeness between the members of Deza’s family. She details more of each member’s traits in the essay, and it is clear that Deza thinks of them as a tight-knit and happy group.

“Some poor people do live in the park. They sleep in huts and tents in the woods. We should give human beings first choice to see if they want this pie.”

Deza decides the woman who baked the excellent apple pie should not have to accept back a pie a dog touched. So that the pie does not go to waste, Deza thinks that giving it to a poor person in the park is best. This line is significant in its foreshadowing and in its display of relative wealth in Deza’s eyes: The Malones are far from wealthy, but she understands they have far more than the homeless who live in cardboard huts in the park.

“Deza, you’re a good girl. Next time, think things through.”

Dr. Bracy offers this advice to Deza when Deza takes a portion of the apple pie slice in a napkin, intending to give it to someone (her choice is not clear). Dr. Bracy tells Deza to give it to Clarice, whom Deza talked about as they chatted over pie, and not to Jimmie, as she is trying to teach Jimmie that thieves never win.