Second First Impressions

“The knowledge that my cuddle-bug soul mate might be just there under that particular streetlight star, but I’m too chicken to go find him, makes my heart feel like a toothache. If I don’t attend to it soon, it may have to be pulled out altogether.”

This passage uses a simile to articulate Ruthie’s deep-seated loneliness and the painful awareness of her self-imposed isolation. Comparing her heart to a “toothache” conveys a persistent, low-grade pain that requires decisive action to resolve, foreshadowing her eventual need for change. The quote directly establishes the novel’s central theme, Embracing Risk to Escape Self-Imposed Limits, by framing her inaction not as contentment but as a fearful response that will lead to greater loss.

“Position Vacant. Two ancient old women residing at Providence Retirement Villa seek male assistant for casual exploitation and good-natured humiliation.”

The verbatim text of the Parloni sisters’ preferred job advertisement serves as an efficient tool for characterization, immediately establishing their eccentric, confrontational, and humorous personalities. The diction, particularly “exploitation” and “humiliation,” sets them up as agents of chaos who enjoy subverting social norms. This ad functions as an inciting incident for Teddy’s storyline at Providence and introduces the theme of The Unreliability of First Impressions, as the sisters’ abrasive public persona belies their private vulnerabilities.

“When he straightens to full height, he’s obviously surprised. After a beat, he lets out a big joyful howl. Up at the sky, he yells at full volume, ‘Oh my God, you look absolutely amazing!’ […] ‘Are you going as one of the Golden Girls?’”

This scene explores the theme of The Unreliability of First Impressions. Teddy’s genuine but mistaken belief that Ruthie’s conservative attire is an elaborate costume creates dramatic