The Hundred Dresses

The class enters the classroom and is shocked to see many beautiful drawings of dresses pinned around the room. Their teacher, Miss Mason, explains that Wanda drew 100 dresses, and that she is the clear winner of the contest. The class is allowed to view the drawings; Peggy and Maddie recognize some of the dresses that Wanda described in the school yard. Pages 42-43 comprise an illustration depicting the covered classroom, with dozens of colorful, detailed dresses.

Miss Mason reads a letter aloud to the class from Wanda’s father, Jan Petronski, which explains that the family has chosen to move to the city due to the town’s discrimination: “No more holler Polack. No more ask why funny name. Plenty of funny names in the big city” (47).

Miss Mason sternly tells the class that she hopes no one was cruel to Wanda. Maddie struggles to concentrate on her studies, as she feels extremely guilty for not intervening in Peggy’s mockery of Wanda. She wants to see Wanda after school, to tell her that she won the contest. Maddie is surprised and happy when Peggy suggests going to Boggins Heights to see Wanda, and thinks Peggy is a good person after all.