Summary

Chapter 3: Clifford

Clifford’s mother complains about living in California. The family had moved there for her husband’s health, which was continuing to fail. She hates the heat and thinks that they might as well be living in Hades. The grass is brown, and there is no breeze. Although the Pacific Ocean is not far away, there is no sign of the tropical lifestyle for which she had hoped. On top of that, the weather had not improved her husband’s health. Since his stroke, he is in a state between life and death.

Clifford works hard to entertain his mother and to lighten her somber moods. He does this by creating drawings among other things.

She says:

“You have scads more talent, beyond any other

Kid I’ve ever seen, and I’m not just your mother.

I’m a good...