Summary

Claude attends the first day of kindergarten wearing Carmelo’s purse instead of a dress, because he spilled on his princess dress. At the end of the day, Claude’s teacher, Miss Appleton, tells Rosie that Claude had to eat lunch alone because he violated the school’s rules by bringing a peanut butter sandwich. She also mentions that Claude had been “bragging to his friends about how ladies who lunch, lunch on finger sandwiches” (52), and that his purse distracted other children.

The next day, Claude wears a makeshift dress and rainbow barrettes to school. The rest of his family cautions that this is not a boy’s outfit, except for the oldest brother, Roo, who remarks that Claude might not be a boy. He is rebuked by Rosie, who then wonders what Claude could be if...