Moo: A Novel

“Mrs. Falala’s Plan” is a prose piece revealing Mrs. Falala’s motivation for having Reena and Luke help at her home: She wants Reena to start showing Zora at local fairs. Reena has never heard of this kind of event. Her only point of reference is a carnival, but Mrs. Falala is insulted by this comparison. She tells Reena that, with practice, she will get better at managing Zora. Mrs. Falala says that Zora does not like Reena and Luke yet because they are strangers. She suggests that they introduce themselves, which Luke takes literally. Zora is obstinate and uninterested in getting to know the children. They return to the gate without her. Paulie, Mrs. Falala’s pig, runs by and knocks Luke down. When his notebook falls from his bag, Mrs. Falala takes it and marvels at Luke’s drawings. She sees the children looking fearfully at the snake slithering along the roof, and she tells them that “Edna” is useful for eating up mice.