Mr Stink

“‘Mr. Stink?’ ‘Yes, well, I thought his dog looked hungry and I wanted to bring her a sausage or two.’ It was a lie, but not a big one. ‘Well, I suppose there isn’t any harm in giving his poor dog a bit of food,’ said Dad. ‘Just this once though, you understand?’”

Chloe asks her dad, the more understanding of her parents, if she can bring Mr. Stink’s dog some sausages. Chloe hides the fact that Mr. Stink actually requested the sausages for himself, since she isn’t allowed to speak to unhoused people. This passage shows Chloe’s kind and thoughtful nature, as she goes out of her way to provide for Mr. Stink. By characterizing Chloe as a generous person and explaining how she manages to feed Mr. Stink, this quotation begins the book’s theme on The Power of Kindness and Generosity.

“‘So, young Chloe, is everything fine at home?’ asked Mr. Stink, as he let Duchess lick his fingers clean of any remnants of sausage juice. ‘I’m sorry?’ replied a befuddled Chloe. ‘I asked if everything was fine at home. If things were tickety-boo I am not sure you would be spending your Saturday talking to an old vagabond like me.’”

In this passage Mr. Stink wonders why Chloe is spending time with him instead of her family. This conversation reveals that Mr. Stink does not simply want help from Chloe, but is also an insightful and sensitive friend to her who sympathizes with her sadness and loneliness.

“Chloe sat down on the edge of her bed. As she buried her face in her hands, she thought of Mr. Stink, sitting on his bench with only the Duchess for company. She wasn’t homeless like him, but she felt homeless in her heart.”

This passage emphasizes the connection between Chloe and Mr. Stink. Despite their very different material circumstances, both characters feel socially excluded, Mr. Stink from the town in general, and Chloe from her family and her social circle at school. By highlighting how Chloe and Mr. Stink are suffering from the same sadness, this quotation suggests that the two will deepen their friendship.

“For someone who spent every day with only a little black dog for company, he was surprisingly full of wisdom. In fact, he seemed to relish the opportunity to listen and talk and help. People didn’t really stop to talk to Mr. Stink—and he seemed pleased to be having a proper conversation for once.”

While sharing her troubles with Mr. Stink, Chloe realizes that he is a caring listener and is full of wisdom about how she can resolve her problems. This passage adds to the book’s theme on The Harmful Stigma Against Poverty by emphasizing how Mr. Stink’s status as an unhoused person means that he has few social connections with others in the town.

“‘Well, then they are as vile as you,’ said Mr. Stink. ‘What?’ said Rosamund. She wasn’t used to being talked to like that. ‘I said, then they are as vile as you,’ he repeated, even louder this time. ‘You are a nasty little bully.’”

Mr. Stink passionately defends Chloe against her bully, Rosamund. This passage shows Mr. Stink’s commitment to Chloe, which helps her feel safe and builds her self-esteem. This quotation adds to the story’s theme on The Power of Kindness and Generosity, as Mr. Stink’s kindness makes a dramatic difference in Chloe’s life.

“What about my new friend Mr. Stink? Chloe thought. What’s going to happen to him? And what about the Duchess? If he is banned from the streets where on earth is he going to go?”

Chloe worries for Mr. Stink when she learns that her politician mother wants to ban unhoused people from being in their town’s public spaces. This passage affirms Chloe’s compassion for Mr. Stink and his dog, as well as other unhoused people in their community.

“Was he an astronaut who had fallen to earth and, in the shock, lost his memory? Or perhaps he was a convict who had escaped from prison after serving thirty years for a crime he didn’t commit? Or, even better, a modern-day pirate who had been forced by his comrades to walk the plank into shark infested waters, but against all the odds had swum to safety?”

Chloe’s burning curiosity about Mr. Stink prompts questions about where he really did come from, and what led him to become unhoused. This quotation adds to the story’s theme on the Individual Experiences of Unhoused People by highlighting that Mr. Stink could have had myriad experiences before experiencing homelessness.

“‘A whole load of us got made redundant two weeks ago. No one is buying new cars right now. It’s the recession, I suppose.’ ‘Yes, but why are you hiding?’ ‘I’m too frightened to tell your mother. She’ll divorce me if she finds out. Please, I beg you, don’t tell her.’”

In this passage, Mr. Crumb hides in the closet so he can pretend he is at work and not upset his wife by revealing that he is lost his job. This humorous scene shows the pressure that Chloe faces at home with a demanding mother and troubled father. This passage makes Chloe a sympathetic character who is trying to juggle her parental expectations while hiding a secret of her own.

“Chloe could hear her heart beating. Was this the moment that would seal her doom forever? Would she be made to eat only cabbage for every meal from now on? Or be sent to bed before she’d even got up? Or be grounded for the rest of her life?”

When Chloe’s dad goes into the shed, Chloe is terrified that he will find Mr. Stink and get her into trouble. This suspenseful scene ends with Mr. Crumb keeping Chloe’s secret from her strict mother. Chloe’s mother’s cruel attitudes toward unhoused people add to the story’s theme on The Harmful Stigma Against Poverty and convey why Chloe is so stressed about protecting Mr. Stink.

“The photograph had seemed like another clue to Mr. Stink’s past, like his little silver spoon, or the way he’d bowled that little piece of paper into the bin.”

Mr. Stink’s picture showed a young couple with a fancy car, prompting Chloe to wonder why it was so meaningful to him. This passage adds to the story’s theme on the Individual Experiences of Unhoused People by providing another clue to Mr. Stink’s backstory and demonstrating the fact the one can never guess another person’s past life.

“Mother smiled. ‘In that case,’ she said, turning to Mr. Stink, ‘how many sausages would you like my very good friend who lives in my shed and hardly stinks at all?’”

When Mrs. Crumb realizes that befriending Mr. Stink will make her a more popular candidate in the election, she is suddenly accepting of him. Mrs. Crumb’s disingenuous generosity is an example of how people use performative kindness toward the unhoused to further their own agendas.

“‘It wasn’t your idea, Mother,’ snapped Chloe, too angry to merely sulk. ‘Not strictly speaking dearest, no…’ Chloe glared at her.”

Chloe’s relationship with her mother becomes even more tense as her mother takes credit for Chloe’s generosity toward Mr. Stink. This passage adds to the story’s theme on The Harmful Stigma Against Poverty, as Mrs. Crumb first wants to exclude Mr. Stink and only embraces him and his cause when it suits her own purposes.

“‘Now, let’s move on to the question of homelessness, Mr. Stink. I have a statistic here which says that there are over 100,000 homeless people in the UK today. Why do you think so many people are living on the streets?’ Mr. Stink cleared his throat a little. ‘Well, if I may be so bold, I would venture that part of the problem stems from the fact that we are seen as statistics rather than people.’”

Mr. Stink uses his television appearance to share his thoughts about how others view unhoused people. He points out that many view unhoused people as a group, or only discuss them through statistics, but Mr. Stink knows that they are all individuals with their own needs and stories. This conversation adds to the book’s theme on the Individual Experiences of Unhoused People.

“Chloe cleared her throat. ‘Ummm…Mr. Stink. You said on the TV show how every homeless person has a different story to tell. Well, can you tell me your story? I mean, why did you end up on the streets?’”

Chloe’s curiosity about Mr. Stink’s life story only grows as she gets to know him better. This passage adds to the story’s theme on the Individual Experiences of Unhoused People, as Chloe understands that Mr. Stink has his own reasons for living as an unhoused person.

“The Prime Minister has invited me to go for tea at Number Ten Downing Street today,’ said Mr. Stink matter-of-factly. He wants me to take over from you, Mrs. Crumb, as the local candidate. May I have those sausages now please, Chloe?’”

In this comedic passage Mrs. Crumb’s plan of exploiting Mr. Stink falls flat when he becomes more popular with the public than she is. Mr. Stink’s stoic approach to life, and obsession with sausages, adds humor to the story and raises the question of whether his character will experience a rags-to-riches arc in the story.

“All of a sudden the shed shook violently. Chloe rushed to the door and opened it to see a helicopter hovering overhead. Engine whirring, it slowly came down to land in their garden. ‘Ah, yes. The prime minister said he would be sending that to pick us up,’ announced Mr. Stink. ‘Us?’ said Chloe. ‘You don’t think I was going to go without you, do you?’”

Chloe is stunned by the arrival of a government helicopter in her backyard. Chloe’s support of Mr. Stink and his newfound fame and popularity is reciprocated when he invites her to join him at the prime minister’s residence. This passage underscores the depth of the friendship between the two.

“‘I think we could use you.’ ‘Use him?’ asked Chloe suspiciously. ‘Yeah, yeah. It’s no secret it’s not looking good for me in the election. My approval rating with the public right now is…’ One of the herd hastily opened a folder and there was a long pause as he flicked through pages and pages of information. ‘Bad.’”

Chloe and Mr. Stink are disappointed that the prime minister only wants to “use” Mr. Stink as a candidate to generate attention and improve his own approval ratings with the public. By showing how the poor must navigate social exclusion, or meaningless gestures such as the prime minister’s, this passage adds to the story’s theme of The Harmful Stigma Against Poverty. By making the prime minister ignorant and uncaring, the author suggests that those in power are often uninterested in the problems unhoused people face.

“The Prime Minister and his aides were behaving exactly like the gang of mean girls in her year. Still stumbling for words, Mr. Stink looked over to her for help. ‘Prime Minister…?’ said Chloe. ‘Yes?’ he answered with an expectant smile. ‘Why don’t you stick it up your fat bum!’”

Chloe defends Mr. Stink when the prime minister and his aides are mocking him. This scene shows that Chloe and Mr. Stink have a trusting and reciprocal friendship, as she defends him against his bullies just like he did for her at the beginning of the story. Mr. Stink’s appreciation for Chloe’s loyalty and friendship adds to the story’s theme on The Power of Kindness and Generosity.

“Looking at it close-up, she realized she’d been wrong. It wasn’t three letters engraved on it. It was a single letter on a crest, held on each side by a lion. A single, capital letter D. ‘You are Lord Darlington,’ said Chloe.”

Chloe is stunned to discover that Mr. Stink does not come from a poor family, but actually was once very wealthy. Chloe’s conversation about Mr. Stink’s past supports the story’s theme on The Individual Experiences of Unhoused People by emphasizing how Mr. Stink once lived a very different life before tragedy struck.

“If only I hadn’t been at the club that night, I could have saved her. I could have held her all night, made her feel safe and warm. She wouldn’t have needed the fire. My darling, darling Violet.’ Chloe squeezed his dirty hand tight. ‘You can’t blame yourself for the fire.’”

Chloe comforts Mr. Stink as he finally reveals the tragedy that altered the course of his life. Mr. Stink’s stately home burned down, killing his wife and leaving Mr. Stink grieving and feeling guilty. By revealing Mr. Stink’s sad backstory, this passage bolsters the story’s theme on the Individual Experiences of Unhoused People.

“They walked in silence for a moment, then Chloe took a deep breath and turned to Mr. Stink. ‘I don’t want to go back there,’ she said. ‘I want to go wandering with you.’”

Chloe longs to escape her troubled family life and spend more time with her more understanding role model, Mr. Stink. This passage emphasizes Chloe’s close bond with Mr. Stink, which they have solidified despite their different ages and life circumstances.

“Chloe had never seen mother looking so sad. Suddenly, she felt a little guilty. ‘I, er, just thought you wouldn’t mind,’ she said. ‘Mind? I couldn’t bear it if you left.’ Mother started sobbing now. This was so unlike her. It was as if Chloe was looking at another person entirely. ‘That old man gave me a good talking to,’ said Mother. ‘Said how unhappy you’ve been at home.’”

Chloe is stunned that her mother cares so much about her, and would miss her if she left. Mr. Stink’s conversation with her mother changed her mother’s attitude toward Chloe and helped her realize how unhappy she had made her daughter. By showing how Mr. Stink’s compassion and care changed Chloe’s circumstances, this passage adds to the story’s theme on The Power of Kindness and Generosity.

“‘Well, I didn’t want to tell you, but the car factory looks like it’s going to close soon and it had to let most of us go.’ ‘So you are…?’ asked Mother incredulous. ‘Unemployed, yes. Or ‘dole scum’ as you might say. I was too scared to tell you so I’ve been hiding in the room under the stairs for the last month.’”

Mr. Crumb finally reveals to his wife that he is now unemployed. This passage adds to the book’s theme on The Harmful Stigma Against Poverty, as Mr. Crumb felt ashamed to lose his job and was frightened of his wife’s judgment about living on assistance, or on “the dole.”