Lady Eleanor Butler and Miss Sarah Ponsonby.
Patience White and Sarah Dowling.
Carrie Chapman Catt and Molly Hay.
For that matter, Forster's Misses Alan (are we SURE they're sisters?)


Call it what you want: "romantic friendship," "sentimental friendship," "Boston Marriage..." but Misses Forcible and Spink are a lovely old pair who have apparently been keeping house together for some time. And for some of us, it raises a certain, idle question about what is, exactly, the nature of their relationship.

Now, now. You'll all say there's no place for things like that in a children's novel.

But why not? Why not, if it's simply two old women living together and no more of it made than that?


Just a thought.


From someone whose wife of ten years is often mistaken for her sister.

I think a children's novel is the perfect place for that kind of relationship. It's the sort of thing you can hear as a child and totally miss, but come back to as an adult, scratch your head and say, "You know...I think there's more going on here than meets the eye."

Had a couple of guys who lived in our neighbourhood when I was a kid. Always wondered why my parents never let me talk to them much.

My brother (who is 13 years older than me) lived with his "best friend" for about 10 years before it was finally revealed to me when I was 16 that they were lovers.
By then I had figured it out for myself, but when I was too young to understand the context of the realtionship, I just thought they were best friends. Just like the two ladies who lived together down the street who taught me how to play softball.

I'm not sure that the presentation of Misses Forcible and Spink is quite unique.

I seem to recall one of the "Fudge" books (who did these, Judy Blume?), in which Peter and a friend of his go trick-or-treating for Halloween and wind up at the home of two unrelated women who interact in very much the way any couple might in the same circumstances.

And these were written in the late 70s/early 80s....

Anyway, it's probably obvious, but i think it's an excellent idea. I think Jeff nailed it spot-on.

Never thought about that...hmm very interesting. I need to go re-read the book and pay attention to that part.

I believe the term "boston marriage" would apply...