Letter To Nevin Nollop's Rule

In a letter to her cousin Tassie, Ella tells her how there is a statue of Nevin Nollop with a plaque that says, “The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.” By creating a sentence that uses all the letters in the alphabet, Nevin Nollop is the island’s most honored person. However, a tile engraved with the letter z falls from the memorial, and the Council banishes any use of the letter “Z”, saying that that is what Nollop wishes to be done. The first offence of using a prohibited word is a public oral censure. Next transgression is a choice between a body-flogging and the public humiliation of headstock in the public square. A third offense will result in banishment. The refusal of this order will end with the death of the problematic person. …show more content…
Tassie writes a letter to Mr. and Mrs. Towgate, which is the couple who told on her mother for her slip, asking why it was necessary for them to turn in her mother. Nash Towgate writes back explaining that they did so in order to follow the rules of Nollop because he is the one that created the island. A man named Nate Warren writes Tassie’s mom, Mittie, asking for permission to stay in their home as an “old friend of the family” so he can investigate the “political and social crisis” developing on the island. Mittie Purcy allows Nate to enter her home, and her and Tassie choose Mr. Lyttle to listen to Mr. Warren’s reports on the falling tiles. Ella writes a letter to Tassie containing the knowledge of the fallen letter “J”. The Council gives an explanation of its decisions on the laws. Since no one can create a sentence like Nollop’s, Nollop is like a god to the people of the island, and they must respect his wishes. A man, Rory Cummels, apologizes to Mittie for being rude in the market on a previous …show more content…
Sunday is now Sunshine, Monday is Monty, Tuesday is Toes, Wednesday is Wetty, Thursday is Thurby, Friday is Fribs, and Saturday is Satto-gatto. Tassie writes to Ella about how nice and good looking Nate Warren is, and she describes her fantasy of him falling in love with her. Gwenette finds out that the Council has been looking at her and Mittie’s mail. Nate tries to descirbe to Mittie and Tassie how Nollop is like a god to the island, but it is all an illusion. He claims that it can be easy for one to create a sentence such as Nollop’s. Although one of the four “O”s have fallen, the citizens are allowed to continue to use the letter “O”, but only if they reduce the use of it by 25 percent. Gwennette also tells Minnie how Amos now has two offenses to his name, and she worries about him. Once Tassie and Nate arrives at the Minnow Pea’s house, another “O” and a “K” fall down. Tassie informs her mother about how she is falling in love with Nate and how they shared a passionate kiss. Writing back to her daughter, Mittie also describes her new relationship with Rory and how happy she is with him. The following day Nate and Tassie meet with Council Member