Nancy McKeon: Jo Polniaczek

Quotes 

• [first lines] 

  Blair Warner : Mrs. Garrett, you will not believe this, but I have done it again!

  Edna Garrett : What have you done again, Blair?

  [Jo rolls her eyes] 

  Blair Warner : Thanks to me, Jo has won the annual Best New Student award.

  Jo Polniaczek : [drily]  Thanks to her.

  Edna Garrett : [to Jo]  You've come a long way, baby! Oh, congratulations, Jo! I'm so proud of you!

  [hugs her, pats her back] 

  Blair Warner : What about me? I took a raw piece of marble and sculpted a masterpiece!

  Jo Polniaczek : I'd like to tell her what she can do with her chisel.

  Blair Warner : See? Just bubbling over with clever repartee. Before I gave her polish, she would have simply grunted and punched me out.

  Jo Polniaczek : Good habits are hard to break.

• Dorothy 'Tootie' Ramsey : [entering their room]  Hi.

  Blair Warner : Hi, Tootie. We're deciding on a hairstyle for Jo when she accepts her award.

  Natalie Green : How about the Nancy Reagan quiff?

  [demonstrates on Jo's hair] 

  Jo Polniaczek : Forget it. I don't wanna look like someone with starch in my bra.

  Natalie Green : Oh, wait a minute, wait a minute. What about the Barbara Streisand look? We could frizz your hair and break your nose.

• Jo Polniaczek : Oh, it could have been a lot worse. It could have been Tootie. She wouldn't have been able to keep her mouth shut with Krazy Glue. Or it could have been Blair. She treats me like one of the boat people as it is.

  Edna Garrett : Jo, don't sell your friends short.

  Jo Polniaczek : You're right.

  [scoffs] 

  Jo Polniaczek : Some father I've got. A jailbird.

• Jo Polniaczek : It's all right. It's been so long I don't even miss him anymore.

  Edna Garrett : Sounds like your Dad has made a lot of big mistakes. But it also sounds like he loves you.

  Jo Polniaczek : Love isn't writing phony letters. It's what you do. Boy, there are a few things I would like to say to him. Now that I'm older I know better words.

  Edna Garrett : Why don't you use them? Go see him!

  Jo Polniaczek : Hey, give me a break!

  Edna Garrett : You have a choice. You can eat yourself up inside about your father, or face up to him. Have it out, once and for all!