Three Little Words: A Memoir

Author: Ashley Rhodes Courter

Genre: Nonfiction

Summary: "'Sunshine, you're my baby and I'm your only mother. You must mind the one taking care of you, but she's not your mama.' Ashley Rhodes-Courter spent nine years of her life in fourteen different foster homes, living by those words. As her mother spirals out of control, Ashley is left clinging to an unpredictable, dissolving relationship, all the while getting pulled deeper and deeper into the foster care system."

Question:

Who was Adele?

Answer:

The girlfriend of Ashley's grandfather

Question:
What is Ashley's mother's nickname for her?

Answer:
Sunshine

Page:Preface

Point Value: 10

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Question:
Who is Ashley named after?

Answer:
A character on the Young and the Restless

Page: 6

Point Value: 20

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Question:
Where did Grandpa and Adele live?

Answer:
South Carolina

Page:

Point Value: 10

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Question:
What was the worst foster family Ashley adn Luke lived with?

Answer:
The Mosses

Page:

Point Value:5

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Question:
What gift did Ashley's mother get her that Ashley was particularly attached to?

Answer:
An easy-bake oven.

Page:

Point Value: 15

Question:
What are the names of Ashley's adoptive parents?

Answer:
Phil and Gay Courter

Page:

Point Value: 10

1. Name one of the two days that compete for the worst day in Ashley's life?
A) The day her mom was taken away
B) The day Ashley arrived at the Mosses House

2. Where did Ashley live in the beginning of the book?

South Carolina

3. Who is Leanne?

Lorraine (Ashley’s Mother) twin sister

4. When did baby Tommy appear in the story?

After Lorraine disappeared when she caught Dusty and Leanne snuggling.

5. What was Dusty’s job?

Framing Subcontractor

6. How old was Jenny (Ashley’s grandmother) when she had her first child and what did she do with the baby after it was born?

14; put it up for adoption

7. What was the possible cause for Luke’s weak state when he was born?

Dusty hitting Lorraine when she was pregnant

8. Name all of Jenny’s (Ashley’s grandmother) children

Perry, Leanne and Lorraine, and Sammie

9. What was Jenny’s husband where did she bring the children after going through so many hardships?

Abusive and an alcoholic; Baptist children’s home

10. What was Jenny (Ashley’s grandmother) diagnosed with at the age of 20 and how old was she when she died?

Cervical cancer and hysterectomy; 33

11. How did Lorraine use her inheritance money?

Used it to apply for cosmetology school

12. Why did Lorraine have to go to a check up for cosmetology school and what did she find out?

A safety precaution since she was going to use hair chemicals; she found out she was pregnant with Ashley

13. Where does Lorraine think Ashley was conceived?

After her mother’s funeral

14. Who did Lorraine name Ashley after?

A character from the soap opera she watched while she was in the hospital, “The Young and Restless”

15. Why was Dusty arrested when he arrived in Florida with the family?

Driving without a license

16. What was Ashley’s favorite toy at the beginning of the book?

Winky, her Teddy Ruxpin

17. What was the main reason Ashley was forced to move from home to home?

She “caused problems”

18. Which family made Ashley live in a slanted ceiling room?

The Hines

19. Which family had Ashley when she received the chicken pox?

The Ortiz

20. Who made the angel outfit for Ashley?

Adele

21. How were the kids related to grandpa?

Lorraine was her daughter until she was put into the Baptist home.

22. Why did Ashley and Luke have to move away from their grandfather?

He was shot.

23. What was the name of the “improper” video the Potts had in their household? Clue: Nazis and salacious activities

Ilsa, She Wolf of the SS

24. How were the Haggens related to the Potts?

Irma was Mrs/Mr. Potts daughter

25. Which foster family did Ashley hate the most?

The Mosses

26. Name at least two of the children that were staying at the Mosses.

Toby, Lucy, Clare, Mandy, Chelsea, Gordon, Ashley, and Luke.

27. What was the main punishment at the Mosses who behaved poorly?

Crystal hot sauce

28. Which child told the adults that the Mosses were abusing the children?

Chelsea

29. What happened when the children at the Mosses house were eating more at school during the year?

They received a smaller portion of food at home

30. Which family was Ashley staying with when she received the Easy-Bake Oven from her mother and Luke received a flying helicopter?

The Mosses

31. Where did Ashley go to after she left the Mosses? What happened to Luke?

Lake Magdalene Children’s Shelter; he was left at the Mosses

32. What song did Ashley listen to at Magdalene’s Children’s Shelter that was on MTV?

“Baby Got Back” by Sir Mix-A-Lot

33. How did Ashley injure her left pinky?

She was playing softball without a glove and her pinky was bent to one side

34. Which family did Luke live with that Ashley would soon join?

The Merritts

35. How well did Ashley do in school overall?

Very well

36. After 2 years after the Rhodes Case started, what was Florida State’s new goal for Lorraine and Dusty?

To terminate Lorraine and Dusty’s custody over Ashley and Luke

37. Who was Lorraine staying with while Ashley and Luke were with Magdalene’s Children’s Shelter?

A woman named Babette

38. Who did Ashley move in with after she stayed with the Magdalene Children’s Shelter?

Merrits

39. What was the name of the diabetic baby the Merritts took care of and what was she fed when she showed “worrisome symptoms”?

Keisha; ice cream


40. What did Lorraine give Ashley at their last meeting?

a music box

41. What title did Mary Miller give herself?

Guardian ad Litem

42. What kind of medication did Mrs. Merritt try to give Ashley?

Depression medication

43. What age was Violet Chavez, Ashley’s 12th mother, when her mother went away?

9

44. What island was Violet Chavez born on?

Grenada

45. What kind of model did Ashley think Mary Miller looked like?

Ralph Lauren Model

46. What did Ashley find in her duffel bag when she went to visit the Mosses?

A condom

47. What did Lorraine refuse to take, so she decided to terminate her parental rights to Ashley?

A drug test

48. What would Ashley turn her attention to when she went to talk to psychiatrists?

The golden seal on the diplomas they hung on their wall

49. How do you pronounce Ms. Sandnes?

San-nes

50. Who was Ashley’s roommate when she went to Children’s Home of Tampa?

Sabrina

51. Who was Mary Fernandez?

The therapist on campus

52. Up to how many kids could primaries take care of?

7

53. When is Ashley’s birthday?

November 22

54. What’s the name of the girl who ripped out her stitches and seemed nice at first, but suddenly snaps?

Keri

55. What was Ashley’s first Halloween costume at Children’s Home of Tampa and where did she get the idea?

Cleopatra; from books

56. What did the Easy Bake Oven look like when Ashley got it back from the Mosses?

Gross and mossy

57. What item did Ashley did NOT retrieve from the Mosses?

Her dolls




58. What happened to the presents that Ashley received at the Tampa children’s home?

They were stolen in the frenzy

59. Who took Ashley’s fundraiser money?

Daphne

60. Who was Ashley’s best friend?

Isabel