Prior to her death, most citizens of Ipswitch viewed Polly as a lovable, generous eccentric with an amazing talent for baking pies. Village businesspeople also recognized that her nationally known reputation brought many outsiders to the community who contributed to the local economy. What locals did not grasp was her status as a community leader. A passive, loving person, Polly held no office, handled no income or expenditures, set down no official guidelines, and sought no recognition from Ipswitch people or the national baking community. Each time she received the Blueberry Award, her complete response was always the same four-word expression of gratitude: “Thank you very much” (29). It’s clear that Polly’s death is a sudden, unexpected event. The aftermath is a startling awakening for the entire community, as there is a shared awareness that, in a completely passive manner, Polly set the tone for the village, something no one ever expected to change and for which there were no contingency plans. Without her, Ipswitch itself flounders. Ruth captures the angst of citizens when she fearfully cries out, “What are we going to do, George? […]. What are we going to do?” (41).

As the village recognizes the magnitude of Polly’s loss, many take brash, immediate steps.