Is Dudley...slow?

[Erin]

No: HPFGUIDX 117836


 Maddy (arguing that Dudley is NOT differently abled) said:

>>I don't think he is mentally defficient. He's not the brightest bulb
in the box, but I don't think it's anything serious. <snip> Take for 
instance, in PS/SS when he's struggling to figure out how many 
birthday presents he's got:
 
(from page 21, PS, Bloomsbury/Raincoast)

'And we'll buy you two presents while we're out today. How's that, 
popkin? Two more presents. Is that alright?'

Dudley thought for a moment. It looked like hard work. Finally he 
said slowly, "So I'll have thirty ... thirty ...'

'Thirty-nine, sweetums,' said Aunt Petunia.

'Oh.' Dudley sat down heavily and grabbed the nearest parcel. 'All 
right then.'

 ---
> Maddy again:
> Petunia doesn't encourage him to figure it out for himself, but
> provides the answer for him so he doesn't have to work it out. 


Erin now:

I know I quoted too much, but I wanted to get that scene in there.  
Because, taken by itself, that scene could be explained away by 
Petunia's not encouraging Duds to think for himself, but when 
combined with these lines...

PS/SS, Chapter Three:
-------
"Dudley was sniffling in the back seat; his father had beaten him 
around the head for holding them up while he tried to pack his 
television, VCR, and computer in his sports bag."
-------

... one just has to wonder.  I mean, that is not normal behavior for 
an 11-year-old, is it?  Even toddlers have a better understanding of 
spatial relationships than that!

--Erin