# XX: Orlando explained — Jibby Jones

> Chapter companion for Jibby Jones by Ellis Parker Butler.

## What happens

Jibby Jones uses a clever trick involving a cat named Orlando (pretending it is a skunk) to recover the stolen 1804 dollar from the Tough Customer, who has fallen into a dry well. Afterward, Jibby insists on finding the perfect place to think before the treasure hunt, eventually choosing Wampus Smale's woodshed. The chapter also reveals that Orlando is actually a pet skunk belonging to Jibby's father.

## Themes in this chapter

### Cleverness vs. Brawn

Jibby uses imagination and experience to outwit the Tough Customer, recovering the dollar without physical confrontation.

### Imagination and Ingenuity

Jibby's trick of pretending a cat is a skunk demonstrates the power of imagination combined with experience.

### Friendship and Teamwork

The boys work together to execute Jibby's plan and later search for a thinking place as a group.

## Character check-ins

### Jibby Jones

Orchestrates the recovery of the 1804 dollar by using a cat (Orlando) to intimidate the Tough Customer; later insists on finding a suitable thinking place.

### Wampus Smale

Carries the green felt bag containing Orlando; stands ready with a spade to guard the Tough Customer.

### Tad Willing

Stands ready with an axe to guard the Tough Customer after he is pulled from the well.

### Skippy Root

Helps pull the Tough Customer out of the well with a rope.

### The Tough Customer

Falls into Jibby's elephant trap in the dry well; surrenders the 1804 dollar to avoid being attacked by the supposed skunk.

### Orlando

Jibby's father's pet skunk, initially carried in a green felt bag and used as a bluff to scare the Tough Customer; later revealed to be a skunk.

### Rover

Not directly mentioned in this chapter.

## Key lines

> When you have Experience and Imagination hitched up together, you can do almost anything.

Combining practical knowledge with creative thinking enables one to accomplish nearly any task.

_Jibby reflects on the success of his trick, emphasizing the value of experience and imagination working together._

> I sort of imagined that Tough Customer was not going to let an 1804 dollar drop down a sewer.

Jibby guessed that the Tough Customer would rather give up the dollar than risk losing it in the sewer.

_Jibby explains his reasoning behind the bluff, showing his understanding of the Tough Customer's priorities._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/jibby_jones_se/chapters/xx-orlando
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/jibby_jones_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/jibby_jones_se/chapters