Winterbottom) left the notes as to why she left there for Phoebe, Prudence, and Mr. Winterbottom to find. In the text it said, “On the kitchen was an apple pie, and beside it were three envelopes: one for Phoebe, one for Prudence, and one for their father.” “ I opened my note, Phoebe said, showing it to me. It said, keep all the doors locked and call your father if you need anything. I love you, Phoebe. It was signed, Mom.” “But then, Prudence came home and opened her note. Phoebe showed me the note left for Prudence. It said, please heat up the spaghetti sauce and boil the spaghetti.” “Phoebe's father came home. ‘Where's Norma?’ he said. Phoebe showed him his note. He opened it and sat down, staring at the piece of paper. Phoebe looked over his shoulder and read his note aloud: I had to go away. I Can't explain. I’ll call you in a few days. It was signed, Norma” these quotes show that without these notes, (especially Mr. Winterbottom’s) nobody would know what had happened to Mrs. Winterbottom.
The last reason why Phoebe’s house is an important setting to the plot is that everything is made clear there at the end-ish of the book like who the lunatic really is. This is shown in the book when Phoebe's mom comes home and introduces him, “I'd like you to meet Mike” “Dad” Phoebe whispered, “that's the lunatic.” “Mrs. Winterbottom said, “this is my son.” these quotes show that the lunatic, referred