whatever

[Quang Hai]

I am reading a shortstory, there are two sentences the author - W. Trevor used word Whatever, which I did not fully understand:

Sentence 1:
'Eddie turned the pages of the Irish Times, wishing it were something livelier, the Star or the Express. With little interest he noticed that schools’ entrance tests were to be abolished and that there was to be a canine clean-up, whatever that was, in Limerick.

Sentence 2:
'A cheerful place, that kitchen, Eddie estimated, but Timothy said it was part and parcel, whatever he meant by that'

Please someone tell me the real meaning of those word I underlined. thanks

[HanibalII]

I am reading a shortstory, there are two sentences the author - W. Trevor used word Whatever, which I did not fully understand:

Sentence 1:
'Eddie turned the pages of the Irish Times, wishing it were something livelier, the Star or the Express. With little interest he noticed that schools’ entrance tests were to be abolished and that there was to be a canine clean-up, whatever that was, in Limerick.

Sentence 2:
'A cheerful place, that kitchen, Eddie estimated, but Timothy said it was part and parcel, whatever he meant by that'

Please someone tell me the real meaning of those word I underlined. thanks

The 'whatever' is to imply he doesn't understand what is being talked about, which in your sentences would be 'canine clean-up' and 'part and parcel'.

The commenter just doesn't understand the meaning of the phrase.

[I.M. Knott]

Re "I am reading a shortstory"
Maybe this is just a misprint, but "shortstory" is incorrect spelling. It should be "short story" [two separate words].