Chapters 6-13: In the Rhododendrons; The Fable of Lenny; Easy Basin Wrench, or Debbie has Mechanical Moment, Too; Guitar Lessons; Conversation in the Dark-Brilliant Eskimo Thoughts; Hector's First Song; Truck Lessons; Ravine Summary

Debbie and Patty are hiding in a large row of rhododendrons, changing their clothes before school. Neither likes the clothes their mothers have purchased for them, especially because the pant legs do not drag on the ground. Having talked their moms into longer jeans, with promises to hem them, they are now ripping out these hems before proceeding to school.

Lenny's school career is being steered toward vocational technical programs, as he himself veers more toward a blue collar future. He...