Part 3 Summary

Sissie's narration once again displays a new level of maturity, indicating that several years have passed. It is summer. Her friends, Marian and Betty, have gone to see a show. Sissie was not allowed to go and instead has been dragged to the tavern on the lake to help her mother take care of Linda, her little sister. Sissie complains that there is too much smoke, that her root beer is flat, and that her parents are too loud. Her aunt Lucy and uncle Joe have joined them and Sissie is embarrassed by Lucy's false teeth. Sissie's mother asks Lucy about a letter she wrote to the Howie Masterson show and teases Sissie about thinking he is cute. Sissie is mortified and declares that she hates him. She notices Joe's bald head with the fringe of gray hair and thinks about how her...