Pages 7 through 26 Summary

The section spanning pages 7 through 26 takes the girls and their friendship through age 11. It begins with a key to the symbols used to identify which notes are written by or refer to which girls. Carmen's symbol is a flower, Lena's is a heart, Bridget's is a star, Tibby's is an asterick, and a shamrock is used to denote when something includes all four girls.

The beginning of their relationship is shown through a roster from the pre-natal aerobics class in which their mothers met. There is also a note from Bridget wishing Carmen a happy 6th birthday, followed by the invitation to each girl's 11th birthday party. The reader learns that Carmen's parents have divorced at this point through a note in which she tells about her delight at spending a day with her father and how much she wishes she...