Summary

In Chapter 3, it is summer, the 9th summer of Catherine Grace's life. Her father, the preacher at the local Baptist church, decides that summer is the best time for people to get saved so they can get baptized in the lake. Thus, his sermons run longer and the entire mood of the church shifts. Early in the June he asks her if she's ready to accept Jesus and be baptized herself. She's not sure, because of her poor relationship with God. However, the next Sunday at church, when her father is singing "The Old Rugged Cross," she feels like the words are for her and walks the aisle of the church, dragging her sister and her friend Lolly with her. Her father announces that they'll all be baptized in 2 weeks.

Two weeks later, the baptism celebration is on. The entire church body...