Chapters 12 through 16 Summary

In Chapter 12, after dinner, Papa takes the brush to Lark again for disobeying his order to stop biting her nails. The next morning, Papa is jolly; Lark is sullen. According to her father, God hates sullen people. Lark feels fortunate that the next Monday—the day of her regularly scheduled weekly nail checkup with her father—is the day before Memorial Day. Thus, she goes with her Mama to set up for the Knights of Columbus picnic. Lark is moved by excitement as she watches the men assemble the merry-go-round.

The girls go swimming and talk about Sally's mother and her nerves. Perhaps Stella Wheeler is going through the change, Mama says. Cynthia Eggers mentions that she bought her daughter Marilyn a new formal gown for the Memorial Day Parade, since Marilyn was Homecoming Queen. Cynthia also mentions that...