Chapters 1 through 4 Summary and Analysis

Chapter 1: Five More Minutes

We can trace much of what happens to us in adulthood to our childhoods. Penny Marshall's mother was nuts, her father boring, her brother funny, her sister girly. All Penny wanted to do was play. She's still like that today. Penny never really wanted to grow up. That sense of childish play taught her a lot about life: "try hard, play by the rules, help your friends, don't get too crazy, and have fun" (pg. 3).

Penny's mother, Marjorie, was the instructor and choreographer of the Marjorie Marshall Dance School. Of all her 360 students, only one was not a fan. Marjorie was critical of her young daughter's dancing abilities and her lack of grace and looks. Marjorie met Tony Masciarelli when they were both in college. He wanted to be a Madison Avenue big shot and...