Chapter Four Summary

Stephanie goes to dinner at her parents' house. The realization that Helen has invited Bernie Kuntz, a potential date for Stephanie, to dinner makes Stephanie want to flee. As Stephanie heads for the back door, Helen uses a secret weapon to get Stephanie to stay. Knowing that Stephanie cannot refuse a good pineapple upside down cake, Helen entices Stephanie into staying for dinner.

Bernie Kuntz is a nice man, albeit a bit boring. Stephanie is impressed that Bernie is able to make it through a typical dinner at the Plum house, with its uncertainties and unstable behaviors of Grandma Mazur. During the meal, Grandma Mazur discusses Stephanie's new job and retrieves the gun from Stephanie's oversized purse. Helen nearly has a coronary. Trying to be polite, she states that she doesn't like guns at the dinner table. Stephanie is unsuccessful in...