You guys, I have some terrible news... And it is a big old spoiler so stop reading now if you are going to read this for the first time later...
Carol's dad buys the farm. And it isn't the kind of farm buying he did in the last book where he bought an actual farm. He expires. He is an ex-character. It was heartbreaking, but ultimately a better fate than I thought he was lined up for. At one point I really got the feeling that Louisa was going to make a play for hime and I was HORRIFIED! Although a little impressed, way to go all in, Louisa.
But I digress...
The book opens as Penny is turning 18 and she is all angsty about having to start her "career" on the stage. She was a little moody and irritating, but it was actually fascinating how it was a BIG DEAL, a girl having a career. And when you juxtapose that with Carrol saying to David, "Oh, please forget that one of the things that first drew you to me was my desire to get an education and have a career because I have found love with a man now so I don't need that bullshit anymore." Or something like that.
So Penny meets up with Lieutenant Hayes again. When she was 14 or 15 he thought she was a cutie but now that she is 18, his lust is inflamed and he must have her! Well, in a Lamberty way. He plagues her (as they used to say) and she gives back as good as she gets.
Dad goes to Europe as an observer and I know it is war and this changes EVERYTHING for the Parrishes, like the teenager I inwardly am, it means very little to me. He was a nice fella, but no Carol's dad with his riches and charm. I do love the way the he and Marjie talk about presenting a united front. It is a really loving, if old fashioned, marriage.
The upside of Dad's dangerous mission is that the rest of the family gets to move to Gladstone - the farm where Carrol and her adorable dad live. Except Bobby who goes to the military school he so richly deserves.
Penny breaks a date with Michael (I am almost sure he is going to die in the war because somebody has to and we like him but ultimately don't care what happens to him. But I could be wrong) to go out with Lieutenant Hayes. He has tickets to the new Janice Ware play so Mike is SOL.
SO they go to the play and at one point Terry says, "Pen, you're the first girl I ever knew who had something on her mind besides clothes and lipstick and a line of patter." OUCH! I think Lt. Hayes needs to get out more. But he encourages her to write to Janice Ware and, glory of glories, Janice writes back and invites her for a visit.
But it all goes to shit when Terry horns in on Penny's big dinner with Janice and she clams up and gets mad a him because he ruins everything and then it gets pointed out that he was trying to help, but it is still kind of manipulative and mansplainy and she gets him back later trying to fix him up with the dreaded Lorraine and that messes up his work life and it's just a big thing with these two trying to control one another and not communicating at all.
You bet these crazy kids are going to get together someday. And it is a credit to Janet Lambert that even though they are terrible at getting together, I am kind of rooting for them.
Back to Janice Ware - she decides to mentor Penny. Yay!
So then there is the event where Penny decides to fix Terry up with Louise and it is terrible for many reasons.
First, Louise swans around looking like a vamp and acting all "mature" and I really thought she was setting her cap for my beloved Mr. Houghton. (We find out later it is a Terry's commanding officer and hilarity ensues when she plays Terry off of him. If by hilarity I mean almost screwing up Terry's career.)
The grossest thing is when Terry comes in and asks Penny, "Got a kiss for Daddy?" Oh, Terry, no... Too close to the truth you cradle robber. Keep that shit out of my head!
So everything is going great at Gladstone and then Langdon Hughes dies. And it's really sad. Lambert does a good job with grief, I'll give her that. And LH sets up the Mr. Parrish as the person to handle his stuff assuring that the families will remain connected.
Some other stuff happens - Bobby and Tippy FINALLY redeem themselves by giving Carrol their most cherished possessions to help her through her grief - a doll and a knife. Frankly, Bobby, that knife thing could have gone really badly if things had played out differently.
David proposes, she says yes, there is a wedding, blah blah blah...Goodbye Carrol's career!
OH MY GOSH - the most horrifying thing in the whole book is in the chapter when Carrol and David get engaged. They have a picnic and Carrol is cleaning up "she stuffed the papers and her cup into the sack and whisked through her housekeeping by TOSSING THE SACK INTO THE RIVER!!!" (caps and exclamation points, my own) This girl is a litter bug of the highest order. Alas, it was the times...
Penny and Terry have a feud. Whatevs... Then David graduates and Carrol pulls herself out of her sadness like a champ and goes through the ceremony and dance and Mr. Parrish shows up 2 seconds before David gets his diploma and then the wedding...
And it closes with Trudy saying wise things in offensive dialect and I tell you I am dreading MISS TIPPY...
So we close the book on the Parrish family for awhile. I am currently re-reading CANDY KANE and WOAH MATILDA is about Candy, too. But I know Penny and Tippy and the gang will be back and I can't wait to see them!
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