FIFTEEN by Beverly Cleary [chapter 11]

 Before I get started, I wanted to put a link to Constance's excellent take on FIFTEEN from a modern reader's perspective - https://perfectretort.blogspot.com/2020/10/1956club-fifteen-iconic-teen-novel-of.html

And now - the final chapter!

CHAPTER 11 - All's Well That Ends Well

After the flower delivery incident, Jane finds herself the subject of good natured ribbing and interest. She even makes the gossip column! And Stan calls every day for an hour. Two weeks fly by with Jane thinking of some post-steak snogging. Stan is still tan - I bet he laid out in the sun slathered in baby oil as he convalesced. 

When the big night arrives, he looks wonderful. Jane eyes his ID bracelet like Smaug eyes his precious. His shoes are SUPER shiny. He clearly fussed. He brings up the hidden bike story and Jane confesses that she knew, but she could tell he didn't want her to know so she never said anything. She says it was a nice equalizer because he seemed so sophisticated to her. Meanwhile, Stan says he thought she was so poised. What a nice mutual admiration society. They are charmed to find out that they both have the same theory about how bicycles are considered an indicator of maturity. 

The steak bake is a big deal. Buzz and Greg are helping out. Marcy is nowhere to be seen. Lazy. 

Jane and Stan want to be alone together. So they go into the woods. (Perhaps this book is why I was always willing to go into the woods with boys.) They try to talk and chew the horrible steak. Stan gets spoony and Jane gets indigestion the next day from gulping a huge gob of meat. They further bond about funny family phrases for the weather. Sir Puss practically inserts himself even when nowhere in sight. 

They agree to gnaw at the steaks like animals, but even that isn't enough to make it palatable. Stan makes a doggie diner joke proving that someday he will be a good dad. Jane realizes that she is already able to laugh about the Chinatown disaster date. 

They give up on the meat and Stan starts fondling his ID bracelet "Will you go steady with me?" practically screaming from his eyes. Then effing Buzz shows up with Julie. NO JULIE!! ABORT!! ABORT!! Julie does her best, but clearly Buzz needs to be drowned in the stream. He educates them with the news that the "movie" is THE JOHN QUINCY ADAMS STORY and Stan and Jane decide to bail. 

But Buzz will not buzz off, no matter how hard Julie tries. Stan clears things up, but before they can clear out, Mr. Degenkalb calls him back. What is with the adults in this town?? Other than Mr. DeLuca, they hate love! They plan to sneak out once the movie starts, but Degenkalb sits next to Stan. Move over, Miss Erickson, there is a more horrible teacher than even you in teen literature. 

Everyone is sneaking away to Nibley's or the drive-in and Jane is down to clown. She wants to go to Lookout Point. (Shades of THE CHEERLEADER!) Then - as Jane hates John Quincy Adams as she has never hated a president before - Stan takes her hand and puts his ID bracelet on her wrist and this becomes the best freaking movie she has ever seen! 

When they finally get to Jane's house, curfew looms. And just as things are about to get good, they talk about how thrilled they both are to be going steady and Sir Puss outdoes himself in making it all about him to the detriment of Jane's love life. But Stan kisses Jane, and awkward one, half off her mouth. But she loves his soft lips and knows that they have all the time in the world to learn how to kiss TOGETHER!

Then Mr. Crandell makes a final appearance and the party is over. 

"Smiling to herself, Jane turned and walked toward the house. She was Stan's girl. That was all that really mattered." I have not found that to be the case. And honestly, while many young people feel like a relationship is going to make their life perfect, what we learn from this book is that, while much of Jane's soul-searching comes from the desire to "catch" Stan, she really does develop some healthy ideas about being true to herself and recognizing that sometimes things go badly and you just have to have confidence in yourself to get through it. 

And, of course, we learn that Sir Puss is the worst. Well, him and Buzz.

The end!