The Luckiest Girl

 

The Luckiest Girl by Beverly Cleary

(1958)

16 chapters

288 pages

 

Chapter 1

            Our story begins on a Saturday morning. A peaceful scene, sitting at the breakfast table in September just before a new school year is due to start is Shelley Latham and she is plotting. Shelley is determined this year, her junior year in high school, is going to be different. She will break up with steady boyfriend, Jack, who is the most boring, predictable, unromantic boy on earth. She also wants to change up her boring wardrobe and so announces out loud to her mother that today she is going downtown to buy herself a slicker, never mind her mother’s negative opinion about them. Shelley smiles to herself remembering the “list” she started when she was around thirteen-all the things she would let HER future daughter do as opposed to Mrs. Latham who never lets Shelley have any fun.

            Arrival of the mail postpones any further slicker discussions. Mavis Michie, Mrs. Latham’s old college roommate, writes suggesting Shelley come stay with them for the school year in southern California. What nonsense! It’s been six years since the two families visited each other. Mavis’ hubby, Tom, is the high school math teacher and basketball coach at the local high school. They also grow oranges and sell them for extra income. Shelley is one year older than Luke, the oldest son who just turned fifteen, which makes her sixteen. The thirteen year old daughter, Katie, Shelly remembers being rather difficult to entertain at age six. Shelley and her mother share a gale of laughter remembering the antics of the children from the last visit by the Michie family but things turn serious again when Shelley brings up the subject of the slicker.

Mrs. Latham flatly refuses to let Shelley use her money to buy one, suggesting a pretty raincoat instead, reminding her daughter of the many impractical faults of a slicker. As they do the breakfast dishes, Mrs. L inquires if Jack will be coming over to hang out this evening. Shelley sighs inwardly for she is SO TIRED of Jack whose sentences she can practically finish for him.

            A narrative list of Shelley’s past boyfriends follows: Peter, who had nothing to say for himself, Roger, the Latin nerd who took her to her first school dance and who Shelley overheard her mother commenting was to be pitied for his homely appearance and ridiculous character. Then Jack entered the picture. Mrs. L has already reminded Shelley a million single girls out there would kill to have a boyfriend like Jack. Clean-cut, well mannered, and comes from a good family-so many girls don’t have anyone and must sit at home pretending not to mind, playing records or hanging out with other single girls like themselves who will never catch a guy. Shelley should count her blessings. So many boys are either already taken or still single for a reason.

            Rosemary is Shelley’s best friend, but she will never appear in this story.

            Later, Shelley is at the kitchen counter arranging some of the last summer roses from outside in a vase when the doorbell rings. Special delivery, Mrs. Latham announces, carrying in a large box which she opens to reveal the hated raincoat announcing it is for her daughter-surprise! Shelley WILL wear it, and there will be no more talk to purchase an awful slicker. Shelley is appalled. How DARE her mother do this to her? Her entire upcoming school year is now ruined. Reacting in desperation, feeling she has lost control of her life, Shelley seizes the roses and stuffs them down the garbage disposal grinding them to shreds (and probably ruining the appliance in the process!) Shelley’s father enters-what’s the Mother/Daughter showdown about NOW? Mrs. Latham argues she bought the raincoat for her daughter’s own good; Shelley hears her own voice announcing to her parents she wants to leave home and go spend the winter in southern California after all. At first, she is shocked by her own words but then it dawns on her-this could be the answer for a different kind of school year! Shelley begs them to let her go. Shelley’s mother protests but her father backs Shelley up-their daughter is an only child. Living with a large family would be good for her and a good experience. Shelley adds she promises to write every week! Mrs. Latham relents and anger is replaced by wistfulness as Mrs. L remarks on her own hardscrabble childhood growing up as a teenager during the Great Depression with no money for such luxuries like pretty clothes and raincoats. She had to carry an old umbrella.

            The phone rings. It’s Jack and for once Shelley is glad to talk to him for he will be the first to learn her exciting news. As she takes the phone and says hello, Shelley just KNOWS some wonderful boy is waiting for her in California…

(This first chapter is 29 pages long!)

Chapter 2

            The fictional town of San Sebastian, California is nothing like the tropical paradise Shelley imagined. Flat, dusty, brown, hot as a hair dryer in your face dry heat; hits Shelley full on as she disembarks from the airplane to be met by a curly-touched-with-gray-haired woman. This is Mavis and she is delighted to welcome Shelley to California. Mavis drives Shelley out of the small (also fictional) college town of Vincente and its small municipal airport. Shelley takes in the eucalyptus trees, distant mountains, palm trees, a dry riverbed and orange trees-the fruit hanging like exotic decorations not even looking like part of the plant. Shelley comments on the strange pipes sticking up out of the ground and smudge pots are explained.

(In the 21^st century they are rarely used now. Instead, commercial growers heat water and use fans to warm the ground and air-more environmentally friendly-but in 2013 [I did my close reading of this book same time as “Fifteen” in 2014 courtesy of Uof U library] a group of California farmers did fire up the “old school smudge pots” during a cold snap as I learned from an online article.)

            Mavis pulls up in front of a two-story clapboard house with lots of character. So much for California modern living! Shelley is shown to her room and encouraged to change and freshen up by her gracious host before dinner, which will be ready in an hour or so. References to “Alice in Wonderland” occur more than once throughout this book as Shelley keeps feeling as if she’s fallen down a rabbit hole. There’s a bathroom at the end the hallway and it’s HUGE, obviously shared and used by the entire family as everyone has their own labeled towel rack. Even Shelley has one along with “Tom” and “Mavis” instead of Mom and Dad; there’s one for “Mother” and “Guests” as well. Shelley smiles at a cat, allowed to hang out in the open laundry hamper. So different from home where her mother keeps everything in military order and always served a fancy meal whenever they entertained or had guests.

            Commotion outside draws Shelley to look out the bathroom window (one of many) to observe a man and two kids on bicycles with a barking dog chasing after them, Shelley descends the stairs to find Mavis preparing stroganoff  in the long, narrow kitchen. As the bathroom revealed, this is a very casual family, nothing like her own as Shelley would certainly not be allowed to ride and play outside when there was a guest who certainly wouldn’t be served a common, everyday casserole. Mavis suggests Shelley prepare the salad and explains their house was once a boardinghouse which they remodeled and relocated from the center of town out here to the orange fields. That’s why Shelley had to come all the way around from the front room into the kitchen when she tried what she thought was the door leading to it-the refrigerator is against that door and they didn’t bother changing that part of the entry into this new room.

            The stroganoff recipe is interesting: melted butter, chopped onion and frozen sirloin tips all baked in the oven with sour cream to be added at the very end just before serving over rice. (and if that’s the only cream base this won’t turn out very good!) The rest of the family tromps in-all talking at once. Tom greets Shelley just as enthusiastically as his wife while Luke and Katie are more reserved. They eat outside under the pergola (an open lattice arbor with wooden or stone support posts as seen in parks or backyards-NOT part of a patio) Katie leaves the table, picks something off a tree and returns to present Shelley with a real olive. Shelley is delighted. What a Garden of Eden is California with fresh food, right off the tree in their family’s own yard. She adores olives! Before anybody can stop her, Shelley bites into the raw olive and is shocked at the bitter taste while Katie giggles at her joke. Shelley smiles and is a good sport about it. Katie didn’t really mean any harm and to get out of helping with the dishes, she excuses herself to practice her piano.

Chords crash out of the instrument in the living room. Katie must be some sort of prodigy, I’m not sure how an amateur, thirteen-year-old pianist could fit Pop Goes the Weasel into Liszt’s Second Hungarian Rhaspody let alone play it as it’s a VERY technical piece-even I’ve never attempted it! And I've been playing the piano since I was seven. (Hungarian Rhaspody is also a very famous piece-everyone from Bugs Bunny to Tom and Jerry and the dueling pianos scene from “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” have covered it)

Shelley observes how early the sun is setting here and is reminded of the earth’s latitude which is true but it’s only about a half-hour difference. Googled this to prove it and learned sunset time for early September in Los Angeles is just after 7pm while in Portland OR it’s about 7:30pm. A full moon is also rising. Tom announces this is the perfect night to wash and hang out laundry so…hit it everyone! They do and Shelley, after doing all the dishes, offers to join in the family laundry party where she strikes up a conversation with Luke as they hang the damp clothes on the clothesline. Katie continues to alternate her music while Tom shouts at her to stick to the pieces as written-no improvisations!

Preparing for bed, Katie comes knocking to chat with Shelley, wistfully observing Shelley putting up her hair in pin curls for the first day of school tomorrow, wishing she had curly hair and that Mommy would let her get a permanent. Katie has straight, dark hair and informs Shelley if SHE had a daughter she’d be the kind of mother who lets her daughter get all the permanents she wanted. Shelley hides her smile. Katie apologizes again for the olive joke and heads to bed as Tom shouts up the stairs in his “basketball coach” voice which Shelley is quickly growing used to, that it is indeed time for lights out. Shelley turns off the light and falls asleep thinking she’ll like living with this quirky family. No longer strangers or foreigners and tomorrow promises to be a new day full of adventure.

 

Chapter 3

Everyone walks to school next morning with sack lunches. Shelley climbs the steps of San Sebastian Union High School, a very “Sweet Valley High” looking school with a mission tower and palm trees. Girls wearing “gay” (yes that word is used) cotton dresses greet each other on the front lawns. For Shelley, it is in the hall, on her way to her first class, when she first sees THE BOY-tall, fair hair, tan and with a lopsided smile that would melt the heart of any girl. Entering the classroom, everyone stares at Shelley as she slides into a seat; a boy with dark hair and brown eyes sitting behind her taps her on the shoulder with a clever pick up line to find out her name. HIS name is Hartley Lathrop and since they are grouped alphabetically that’s why he knew Shelley’s last name starts with L. As the teacher begins to speak, Shelley self-consciously straightens her hair. Hartley whispers her hair looks fine.

            Shelley’s schedule includes: Latin, English, PE and lunch where everyone is friendly but detached. While everyone knows “Slats” Michie, the popular basketball coach, Shelley doesn’t quite fit in yet. After lunch is a special meeting for each class to discuss fund raising activities. THE BOY is here which means he’s a junior too and Shelley’s heart skips another beat as she gawks at him, chatting with a girl on the other side of the classroom by the windows, leaning against the sills and flashing that shy, lopsided smile. Turns out Hartley is Junior class president as he leads the discussion of what they might sell this year to raise money. Shelley daydreams of her mom pushing her to be Spring Festival Queen every year as she is just as pretty as the other girls but Shelly was never interested.

Remembering all the fun times she had selling things for her own school fundraisers back home, she suddenly remembers and stands up from her seat to nominate doughnut holes to sell but it’s another “Alice in Wonderland” moment as the entire room shouts with laughter, including THE BOY until Shelley realizes this small town probably doesn’t have a doughnut shop like back home. After she explains, everyone loves the idea. The Vincente Doughnut establishment will be contacted. Meeting adjourned, everyone is looking at Shelley with respect. Hartley walks her to her next class, biology, hinting at a date to drive to Vincente to sample their doughnut holes-Shelley just smiles, making no promises.

Shelley enters the room taking a seat at a table with another girl and is thrilled when the girl calls out to THE BOY and his friend to sit here. As they fill in their names on the classroom diagram for the attendance sheet, Shelley is thrilled to learn they will keep these seats for the rest of the year. The boy is Philip Blanton, his friend is Frisbie Gerard and the girl is Jeannie Jones.

 

Chapter 4

Shelley gets letters from Mother, Rosemary, and Jack who all write pretty much the same thing-they miss her and are doing fine but Shelley doesn’t miss them! She is determined to get Philip to talk to her during their one class together. He is SO SHY! Then maybe he’ll ask her out on a date.

            Mavis has a potter’s wheel over the garage (obviously detached from the house) so that’s what she does all day. Luke doesn’t think much of Katie’s best friend, a snob named Pamela who is more of a “frenemy” (while the word was around during this time it really didn’t come into use until 2010). Luke is also struggling in his freshman English class but Shelley never runs into him at the high school. Over the Thursday night leftovers one evening, Shelley casually asks Tom about Philip Blanton. Katie swoons. Everyone in town knows Philip, the (Todd Wilkins) star basketball player on the team AND despite every single girl at school wanting him-he NEVER dates! Serving the cake she made from a mix, Katie speculates maybe Philip will ask Shelley out while reminding her older brother he should be grateful to get cake for dessert, even if it wasn’t made from scratch.

Next day is the release of the weekly school paper which features an interview with the star basketball player himself who also runs a landscaping business with his best friend, Frisbie. They do odd jobs and tree trimming. When asked about his love life, a grinning Frisbie quoted for the reporter that while Philip doesn’t have any significant other he DOES prefer new girls from up North who also happen to take biology.

Shelley can hardly believe it! In her room she rereads the article again before going downstairs. Philip noticed her! He may even LIKE her! It is Friday night and for the first time in her life Shelley doesn’t have a date after dinner when Tom declares this the perfect evening for the family to all pitch in and get the ironing done in a laundry room large enough to fit a real old fashioned mangle and two ironing boards. Tom and the kids feed the linens into the rollers while Shelley and Mavis iron.

Comfortable conversation takes place while working. Mavis reveals Shelley’s mom was a real knock-out in college, all the boys wanted to date her because of her fastidious, polished, well-put-together-appearance but, she comments, young single adult girls always fancy themselves in love with the wrong boy. Shelley’s mom was heartbroken when she didn’t win the college beauty pageant, then Mavis’ old boyfriend came to visit, took one look at her gorgeous roommate and lost interest in her. While this young man did not end up being Shelley’s father, both women obviously grew up, graduated(?) from college and became housewives (as most women did back in those days) and everything worked out. Shelley finds this backstory about her mother fascinating.

The doorbell rings and Hartley enters the laundry room. He was allowed the car and thought he might take Shelley out for that Vincente doughnut hole date he hinted at earlier in the week. Obviously comfortable with this family, he is happy to help out with the laundry first and when the last bedsheet is wrinkle-free Shelley and Hartley take their leave.

In the car, Hartley agrees the Michies are the kind of folks who make everyone who visits their home feel like part of the family. The date is very nice (especially compared to today’s 21^st century low standards). Hartley asks Shelley lots of deep, probing questions showing he’s really interested in getting to know her better and wants her opinion on things. They munch doughnut holes in the shop amongst the college students taking a break from their studies.

Hartley reveals info about himself too: moved to California when he was three, plans to attend Stanford after graduation which is why he ran for class president last year and wants to be a journalist. He will add working on the school paper to his college application in hopes of getting a scholarship to assist his cash-strapped family. Hartley is a good boy, kind and sensitive. He walks Shelley to her door and she invites him in for a few minutes, until she happens to look up over Hartley’s shoulder and is astonished to see Katie beaming down on them like a Cheshire cat (I warned you about the “Alice” references!) who squeezed herself up onto the refrigerator in the kitchen, thanks to the remodeled old house, where she could spy on Shelley and her date through the door she managed to open. Poor Hartley is puzzled by Shelley’s brusque, 180 degree dismissal when he was about to make a move but exits with a graceful good night adding how much he enjoyed Shelley’s company this evening and that he likes her.

Katie jumps down from her perch, comes around to the front room and squees-he said he LIKES you! Katie doubts any boy will ever say that to her. She only wanted to learn how a girl alone with a boy should behave so she just HAD to spy on them and is so sincere and forthright, Shelley can’t stay angry with her.

 

Chapter 5

San Sebastian High has no cafeteria so everyone always eats lunch outside or in the gym if it rains. Shelley and Jeannie eat lunch together. Jeannie is petite and birdlike, never missing anything including Shelley’s obvious campaign to snare the most sought-after boy in school. She enjoys Shelley’s fresh take on everything about their small, hick town and high school where she’s lived all her life. Having lunch outside every day is hardly a special occasion to Jeannie, but Shelley loves it.

            One day the reporter from the school paper stops her for a quote for the "new student spotlight" article he plans to write about her. After comparing the weather in both places, he asks if anyone special (meaning the opposite sex) has caught her eye yet? Shelley can’t resist saying she prefers basketball players who take biology! She regrets the comment later after it is printed as it made her seem too forward. Hartley is friendly but Shelley notices he keeps his distance now. Philip only teases her, giving her a nickname, “Webfoot” so he obviously read the article and continues to avoid asking her out on a date.

            One week later, on a beautiful, warm, Saturday afternoon, Katie insists Shelley grab a bicycle and come with her where Phil and Friz are cutting tree branches. Friz urges his buddy to go on and ask Shelley before he loses his nerve. Jumping down from the tree, Phil caves and a date is made for tonight at 8pm. Shelley says yes, of course, embarrassed at the lengths she went to chasing and practically throwing herself at a boy but very pleased it worked out as she is VERY attracted to him. The feeling appears to be mutual.

 

Chapter 6

The Date! Getting ready involves washing her face, changing into an outfit she hasn’t worn to school yet, brushing her hair and applying her lipstick and powdering her nose. Katie leaves for an informal party as part of her dance class where she hopes a wonderfully romantic evening awaits her-dancing with all the cutest (tallest!) boys. Shelley daydreams what it will be like to be known as Philip Blanton’s girl, willing the hands of the clock to move faster, until the doorbell FINALLY twirls.

He is invited in and several minutes of awkward silence pass as they sit and stare at each other, making small talk about Phil’s job then spend another eternity in silence with nothing to say to each other, until Mavis returns from dropping Katie off and suggests the table tennis game which can be played on any common dining room table. Shelley sucks at the sport while Phil, ever the gentleman (who stood up to greet Mrs. Michie when she entered the house) patiently endures chasing after Shelley’s missed serves until he suggests they walk into town for a bite to eat (he didn’t get the car) Learning this, Tom offers the family tandem bicycle. With nothing else to do in a small town on a Saturday night except cruise and promenade on Main, everyone is witness to the date and Shelley loves showing him off. They enter the local soda fountain where Shelley orders a chocolate malt. Philip will have the grilled peanut butter. (Shelley almost gags at the order) They really have nothing to say to each other as they sit in their booth and eat. Philip suddenly rises to greet someone and Shelley looks up to see Mavis and a very glum-looking Katie pass by and take seats at the counter. It would appear Katie’s dance was not a success.

            Philip admits to Shelley he wanted to ask her out all these weeks but couldn’t (we won’t learn the reason why until chapter 9) and that’s it. No deep discussions about life, their dreams and aspirations. Nothing like her date with Hartley. They finish up and leave.

What a pathetic date.

Just like other small towns, the streets here were laid out with plenty of room for a bicycle built for two to cruise along with the traffic. Shelley realizes the road back to the Michies’ is uphill the whole way but Phil is in excellent shape to do all the pedaling so it’s okay.

            At the door, Philip asks her if she’d like to go to the movies in Vincente next Saturday? Shelley, almost bursting with happiness, accepts of course. Katie is not hiding out spying again like last time but she does pop into Shelley’s bedroom to report how much it sucks being thirteen with so many unromantic, immature boys in the current dating pool who only came tonight because their mothers made them. Nothing to do except wait for them to grow up, Shelley advises. Katie sighs forlornly. She can’t wait until she’s sixteen and can date all the popular boys, like Shelley, who is SO LUCKY and as Katie exits, Shelley can’t help but agree. She was the luckiest girl in San Sebastian because she was sixteen and Philip Blanton liked her.

 

Chapter 7

It’s a pretty November with acacias and poinsettias blooming. Again, Shelley feels like Alice in Wonderland in this magical place where flowers she’d seen all her life in pots and arrangements at the florist shop actually grow on trees and climbing plants! Hartley continues to be friendly at school, they often stop and chat, but Shelley only has eyes for Philip-her steady boyfriend who continues to take her to the movies and humors her lame ping-pong skills. Other than that, they really have nothing in common.

            Jeannie is on the Fall Dance Decoration Committee and the three friends agree to help her out on the day of the dance, but only if they double-date. Shelley is thrilled Philip is giving her the honor of being the FIRST girl he has ever escorted to a school dance as Frisbie teases him before their biology teacher interrupts their “cozy coterie” to remind them to focus on today’s lecture, if they wouldn’t mind. Jeannie has the textbook answer ready while Shelley and Phil continue to struggle to concentrate on today’s lab assignment.

            The day of the dance arrives and it is pouring rain, the first heavy storm since Shelley’s arrival, pounding the car as Phil parks outside the gymnasium, kills the engine and turns to grin down at her. They are alone and the sexual attraction is THICK! Phil is wearing his letterman sweater. He takes her hand and is about to kiss her but loses his nerve and the moment passes. Since Shelley doesn’t have any rain gear or protection from the storm, he gives her his sweater to wear.

They run inside and have a ball decorating the gym for the dance with all their friends: art students paint barnyard scenes on paper taped to the walls, cloth is draped across the ceiling for effect, Shelley decorates a scarecrow while another comments jealously over Phil’s letterman sweater which Shelly made sure not to remove until every girl had seen her in it. Everyone flirts and jokes. Jeannie doesn’t think much of a school dance, (if you’ve been to one you’ve been to em’ all!) but Shelley can’t wait for tonight. Since the rain continues to flood the town, Shelly takes out the raincoat she packed at her mother’s suggestion, if only to avoid contention. She is glad now to have it as she wants to keep her blouse and full cotton skirt dry. Everyone compliments her on the pretty raincoat and Phil wears his letterman sweater with a shirt underneath and jeans.

To Shelley’s surprise, Hartley is also here tonight with a date, a girl Shelly recognizes from her English class. But Shelley is happier than she’s ever been in her life. She doesn’t mind at all that Hartley found his own date. As the new girl with the good fundraising idea, the next Bella Swan who caught the most sought-after boy in the school and won his sweater, the entire argument with her mother over a raincoat seems awfully silly now.

 

Chapter 8

Shelley receives a Christmas box from home in the mail full of all kinds of feminine items: new sweater with matching skirt, scarf, two frilly slips, perfume, a purse with a $5 bill inside and a long distance call from home (Is she an LDS sister missionary?) Philip is part of the neighborhood crowd invited over for the Michie’s traditional New Year’s Eve party. There are no details except the kind of hat Philip made as part of the activities which Shelley mentally observes looks more like a ridiculous paper football helmet than anything fashionable.

            Christmas break over, Shelley returns to the daily grind of school and boring biology but is still full of wide-eyed wonder at all the marvels of southern California nature which Jeannie continues to smirk at. All her life, Jeannie’s wanted nothing more than to graduate from school and get as far away from this hick town as she can. Why, Jeannie recalls visiting Portland once and LOVED the drinking fountains downtown that never stopped running. Shelley never thought much about them.

            Report cards reveal Shelley is practically flunking biology which stops her cold. Shelley Latham has ALWAYS been a good student with all A’s and B’s. Hartley notices her distress and suggests she talk to their biology teacher with his keen blue eyes who smiles sardonically (think the Joker from Batman!) and remarks to Shelley that she earned her D fair and square. If Shelley doesn’t want to get D’s he suggests she stop doing that kind of work. But he makes a deal with her, if she’ll improve her work this semester, he’ll give her a passing grade.

            Neat, prompt, conscientious work, was how a girl survived high school in 1958. Then she could expect marry and become a housewife after graduation. If not, she would take a career as an airline stewardess or secretary, that was always Shelley’s plan, (How did women EVER survive before Gloria Steinem and Betty Friedan?) learning biology was never part of it. Now, it would appear Shelley must actually use her brain instead of daydreaming about Philip.

            Katie comes home from school that day a bit exasperated but triumphant having gotten in a lipstick fight with two immature boys versus her and Pamela. She is clearly pleased at the attention as she cheerfully accepts her mother’s scolding and heads to the bathroom to wash her arms and face. Shelley mentally recalls her own thirteen year old adventures with junior high boy’s pranks. Luke and Katie share their own report cards with the family. Katie got a C in cooking (only subject mentioned that she’s taking in school) and Tom warns her she better bring it up (or he’ll never marry her off?) Luke got a C minus in English but an A in Latin which Tom scolds him about. Idylls of the King by Tennyson (a collection of poems about King Arthur and his knights and their adventures) is mentioned here for Luke is struggling to understand the close readings and analysis of this story for his English class which is why his grade is so low. The fact that he doesn’t care much for his female teacher doesn’t help either. To cheer him up, Shelly shares her own past struggles with difficult school subjects and biology and the strict teacher. Tom (who could get in MAJOR trouble for sharing this) then informs everyone Philip Blanton flunked biology. This means Phil will not be allowed to play basketball this year. Shelley can’t help but feel partly responsible.

 

Chapter 9

One Saturday, Shelley is visiting with Katie who is mixing up another cake (beating the batter by hand!) while Shelley does the breakfast dishes. Philip calls but his voice is strained as he practically begs Shelley to come see him at another yard job with Frisbie. He has something very important he needs to tell her.

            Turns out the reason he didn’t ask her out right away at the beginning of the school year was because of how strict his dad is. He wants his son to go to college and have a career but Philip hates studying and has no desire to go to college. He’d rather do Mexican immigrant work like landscaping and construction before getting picked up by a pro basketball team. He’d also like to date pretty girls like Shelley but his dad was firm-if he didn’t study then he couldn’t take Shelley out that weekend. This revelation shocks Shelley who always thought everyone wanted to go to college and get a degree. Since he flunked biology (Shelley doesn’t tell him she already knew that) they will have to break up. He won’t be playing this season either. Shelley knows that too but, again, keeps this to herself simply telling him she understands then returns home to sit on her bed and ruminate. Soon, everyone in this small town will know Philip Blanton, star basketball player, has been benched thanks to his low IQ and raging hormones. She just lost her social status as “Phil’s girl” she is alone and single again and the thought almost makes Shelley burst into tears. San Sebastian is no longer a magical place. Shelley wants to go HOME!!!

 

Chapter 10

But Shelley can’t just quit school and go home now; she must stay and see the remainder of the school year through. Hartley is in her spring semester Journalism class. Phil still sits next to her in biology but they don’t talk or exchange shy, sexually charged filled looks at each other like they did last year. When a cold snap hits, Shelley learns what smudging season means for all the families who keep orange groves and how inconvenient smudging is for everyone. Dirty-faced boys fall asleep in class after staying up all night tending the trees and Shelley’s hair reeks of the oily smell. She gets even more depressed when the first basketball home game of the season arrives and everyone in town is going. Mavis and Katie urge Shelley to take a break from studying biology and join them; Shelley relents. Philip may be benched but, from her seat in the bleachers, Shelley watches how intently he follows the game. Without their star basketball player, San Sebastian loses and as everyone shuffles out the doors, looking daggers at HER, Shelley feels a hand on her shoulder. It is Hartley reminding her gently that it’s only a game and not to be so hard on herself which makes Shelley feel like a million bucks. What a sweetheart!

 

Chapter 11

Mail arrives after school one day. Rosemary writes that Jack often takes her out but they are strictly platonic-JUST FRIENDS! Mother writes that Philip sounds like a nice boy and hopes Shelley won’t “lose her head” over him. Shelley rolls her eyes before reading the next line: Whatever happened to that OTHER nice boy-Hartley? Shelley’s reading is interrupted by the arrival of Katie through the front door. She has a package, a very nice hand-knit sweater from Grandma (Mavis’ mother) and she hates it. She’d rather wear an Orlon sweater from Penney’s (now almost completely out of business in 2020 thx to COVID-19) like everyone else in Jr. High. Mavis tells her daughter she is being ridiculous. Shelley thinks how familiar this argument between mom and daughter is beginning to sound.

            Shelley studies biology and is helping to prepare dinner when Katie returns wearing the new sweater which she “accidently-ruined-on-purpose.” Mom and daughter work out the issue, making up by Mavis recounting her Depression-era childhood to her daughter: they had to wear auto robes because cars back then didn’t have built in heating (or A/C) she wore silk stockings and ice trucks making their summer rounds were always a treat. Shelley finds the entire scene heart-warming and decides she will find a way to replace Phil by getting Hartley to notice her again, then she won't be single anymore…

 

Chapter 12

With a "career aspirations theme" interview assignment coming up, Shelley discusses ideas with Hartley as they walk to Journalism class together. Citriculture means the cultivation of citrus fruits (thx Google) because they live in an agrarian small town so Hartley jokes he could always interview his dad for the assignment. Shelley can’t come up with anything but that night she happens to glance through the local rag of a small town excuse for a newspaper and reads that a semi-famous (fictional) author, a poet named Jonas Hornbostle, will be doing a reading at fictional Orange Belt College in Vincente this Saturday. Shelley remembers analyzing Buffalo Bones in her English book years ago and is struck with inspiration for her assignment AND a way to get a date with Hartley…

            Next day in homeroom, Shelley tells Hartley her idea suggesting he come with her this Saturday and they can interview a prominent person together! Hartley can’t make it but wishes Shelley the best of luck. Mavis allows Shelley the family station wagon (beats taking the bus!) and Shelley attends the reading alone. Mentally sharpened pencil ready to take accurate notes for the Pulitzer prize winning interview article she’ll write up, Shelley reviews the famous stanza as she waits for the event to start: Highway 30 bisects the sod where once they lay. Bison bones Bleached by sun, leached by rain…her mind is whirling with all the fascinating questions she plans to throw at the famous Bard who takes a long time at the lectern wiping his spectacles before he begins reading his most famous works in a dull monotone.

            He’s not very good. There’s an intermission and one young man openly declares he’s had enough of this cheap entertainment and leaves (not that many people actually came to this event). When the reading is finally over, Shelley begins making her way down to the stage where Mr. Hornbostle consents to answer her questions. He’s a bit rude and very condescending but then, who could blame him? Shelley’s questions practically scream “amateur” and “novice:” 

What does he think of this part of the country? 

“Does it matter?” 

How old were you when you wrote your first poem? 

“Poem? Have I written any? I’m not so sure of that.” 

Feeling rather desperate among all the smirking witnesses she stammers-"Where were you born?" 

“Have you tried asking Google these questions that can be found in any reference section at your local library?”

Red faced with embarrassment, Shelley flees the auditorium. So much for her cub reporter skills! Hurtful, curt man, Hartley would never have set himself up for such a spectacular failure. She fumes all the way home but later, reflecting on the exchange; Shelley has to admit she feels sorry for the tired, weary old poet who probably gets the same old questions from silly college and high school students in every town he visits.

            That evening, Hartley phones to ask how it went. Shelley is about to tell him she didn’t get an interview but then has a sudden thought of inspiration. Maybe she DOES have a story here. After briefly describing the exchange, Hartley agrees that writing it straight, exactly as it happened and just telling the truth, Shelley can use this as a learning example for what happens when a novice reporter isn’t prepared with the right questions. Hartley loves the angle and offers to come over and help Shelley write it. It’s a date!

 

Chapter 13

Shelley spends much of this book mentally composing letters to Rosemary and her parents. This chapter begins with another such example. Again, like their first date in chapter 4, this date is easy and natural, as if Shelley and Hartley have known each other all their lives. Unlike when she entertained Philip, Shelley has no mental anxiety having Luke and Katie hanging out in the front room with them since Hartley is such an easygoing and friendly guy. Shelley is flattered at Katie’s none-to-subtle observations, wandering in and out of the room during this date so she’ll know what to do for her own future study dates with boys. Shelley enjoys the intellectual discussions she and Hartley have that actually get a bit intense, such as how to formally address a living person in a paper or article. She debates with Hartley before realizing he’s right. After stating their full name, a writer always refers to their subject as Mr. or Mrs for the rest of their written piece if alive but ONLY by full name if deceased. She and Hartley smile and high-five each other before drafting the next paragraph of Shelley’s article.

Shelley is not missing that exasperating ping pong ball at all.

Katie brings in some refreshments, shyly admitting she added mint flavoring to the blue frosting on the cake she baked herself. Shelly invites her to join them and the three young people talk comfortably. Hartley eats two pieces AND earns bonus points by helping Katie with the dishes-he really is the perfect date! Katie goes upstairs and Shelley finally confesses to Hartley why she acted so funny saying good night on their first date. Hartley throws back his head in laughter, relieved he didn’t scare her off that night when he admitted he liked her-before she went chasing after Philip.

He still likes her, he tells her. Shelley blushes, admitting she DID go chasing after Philip and turned him into the boy of her dreams but it turned out to be only an infatuation with a good-looking boy. Hartley flirts. So HE’S not good-looking? He puts his hand over Shelley’s on the sofa in the perfect gesture of young love. Shelley mentally angsts-what if Philip still likes her?

 

Chapter 14

Hartley has officially taken Philip’s place in Shelley’s life. Both enjoy crossword puzzles and spend many Saturday evenings using every reference book in the Michie library and have a blast! One morning, they picnic in the nearby mountains. Only Jeannie at school knows about their relationship. Unlike Phil, Shelley has no desire to exploit a boy like Hartley!

            Mail arrives and Shelley’s mother writes that she and “daddy” plan on driving down to pick up Shelley and take a leisurely road trip back to Portland. Shelley arranges some California poppies from the yard into bouquets described as “gay and casual” but later the two “gay bouquets” have closed up. Mavis smiles and tells Shelley to put them in a dark cupboard to trick them into opening again. It works.

Finally, Grandma (Mrs. Stickney) is here for a visit. She knits while prodigy Katie practices her Hungarian rhapsodies with a copy of a fictional teen book lying open on the music stand to read as she plays. (Beverly Cleary knows NOTHING about playing the piano but maybe somebody out there knows someone who can read a book AND play piano at the same time-I can't!) Everyone argues at dinner but, deep down, it’s all good natured and disorderly.

Later, when Hartley comes to pick her up for another date, Shelley comments about it. He admits his own family of brothers and father are always bantering but, deep down, they all really like each other. That’s the way it is in families. Shelley tells him about the raincoat incident with her mother and they laugh.

Wandering around the school carnival, they observe all the fun games, food stalls and concession stands. Shelley finds herself wondering what Philip is doing tonight. Gavel club (or debate club) stall is selling shrunken heads. Hartley buys the empty walnut shell writing the name of Shelley’s biology teacher’s on it before presenting to her which makes her laugh. He also pays for Shelley to try her luck hitting the target at the football team’s game stall-a player wearing a helmet-and would’ve missed, thanks to a little help from her target! There is much scoffing and teasing. Still smiling, Shelley turns and nearly runs into Philip and Jeannie! Shelley is glad Philip had a study partner tonight and sends a silent signal to Jeannie, giving her blessing. Jeannie is obviously thrilled as Shelley’s feminine intuition had been telling her Jeannie had been crushing on Philip all these years and now her dreams are coming true. It makes you smile when fate takes a hand!

So, walking back to the car, when Hartley asks Shelley if she minded seeing her ex with another woman, Shelley admits her relief, she is glad to be rid of Philip. Also glad, Hartley suggests they drive over to Vincente to celebrate over doughnut holes. He looks down at her in tender amusement and kisses her nose. Shelley reflects on the letter she got earlier today, her mother writing that Jack is waiting faithfully for her to come home. He wants her to come to the mountains with him and his family during the Fourth-pick up where they left off. Basking in Hartley’s attention, Shelley knows, there is NO WAY she will be getting back together with Jack. She could never go back to being the girl she was in Portland-that seems another lifetime ago now!

 

Chapter 15

Shelley dreads the day she has to say goodbye to dear Hartley. They work together on the school paper as part of their journalism class and Shelley treasures every minute of every hour they spend together. In an almost masochistic way, she’s even begun counting the days left as if to rub the salt in. Meanwhile, Katie prepares for her last dance class party. She needs a new dress which her mother and Grandma talk her into letting them sew for her and Shelley suggests instead of hounding Mavis to let her get a perm-she get her makeover at a beauty shop instead. Emerging from the shop with a darling new hairdo, Katie looks great in her new dress and has a good time at the dance too, in spite of Mavis, Mrs. Stickney and Shelley all coming early to watch the sets of ballroom dancing. Katie dances solemnly with her partner, a tall boy with bushy hair. This must be that boy all the girls wanted to dance with but Shelley is anxious to meet Hartley. Tonight at 9pm is to be their second to the last date. Nothing in particular planned, just enjoying the evening together. She glances surreptitiously at her watch every minute, willing this event to end so they can all go back to the house. There’s an argument between Katie and the two other women in the car on the way home. Katie is very put-out being treated like a child, everyone coming to gawk at her when she was trying so hard to be grown-up. Unlike Shelley, who never has any problems, nobody understands HER. Shelly protests and the two women smirk how nobody understands THEM either! Everyone laughs and the tension is broken. But Shelley caught the moral lesson-all mothers struggle with letting their precious children grow up to become their own person.

 

Chapter 16

The dreaded last day of school arrives. Mother and Father will be here tomorrow to take Shelley home (kicking and screaming). Except for a C in PE, Shelley gets all A’s and B’s in her six classes: English, journalism, history, Latin, PE and in biology a B for both semesters! Her strict teacher observes his class, furiously exchanging yearbooks with each other, with another “sardonic” smile and says nothing. Philip passes his yearbook over for Shelley to sign, You helped make my year here complete, have fun with Jeannie, Shelley. Phil only writes that Shelley is “the gamest ping pong player he’s ever known.” They both share a serious look; it was never meant to be. Jeannie writes that Shelley is “a wide-eyed innocent” and as the girls walk outside for the last time they part quickly and soberly. Jeannie tells Shelly, don’t ever change, but Shelley knows they will all grow up and become adults and this age of innocence will end. Even Hartley will find some other girl, Shelley muses, just as she will move on to the next guy. It was never meant to be (which is quite ridiculous, she’s in LOVE and there’s absolutely NO REASON why she and Hartley can’t keep in touch, meet up again after graduation, get married and live happily ever after!)

            Shelley packs her trunk (yes she has a trunk-this book is SO dated!) has her last supper with the Michies and Grandma is still here. There is more good-natured bickering over different subjects but Shelley is only half-listening until Hartley arrives to take Shelley out on the LAST DATE.

Impulsively, Shelley asks if they could stop at the Giant Orange tourist trap just outside of Vincente, instead of getting doughnut holes like they planned-she always wanted to go there and never had the chance. Always the gentleman, Hartley indulges her. A car-hop brings them two tall, frosty glasses of fresh squeezed orange juice and they sit in the car to write their goodbyes to each other in their yearbooks.

It is time.

Shelley writes: YOU are the boy I always wanted to meet and now it’s too late and so…goodbye. With love, Shelley. Hartley doesn’t want Shelley to read what he wrote-read it later, he admonishes her, and Shelley obeys.

            Hartley drives them back to the Michie’s (the date took less than an hour!) he gets the door for her and they hold hands as he walks her to the Michie’s front door. Hartley brushes back Shelley’s hair, puts his hands on either side of her face, leans in and kisses her gently on the lips whispering, “Good-bye, Shelley.” And just like that he’s gone-it’s all over. Very poignant.

            Shelley enters the house and goes to her room to read Hartley’s last words to her: Where to begin? So much to say: the way she looked when he first saw her, her enduring way of looking at everything as if for the first time, finding the fun in every situation, it only means one thing-this is true love! And now...goodbye, Hartley

            Shelley is almost bawling-this really IS true love! She is growing up, and says as much to a rather alarmed Katie who wanders into Shelley’s room to find her sniffling over Hartley’s words. She’ll be all right. It’s just hard to say goodbye.

            To relieve her pent-up feelings, Shelley goes outside. The Michie’s have a rope hanging from a tall tree with a metal ring. Shelley always felt too mature to climb up on the child’s slide with it and jump off like Katie often does but she does so now.

           Flying across the lawn in the moonlight, a sweet feeling of contentment washes over Shelley; while above her in the eucalyptus trees the cry of the doves was sad and sweet.

 

THE END