After dinner one night, Dorcas and Rita take a walk together. Rita has just finished a book called Dear Princess, which was also published by this company. The book is all about living as a woman of God, and Rita tells Dorcas about how much she has learned and how it has opened her eyes.

They also attend Mennonite VBS, where Rita's eyes continue to be opened.

I regret to announce that at this point, the book takes a horrible turn.

Dorcas finds Mother in the garden crying happy tears. Mother tells her that Rita apologized to her and Father for her rebellion and said she wants to become a better Christian, asking for prayer. By the way, I hate the term "better Christian" because you either are one or aren't one. Dorcas and Mother rejoice together.

NO RITA. REBEL. ESCAPE WHILE YOU STILL CAN. RUN AWAY AND READ THE SUGAR CREEK GANG.

The next day, Mother takes the younger kids to the doctor and dentist. I'm actually amazed they go. Rita and Dorcas stay home to sew, and Rita says she finds it easier to "behave" when she dresses modestly. She talks about how her own mother dressed really immodestly and "somehow stuffed herself" into size 12 clothing. How big are these people???? They go on and on about healthy eating????

Then they end up talking about anorexia and bulimia, because this is apparently how Rita's mother is "sick." This book really does not need to go there. Okay, please, I'm begging. Dorcas says she feels "repulsed" by the idea of eating disorders. I feel repulsed by you, Dorcas.

Dorcas talks about how she once heard a sermon on anorexia, and how doctors often can't help because the underlying cause is sin. OH, SO MENNONITES DON'T BELIEVE IN MENTAL ILLNESS EITHER. WELL DON'T THEY JUST GET MORE DELIGHTFUL BY THE PAGE. Rita says she wishes her mother would realize her eating disorders were a sin rooted in vanity so she could stop.

Rita describes her parents' (mildly) argumentative marriage in a really unrealistic way, because a kid raised in that should be used to it, but Rita acts baffled and distressed. Dorcas pities Rita and imagines what having such an unhappy childhood must have been like.

Then the book either has a catastrophic typo or a word I've never heard of.

Mother gets new plates with roosters on them from the thrift store, and Rita sets the table in a hurry, so Philip's rooster plate is upside down. He critically remarks that his rooster shouldn't be standing on its head and that the table should be neat. I'm sorry but there's not a 15-year-old boy on earth who would care about this.

Time flies by and Dorcas wakes up on her 17th birthday. She reflects how in four years, she'll be on her own. Is this a Mennonite thing? Is she gonna get booted out at 21? What the heck?

She has cake later that day, and gets casserole dishes for her hope chest. She also gets sixteen cards in the mail. How did everyone time them to arrive on her birthday?

They paint a fence afterwards, and Dorcas talks to Rita about how pretty the flowers are. Rita agrees, "Yep!" Father is passing by and overhears their conversation, and tells Rita that she's too old to say "yep." He adds, "Using proper English is part of being a responsible Christian young lady." Rita expresses her thankfulness for the instruction.

Now that Dorcas has turned 17, Mother makes her stay in the kitchen to learn how to be a housewife rather than work outside. It is not what Dorcas wants, but she knows part of being a young lady is smiling and being cheerful.

Two pages later, Dorcas is working in the orchard. I don't know what the heck is going on anymore. She realizes her parents have been trusting Rita to be alone in the house or alone with the young kids lately, and she rejoices that there is so much less headache and heartache in the home.

Rita's birthday comes along and the grandparents come for the day. The grandparents are collectively called "the grandpa's." What in tarnation????

Then a bunch of family members of Rita's arrive. It's not explained well, so I'm confused. All I can gather is that an aunt, uncle, and cousins are referred to as "Uncle Mark's" and her grandma and grandpa are also called "Grandpa's." For example, "Uncle Mark's gave her a small gift." This is so weird.

They eat steak from a cow they butchered and froze "a couple of years ago." There is no way this still tastes good, not to mention the food safety. They give Rita a Bible so she can continue on her path to holiness.

The cousins play games and do puzzles. I AM IN SHOCK??? Rita and her two visiting brothers are playful and competitive, while Dorcas and her siblings are used to playing slowly, helping each other out. Rita's style makes them uncomfortable, and they want to stop playing. Father interrupts and suggests they sing hymns instead.

In the evening, when the birthday hubbub dies down, Rita feels guilty for "fighting" with her brothers on her birthday. By "fighting" she means being competitive over a game, even though they were all laughing. Mother encourages her to ask God for forgiveness. Dorcas feels her heart lifted to see Rita repenting of her behavior.