This volume has some of the worst theology I've ever read in my life.

This part kicks off immediately with Rick coming BACK into the picture (????) and inviting Katie and Christy to a group called, wait for it, God Lovers, all the way in San Diego. They end up not being able to go. It's a big deal all for nothing.

Meanwhile, Christy gets in trouble at work for saying "Merry Christmas" instead of "Happy Holidays," which is so stereotypical and isn't actually a problem in real life like people think it is. I mean, when I worked at the library, our boss told us that he preferred to say "Happy Holidays" but that the rest of us could say whatever we wanted.

Christy's parents announce that they'll spend Christmas in a mountain cabin with Aunt Bob and Uncle Marti. Christy calls it the "worst possible Christmas she could ever have" because she can't be with her friends.

Before leaving for the worst possible Christmas she could ever have, Christy goes out for pizza with a big group. Rick acts like a dick and is all handsy and stupid and grabs Christy. Christy has more tiny, bubbly tears. Rick's behavior is excused by other characters because Christy is so "godly" it makes her "irresistible" and Rick can't contain himself. I want to pause here to mention that this is a really, really, really, really, really, really, really bad message.

Then Christy tries to talk to Rick, and he almost gets into a car wreck IN A PARKING LOT. He tells Christy that she's too attached to Todd and needs to let him go and come back to him. Christy goes home and trashes all her mementoes from Todd, because for some reason she's decided to listen to
Rick now.

They go to the cabin for Christmas. By this point I was bored and I'd gotten in my head that Christy's little brother would get a puppy for Christmas, because I wanted a puppy in this book. He gets a video game instead. I riot.

Christy tries to be a missionary to Uncle Bob, but her theology crashes and burns when he asks her the tough questions, like why God allows suffering. It brings me actual physical pain when I see Christy stammer out a non-answer.

After Christmas, Christy goes back to Newport Beach with Bob and Marti so she can go to the Rose Bowl Parade with her friends. I was thinking with relief that we could have a break from Rick when Christy CONSIDERS CALLING RICK AND INVITING HIM. Aunt Marti stocks up on beer for the teenagers because of course she does.

Bob and Marti do Christy's laundry, take her out to eat, and tell her to pick whatever movie she wants to see in theaters. She gets crabby inside and wishes they'd back out of her life a little. I grew up with no extended family who gave me the time of day and I want to slap her.

Anyway, Christy comes up with her answer to why suffering happens: "God gives many people the resources to stop suffering, but they don't share them." So the answer is...communism?

In Newport Beach, Christy connects with beach-friend Doug, who is 20 years old, sponsoring an African child (WHY IS IT ALWAYS STARVING AFRICAN CHILDREN), saving his first kiss for his wedding day, and literally portrayed as flawless. Anyway, Doug has his own answer to why God allows suffering. He thinks everyone has their own personal "meter" for how much suffering they can handle, and God acts accordingly. A poverty-stricken child in Africa has a higher meter than, say, a spoiled person in America. So God acts accordingly.

I just literally cannot right now this is the worst theological explanation for suffering I have ever read in my life.

Doug drives Christy to Pasadena for the parade. They meet up with other friends including Rick. Yay. He and Christy talk and agree to be friends, on the condition that Christy doesn't date Todd.

After the parade, they have a party at Bob and Marti's house, where Katie reveals to Christy that Rick the Dick grabbed her and kissed her without her consent last night, and she's crying and feels dirty about it. Christy tells her not to worry, THAT HER FIRST KISS IS A WONDERFUL THING.

WHAT THE HECK?

OH, I HEAR YOU GOT RAPED. WELL, YOUR FIRST TIME HAVING SEX IS A WONDERFUL THING.

Now Todd shows up at the party. How did he know the party was happening and how did he manage to arrive from HAWAII in time?

By the way Todd's physical appearance is described exactly like this doll I had growing up:

Todd spends like six pages describing a wave he rode and I'm bored to death. He also started a revival while in Hawaii because what else would he do. -_- Christy dutifully makes him sandwiches cause we all about these stereotypes.

Todd is moving back to California, so Christy is happy. He takes Christy to look at stars and tells her Bible stories. End of part two.