Summary

The next chapter finds Catherine Grace at age 16. Her father has promised her that she can leave Ringgold on her 18th birthday, and he gives her a set of powder blue vinyl luggage for her 16th birthday. He adds a card with a "if you love something set it free" poem, to communicate that he will allow her to go to the city, but expects her to get it out of her system and come home. Catherine feels like she is up to the move, but realizes that it will take courage. She feels prepared well in advance, right down to knowing the bus schedule and planning her goodbyes.

However, Catherine surprised to find that she has developed a crush on Hank Blankenship, a boy she has known all her life. Now juniors in high school, she realizes that she and Hank...