Summarize

From inside the St. Louis, in the summer from 1903, seventeen-year-old Esther Smith fantasizes regarding the meeting John Truett, this new bashful son-next-home, while you are her elderly cousin Flower frets about their beau, Warren Sheffield, that is out-of at Yale. Sure that Warren, who is contacting Flower on 6:30 one to night, is actually fundamentally planning plan to the woman sis, Esther organizes which have Katie, the Smiths’s housekeeper, towards relatives to eat dinner very early, making sure that Rose will get some confidentiality if you find yourself speaking toward mobile. Esther’s cantankerous dad Alonzo, that has not become advised about the expected phone call, ruins their plan, but not, when he claims towards the restaurants during the common go out.

Throughout the dinner, visitors, together with Esther’s four-yr old brother “Tootie,” tries to rush Lon together, however the phone bands just as the main course will be supported. Since the this lady family eavesdrops to your whole conversation, Flower attempts to prod Warren into a suggestion, however, he gets mired in the small talk and you may hangs upwards instead uttering a single personal term. , who are able to Princeton. On group, Esther to start with feigns indifference so you can John, but hides their cap to save him at the house and you may next asks him to assist her turn off all of the lights. Even though John is clearly keen on the brand new flirtatious Esther, they are too timid so you can kiss the lady, and you can as an alternative brings her a hearty handshake.

Before he actually leaves, Esther encourages him to participate the woman members of the family that Sunday to own a trip of one’s St. Louis Exposition fairgrounds, in which he tentatively welcomes. For the Weekend, Esther delays excitedly getting John within trolley prevent, but he has not turned up by the point the brand new trolley was arranged to go away. As the trolley was extract away, although not, John seems and you can, to Esther’s delight, hops into next to this lady. Weeks after, Tootie and her some older sister Agnes dress up as goblins and you can date to help you enjoy Halloween night to the area students. Nervous to show herself, Tootie, that is possessed with dying, insists with the calling dreadful neighbor Mr. Braukoff so you can their door and you can, pursuing the regional customized, punches flour within his deal with. Shortly after Tootie is ily towards the an anxiety disorder whenever she returns family, crying, bruised and you can cut. Tootie states you to John hit the lady by trolley songs, and although Esther initially will not believe their, she alter this lady attention whenever a clump out-of hair is located from inside the Tootie’s hands. Furious, Esther storms over to John’s family, accuses him of being a beneficial bully and sounds and you will bites him.

Afterwards, although not, Tootie and you may Agnes admit one to John actually stored her or him out-of being detained when they almost triggered any sort of accident for the trolley tunes. Esther rushes to John’s household so you can apologize, and you will John not just forgives this lady, however, flirts along with her also. After one night, Lon, a legal professional, production the home of mention that their company is mobile your to help you Nyc. Although Lon was enthusiastic about the fresh new transfer, that requires a marketing, Anna therefore the children perform which have shock and you can care. Ultimately, yet not, Anna believes into the flow, while the Smiths propose to get off St. Louis after Xmas. Days later, on christmas Eve, Rose was upset just like the checking out Warren enjoys greeting Lucille Ballard, an Easterner, into the regional Christmas time moving in the place of her.

Leon Ames

Back of Princeton, Lon, Jr., is aggravated due to the fact the guy wished to inquire Lucille on dance. Immediately after Katie convinces Lon, Jr., so you can companion Rose on the moving, Esther’s arrangements are disrupted whenever John is compelled to split his date together given that he don’t get to the tailor’s with time to get his tuxedo. Although Esther assurances John this woman is sugardaddy not disturb, she later stops working in the tears and you can will not getting escorted because of the Lon, Jr. Whenever Esther’s pops, however, proposes to take her, she gratefully allows. On dancing, Esther and you will Rose design up against Lucille, which they have never ever came across, because of the filling in the lady moving cards toward brands of clods. The bundle backfires when Lucille actually is nice and you may insists you to definitely Rose be that have Warren, while you are she goes with Lon, Jr. Embarrassed, Esther gets Lucille her dancing card, upcoming braves new clods.