Summer, #1
The Summer I Turned Pretty
by Jenny Han
Contents
chapter eleven
Overview
In a flashback to age nine, Belly plays cards with Conrad, Jeremiah, and Steven while Laurel and Susannah drink, smoke, and banter. The scene reveals Laurel’s choice to keep her maiden name, a sly secret about Belly’s father, Belly’s early faith in Conrad’s winning, and Susannah’s nurturing outlook.
This memory underscores the mothers’ tight bond and sets the tone for Belly’s long-standing attachments and the family dynamics that still shape the present.
Summary
In a summer porch flashback, nine-year-old Belly plays hearts with Conrad as her partner while Jeremiah and Steven struggle to focus. Nearby, Laurel and Susannah drink margaritas, smoke together, and play gin, signaling their rare, intimate ritual.
Jeremiah asks why Laurel calls Susannah “Beck,” prompting talk of maiden names. Laurel explains she kept her own surname, asserting a small feminist stance, while Susannah shuts down the debate by winning at gin. Their playful rivalry and ease show a deep friendship.
Returning to the kids’ game, Belly insists Laurel cheats at hearts and proudly notes she chose Conrad because he always wins, revealing Belly’s early admiration and competitive streak. When Susannah jokes that Belly is Laurel “all over again,” Laurel counters that Belly resembles her father, and the two women share a secretive look that Belly notices but cannot decode.
As the light fades, Susannah calls them “children” in a way that feels expansive rather than belittling. The moment captures the families’ closeness, hints at adult secrets around Belly’s father, and quietly establishes Belly’s trust in Conrad’s competence—threads that continue to shape their relationships.
Who Appears
- Belly (Isabel Conklin)Nine-year-old narrator; competitive at cards, chooses Conrad to win; senses a secret about her father.
- Susannah (Beck) FisherWarm, playful matriarch; wins at gin, defuses arguments, and calls the kids “children” with affection.
- Laurel DunneBelly’s mother; smokes with Susannah, insists on keeping her maiden name, shares a secretive look about Belly’s father.
- Conrad FisherBelly’s card partner; sharp and competitive, casually needles Jeremiah, emblem of Belly’s early admiration.
- Jeremiah FisherRestless, curious about names and marriage; loses focus on cards, teams with Steven.
- Steven ConklinBelly’s brother; tries to keep Jeremiah on task during the game.