Table of Contents: Part III (What Happens A Cappella? Chapters 45 – 65)
(In this psychodrama, Samantha is wrapped
in a cocoon and eventually breaks out. Nicole and Ruby also appear in this drama)
(In Uncle Joe’s family treasure chest, Samantha finds a1953 letter from her mother Rosie to Auntie [Nana’s sister])
(Auntie hints to 4-Year-old Samantha that fatness
is not okay. Auntie pressures Samantha to throw away her favorite dress. Auntie
also mourns Unkie, her late husband)
(Samantha reveals that she has no memory
of Unkie, just family stories and an old photo. Sal Reveals That Unkie and
Auntie fought bitterly)
(In Auntie’s voice, more about Unkie, her will,
complaints about the family and their treatment of her, and Samantha’s bad table
manners. Suggests that Sam needs to go on a diet)
(Samantha finds a photo of Auntie at a slot
machine. Description of Auntie. Gwen, Nana and Pappa’s daughter and Samantha’s aunt. Gwen reveals that she is no fan of Auntie)
(Teenager Samantha notes Auntie’s dislike
of fat people and her mocking of Hilda, an overweight friend. Samantha mentions
Dr. MacCormack, a chiropractor she refers to as “That dirty old bone cracker”)
(Samantha meets Dr. Garrett, a psychologist,
for the first time. Flirts with him a bit. Assigns the “Mirror Exercise”)
(Samantha laments over the mirror exercise,
doubts if she’ll ever love herself as she is)
(More Dr. Garrett. Focuses on childhood teasing,
diet pills, and more description of Auntie, including some good times. Some banter
between client and shrink.)
(Samantha describes, in her teenage voice,
an embarrassing incident with a boy)
(More Dr. Garrett and discussions about
Auntie and Dr. MacCormack, who had a fascination with old shoes. Sam mentions her
mother but refuses to expand on her relationship with her. Dr. Garrett gives her
an assignment: to write a letter to Nana)
(Highschooler Samantha complains about her
English teacher, who has flunked her. She and a friend get lost on the way to
take the A.C.T.)
(Samantha reads her letter to Nana to Dr.
Garrett. Samantha reveals new information about her family and ex-husband Doug)
(While trying to find food to break a fast,
16-year-old Samantha discovers a 1917 letter from Veronica LaRue, Nana’s cousin,
to Kat O’Toole and some revealing newspaper clippings)
(Nightmare about Veronica interspersed
with Nicole’s overdose)
(Samantha contemplates her “Fantasy
Address” but becomes frustrated)
(Prelude to “The BIG Diet”)
Chapter 63 (The BIG Diet: Eve of Deprivation)
(Samantha pigs out BIG time)
Chapter 63 (The BIG Diet: Week #1)
(Begins diet on an optimistic note)
Chapter 63 (The BIG Diet: Week #2)
(First weigh in day. Ecstatic at huge
weight loss)
Chapter 63 (The BIG Diet: Week #3)
(Unhappy with nasty tasting milkshakes)
Chapter 63 (The BIG Diet: Week #4)
(Agreement regarding Samantha not cooking
because of food temptation)
Chapter 63 (The BIG Diet: Week #5)
(Craving a banana, becomes an obsession)
Chapter 63 (The BIG Diet: Week #6)
(First mention of Mona, Sheldon’s secretary)
Chapter 63 (The BIG Diet: Week #7)
(After skipping a meal milkshake, Samantha
passes out while teaching a class)
Chapter 63 (The BIG Diet: Week #8)
(Samantha freaks out in a grocery store)
Chapter 63 (The BIG Diet: Week #9)
(Samantha has a dream about Heidi, Sal’s dachshund)
Chapter 63 (The BIG Diet: Week #10)
(Attending a party with Sheldon’s
colleagues and yearning for the delicious food being served)
Chapter 63 (The BIG Diet: Week #11)
(Dream: Samantha swims through whipped
cream and raspberry torte)
Chapter 63 (The BIG Diet: Week #12)
(Samantha meets Brian for lunch, later
writing him a childish letter, but she doesn’t send it to him)
Chapter 63 (The BIG Diet: Week #13)
(Samantha goes out of control after eating
her first solid food in three months)
Chapter 63 (The BIG Diet: Postscript, The Fallout)
(Samantha six months later and, once again,
fatter)
(Hint of Samantha’s last meeting with Dr.
Garrett)
(Samantha is asked to say grace at the reunion)