Brittany, a teenager from Philadelphia, recounts her childhood with her single, German mother, Julia, and the never-ending feud between her mother and their neighbor, Allen's mom. The feud starts when Julia and Allen's mom have a misunderstanding over a welcome pie, and escalates into years of pranks, sabotage, and police calls. As Brittany and Allen grow up, they become enemies, but are forced to work together on a school project, leading to a romance. However, their mothers' animosity towards each other makes it difficult for them to be open about their relationship. When they finally confess to their mothers, a big fight ensues, and they decide to run away together. After three days, they return home, and their mothers, realizing their children's determination, agree to a truce, not as friends, but as a way to respect their children's relationship.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. The narrator, Brittany, was raised by her single German mother, Julia, in Philadelphia.
2. Julia was not a conventional mother, and Brittany was allowed to call her by her first name.
3. A woman, Allen's mother, moved next to them when Brittany was in the third grade.
4. Allen's mother and Julia did not get along and started a long-standing feud.
5. Brittany and Allen were enemies for many years, often playing pranks on each other.
6. The feud between their mothers escalated, with both women calling the cops on each other and engaging in public fights.
7. In ninth grade, Brittany and Allen were partnered for a class project and started to develop feelings for each other.
8. They kept their relationship a secret from their mothers, sneaking around to meet up.
9. Allen eventually told his mother about Brittany, but lied about their relationship when his mother confronted her.
10. Brittany's mother was furious when she found out about the lie and wanted to plan revenge against Allen and his mother.
11. Brittany refused to participate in her mother's plans and instead tried to find a way to end the feud.
12. Brittany and Allen came up with a plan to tell their mothers about their relationship and try to put an end to the feud.
13. However, things didn't go as planned, and the feud escalated, leading to a public fight between the two mothers.
14. Brittany and Allen ran away from the fight and hid at a friend's house for three days.
15. Their mothers reported them missing, and flyers were posted around the city.
16. Eventually, Brittany and Allen returned home and confronted their mothers, telling them that they were together and refusing to choose between their relationship and their mothers' feud.
17. The mothers finally agreed to put aside their differences and respect their children's relationship, shaking hands and calling a truce.