The narrator, Caroline, shares her difficult childhood and teenage years with a mother who constantly criticizes and belittles her. Caroline struggles with insecurity, especially regarding her appearance, due to her mother's hurtful comments. Despite this, she finds solace in sculpting and, with the support of her friend Ron and his aunt, develops her passion.
As Caroline grows older, her relationship with her mother deteriorates, leading her to run away from home. Ron takes her in, and she eventually enters an art contest, where she wins a $10,000 scholarship. Her mother attends the contest but leaves without speaking to Caroline.
Caroline starts art school, dates Ron, and eventually opens a gallery with him. They discover a sculpture that looks familiar, which turns out to be created by Caroline's mother, who had given up her own artistic ambitions to raise Caroline. Caroline confronts her mother, who apologizes for her past behavior. The two eventually reconcile, and Caroline's mother starts sculpting again.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. The narrator, Caroline, was born to a mother who has always been critical of her.
2. Caroline's mother quit her job to take care of her full-time after Caroline's babysitter was fired.
3. Caroline's father was often away from home and sent money and gifts to make up for his absence.
4. Caroline had a crush on Ron, the basketball captain, in school.
5. Ron discovered Caroline's sculpting talent and introduced her to his aunt, a sculptor.
6. Caroline started spending more time at Ron's house and sculpting in his aunt's studio.
7. Ron's aunt encouraged Caroline to enter a sculpture contest with a scholarship to study art at Ron University.
8. Caroline's mother was not supportive of her artistic endeavors and wanted her to pursue a more traditional career.
9. Caroline cut her long black hair and dyed it blue, which shocked her mother.
10. Caroline ran away from home after her mother threw away her sculpture, and Ron took her in.
11. Caroline's father appeared at Ron's house and tried to persuade her to return home, but she refused.
12. Caroline won first prize in the sculpture contest, a $10,000 scholarship to the university of her dreams.
13. Caroline's mother attended the art contest but left without speaking to her.
14. Caroline started art school and began dating Ron.
15. After college, Caroline and Ron bought a small gallery, where they found a sculpture that turned out to be one of Caroline's mother's last pieces.
16. Caroline's mother had given up sculpting after having Caroline and was jealous of Caroline's talent.
17. Caroline forgave her mother and they began to reconcile.