In this chapter, Shmoop introduces us to a group of girls who have been invited to a "girls' festival" , a celebration of spring. The girls are excited about the festival because it is a special day and they are allowed to drink "sweet sake," a type of alcohol that is not allowed for children. The narrator explains that the festival is a time when the plants in the garden grow and bloom, and the girls are able to see how they are enjoying the season. They are also allowed to eat and play outside, which is a good thing because the weather is getting worse.