The Face on the Milk Carton

Janie’s father’s team wins the soccer game. While Reeve goes home, Janie and her parents go to dinner at Pizza Hut. Janie is surprised because her mother prefers homecooked meals. At dinner, Janie’s mother says that she has set up family counseling sessions for the three of them. Janie and her father both object. Miranda whispers as she tries to convince Janie and Frank to attend the sessions, reminding Janie of a prayer the Spring family used to say at dinner.

Janie cannot focus on her homework. She tries to write a letter to the Springs but feels too tired to finish it. In the letter, Janie explains that she saw herself on the milk carton: “But I knew it could not be true,” she writes, “because I have a wonderful mother and father already” (141). Janie resumes working on the letter at school the next day. In it, she describes some of the memories that have returned to her. She skips lunch to continue writing. Janie asks the Springs not to contact the police and apologizes for forgetting them. She tells them not to worry but says that she does not know if she wants to meet them. Janie goes to typing class, where she drowsily addresses envelopes for a Students Against Drunk Driving campaign.

Reeve drives Janie to the Scenic Overlook after school. Janie says she is too distracted by the milk carton to focus on kissing Reeve. She tells him that she does not want the Springs to exist and that she must have been a “horrible little girl” to wander away from her family just because a stranger promised her ice cream (144). Reeve seeks to reassure Janie that her kidnapping was not her fault. They kiss, and Janie tells Reeve that she loves him. Janie feels thankful for Reeve and her identity. Reeve joins the Johnsons for dinner.

Janie keeps the dress that she wore in her milk carton photo in her closet. She feels better when she writes her feelings down in a notebook. On a Saturday morning in late autumn, Reeve eats breakfast at the Johnson’s. He suggests that he and Janie go for a drive. As they discuss the places they could drive, Janie spills the contents of her book bag. She frantically hides the milk carton from her parents.

In Reeve’s Jeep, Janie thinks about her kidnapping instead of listening to Reeve. He feels hurt. Janie cheers Reeve up by calling him “the light of my life” (151). Janie and Reeve order Cokes at a restaurant and flirt as they drink. Janie thinks that she loves Reeve, and she kisses him. They drive to a park. Janie tells Reeve that she loves him but becomes furious when Reeve confesses that he told his sister, Lizzie, about Janie’s kidnapping. Reeve tells her Lizzie’s theory: she believes that Hannah kidnapped Janie and then lied to Miranda and Frank, telling them that Janie was her daughter. Janie likes Lizzie’s theory because it means that Miranda and Frank are “sane and good” (155). She suddenly feels very tired.

Janie and Reeve sit by a waterfall in the park. Janie wonders if her brothers and sisters in the Spring family think about her. Reeve kisses Janie as she talks. She says that she does not want to get in touch with the Springs. Reeve agrees and climbs on top of Janie.