Page:Angna Enters - Among the Daughters.djvu/107

 parlor window's. Just as they suspected, no chaperon! A petting party! How awful!

Lucy's cadenza trilled and disappeared up toward Venus shining in the moonlight. This was fun, a bunch together, and they all would sing. Norman was beginning to play his harmonica. She sat in the corner under the driver's seat next to Harry who managed things as he wanted. He was so bossy. Anyway, he couldn't be rough with all these kids around. She settled herself and then leaned forward to see where Vida was.

"For goodness' sake, Vida, come up here, you'll fall off there." Lucy waved to a space between Norman and Dottie, who was sitting close to Eddie.

Vida threw back her head and opened her mouth in simulation of gaiety. "I like it here, I like to watch the tracks in the snow."

Eyes popped at her from craned necks and then necks and bodies resettled to pleasurable pursuits.

What a silly thing to say, they'll think I'm not a good sport. Vida waved at Norman and sang in loud accompaniment to his harmonica.

Norman winked at her.

"For crying out loud, Vida, crawl over and sit next to Norm!" Harry shouted officiously, eager to get everyone settled so he could concentrate on Lucy.

Norman beckoned with his head, continuing to play. Vida scrambed over sprawling legs. At first she hadn't noticed what a good-looking boy Norman was, especially close by when his big teeth didn't show. She wiggled her shoulders and snapped her fingers.

"Chinatown, my Chinatown."

"That's right, Vida," encouraged Lucy lazily, "you show 'em." When they reached the river road in the country out of sight of prying streetlights the party quieted down. Harry's hand fumbled at Lucy's skirt under the smelly horse blanket.

"Stop it," she said, and pulled the offending hand out into the cold. So this is a sleighride party. Same old thing. To revive the communal spirit, dampened by her reproof, she smiled at Dottie and Birdie but they glared. For heaven's sake, they think I'm trying to get their fellas. Those girls are the limit, they can hardly wait to begin necking. And Vida, why doesn't she stop trying to be the life of the party? They don't like her but not as much as they don't like me. Harry's mad and I'm glad. Rh