Chapter 3

Miss Margo Pierce is by far the snottiest, most snobbish, girl our age. I mean, what kind of 13 yr old dresses like she's 20 anyways? I even heard rumors that she stuffs her bra. Geez she thinks she is something else. Back in elementary school was when I first met her. Me and my clumsy self, tripped over my feet while carrying the lunch tray one day. As my tray went soaring through the air an unaware Margo Pierce yet to receive it, I cringed. The tray splattered all over her in front of the whole school. Even though I apologized a million times she's never forgiven me and she's had it out for me ever since. It's not just me either, pretty much every girl in school is on her bad side. What was Momma thinking inviting her?

My thoughts are broken when I catch a glimpse of Freddie at the top of the stairs looking like a dreamboat. Just as I am about to make my way to him I hear Momma call me to the kitchen. But before I turn to leave I see Freddie smirk and give me a wink. Gosh he's so cute! 

Momma hands me a plate of food and asks me to sit it on the dining room table. "We've just about got it all ready now" she says. "The guests will be arriving soon. Mr. Linder will be bringing Papa home at 7:30 and we can surprise him! Won't that be marvelous?" Momma's words were full of joy and excitement but I could see in her eyes a sadness was there. Her glistening brown eyes were now dull and worried. 

I place the hors d'oeuvres on the dining table and I see that Freddie is enjoying a tune that Betsie is playing on the piano. "Wow Betsie! Those lessons you're taking, sure are paying off" I tell her. "Thanks, Nora. Sometimes it's a chore to do my practicing, but I really enjoy being able to play" she replies. Freddie pipes up about the checkers set he saw upstairs and asks if I'd be interested in playing a round before people start arriving. I agree, and the three of us make our way upstairs.

After facing defeat at the hand of Freddie, I suggest we go downstairs. "I'm sure I heard the bell" I explain. The others nod in agreement. At the bottom of the stairs Betsie grabs my arm, looking toward the living room and whispers, ''Get a load of that." I give her a look of disgust as we realize the Pierce's have arrived. It's not that the Pierce's weren't liked by some, just not the sort that we make company with. Mrs. Pierce is quite stuck up and is constantly fighting with her husband. I over heard Momma telling a friend that she's driving them to bankruptcy and about her gentlemen friends and, well...probably alot of other stuff 13 year olds shouldn't be hearing about.  "Maybe we can sneak past them?" Freddie wonders aloud. "Won't do us any good" I reply "They'll be here all evening. Are we just supposed to avoid them all night? Plus, Momma will just tell me to be neighborly to them." Freddie sighs, "Good point."

"Well I'm going to get something to drink" Betsie mentions. I nod and have a seat on the couch in the living room. Just then Margo walks past with her perfect, un-freckled nose pointed high in the air. "What a great turn out for your party, your father must be very popular" she giggles. I glare at her and jump to my feet, but Mrs. Pierce interjects before I have a chance to say anything. "Girls, girls" she says with a pinched smile "Now let's enjoy this fabulous party and keep ours heads about us shall we?"

Momma enters the room and asks me if everything is alright. "Yes, Ma'am" I reply dully. She and Mrs. Pierce make eye contact and you can tell in their body language how they are feeling. Mrs. Pierce wrinkles her nose and forces a smile "Marion." Momma swallows hard and smiles as sweetly as she can "Edith." The sound of the doorbell breaks the silence and Momma excuses herself to answer it. As more guests arrive and mingle in the living room and dining room, Momma is playing the perfect hostess. Several of our family friends exchange their well wishes with Momma as they too have loved ones being drafted for the army. 

I barely hear the phone ringing with all the chatter going on, but answer it just in time. "Mr. Linder! How good of you to call! How are things?" I ask. Mr. Linder chuckles as he can hear the excitement in my voice "Yes deary, very well. Just ringing you up to tell you that I'll have your Papa back to ya in no time. We're just leaving now." I grin ear to ear and respond with a cheery "Okay!" 

I quickly hang up the phone and try to get everyone's attention. "Everyone! Everyone! Papa will be here soon, let's get everything ready!" I shout excitedly. The chatter ceases and everyone begins turning down the lights and getting positioned in their hiding places. "Great timing" Momma says in a hushed voice, "I just heard them pull up."

"Well thanks again Clyde. I think I've got everything ready to go now" we hear Papa say as he and Mr. Linder enter the foyer. Right then Momma flips on the light and we all cheer, scaring Papa half to death. "HOT DIGGITY DOG!" he exclaims. "Hope you're in the partying mood, dear. Your tux is laid out upstairs" Momma tells him sweetly. "Wow! All this for me!? That's swell!" he says cheerfully. He exchanges hearty hand shakes with the guests and everyone gets back to mingling. Mrs. Linder even strikes up a tune on the piano, and everyone seems to be having a wonderful time.

Leave it up to Margo Pierce to ruin a perfectly good party. In one of her dramatic episodes she begins fussing around, something about a ring. Margo complains, "It just has to be here somewhere! I took it off when I went to powder my nose. It's my grandmother's ring, my favorite one. Did I mention it's expensive? I just know someone has taken it, I just....YOU!". Margo slowly turns, shrivels up her face, pointing at ... me? "You took it, I just know you did! You're just jealous that you don't have such finery as I do! Give it back!" she yells. I stuttered in shock of such an accusation, "I-I would never take your things Margo." 

BOOM! Just like that Margo rears back and slaps me right across my cheek! Stunned I don't know what to do or say. My hand flies up to my cheek as I hear her still shouting at me. My eyes well up with tears as I try to explain that I didn't take her ring. Mrs. Pierce comes flying around the corner with a look of rage about her. "What in heavens name is going on here!?" she exclaims. "Why Momma! Miss Nora here has just struck me for no good reason!" Margo lies. Bewildered, I can do nothing but stare at Margo. Great, now how am I gonna get myself out of this mess, I think.