Julia came into the library in the company of a girl that Liesel
Elizabeth had never met.
“Liesel,” said Julia, “This is my distant cousin and
pen-pal, Melissa, who has come all the way from Fridley, Minnesota, to visit
this afternoon. Melissa, this is Liesel
Elizabeth.”
“I’m pleased to meet you, Melissa, Julia has often spoken of
you.”
“It’s nice to meet you, too, Liesel Elizabeth. I hope everything Julia has said about me has
been positive.”
“Why, yes, of course. Julia has made it known what a sweet,
charming, and pleasant person you are.”
“You flatter me,” said Melissa, “and flattery will get you
anywhere!” And she giggled just a tiny bit. “Julia, you never told me that you
share a house with such a charming and attractive girl as Liesel Elizabeth.”
“You make me blush, Melissa,” said Liesel, “But there are so
many girls living here that Julia can’t be expected to give a complete run-down
on all of them. But come, let’s have
some tea!”
“That’s a wonderful idea!” exclaimed Melissa, “I certainly
do love a tea party.”
So they fixed a pot and got out some cookies, and set the
table.
“This tea is delicious!” said Melissa, “and the cookies are
divine! Did you make them yourself,
Liesel Elizabeth?”
“No, actually, they were baked by Clarice, our youngest
girl.”
“Well,” said Melissa, “I only thought you had made them
because they are so sweet.”
Liesel Elizabeth and Julia both thought she was laying it on
a little thick, and exchanged sly glances with each other.
“Tell Liesel all about what you do in Minnesota, dear,”
Julia said to Melissa. She promptly and
eagerly responded by telling the girls all about her life in that sleepy little
village just north of Minneapolis, the school she went to and all her friends
there, picnics in the park by one lake, and outings in a sailboat on another.
“I’m best friends with a girl who has the biggest house in
town, and I talk her into having dances and garden parties as often as possible.”
Melissa bragged.
“From what you tell me,” said Julia, “there would be no
social life at all in Fridley if it weren’t for your efforts.”
“One does what one can,” sighed Melissa, “But I see a
phonograph over there. Have you any
dance music? It wouldn’t be a real party
without some dancing!”
“Certainly!” said Julia, getting up and going to the
phonograph, “Here is the latest recording we’ve bought, ‘Waltz Me Around Again,
Willie’.”
She put it on the machine and wound it up.
Melissa rose suddenly, pushed the table out of the way, and
pulled Liesel Elizabeth to her feet. As
the music started, Melissa deftly began stepping and twirling with Liesel
Elizabeth, and even sang along on the chorus in a pleasant, sweet voice.
“Waltz me around again, Willy,
Around, around, around!
The music is dreamy,
It’s peaches and creamy,
Oh, don’t let my feet touch the ground!
I feel I’m adrift on an ocean of joy,
I just want to holler out loud, ‘Ship ahoy!’
So waltz me around again, Willie,
Around, around, around!”
When the song ended, Melissa hugged Liesel.
“Thank you, you dance divinely!”
She turned to Julia and said, “Your turn!” Liesel started the record over again, and
Melissa and Julia waltzed and sang and laughed.
The girls laughed and hugged and thanked and congratulated
each other for everything.
“Well,” sighed Melissa, “It has been a wonderful afternoon,
but I must be on my way. I have to catch
the train back to New York, and then go back to Fridley. I’d like to stay longer, but the Sunday
School Picnic is Saturday, and I must go to that; I have a new summer frock to
wear!”
“Good-bye, Melissa,” said Liesel, “It has been such fun
meeting you, and I hope you will be able to visit again soon!”
“Good-bye!” said Melissa, “I’ll remember you in my prayers
and dreams!”
When she had gone, the girls heaved a huge sigh.
“She’s a lot of fun,” said Liesel Elizabeth, “but hard to
keep up with! When she visits again I’ll
need advance warning so I can get in shape!”
Julia had a sudden realization. “Do you remember, last Christmas Eve, when
Kelly read my fortune with playing cards?
In my future she saw a flirtatious, fair-haired girl who likes to
party!”
Liesel Elizabeth was not surprised, “The cards are never
wrong!”
