There she was, five-foot-two, eyes of blue, barely all of sixteen years old.There she was, five-foot-two, eyes of blue, barely all of sixteen years old. Standing at the mirror, posing for some unseen admirer was Sallie Ann Cross, heart of Wilbur's heart. [She really _is_ darling on the VU.-AW] She was wearing a flapper's dress, a sixteenth birthday present from Lucy. Her blonde hair cut close, Sallie mimed a Charleston in the mirror. Wilbur, who had been silent until now, snickered aloud at his sister's obvious imitation of Lucy. That was one good thing about Lucy; she and Sallie seemed to hit it off well. "Will!" the surprised girl exclaimed, spinning around. "It's not nice to spy," she said, bouncing over to the door. She stood on her tiptoes and gave her big brother a hug and peck on the cheek. "Whadja bring me for my birthday, Will?" she begged. Wilbur just grinned at his little sister and her boundless energy. "Come _on_, tell meee," she whined playfully. She was so cute! Wilbur couldn't resist kidding her. "Mom and Dad would have a real fit if they saw you now, squirt." It was the truth. Their parents, especially Mom, would not be at all pleased by Sallie The Flapper. But Wilbur also knew that the times were a'changin. His sister tapped out a cigarette from the pack on Wilbur's dresser. She lit it and took a defiant, smacking puff. "So what? I'm a newly emancipated young woman. The woman of tomorrow." Sallie picked a few tobacco crumbs from her tongue. "Besides," she said, dragging again, "they won't know if you don't tell them. Mom and Dad have gone to the Wilsons' again. You know Mom and her mah jongg." Sallie smiled in her pixie-like manner after Wilbur said nothing. "So whadja get me, Will?" Wilbur presented his sister with a wrapped narrow box. She eagerly opened it, tearing the paper off. Sallie had forgotten about the cigarette, yelping as the burning end hit her fingertip. She dropped it into the nearby ashtray, then finished opening her present. The loud, girlish squeal told Wilbur that he had chosen his sister's gift wisely. Sallie waved the ivory cigarette holder around, smiling broadly. |