CHARACTERS:

Tom, father

Sarah, mother

Elinor, 16

Arabella, 15

Louisa, 13

Jane, 7

Jay, 4

Louisa: “Mother, is this Messy Bessy?”

Sarah: “Yes, don't you remember? Once a week I take all the leftovers, put them in a casserole dish, put cut-up hotdogs and ketchup on top, and bake it.”

Jane: “I like it.”

Jay: “Me too.”

Arabella: “Do you remember, Louisa, when you asked Mother why we always ate the same things for dinner and the next night she made liver and red cabbage?”

Louisa: “Yes, it was awful!”

Sarah: “I try hard to cook things you all like to eat, and that's the thanks I get?”

Tom: “I love your cooking, Sarah, especially the dessert. I love your lemon pie.”

Sarah: “I know, honey, and I'm sorry. When the older girls started gaining weight I stopped making dessert. Now I just buy cookies and ice cream for you, Jay, and Jane. Except I think you girls sometimes sneak ice cream out of the freezer.”

Elinor: “No, we don't!”

Arabella: “No, we don't!”

Elinor: “Remember, Arabella, when we spent the summer with Aunt Nora and Uncle Bud and Bud made us eat broccoli and cauliflower?”

Arabella: “Ick!”

Elinor: “I actually started to get used to them.”

Louisa: “Why wasn't I there too?”

Sarah: “Be quiet, girls. Don't you remember the doctor said that Jay started stuttering because he never got to talk? Give him a chance.”

Jay: “Mom, can I have chocolate ice cream for dessert?”

Sarah: “Sure. I'll get you some now. Tom, do you want vanilla or chocolate ice cream?”

Tom: “I'll take vanilla, with some cookies if there are any.”

Sarah: “Jane, do you want ice cream?”

Jane: “Yes, vanilla and chocolate both.”

Arabella: “Jay, can I have a taste of your ice cream?”

Jay: “No! You girls always want a taste of my ice cream, and then there's not much left.”

Elinor: “Jane, are you going to finish your plate? If not, can I have it? I'm still hungry.”

Sarah: “There goes the hollow leg.” (Everybody except Elinor laughs.)

Ellie Rogers

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