Jane Abbott

Laughing Last Jane Abbott

"I beg your pardon, but it's my turn to have the Egg!"Three pairs of eyes swept to the sunny window seat from which vantage-ground Sidney Romley had thrown her protest. Three mouths gaped."Yours-""Why, Sid-""Fifteen-year-olders don't have turns!" laughed Victoria Romley, who was nineteen and very grown up. Though inwardly Sidney writhed, outwardly she maintained a calm firmness. The better to impress her point she uncurled herself from the cushions and straightened to her fullest height."It's because I am fifteen that I am claiming my rights," she answered, carefully ignoring Vicky's laughing eyes. "Each one of you has had the Egg twice and I've never had a cent of it-""Sid, you forget I bought a rug when it was my last turn and you enjoy that as much as I do," broke in her oldest sister. Sidney waved her hand impatiently. She had rehearsed this scene in the privacy of her attic retreat and she could not be deflected by mention of rugs and things. She must keep to the heart of the issue."It's the principle of the thing," she continued, loftily. "We're always fair with one another and give and take and all that, and I think it'd be a blot on our honor if you refused me my lawful turn at the Egg. I'm willing to overlook each one of you having it twice.""That's kind of you. What would you do with it, anyway, kid?" interrupted Vicky, quite unimpressed by her sister's seriousness. She let a chuckle in her voice denote how amused she was. Sidney flashed a withering look in Vicky's direction."I wouldn't spend it all on one party that's over in a minute and nothing to show for it!" she retorted. Then: "And what I'd do with it is my own affair!" She swallowed to control a sob that rose in her throat."Tut! Tut!" breathed the tormenting Vicky."Why, Sid, dear!" cried Trude, astonished. She put a tray of dishes that she was carrying to the kitchen down upon the old sideboard and turned to face Sid. At the tone of her voice Sidney flew to her and flung her arms about her."I don't care-I don't care! You can laugh at me but I'm sick of being different. I-I want to do things like-other girls do. H-have fun-"