Atlanta Daily World

"So you're having a tea party," Alison said, glancing at the small colored dishes and at the doll that occupied a small chair. "Will you invite me?"

"No."

"But I'd like to come."

"No."

"Then I won't invite you to my party. I'm going to have a party in my room."

Leaving the door open, she went downstairs (Annette was marketing) and poured ginger ale into two glasses and put cookies on a plate. Then she walked slowly by Suzy's staring face and to her own room. Clanking the glasses together to make a festive sound, she sat down and waited.

Presently Suzy was coming stealthily down the hall. In the doorway she paused abruptly and looked at the golden beverage.

Alison said, "You may come to my party if you'll let me come to yours."

The child considered the proposition, but she didn't say anything.

Alison said, "But you'll have to come in and get it. These cookies, by the way, are very good. They make me think of Hallowe'en. We always had ginger cookies at home on Hallowe'en."

"What's that?"

"Hallowe'en? Oh, that's a night you get dressed up. People dress up into all sorts of things. They dress like Mickey Mouse or like an elephant or like Mother Goose. It's all in fun. It's a day and a night to play and big people as well as little people like to dress in funny costumes. What would you like to be?"

Suzy didn't answer. She stared.

"Would you like to be an elephant?" Alison asked.

"Elephants are big."

"But there are little elephants as there are little people . . . If you don't drink your ginger ale the ice will melt and it won't be good."

Suzy steeled herself for the adventure across the room. She came forth slowly and took the glass in her thin hands.

"Could I be an elephant?" she asked.

"Of course. But we'll have to talk about it a little more if you'll let me come down to your room to a party sometime. And after Hallowe'en we'll talk about Christmas. Do you like Christmas?"

"I love Christmas."

"Here, have a cookie. What do you want for Christmas?"