Shatter the Wall

By SYDNEY VAN SCYOC
Illustrated by WEST
They were a charming family and everybody loved them to death—especially Amanda!
There he stood, Bass McDowall, life-size on the Wall. She made herself look at the hateful broad-shouldered image with the deliberately penetrating black eyes. She made herself watch his boy-image bend over Kippie's slender girl-image, made herself listen to his mellow voice gasp, Kippie, sweetie-bug.
Savagely she thrust upward on the ebony lever. Bass McDowall, Wall idol, and Kippie lurched and disappeared. Lights glowed from fixtures recessed into the ceiling, illuminating the long, windowless Wall room.
Kathryn, whose hair was a snug, dark Kippie-cap, leaped from the Wall seat. Don't turn it off now! Couldn't you even tell, Mother? He's going to kiss her! Turn it back on this minute!
Amanda stationed herself before the lever, shaking her head. Not until I've spoken to you, she said. Kathryn, I don't think you realize yet what it means, but you're the youngest person, the very youngest, living in this city.
Quit calling me that! Everyone has to call me Kippie. She cocked her dark head, Kippie-like. The red mark caused by the constant prodding of her index finger against her cheek glared. Bass loves Kippie. He called her sweetie-bug.
I refuse to call you Kippie. She folded her arms. I don't want to discuss your name again, Kathryn.
It will be Kippie. She squirmed into a Kippie-like position. Soon as I'm twenty-one, I'll change it. You wait!
Perhaps you will, Kathryn. But I'll never call you Kippie.
Oh, quit being silly and turn it on. He might kiss her again. She focused her blue eyes upon the Wall. Turn it on.