“What is that?” she demanded, drawing Phyllis’s attention to it.
“Looks like a letter,” Phyllis replied smiling at Janet’s apparent concern. “Anyway, I don’t think it’s a bomb, so it might be safe to pick it up.”
“You never can tell.” Janet stood looking down at the white envelope. “It may be a joke, and then again it may be a communication from one of the numerous ghosts that haunt Hilltop. You’d better pick it up, Phyl.”
Phyllis leaned down and looked at the letter. “Sally’s writing, so it can’t be dangerous,” she said as she picked it up and opened it.
“Oh, it’s for both of us. It says: ‘Read this aloud’ in large letters. Listen—
“Dear Twins: (she read)
Once upon a time there were two dogs. One was an Irish terrier and the other was a poodle, and they loved each other as only dogs can. The Irish terrier liked to run and jump, but the poodle liked to sit still and look very beautiful.
One day they were both very hungry, and they both went hunting but they did not go together.
The Irish terrier met a kind old gentleman who offered him a bone, but the silly dog wouldn’t take it because he thought of his friend who was so hungry, too.
Now the poodle, on his walk, met a kind old lady, and she offered him a nice bone, too, but he thought of the poor hungry terrier and he refused to eat it.
So both of those nice dogs died of hunger, because they were so foolish, but of course it would never have happened if they had each known that the other was being offered a bone. This tale has a moral!”
Janet and Phyllis looked at each other, and then burst out laughing.
“I know what it means,” Phyllis said at last. “At least I think I do.”
“Of course, it means the Archery Team and the Dramatic Club,” Janet answered. “I told Sally today that if I am elected I didn’t think I’d accept, because it would take me away from you so much.”
Phyllis’ arm encircled Janet’s shoulder, and she rubbed her soft cheek against hers.