"Were you sleeping?"
"Oh no, I wasn't asleep, Auntie. But ... well I was kind of thinking about things, and ... well ..."
Just then, Uncle Henry appeared. He was struggling with his collar.
"Would you help me with this, Em?" he asked.
"Just a minute, Henry," his wife answered.
She spoke sharply to the girl. "I"m afraid I don't understand you these days."
Dorothy looked up at her aunt with her big brown eyes. A hint of a tear appeared.
"I've tried to explain to you, Auntie."
Aunt Em just shook her head. "Now, I don't want to hear any more of your tall tales, Dorothy. Not right now."
"We're running late, Em," interrupted Uncle Henry.