“What’s all the mystery?” demanded Helen, and Janet explained, rather quickly, about her summons to the Times office.
“Pete Benda said he liked the story and was going to send me a box of candy, but I thought he was joking. You know he’s always telling people he’s going to send them candy.”
“This is no joke,” said Helen as Janet opened the box and offered candy to her mother and to Helen. “In fact, I’d like a joke like this about once a week.”
“Yes, but I wouldn’t like an experience like we had once a week,” retorted Janet.
Helen’s mother phoned that they were having an early supper and Helen picked up the tryout sheets, put her coat over her shoulders, and started for home.
“If I disappear, it’s just that I’ve been swept away in the flood,” she called as she hurried out.
Janet looked after her. Helen wasn’t far from wrong. With the rapidly rising temperature, the afternoon sun had covered the sidewalks and filled the street with rushing torrents of water. Another day and there would be no sign of the storm of the night before.
Mrs. Hardy called and Janet went into the kitchen to help her mother with the preparations for the evening meal.
“I heard you rehearsing this afternoon,” said her mother, “and I wouldn’t set my heart too much on winning one of those parts.”
“I won’t,” promised Janet. “Of course I’d like to be in the senior play, but I won’t be heart-broken if I don’t win a part.”