“Well,” Peggy thought miserably as she took off her make-up, “if people can’t understand a thing like friendship, then let them think whatever they like!”
“Hey, open up, Peggy.” Peggy got up to open the door and saw Bill Slade standing there. “You were great, Peggy. You’ll have to do another lead this summer. Want to go out for some coffee?” He smiled, accepting her silence as consent.
“Peggy—a small tribute to a great leading lady!” It was Chris, and he handed her a huge bouquet of roses with an elegantly mocking little bow. “But let’s eat. I’m famished.”
“That’s a really fine set,” Randy commented, returning from a tour of the stage. “Are you ready yet?”
Peggy hastily excused herself and closed the door while the three boys waited in the hall, each assuming that she was his special date for the evening.
Rita looked at Peggy’s perplexed expression with undisguised amusement, finally breaking into laughter. “The only solution, as I found out long ago, is marriage!” she chuckled. “You’d better start thinking about it, Peggy!”
“That is the last thing in the world I’m going to think about—for a long time!” Peggy said emphatically. She picked up her bag and sighed heavily, wondering how to handle the situation.
Alison was grimly combing her hair and putting her make-up away. “I don’t blame her for feeling left out,” Peggy thought. “Playing a lead does seem to make a difference in people’s interest—although it shouldn’t. And taking a back seat isn’t easy for Alison.” Peggy wondered how Alison would react if she asked her to join them. It would simplify everything, but she mustn’t appear to do it out of kindness.
“Are you ready, Alison?” Peggy asked matter-of-factly.