Chapter 3.
The Lawrence Boy As Jo read, tears streamed down her slim cheeks.
With her pet rat Scrabble nearby, she sat on an old couch in the attic.
It was her favorite place in the house and she often went there to eat apples and lose herself in a book.
Hearing Meg's call, she yelled, "'I'm up here!'
Meg was very excited because they had been invited to a New Year's Eve dance at Sally Gardner's house.
Oh, Joe, Marmy said we could go, she cried.
What should we wear?
You know we'll wear our old poplin dresses.
That's all we have.
If I only had a silk dress, Meg sighed.
Mother says I have to wait until I'm eighteen.
Two whole years away.
Our poplin dresses are fine.
Yours looks just like new, but mine has that burn and tear.
What am I going to do?
Her sister advised.
You'll sit as much as you can with your back to the wall so no one will see the burn.
And what about my gloves?
I spilled lemonade on them and they're ruined too.
Joe thought about the cost for new ones and said, I just won't wear any.
You must have gloves or I won't go, cried Meg.
She always wanted to be proper.
They decided each would wear one of Meg's good gloves and hold one of Joe's spoiled ones.
Meg made Joe promise to behave like a lady and never say things like Christopher Columbus.
Joe agreed and sent an acceptance to the invitation as soon as she finished her book.
On New Year's Eve, the two older March girls spent a long time getting ready for the party.
After one mishap, Joe burned Meg's hair while trying to curl it.
Both girls were happy with the results.
They looked smart and pretty, even if Meg's high-heeled shoes were too tight and Joe's hairpins stuck straight into her scalp.
Their mother told them to have a good time.
The girls arrived at Sally's house and spent a few minutes inspecting themselves in Mrs Gardner's dressing room mirror.
Meg worried about her burned hair, and Joe worried about doing something wrong.
They developed a system.
Meg would lift her eyebrows if Joe acted improperly.
Once downstairs, Meg found a group of girls her age to talk to and was soon dancing, even though her new shoes hurt her feet.
Jo desperately wanted to join a group of boys who were talking about skating, which she loved, but Meg's eyebrows went right up, so none of that.
Joe tried not to feel so alone and out of place, but when a big red-headed boy came toward her she disappeared into a curtain closet.
Only she wasn't alone.
She was face to face with the Lawrence boy.
"'I'm sorry,' Joe blurted out.
"'I didn't realize anyone was here.'
She started to back out of the closet when he laughed and said, don't mind me.
Stay if you like.
Wouldn't I bother you?
Not at all.
I came here because I don't know many people and felt a little strange by myself.
So did I.
Their conversation started awkwardly, for they were both shy.
Then Joe thanked him for the Christmas dinner, and he explained it was his grandfather's idea.
"'How is your cat, Miss March?'
"'Very well, thank you, Mr. Lawrence.
But my name is just Joe, not Miss March.'
He smiled and replied, "'Well, then, I'm Laurie, not Mr.
Lawrence.'
"'Laurie Lawrence!' funny name.
My name is Theodore, but I don't like it because the boys call me Dora.
I made them say Laurie instead.
And I wish everyone would call me Joe instead of Josephine.
Soon the two talked like old friends.
Joe was excited to learn Laurie had been to school in France.
He said that he wasn't that interested in going to college and Joe said she'd love to live in Italy.
They even managed to dance down a long hallway so that Joe could keep her burned dress hidden.
They had a wonderful time until Meg called Joe into a side room.
Meg sat on a couch, holding her foot and looking pale.
The heel turned, and I sprained my ankle, Meg winced.
I don't know how I'll get home.
Joe suggested they get a carriage, but Meg said it would cost too much.
They decided Meg should rest until Hannah came to get them, and then she'd try to walk home.
Meg sent Joe to bring her coffee.
When Meg took a sip, she spilled coffee all over her dress and ruined her one good glove by trying to wipe away the stains.
Lori appeared with a cup of coffee and offered it to Meg.
The three of them had so much fun laughing, playing games and eating candy that they barely noticed Hannah's arrival.
Meg got up too quickly and tried to hide her pain, but when Hannah scolded her, Meg cried.
Joe decided to look for a carriage.
She ran into Lori, who was about to go home.
He suggested that they all go home in his grandfather's elegant carriage, What a lovely ride it was.
Meg and Joe felt like fancy ladies and had no trouble passing the time recalling the evening's adventures.
They were just through the front door when both Amy and Beth cried, Tell us about the party!
And as Joe wrapped Meg's ankle, the younger girls heard about the burned hair, ruined glove, stained dress, tight shoes, sprained ankle and all.
