June 6

Dear Diary,

"Diary" sounds too normal, so I got to think of something else to call you I guess. Besides, Tony says only sissy baby girls like Mary have diarys (?). My new friend says that diarys are not baby-ish, that they are a nice way to remember something nice.

And that is what I must tell you about today.

Father let me come with him to a party today. My first party! I feel so grown-up! It was so so SO lovely, I can't even begin to discribe it all. Except that there were lots of people dressed in gowns that sparcled and swirled, and some had feathers and every lady wore shiny jewels that glittered in the sunlight. I hope I hope I get to wear those lovely gowns when I grow up! And then when the sun set the round color lights came on and lit up everything in the nicest way, like giant fireflies.

At first I played with Tony. You know Tony, the boy who lives in the big gold-rimmed howse. He can be so mean sometimes, but it was either him or Mary, and when I asked her to play she looked at me funny and put her hand to her chin vainly (I just learned that word a few days ago and have been wanting to use it!) and said that she wouldn't dare get her new violet dress filthy. It WAS such a lovely dress, violet with white puffs at the neck, but she didn't have to be so mean. So Tony and I thaught up ways to get her filthy.

We couldn't think of anything besides spiling punch on her, but then Max came and we stopped.

Max (I can't spell his whole name) is the son of the host, and it was his first party too. Tony had gone to wipe the dirt stains off his pants before his mother found him, so I was walking between the people and looking at the pretty dresses and listening to the talk (gossip, mother called it, and she told me I shouldn't listen). A big man came then, and pushed me (how rude!) and I fell on Max and we both fell down. He jumped up quick and helped me up like a gentleman and it was so nice I didn't know what to say. He just stood there holding out his hand and saying sorry for being in my way, was I all right? was my dress ruined? It was not, but I wish it was cause it's a horrid ugly thing. I'd rather have one without frills and lace like Mary's. (I had to be a lady back so of course I couldn't say these things) I told him I was fine and the dress was fine, thank you, and told him how nice it was for him to ask, and his face got all red. He looked so funny standing there with a red face since his skin is so white, like his hair, and I couldn't help but laugh but then he looked hurt so I said his outfit was lovely to make up for it and told him my name. He got all embarassed and said he was sorry he was so ungentlemenly he didn't introduce himself, he was Max-a-milian? Pegasis and then took my hand like mother says a gentleman should and got all red again and looked so funny, but this time I didn't laugh.

Then Tony came, and we all three played together for a while, telling each other stories about what happens at our houses. Max plays the piano (like me!) and the violin. Tony said that violins were for sissys, just like diarys, and that Mary had a lot of these. That's when Max said what I wrote at first, and gave a kind of strange look.

I bet he has his own diary. If Tony is right, does that make him a sissy too? I hope I see him again so I can ask him if he has his own diary. And maybe he can play something and I can sing. We were going to do that today but the party ended too soon.

Mother is yelling at me to turn off the light. Good night, Diary. (I must think up a better name)

January 12