--a Barbie doll. But Joanna made no such effort:
"Are you crazy? Sophie doesn't play with dolls!"
Mrs. Ingebrigtsen came hurrying over, with all her sequins clanking. "But it's only for decoration, you know."
"Well, thank you very much indeed." Sophie tried to smooth things over. "Now I can start ft collection."
People began to drift toward the table.
"We're only waiting for Alberto," said Sophie's mother to her in a somewhat brisk tone that was intended to hide her growing apprehension. Rumors of the special guest of honor had already spread among the other guests.
"He has promised to come, so he'll come."
"But we can't seat the guests before he arrives, can we?"
"Of course we can. Let's go ahead."
Helene Amundsen began to seat people around the long table. She made sure that the vacant chair was between her own and Sophie's place. She said a few words about the beautiful weather and the fact that Sophie was now a grownup.
They had been sitting at the table for half an hour when a middle-aged man with a black goatee and a beret came walking up Clover Close and in through the garden gate. He was carrying a bouquet of fifteen red roses.
"Alberto!"
Sophie left the table and ran to greet him. She threw her arms around his neck and took the bouquet from him. He responded to the welcome by rooting around in his jacket pocket and drawing out a couple of Chinese firecrackers which he lit and tossed into the yard. As. he approached the table, he lit a sparkler and set it on top of the almond pyramid. Then he went over and stood at the empty place between Sophie and her mother.
"I'm delighted to be here," he said.
The guests were dumbstruck. Mrs. Ingebrigtsen gave her husband a significant look. Sophie's mother was so relieved that the man had finally arrived, however, that she would have forgiven him anything. Sophie herself was struggling to suppress her laughter.
Helene Amundsen tapped on her glass and said:
"Let us also welcome Alberto Knox to this philosophical garden party. He is not my new boyfriend, because although my husband is so often away at sea, I don't have a new boyfriend for the time being. However, this astounding person is Sophie's new philosophy teacher. His prowess extends further than to setting off fireworks.
This man is able, for example, to draw a live rabbit out of a top hat. Or was it a crow, Sophie?"
"Many thanks," said Alberto. He sat down.
"Cheers!" said Sophie, and the guests raised their glasses and drank his health.
They sat for a long time over their chicken and salad. Suddenly Joanna got up, walked determinedly over to Jeremy, and gave him a resounding kiss on the lips. He responded by trying to topple her backward over the table so as to get a better grip as he returned her kiss.
"Well, I've never ..." exclaimed Mrs. Ingebrigtsen.
"Not on the table, children," was Mrs. Amundsen's only comment.
"Why not?" asked Alberto, turning toward her.
"That was an odd question."
"It's never wrong for a real philosopher to ask questions."
A couple of the other boys who had not been kissed started to throw chicken bones up on the roof. This, too, elicited only a mild comment from Sophie's mother:
"Would you mind not doing that. It's such a nuisance when there are chicken bones in the gutter."
"Sorry," said one of the boys, whereupon they started throwing chicken bones over the garden hedge instead.
"I think it's time to clear the plates away and serve the cake," said Mrs. Amundsen finally. "Sophie and Joanna, will you give me a hand?"