Kristy pretended not to hear me.
It was my turn to scowl.
"Mallory," I said, "tell Kristy it would be fun to put on a play."
"Kristy," Mallory began, "Mary Anne says — Hey, how come she didn't hear you, Mary Anne? She's not deaf."
"I know." I tried to think of a way to explain what was going on. "We're . . . we're playing Telephone."
"We are? Then wait. Okay, everybody," Mallory said to her brothers and sisters. "Let's sit down in a line, right here in the living room. And Kristy, you sit at that end, and Mary Anne, you sit at the other end. Now, start the game, Mary Anne."
Just for fun, I leaned over to Adam, who was next to me, and whispered, "Kristy Thomas is a nosy, bossy, busybody."
Adam giggled. Then he whispered to Jordan, Jordan whispered to Claire, and the game was underway.
By the time the message reached Kristy, she looked puzzled.
"What?" said Mallory. "What did you hear?"
"I heard, 'Cranky Tommy's nose is a bossy, busy boy.' "
The Pike kids laughed hysterically.
"Okay, Mary Anne, now tell us what you really said," cried Mallory.
What I really said? I'd forgotten I'd have to do that. There was no way I could tell what I'd really said. I thought for a moment. "I said, 'Crystal tambourines — ' "
"No, you didn't," interrupted Adam. "You
said 'Critical — ' I mean 'Christopher — ' I mean. . . . Oh, I don't know what you said!"
Everyone was laughing again. "Kristy, you start one this time," I suggested.
Kristy ignored me.
Oh, brother.
I whispered to Adam, "Tell Kristy to start the game."
By the time the message reached Kristy, she said, "Tired carrots take the blame?"
"No, start the game!" shouted Adam.
We played a while longer, letting different kids take turns being on the ends.