"If what works out?"

"If Allan is out of town on a night when you're doing something."

Rita laughed and cocked her head. "Where's Allan now?"

"He's in Cleveland. He'll be home tomorrow evening."

Rita made a face. "You're on. We're going to the premiere of some movie tonight. At least that's what I think is happening. I think Tom said something about a big party and then this premiere of a new movie."

The two girls looked at one another and laughed. "Okay!" Nancy said. Actually, she liked such sudden, improvisational happenings. To suddenly take the hunch of the moment… to accept a wild dare… to have fun… to run wild in an amusement park… that was Nancy's idea of having fun. Allan was always quietly amused by her antics and wild ideas. One day they had been quietly strolling in Lincoln Park when Nancy had paused on a bridge over a pond. "Listen, let's just jump in, huh?" she'd said seriously. Allan had quietly and patiently explained here and now wasn't such a good idea. He was always pointing out folly to her. He treated her as if she were addlepated and had to be protected from the world. "You trust everyone," he was fond of saying. "You never look before you leap."

Allan was out of town, far away, unable to advise her or ask her to think when Rita invited her along. No one was there to stop or even warn her. Indeed, there was nothing to worry about. Ahead lay a party and a movie… a premiere. Nancy grinned and felt a giddy recklessness. "Okay, let's go on the town!"

It turned out to be an exciting afternoon and early evening. Nancy slipped right into Rita's mood which was one of mock boredom. They laughed a great deal and shopped in the better downtown Chicago stores. It was a beautiful summer day, not too hot or windy, and the girls enjoyed themselves hugely, leaving a wake of turned male heads wherever they went.