excerpt from Auntie Amanda's Book of Manners

The doorbell rang and a young man in a messenger’s uniform handed Mother a small envelope.  Mother thanked him and closed the door.  She opened the envelope as she walked back into the kitchen to finish fixing breakfast.

“Your Auntie Amanda has invited you three for tea and snakes this afternoon. 

We jumped out of our chairs and ran a circle around the table.  “Yea!! We’re going to Auntie Amanda’s for tea and cakes!” 

Mother frowned slightly as she looked at the note.  “Not tea and cakes.  Tea and snakes.”

We three stopped dead to stare at Mother.  Slowly, eyes and wide and mouths agape, we turned to look at each other.  “Yea!!  We’re going to Auntie Amanda’s for tea and snakes!” and ran ‘round the table some more.