Two
Preparations for a children’s party usually give far more trouble to the organizers than anentertainment devised for those of adult years. Food of good quality and suitable alcoholicrefreshment—with lemonade on the side, that, to the right people, is quite enough to make a partygo. It may cost more but the trouble is infinitely¹ less. So Ariadne Oliver and her friend JudithButler agreed together.
“What about teenage parties?” said Judith.
“I don’t know much about them,” said Mrs. Oliver.
“In one way,” said Judith, “I think they’re probably least trouble of all. I mean, they just throwall of us adults out. And say they’ll do it all themselves.”
“And do they?”
“Well, not in our sense of the word,” said Judith. “They forget to order some of the things, andorder a lot of other things that nobody likes. Having turfed us out, then they say there were thingswe ought to have provided for them to find. They break a lot of glasses, and other things, andthere’s always somebody undesirable² or who brings an undesirable friend. You know the sort ofthing. Peculiar³ drugs and—what do they call it?—Flower Pot or Purple Hemp⁴ or L.S.D., which Ialways have thought just meant money; but apparently⁵ it doesn’t.”
“I suppose it costs it,” suggested Ariadne Oliver.
“It’s very unpleasant, and Hemp has a nasty smell.”
“It all sounds very depressing,” said Mrs. Oliver.
“Anyway, this party will go all right. Trust Rowena Drake for that. She’s a wonderful organizer.
You’ll see.”
“I don’t feel I even want to go to a party,” sighed Mrs. Oliver.
“You go up and lie down for an hour or so. You’ll see. You’ll enjoy it when you get there. Iwish Miranda hadn’t got a temperature—she’s so disappointed at not being able to go, poor child.”
The party came into being at half past seven. Ariadne Oliver had to admit that her friend wasright. Arrivals were punctual. Everything went splendidly. It was well-imagined, well-run and ranlike clockwork. There were red and blue lights on the stairs and yellow

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