Honored at
Chris and Carrie's Engagement Party!
Imagine Big Owl's excitement (and Miss Kathie's too)
when both Kim and Miss Betsy
accepted their invitation to the dinner party at Arlington
which Big Owl and Miss Kathie gave to celebrate Chris and Carrie's engagement!
The private dining room at the old Arlington house
has rarely seen such celebrity and such excitement.
Chris and Carrie began the festivities
by thanking everyone for coming to their engagement party,
and by proposing a toast to the honored guests,
Kim and Miss Betsy.
It was a special French champagne cocktail, called a "kir royal,"
made with champagne and crème de cassis.
Chris and Carrie welcome Kim to the party.
Miss Betsy beams as Chris and Carrie welcome her, too.
Kim and Susan act nonchalant.
The big question of the evening was,
"Which family has the most prestige?
The Livesays, for bringing Kim?
Or the Bettlers, for inviting Miss Betsy?"
Chris and Carrie ponder this delicate, but important, issue.
Here we see the Livesay side,
smiling confidently as they express their gratitude to Miss Kathie
for inviting Kim.
Across the table,
the Bettler side also smiles confidently.
Curiously, Kim has placed herself on the Bettler side of the table.
Happily, all questions of protocol are forgotten once the food arrives.
Here, Mr. and Mrs. Livesay enjoy the famous Arlington salad.
Emboldened by a glass of the fine Chilean wine
(specially chosen by Christopher for the occasion),
Big Owl attempts to get Miss Kathie "liquored up."
Encouraged by the arrival of the magnificent main course,
Christopher takes a glass of wine and makes a similar attempt with Carrie.
Mrs. Livesay congratulates herself on her choice of entrée—
the always popular "chicken cordon bluefin."
Christopher displays extra large steak which Susie has served him.
Sometimes it pays to be an Arlington employee.
Christopher wonders if special dessert (chocolate torte with four-fruit sauce)
is special enough to please both Kim and Miss Betsy.
Carrie chuckles as Miss Kathie relates numerous anecdotes
concerning the vastly amusing youthful escapades
of Kim, Miss Betsy, and Christopher.
Susie congratulates Christopher and Carrie on their engagement,
and expresses interest in getting autograph of both Kim and Miss Betsy.
Although thrilled at Chris and Carrie's engagement,
and flattered by the presence of Kim and Miss Betsy at the party,
Miss Kathie is only too happy to return home
for tearful reunion with the most important person
in her life—Azzie.
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