'I mean to be prettier than I am!' she thought, putting her hands on her waist.
'I wonder if I can pull them in a bit!' Sliding her fingers under her blouse, she began to pull at certain strings.

They would not budge.

They were loose, yes, really too comfortable.

She would have to get the next size smaller! And dropping her chin, she rubbed it on the lace edging of her chest, where it felt warm and smelled piny.

Had Cookie ever been in love?
Her gray hairs were coming, poor old duck! The windows, where a protection of wire gauze kept out the flies, were opened wide, and the sun shone in and dimmed the fire.