Timed Reading — Little Women

The New Year’s Eve party at the Gardiners’ house was the first time Jo March and Laurie Laurence actually spoke to each other.

Jo had been looking forward to the evening. She arrived with Meg and wore her best dress. Early in the party, she stepped too close to the fire and burned the back of her skirt. The damage was not dangerous, but it was embarrassing. Rather than stand with her back against the wall all evening, Jo found a quiet corner behind a curtain and stayed there.

Laurie found her. He had noticed her before — she was the girl from the house next door — but they had never spoken. He was not dancing either. He found parties like this stiff and uncomfortable, and preferred to watch from the edges rather than join in.

He pulled back the curtain and asked if he could join her. Jo said yes. They talked easily and quickly found they had things in common. Both felt out of place in formal social situations. Both preferred talking or reading to performing for a room full of strangers.

Eventually, Laurie suggested they dance — but not in the main room. They slipped into a long hallway and danced there together, away from the other guests. It was an unconventional solution and suited them both perfectly.

When the evening ended, Jo went home feeling she had made a real friend. Laurie felt the same. The friendship that would shape both their lives had quietly begun.