During the 1860s, the era the March girls lived in,
it was the custom for ladies to make formal visits regularly to their neighbors and relatives as a courtesy and display of good manners.
Amy, wanting very much to be regarded as a well-bred lady, eagerly planned such occasions with a keen sense of purpose.
"Jo, aren't you going to get ready?" Amy asked her sister one Friday morning.
"For what?" Jo, sprawled out on the bed, didn't even look up from the book she was reading.
Amy stopped brushing her blonde wavy hair and stared at Jo through the mirror in front of her.
"Don't tell me you've forgotten," she said in an exasperated voice.
"Okay, I won't," replied Jo, turning a page.
"Jo!" Amy swung around this time and faced her sister.
"We're supposed to make our calls today. You promised me!
Time is important since we have half a dozen homes to visit."
Slowly tearing her eyes away from the book, Jo looked at Amy with a blank expression.
"Calls? I don't remember promising anything of the sort, Miss Amy March," she said.
Amy narrowed her eyes and said accusingly, "Yes, you did. You said if I finished the painting of Beth playing the piano for Mr. Laurence,
then you would come with me in making calls."
Jo grimaced but tossed the book aside, for now she clearly remembered the circumstances of her promise,
though she obviously had not been paying attention to its conditions when she made it.
"I'll come with you but I won't be happy about it," Jo said childishly.
"I won't sit there with a fake smile and pretend I'm having a jolly good time."
"Oh, yes you will," Amy said sternly.
"You are not going to embarrass me or our family by frowning, making rude gestures, or saying scandalous things."
The sisters stuck their tongues out at each other like true ladies, then Jo reluctantly got changed into something more suitable for the occasion.
The first house they called on was the Tudors' home.
The Tudors were one of the founding families of their town.
They had two daughters about the same age as Jo and Amy but the girls were obnoxious and snobbish, not to mention renowned for their lack of good looks.
"Jo, I want you to be on your best behavior here," Amy said, stopping in front of the Tudor home.
"I will be if those ugly witches are," Jo answered promptly.
"Jo! Please! It will benefit our family to be on good terms with the Tudors.
Be nice and don't speak. Don't say a word, please," begged Amy.
"Miss Amy! Miss Josephine! How lovely to see you!"
Mrs. Tudor welcomed the girls in an exaggerated voice when they were shown into the house by one of their many servants.
"Mrs. Tudor, thank you for having us. It's our pleasure and privilege to visit your beautiful home," Amy gushed.
Having been told to remain silent, Jo merely nodded and wordlessly followed Mrs. Tudor to their sitting room.
Waiting for them were the Tudor sisters, sitting on matching velvet chairs as if they were royalty and expecting Jo and Amy to curtsy to them.
Amy, being a good spirit, went over and asked about their health, and complimented their dresses and hair.
Meanwhile, Jo sat in the farthest corner of the room not uttering a sound.
"Would you like Earl Grey tea, Miss Josephine, or Darjeeling?"
asked Mrs. Tudor while one servant brought in a china teapot and cups on a large silver tray and two others carried in the biscuits, sandwiches, and chocolate.
"Could I have a glass of milk instead, please? Thank you," Jo said, avoiding Amy's glare from across the room.
Startled, Mrs. Tudor took a moment before answering, "Yes, yes, of course.
Liddie, bring Miss Josephine what she wants."
Jo had to endure an hour of listening to how many suitors the girls had and where they were traveling for their summer holidays.
Amy, nodding at the appropriate times, seemed genuinely interested in their affairs,
but Jo, trying very hard to bite her tongue and keep from speaking out, decided to turn her attention to the birds outside.
"Well, we don't want to keep you any longer as I'm sure you have a lot to do before your trip," said Amy graciously, standing up to leave.
After another ten minutes just to say good-bye, Jo and Amy stepped outside the Tudor home.
As soon as they had done so, they heard one of the girls say to their mother as the door shut,
"What a horribly rude person that Josephine March is!"
The other girl spoke next. "She looks at us as if we're rats and doesn't say a word! I've never been so insulted!"
Grinning, Jo took Amy's arm and led her away from the house.
"I have to agree with the girls, Jo," Amy scolded when they were far enough away.
"What was the matter with you? You barely spoke two words."
"You told me not to say anything," Jo reminded her.
"I meant not to say anything rude," sighed Amy, "not to say nothing at all."
"Permission to speak at the next home then?" Jo asked teasingly.
"Yes, please speak. Be more cheerful and friendly," said Amy.
The next home on their list belonged to the Chesters, another wealthy, well-respected family.
The Chesters had three boys and one daughter, Mary, who was Amy's classmate both in school and in art class.
"Good morning, Mrs. Chester," Amy said warmly to a middle-aged woman who was wearing a large string of pearls with a diamond pendant.
"What a simply adorable necklace you're wearing, Mrs. Chester,"
Jo said, pulling the pearls toward her to have a closer look and in doing so, nearly choking the poor woman.
"Oh! Are these your adorable little boys?" Jo blew kisses at three big teenage boys, standing behind their mother.
Amy's face flushed as she noticed Mrs. Chester staring at Jo with an odd expression and the boys making funny faces.
"Mary! You are simply the most adorable little creature!" Jo shouted at the young woman waiting for them in the parlor.
"We were so distressed when you couldn't attend Amy's little party a few weeks ago.
We missed you terribly!" Jo continued in a phony voice.
Soon tea was served and before long, Jo was deep in conversation with Mary's brothers.
Meanwhile Mary was trying to explain why she hadn't attended Amy's party.
Amy replied with understanding, "Not another word, Mary, for it was a dreadful day to travel and I . . ."
Suddenly, Amy was interrupted by a loud squeal, then a burst of laughter exploding from the other side of the room.
Jo and the Chester boys were rocking back and forth clutching their stomachs.
Amy shook her head, having only herself to blame for telling Jo how she should act at other people's homes.
Clearly, Jo was having fun playing different roles, making a spectacle of herself, and not caring how others viewed her or her family.