Driving to Thanksgiving Dinner we suddenly hear an outburst of triumphant and diabolical laughter coming from the back seat, "HA HA HA HA HA!"

"What?" I asked Ellery.

"Oh nothing," she answered mysteriously.

NOT YOU, CONTINUED

Ellery: What letter do you like best?

Mom: I like them all.

Ellery: In all the world, what is your favorite?

Mom: Well, in the Russian alphabet, there's a letter that sounds like "shch."

Ellery: What is the name of that letter?

Mom: I don't know.

Ellery: Maybe Valnat?

NOT YOU

In the car:

Ellery: I love you.

Mom: I love you too!

Ellery: No, I meant the letter U.

THE JACKET ALWAYS COMPLETES THE OUTFIT

Ellery was getting dressed for school. She had on a light pink shirt, light pink pants, pink socks and boots and a pink bow in her hair. We were debating about the sweater. I couldn't find the dark pink sweater that would match the dark pink boots. I found a brown sweater and then a pink and brown sweat jacket.

She had on the sweat jacket when she spied the fuzzy pink coat. "I'll wear that!" she exclaimed happily. As she discarded the inferior jacket, she muttered to it under her breath, "Goodbye, loser!"

NO ONE LIKES A DIRTY MIND

Ellery: My brain is clean.

Mom: What do you mean?

Ellery: The top section is "Food I Like." (She had just discovered something new she liked to add to this section--garlic bread.)

The middle section is "Colors I Like." Did you know I like green now?

Mom: Oh! That's interesting.

Ellery: Most people's brains are all messy but mine is organized.