The Egypt Game Elizabeth Chung Quotes

"Please," she said, in a feathery little voice. "Please don't tell on us, and we'll let you play, too." April cringed. It was such a corny, baby thing to say. She had a crazy urge to grab Elizabeth and drag her out of wisecrack range, before she got hurt. (12.31-32)

Somehow, Elizabeth's soft pleading works on the boys. (And this is before puberty, too.) Contrary to what the others expect, the boys don't make fun of Elizabeth or threaten to reveal the Egypt Game to everyone; they actually listen to what she has to say. Even if it's in a corny, baby tone of voice.

"What sort of sign?" Elizabeth wanted to know.
"A secret omen," Melanie said.
"Will it be a pigeon feather?" Marshall asked.
"We don't know what it will be," April told him. "But we will know when it appears." She clasped her hands and struck a wonder-and-amazement pose. "The very air will smell of mystery," she breathed. (9.24-28)

On Halloween, the kids make a huge production of waiting for a sign from the gods so that they can return to Egypt. After all, it's a lot easier to justify being disobedient (when there's a murderer on the loose) if they receive an omen.