Off a Pewter Platter
by Lillian Masters, Robert W. Masters

Urania Dorn gaily contaminates her household with contestitis.

The disease spreads from perky old Grandpa and his typing speed tests, little brother Buddy and his soap box derby racer, Father and his mushroom hunting, to Aggie, the vociferous maid, with her original advertising jingles.

Even little sister Toots succumbs and enters a kindergarten clay modelling contest.

However, to Debbie, sixteen and social, the big contest is with her irresponsible family, and she is backed up by domineering Aunt Isabel, Toots brings her imaginary playmate, invisible Junior Salad, out in the open, but Debbie brings her imaginary family, as she wishes them to be, out in a dream.

Grandpa is a southern colonel, mother a poetess, father a big game hunter, Toots a child movie star, and so on.

Then comes Debbie's revolt.

Her frustration vents itself on every member of her family which she thinks has ruined her social life and her romantic life and with popular Stepnen Ranes.

Hardest hit is Davy, Debbie's likable twins, they are most unidentical identical twins, but that's the Dorn family for you.

Debbie causes Davy to leave home.

He is accused of absconding with school basketball funds.

Events finally turn the near tragedy back to a happy comedy.

Debbie learns late, but not too late, that the BIG contest is the contest of life, and the prize is happiness.