only made them feel more at home。
〃My grandson wanted me to have the party at the hotel；〃 Stanford Paris II confided to Mr。 van der
Woodsen as he shook his hand。 〃Or at the Yacht Club。〃 He winked at Serena's mother。 〃But I
wasn't about to pass up an opportunity to host so many beautiful women in my own home！〃
Serena's mother smiled her gracious
you…can…say…anything…to…me…you…old…lech…and…I'll…never…lose…my…poise smile； and Serena giggles。
Maybe old Stan Parris wasn't so bad after all。 She shook the ancient New England aristocrat's hand
and then stood on tiptoe and planted a flirtatious kiss on his withered old cheek just to piss her
parents off。
〃I say；〃 Mr。 Paris exclaimed。 〃Yale certainly knows what it's doing！〃
〃Easy； Granddad；〃 warned a tall blond boy with an adorable dimple in his chin and amazing
cheekbones。 〃Remember you have a bad heart；〃 the boy scolded his grandfather。
〃It's not my heart I'm worried about；〃 Mr。 Parris grumbled。 He clasped the boy on the shoulder
with a wrinkled hand。 〃Miss Serena van der Woodsen； this is my grandson Stanford Parris the
Fifth。〃
Like anyone actually cares how many Stanford Parrises there are？
Serena waited for the boy to blush with embarrassment and mutter about how plain old 〃Stan〃
would be just fine； but he didn't。 Obviously he thought his title was the best thing ever。 What did
they call him at school？ she wondered。 Number five？ Stan 5？
〃Here's your name tag； dear。〃 Serena' smother pasted a bumper…sticker…sized white nametag with
'Serena van der Woodsen； Ining Fall' written on it in blue marker over Serena's breast； like
some sort of hideous； adhesive…backed tube top。
Serena pretended not to mind。 〃Thanks； Mom；〃 she said； cupping her hands over her hest to
smooth out the nametag。 Every male in her presence let out a little gasp； all getting excited for
Yale's coed dorms next year。
They were early and the party was thin。 Boys in Hugo Boss suits and ties and girls in long Tocca
skirts and buttoned…up blouse lurked by their parents sides； smiling awkwardly and guzzling
champagne。 The whole scene made Serena feel like she was at her first day of ballroom dancing
back in the fifth grade。
Someone tapped Serena on the shoulder and she turned around。 It was Mrs。 Archibald； Nate's
dramatic； French； slightly crazy mother。 Her dyed amber hair had been blown out into mass of
cascading curls； and her thin lips were painted a fierce fire…engine red。 Around her neck were six
strands of rose…colored pearls； and matching rose…colored pearls punctuated each ear。 Despite her
three…inch Christian Louboutin heels； she was surprisingly tiny； dressed in a sleek； pewter…colored
strapless Oscar de la Renta silk evening gown and carrying a little gold satchel and gold opera
glasses… Obviously just stopping by at the party on her way to the theater。 She kissed Serena
quickly on both cheeks。 〃Have you seen my son？〃 she whispered in Serena's ear； her green eyes
flashing。
Serena shook her head。 〃No。 But Blair's……〃 she stopped short； wondering if Mrs。 Archibald really
wanted to know that Blair and Nate were holed up in a Plaza Hotel suite； having lots of sex。 〃Have
you tried his cell？〃 she asked instead。
Mrs。 Archibald batted her eyelashes and waved her opera glasses in the air。 〃Never mind； darling；〃
she sighed； before rustling off to find her husband； the admiral。
Stan 5 was still standing by as if it were only right that the handsomest blond guy and the most
beautiful blond girl in the room should be talking to each other。 A woman in a black caterer's
uniform handed Serena a flute of champagne。 〃Where's your nametag？〃 Serena asked Stan 5；
scanning his black oxford…cloth shirt that had been unbuttoned and tieless。
What a rebel。
He grinned and cleared his throat。 〃I didn't think I needed one。〃
Oh； so like everyone is just supposed to know who you are？
Serena was ready to ditch the party already… she'd shown up and stayed ten minutes； what more
did her parents want？ But then old Mr。 Parris shuffled over to talk to her again； and she didn't want
to be rude。
〃Your mother was just telling me what a wonderful actress you are；〃 he boomed in his New
England accent。 He adjusted his burgundy…and…navy…blue…striped bow tie。 〃You know； I played the
lead in nineteen productions back when I was a Yalie。 The school was men only in those days。 I've
got some old pictures if you would like to take a look。〃
〃Honestly； Granddad；〃 Stan 5 huffed in an effort to shut his grandfather up。
〃Actually； I'd love to；〃 Serena replied with genuine interest。 There was nothing she liked better
than to look at old pictures。 She loved the elaborate clothes； the dramatic bouffant hairstyles； and
the way everyone wore hats and gloves and handbags that matched their shoe。
Stan 5 frowned in confusion； as if he couldn't believe Serena was about to ditch him for his
wrinkly old grandfather。 She flashed him a gracious smile her mom had flashed his grandfather；
and then followed the elder Mr。 Parris through the apartment and down a narrow corridor to his
library。 His right leg seemed to be giving him trouble； causing him to list to the left； and she
gripped the elbow of his dapper gray pinstriped blazer for fear he would fall。
The Parris library was decorated in chocolate brown with hints of navy blue and gold fleur…de…lys。
Three crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling； and four chocolate brown leather club chairs
stood around an ornately painted antique card table。
〃There I am in Hamlet。〃 Mr。 Parris pointed to a large black…and…white photograph hanging over
the mantel。 Serena expected to see a young Mr。 Parris in a full suit of armor； looking fierce and
haughty。 Instead a beautiful young girl with a long thin face and a distinctive clef in her chin lay
with her long…lashed eyes closed and her hands folded across her chest； a chain of daisies
entwined in her loose hair。
〃That's you？〃 Serena asked in amazement。
The old man chuckled。 〃I was a pretty boy back then。 They made me play Ophelia。〃
Serena starred at the photograph。 〃You were kind of hot。〃
Mr。 Parris patted her hand。 〃I like to think so。 And I was so much better at dying than the other
fellows。〃 He went over to the wet bar in the corner； filled two crystal tumblers full of scotch； and
set them on the card table。 Then he pulled a worn green leather…bound album off the bookshelf。 He
flipped through the pages of the album and pointed to one of the leather club chairs。 〃I've got
hundreds of photographs；〃 he warned Serena。
Serena sat down and took a sip of scotch。 Then she scooted back in her chair； tucked her feet up
underneath her； and reached for the album。 She felt cozy and fortable and genuinely interested
in looking at Stanford Parris III's old Yale pictures。 And as she slowly turned the pages； examining
the wonderful black…and…white images of young Mr。 Parris and his handsome Yale acting buddies
rehearsing onstage； she realized she hadn't thought about acting at college。 She could even
imagine playing Ophelia just like Mr。 Parris had； fluttering her eyes and fo