The A to Z Challenge: L is for Lizzie

I'm returning to characters for L, because I couldn't possibly leave Lizzie out. Her formal name is Elizabeth, but the last time she was called that was probably on her wedding day. She's always Lizzie.

Lizzie is Amy's cousin. One could ask for no more loyal a friend—albeit an occasionally maddening one. She and Amy are about as different as different can be, but that doesn't stop them from loving each other dearly. Lizzie is down-to-earth and practical, and she would tell you that she's not at all bossy. As she says to Amy one day, when she's asserting that she always does what her husband says,

Well, except when he’s wrong about something, then I just explain how he’s wrong until he sees it for himself.

Any family members who are paid a visit by Lizzie should be prepared to find their household arrangements carefully appraised, and their cupboards reorganised. It's generally easier to just go along with her—even as the one supposedly in charge (i.e. the author), I've certainly found that to be the case.

Styles family on their dairy farm, Taranaki district. McAllister, James, 1869-1952 :Negatives of Stratford and Taranaki district. Ref: 1/1-008141-G. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. http://natlib.govt.nz/records/23220568