It’s hard to be a 9-year-old and have to cope with a world that keeps springing surprises on you. It’s harder still if you’re a regular on a TV series, like Patty Petersen in The Donna Reed Show, and have a big brother who’s always keeping tabs on you.

Sometimes it goes like this: “I hate you,” she’ll yell at Paul, her brother, who’s 18 and also a regular on the show. Then she’ll calm down and whisper, “I love you,” and give him a big bear hug.  On these pages, some samples of Patty’s ups and downs: Right, Paul bops her to make her behave for makeup; below left, some brotherly advice; top of page, a tender moment.

 

Not that’s it’s so easy for Paul either. He watched his sister rehearse on her first working day. He tensed up, perspired freely, finally when it was all over heaved a sigh. “Gad,” he said, “I never want to be a mother.”