Yes they were RUDE- sometimes my friends acted this way towards my parents (when I was young) and my parents would NEVER let them get away with it. They would force them to answer, pointedly engage them in a conversation until they responded.
One time a boy picked my sister up (for a date) and just honked the horn for her instead of coming down to the house. My dad marched up to the car and, smiling, said, "well, I'm sorry that I got up here before you were able to make it down to the house, but I know that next time that won't happen." Smile.
The kids that were rude (non-responsive) to my parents really annoyed ME as a kid. Even though I was, like, "Moooooom!, Daaaaaddd, you are so embarrassing!", I was secretly glad that my parents put them on the spot.
BTW, my "worldly" friends always were polite, conversational, and had a lot to say to my parents. It was the JW friends that were the duds.
Mrs Jones-- you totally should have given those girls the business. Let them know they are accepting a kindness from an adult and they better damn well be grateful and polite.
-K