The Lilac Tunnel: My Journey with Samantha

I nod yes to Samantha’s question. I am definitely on my own. Elsa snorts and says that they didn’t ask for an orphan. Wait? Do they think I’m an orphan? That’s not what I meant by “on my own,” but now it’s too late. Everything is happening so fast that I can’t keep up. Elsa blurts out that I should be sent back. They requested a servant, not a parentless child to care for. Samantha steps up beside me and takes my hand, and I see the steely look in her eyes. It’s not unlike her grandmother’s eyes. She says it’s not my fault that I’m an orphan. Mrs. Edwards lifts her hands to silence Elsa’s retort. She says that’s enough. I’ve suffered some misfortune, but I am not to be blamed for that. She is sure I will be a hard worker.

Samantha lets go of my hand and whispers that she’ll see me in a while. Elsa casts a sharp look at me as she leads me out of the parlor. We cut through the kitchen and up a long, curving staircase. We then start up a narrower set upstairs to the third floor. Elsa moves quickly, as if hoping she’ll lose me around the next bend. I hurry to follow her down the long hallway.

Elsa points at two doors. The first is her room, the second is where Jessie, Mrs. Edwards’ seamstress, works. At the end of the hall, Elsa starts up another staircase. These stairs are steeper than the rest. As I hurry after Elsa, I’m out of breath but eager to see the room above. It must be in the tower that I noticed when I first landed in Samantha’s backyard. The staircase leads to a small, but sunny room lined with big windows. There’s no bed or furniture of any kind in the room. Obviously Mrs. Edwards wasn’t expecting me, or the real Ruby, anytime soon. Now that we’ve reached our destination, Elsa stands still. She puts her hands on her hips and says I need to listen close. Mrs. Edwards will be counting on her to make sure I earn my keep. I’ll need to prove I can work hard, or I will be sent back. She asks if I understand. When I’m silent, she puts a finger under my chin and lifts my face so I’m staring straight at her. She asks again if I understand.

I try to nod, but I can’t move my head. Finally, I say yes. She corrects me and says I should address her as ma’am. We will have to work on my manners. She tells me to stay here while she finds me some proper clothes to wear.

When I’m alone, my first urge is to pull the pendant out of my pocket to go home. But then I remember how Samantha stood by me when she thought I was feeling all alone, and what she said about feeling lonely in this big house. I think of my bedroom at my dad’s, which feels lonely, too. I’d rather stay here with my new friend. I can handle grumpy Elsa, at least with Samantha by my side. I fasten the locket firmly around my neck.

When Elsa returns, she has blankets and a drab gray dress and apron. She insists I put the clothes on right away. When I step into the dress, the rough material chafes my skin. It feels like a burlap sack. I try not to squirm as Elsa inspects me. It’ll have to do. She asks me to answer truthfully if I’ve ever worked as a wash girl before. I think of the one time my mom let me do laundry and wonder if that counts. When I take too long to answer, Elsa scoffs and shakes her head. They’ll have to find another way to make me useful. She says we’re having a dinner party this evening, and the dining table must be the picture of perfection. She asks if we should start with table settings or napkin folding.