The Lilac Tunnel: My Journey with Samantha

I choose the largest spoon and scoop up a hot mouthful of soup. As I take a slow slurp, I catch Samantha’s expression out of the corner of my eye. She’s horrified. Then, I realize that she, and everyone else at the table, is sitting still, waiting with their hands in their laps. What are they waiting for?

Then, Grandmary slowly lifts her own spoon, and everyone does the same. A hot flush creeps across my cheeks. Samantha glances nervously from me to Grandmary. I know I’ve done something horribly wrong. There are a lot of rules at a fancy dinner in 1904. This isn’t anything like eating at the table with Mom.

Eddie whispers that I’m a ninny. I don’t have any manners. Mrs. Ryland scolds her son. He should mind his own business and shouldn’t be talking with his mouth full. Then she turns to me and asks what my father does in the city. I put my spoon down and politely answer that he doesn’t live in the city. My mom has a job there as a social worker. Samantha is startled. My mom works? I think to myself that most moms work. But then I see Mrs. Ryland raise an eyebrow and purse her lips. Apparently, not in 1904.

Mrs. Ryland asks what my mother does specifically. I’m embarrassed to realize that I don’t really know much about my mother’s job. I put down my spoon and take a sip of water and tell her that Mom helps homeless families or children whose parents can’t take care of them. Samantha says it sounds as if my mom helps people who really need it. Then she says to Mrs. Ryland that we met a woman today who’s training to be a doctor. She’s lucky to do such important work. Samantha tries to continue on to talk about the boy with chicken pox, but Grandmary interrupts and says that a doctor’s visit isn’t suitable dinner conversation. Samantha’s face falls, and she sits back in her chair. I sit back, too, scratching my suddenly itchy back against the wooden chair.

Mrs. Ryland says there’s no good fortune in a woman needing to work outside the home. She waits for Grandmary to respond, but instead of saying anything, Grandmary rings a dinner bell to ask Elsa to bring more bread.