The Lilac Tunnel: My Journey with Samantha

I count slowly to ten before responding, giving Samantha just enough time to fire back at Eddie herself: get out right now, or she’ll tell his mother he dumped her expensive perfume to build a house for his pet beetles. He jumps right up, checking her face for a bluff, then slinks back through the hedge like a dog with its tail tucked between its legs. She’s clearly had plenty of practice arguing with him, and I’m just glad I stayed quiet and let her handle this one herself.

I thank her quietly, but as we keep working, I can’t stop thinking about what Eddie asked her: Why are you helping that servant girl?