The Lilac Tunnel: My Journey with Samantha

When we get back to Samantha’s house, Grandmary hands the aspirin to Mrs. Hawkins. She says Dr. Barnett has modern medicine, but she prefers the tried-and-true willow bark tea. Mrs. Hawkins nods and says she’ll bring the tea right away. With a spoonful of cod-liver oil for good measure. Samantha wrinkles her nose in disgust, and Mrs. Hawkins says in that case, Samantha can have a spoonful, too.

Grandmary settles into a velvet chair and asks if my mother has a telephone. Hawkins can try to telephone my mother in the city. I shake my head. My mom does have a cell phone, but I’m pretty sure Hawkins won’t be able to reach her. Grandmary says in that case, I can spend the night with them. Tomorrow, we can all determine how best to return me to the city. A sleepover here? Samantha shoots me a grin.

Grandmary then sees Elsa in the hallway and calls her into the parlor. The sour-faced maid pokes her head into the room. Grandmary says to set one more place at the dinner table. I will be joining them. Elsa gives me a once-over and says, “Yes, ma’am.”

Then, Mrs. Hawkins comes into the room with two teapots and several cups on a tray. She takes a small brown bottle off the tray and pours me a spoonful of what must be the cod-liver oil. The fishy smell greets me long before the spoon hits my lips. Samantha tells me to hold my nose. But even with that, the oily liquid makes me gag. I swallow hard and grimace. Then, Samantha holds her own nose and reluctantly opens her mouth for her spoonful as well. She makes a gagging face, too. As we drink our tea, I try to sit straight and take small sips just like Samantha. It must take forever to drink the whole cup this way.

Finally, Grandmary stands up and says the Rylands will be here soon for dinner. Samantha can take me upstairs to find something to wear.

As we head upstairs, Samantha says that they will find me something perfect. It’s a special treat to eat with adults. A special treat? My mom insists that I eat dinner with her at the table most weeknights. A special treat is being able to eat in front of the TV on a movie night. But I am excited to see what dinner at Samantha’s house is like.

Samantha’s bedroom is wallpapered with pink and white stripes. Delicate curtains frame a large window, and the head of Samantha’s bed is draped with a high satin canopy trimmed with lace. Samantha opens the door of a large wooden cabinet. She has dresses in every color and fabric. Plaid with puffy sleeves, striped with ruffled skirts, and satin with lace collars. I tell her that she’s lucky, but she doesn’t seem to hear. She’s having too much fun picking out a dress for me to wear. Finally, she reaches for a lacy lilac dress with a lavender satin bow at the waist.

I pull off my capris and am about to step into her dress when she holds up her hand. I forgot my undergarments. She pulls out a chemise. It’s a long, really undershirt. And then, she follows it up with a pair of drawers, which look like baggy pants. The chemise and draws stretch down to my knees. Then, she hands me a lacy skirt called a petticoat.

By the time I go downstairs, I’m wearing long stockings with garters and high button boots, too. I’ve got a huge lavender bow in my hair, and when I step through the doorway, I fight the urge to duck. But the dress swishes as I walk, and I feel like a wealthy young lady. My silver heart-shaped locket now hangs around my neck as the finishing touch.

Hawkins leads us into the dining room, where everyone is dressed elegantly. Grandmary is at one end of the table and sits like a queen on her throne. At the opposite end is a man in a suit coat who must be Mr. Ryland. Beside him is Mrs. Ryland, a red-headed woman in a rose-colored gown. She gives me a haughty look. And then, I see the freckle-faced boy next to her. It’s Eddie, the boy from the lilac bushes. He’s staring at me like I have two heads.

I avoid his gaze and glance down at the fancy place setting in front of me. A pretty china plate rests on the crisp white tablecloth. There’s an array of forks, spoons, and knives beside it. My water glass is a crystal goblet, and my napkin is folded into a tubular shape. Elsa may be a grumpy maid, but she knows how to set a table.

Just then, Elsa pushes through the swinging door with a tray of steaming bowls. I see Mrs. Hawkins in the kitchen behind her, bustling around with red cheeks and a towel over one shoulder. I realize there’s no place setting for Elsa, Hawkins, or Mrs. Hawkins. Samantha servants are working hard to prepare the dinner, but they won’t be enjoying it anytime soon.

Elsa sets the bowl of soup in front of me, the salty smell wafting upwards. I didn’t know how hungry I was until this very moment. I can barely wait a few seconds to lift a spoonful to my lips. But which spoon do I use?