I glanced at Sam. Somehow, I felt she'd betrayed me all overagain. I honestly wasn't sure how. It was just a feeling. "Sorry Billy, I've already made ...ther plans," I said with as much sarcasmas I could muster. It almost seemed ironic to me that I actually had madeother plans. Having had enough of this exchange I asked Sam if she'd walkme home after school. She had a hurt look in her eyes as she replied, "Sorry John, I've madeother plans." Damn! Not again? "Sam?" I inquired pleadingly. "I'll. He was a mountain of a kid — as big and as quiet but not nearly as dumb. Though he was in my Advanced Algebra class, he didn’t look the type. A football player of some sort, Tony had a look about him that said, ‘My mom let me dress myself today.’ He would have been an easy target to pick on if he didn’t stand well over six feet tall and have arms the size of my thighs. As it was, I tried to stay clear of him. Despite my typical stance of avoidance, Tony sought me out a late May afternoon in C. She might have wished todo that to me, but I am not a murderer." No my dear Willie, you certainly are not. I understand. But, what ifsomeone were to offer to do that for you? After all my darling, thiswoman sent you here alone to die, she had no such concern about you."Willie looked off into the distance. Elizabetta remained silent whilewatched her guest process the information. Willie bit her lower lip,turned to Elizabetta and looked her right in the eye and smiled."You? You would do. Unfortunately for her, I didn't care. Regrettably for them, our stay here hadn't been that amiable. As I'd noted above, while Dr. Gruber had proved to be cooperative and even pliable in her thinking, a couple of the other doctors had not been like minded. Their intolerance had caused some bad feelings."Look," I said to the good doctor, "I understand your reluctance to stay here any longer. If I was in your shoes, I'd want to be with my own people; especially if they were numerically stronger.