I reach our long dining table that can seat 10 people. I sat in front of my mom while John sits at the head of the table. The two starts talking about...work as I, like always, eat my food in silence. “Ria,” I stop eating when I heard my mom say my name, “aren’t you going to congratulate John for saving orphans from a burning building today?” I roll my eyes. She’s been trying to get me to be closer with John ever since they got married since she thinks I don’t like him. It’s not that I don’t like. If Gwen weren’t my best friend and I didn’t respect her totally, I’d be doing my best to steal him away. But you know what? I never could. I keep telling Gwen that he’s a regular ‘Boy Scout’. He loves Gwen and he’s loyal to her. I’m just lucky to be their friend.’ Ms. Walker studied the two young women standing before her. They apparently loved the same man and yet were still friends! She was unable to detect any rancor or jealousy between them. They were, she realized, exceptional young women.. “You cost me my lunch hour with your nonsense, little girl, so I expect a nice dinner tonight,” he said, chewing on my lips. He set me on the bed and attached my left hand to a cloth cuff that he had rigged up to the bed. “You are to stay here until 4 o’clock. You can start cooking then, but until then you need to do your work. If Brian has any additional assignments for you, you need to get them done before you go to bed. Are we clear?” His words had an edge, but his eyes were twinkling. . Inside, the bottom was padded with foam rubber, but lined with plastic--like, maybe, a plastic shower curtain. She kicked her shoes off and lifted a leg up and stepped inside. Kneeling inside it, she closed one of the top panels, positioning her neck in the half-circle that, curiously, was just the perfect diameter for a neck to pass through. The panel didn't quite close down completely. She tried to pull it down so that it would be flat and level, but it wouldn't fully close. She flipped it.