At dinner, Samantha ate in a corner opposite Prudence with the younger girls. She supposed this would give Helena and the others more ammunition to make fun of her with, but she didn't care. As soon as she could manage it, she would get off this island and begin to see the world lurking in the depths of her memory. That liar Miss Brigham and coward Prudence could stay here and rot with The Way for all she cared.
"This meat is too tough," Rebecca said. She threw down her knife in frustration.
"Let me help you with that," Samantha said. She cut Rebecca's slice of salted beef into tiny pieces.
"Thank you," the girl said. She speared a piece and shoved it into a mouth missing all its front teeth. The five others at their table were having the same problem and without asking, Samantha sliced up their meat as well.
She watched them eat while picking at her own plate. These poor little girls. They were stuck here with no parents, completely ignorant of the wonders the world held. All they knew was what Reverend Crane and Miss Brigham told them, which Samantha was beginning to recognize as lies. If only she could take them with her so they could all see motorcycles, airplanes, and skyscrapers.
Well, why not? If she managed to get out, she could tell someone about this place. All the girls and boys could then be rescued from here. That is, if they wanted to be. Some, like Prudence, would probably choose to stay.
"What's wrong?" Rebecca asked. "Are you sad?"
"Yes, I am."
"Why?"
"It's hard to explain," Samantha said.
"Why?"
"It's complicated."
"Why?"
Samantha sighed. This is what she got for sitting with the toddlers. "Because it is, all right?"
"All right." Rebecca looked down at her plate, her face turning red after being scolded.
"I'm sorry to yell at you, Rebecca. You're very sweet for asking. I wish I could explain to you what's wrong, but it's a grownup thing." Samantha hated the condescension in her voice. Rebecca probably didn't like being treated like a baby any more than Wendell or herself. "My friend and I had an argument."
"About what?"
"It was about someone who has been lying."
"Lying is bad."
"Yes, lying is bad. My friend doesn't want to believe this person is a liar. So we had a big fight about it."
Rebecca pondered the situation, chewing slowly on her piece of beef. Finally, she said, "Friends shouldn't get mad at each other. Friends should be nice." She nodded in agreement with herself and then turned her attention back to her plate.