She felt much better walking through the forest this time with Mama Veronica at her side. Mama Veronica wouldn't let anything bad happen to her or her friends. Samantha relaxed enough to skip ahead of Mama Veronica with Prudence, who continued rambling about everything she saw.
The town was now deserted and so quiet, Samantha wondered if all the children were a figment of her imagination. The pink banner still flapped in the breeze and the streamers and balloons hung from the storefronts. The sight of these cheered Samantha, reminding her of the wonderful party.
The red-haired girl from earlier met them outside the cottage. "Hello girls," she said. "Go in and wash up for dinner. Make sure you scrub good under your nails."
Samantha didn't know who this girl was or why she bossed her and Prudence around. She would have to ask Mama Veronica about it later. Inside the cottage she found her gifts piled up in a corner by the crib followed by the more unwelcome sight of Joey sitting at the table. He wiped his nose with the back of his sleeve as they came in. "Did you guys have fun?" he asked.
"We had lots of fun," Prudence said. She went on to describe every detail of their afternoon as Samantha climbed onto a stool to reach the water bucket and soap. She made sure to scrub her fingernails clean as the bossy lady had said.
For dinner they had roast beef, potatoes, and bread. Despite Samantha's protests that she was a big girl, Mama Veronica cut up her meat into bite-sized pieces. Again Prudence hardly touched her meal, her mouth too busy talking, so that Samantha cleaned her plate as well. Throughout the meal, Joseph sat across the table, sniffling and wheezing through his nose. He's so gross, she thought. Why did he have to live here?
After dinner, Mama Veronica told them to get ready for bed. Molly the bossy lady took Wendell and Joey into one room to change while Mama Veronica took Prudence and Samantha into the other. From a basket on the floor, Mama Veronica took out a nightgown the color of Prudence's dress for her to wear. Prudence talked nonstop as she put on the nightgown and brushed out her long hair. When she finished, she climbed into the bed. Mama Veronica pressed a cloth doll that resembled Prudence-only heavier and with less hair-into Prudence's hands. Mama Veronica kissed her on the forehead and said goodnight.
"What about me, Mama?" Samantha asked.
"We're getting to you, sweetie." She took out a pink set of one-piece pajamas with the feet like babies wore.