Mrs. Samuel had suggested I have a meal and I made a sandwich and sat alone at the table while she studied in the living room. When I finished, I washed the dishes and glass and walked into the other room.



She sat on the sofa reading from several books but kept looking up with a concerned expression on her face. Something seemed to be bothering her.

After about an hour, Doctor Samuel came downstairs carrying their son in his arms.

Trevor turned out to be a cute little boy with bouncy brown hair and a winning smile.

“Mama! Mama!” called the little boy, stretching his hands out.

“Mama is busy,” said Doctor Samuel firmly. “Mama has to do her homework. Here is Nanny Laura who has come to play and take care of you.”

Mrs. Samuel frowned. “Richard, I think maybe—“

“No, Betsy, you know we agreed that he has to learn when to leave you alone so you can pass the Bar exam.” He turned to me standing in the doorway. “Laura?”

“Hello, Trevor,” I said, approaching slowly. “I’m Laura. Do you want to hear a song?”

Trevor looked at his mother and then at his father. Then he stood up and ran out of the room to the hallway.

“Go tend to him, Laura,” directed Doctor Samuel, setting himself on the sofa next to his wife. He pointed to her books and she sighed.

I went out in search of the little boy who was sitting in on the wood floor between the living room and dining room.

“Do you want to hear a song?” I asked again, softly.

“No. Go away. Want my mama.” He whimpered.



“Maybe you can just listen…” I began to sing a famous finger play for little kids called “Here Is Thumbkin.” Trevor seemed to like it very much and after a few minutes he was following along with me.

Where is Thumbkin? Where is Thumbkin?
Here I am! Here I am!
How are you today, sir?
Very well, I thank you.
Run away, run away!




After singing for a little bit, he asked me over and over for his bunny, so I went to climb the stairs to find it in the nursery. I stopped by the living room door and overheard the Samuels having a heated discussion.

“I told you I wanted to stay home and take care of Trevor myself,” said Mrs. Samuel tearfully. “We could have moved to Vermont and lived in that small house.”

“Not this again,” replied Doctor Samuel with anger in his voice. “I told you the Samuel Family lives and works in Boston. I’m not going to live in the sticks of Vermont! I can’t believe we are having this same argument again, Betsy. You promised me if I gave you two years, you’d take the exam and get certified as a lawyer. You know the mortgage we have on this place and how much it cost to decorate.”

“I wanted to move to Burlington!”

“I told you no,” he insisted. “I can’t carry the cost of this house on my own. We have an image to live up to and we’re in debt-the taxes alone on this property are-“ His voice trailed off as they heard me outside the door.



“I’m just going upstairs to get Trevor’s toy rabbit. I guess it’s in his room?” I called out.

“Yes, on the bottom shelf,” replied his mother. “Trevor darling come to Mama.”

“Mamammama!” he squealed rushing into her arms. I went up the stairs. This was going to be an interesting summer. I couldn’t wait to tell Leon all about it.

Later that night, Trevor was tucked in his crib and I finally had time to log on to my laptop and into my email.

To: [email protected]
From: [email protected]
Hey, Laura, hope you are able to read this tonight. I didn’t want to do it in a text. There isn’t an easy way to tell you this. My dad and mum and I are moving back to Jamaica this summer. Dad’s friend Marvin is going to get him a job at the hotel in our hometown as the handyman has retired. I will work as a waiter there, too, and save some money. The summer is a good time to earn a lot of tips. The internet is okay in our town so we can stay in touch until I come back to Arris. I will come back as soon as I save enough. Meantime, our town has a community college or I will take some classes online.

Don’t be angry.

Leon.