A breath later, their first kiss inked a story that even two professional wordsmiths could not put words to.
Women’s House Magazine
November 1970 Issue
Samantha Says…
Q:Dear Samantha,
I’ve been married for over twenty years, and I’ve stood by my husband through his mood swings, his drinking, his affairs. I silently and steadfastly carried out my duties as a wife while he criticized my housekeeping, complained about my cooking, and told me how terrible I was in bed. But now he has done something I simply can no longer abide.
Last night he made me drink my supper.
According to him, I had overcooked the chicken and undercooked the pasta, so he threw it all in a blender, poured it into a cup, and handed it to me. When at first I refused, he threatened to hit me. So I drank it… and I would have thrown up if I didn’t think he would have made me re-drink that too.
I may be making my husband sound like a monster, but he’s got Warren Beatty good looks and a high-paying job to his credit. But I can no longer play Bonnie to his Clyde as his moods have gotten darker. I don’t know how to appease this stranger in our home. Please help, before I do something I will truly regret.
Sincerely,
Supper Sipper Sally
A: Dear Supper Sipper Sally,
I can’t imagine why you would want to give this man another chance rather than divorcing him on the spot, but I understand the reality of the predicament. I’m assuming you’ve always been a homemaker, so perhaps you don’t think you have any job skills. Maybe you’re afraid of doing life alone. Sometimes we grow comfortable in the discomfort. While I hope you’ll find the courage to leave, in the meantime I can suggest a medicinal remedy that might make life more tolerable.
Nux vomica seeds—also known as the “poison nut”—while in their natural state are highly toxic, when they are treated by soaking and boiling them in milk, this process removes the poison and has a safe and proven mellowing effect. Sprinkle a handful on his next dinner dish and kick your feet up and relax together the rest of the evening. But don’t forget to pre-treat the seeds or it could be fatal!
Sincerely,
Samantha
Chapter 26
“Delivery for Samantha Stanton!” a voice echoed throughout the Women’s House Magazine bullpen where glittery remnants of the New Year’s party from two weeks ago still draped across the walls.
After several men groaned, “This is a place of business, not romance,” and a spattering of women seethed, “Look who is showing off again,” all eyes turned to Sam sitting at her small metal desk in the corner, where gold ribbon and a few stray balloons had been piled up for Sam to clean up. Then their attention pivoted back to the delivery man dressed in snow-dusted drab gray wool at the other end of the bustling office.
It didn’t make Sam proud that these deliveries kept happening. First Thomas Cook’s gifts, then the heaping bags of reader mail, and now what? It was drawing unwanted attention that created enemies in the office, as if she needed anyone else to hate her right now.
When Sam heard a snickering erupt behind her, she turned to look. The delivery man dropped a dead plant at the foot of her chair and bid her a better end to her day. It was the dried, crispy, brown remains of the oleander bush Sam had given Thomas Cook. A hand delivered threat, if ever there was one.
