“Will be a lunch at your house with the bricklayer assistant?” Pamela exclaims as if Melissa is announcing that she is pregnant.

“When are you going to stop calling Josias ‘bricklayer assistant’?” Melissa frowns, already impatient with the nickname given by those who hate Josias.

“When he becomes more than a bricklayer helper!” Pamela scoffs, trying to hide her anger. She opens the door and gives Melissa more room to enter. The two sit on the sofa in the living room.

“And then, because of your anger, will you stop eating chicken lasagna?”

“I will come to offer you moral support.” Pamela remains mocking.

“Other boys go too. Maybe you...