A Call That Changed Her Entire Life

Jack, guilt-ridden, answered, "No! I just wanted to give Beryl a surprise. I didn't mean to..."

Grim-faced, Emily said, "My Beryl doesn't need your surprise. And she will not accept a puppy you snatched from who knows where. So spare me the drama."

"Well, then, I will take it back," answered Jack. However, Jack was afraid that the dog would bite him again if he took it back.

"That's entirely up to you," she answered. Emily turned around and let Beryl in the house without further delay.

"Wait! Wait! Miss Lu!" implored Jack, as he quickly wedged his hand between the closing door and its frame. He sincerely begged, "I just want to apologize for what I said last time. It was too abrupt and offensive. I'm sorry for..."

Emily glanced at his wounded arm, and without a care in the world, she said, "Go away!"

"No!" Jack persisted. Disregarding Emily's displeasure towards his determination, he threatened, "If you do not forgive me, I will not move from here."

With a deadpan expression on her face, Emily slowly pulled the door inwards, pressing his hand tightly. "Go!" she demanded.

"No!" Jack refused again. It was as if all shame and dignity had abandoned him. "Even if my hand breaks, I won't move from here," he said, confidently.

Jack thought that Emily would give in to him by now, but he forgot that she was no longer the woman she used to be. She wasn't going to entertain his bluffs and deceptions anymore.

Without a warning, Emily slammed the door shut!

"Ah!" screamed Jack. Although, the pain wasn't bad enough, he cried out loud just to escalate the situation. In doing so, he assumed he could somehow evoke Emily's compassion.

Such a pity, that didn't work either!

"Zoe, get him out of here right now," commanded Emily.

As soon as Emily's orders registered in her head, the babysitter pushed Jack away without hesitation. "Sir, you'd better leave now," Zoe suggested.

Then she whispered, "Otherwise, Miss Lu will resent you more." Jack froze for a second and drew his hand back. Emily closed the door on him without hesitation. "Bang!"

will stop bothering me from now on. I'll

at the door. After a short while, he stopped knocking as he didn't want her to resent him any more than she already did. Jack stood in front of the door and frowned at the puppy.

puppy, "I thought you would be of great help

the door, in despair, he sighed and

was getting

I do?' Jack wondered.

it's too obvious. It could easily backfire. Should I try to impress Beryl? I'm afraid that the little girl hates me as much as

developed a skull-splitting headache trying to come up with a solution.

arm, his eyes suddenly lit up. Jack shouted, "Cloris, open the door!

painfully as he patted the door, and screamed, "It's hurt so much. Could you help me, at

house

of audience, Jack continued his dramatic performance. "Please! Open the door, or I will die in front

the living room, Emily was busy processing long beans, completely unaware of Jack's whining, and the babysitter was cooking

slippers, carrying a chair with both hands. She slowly placed the chair behind

eyes

smile to comfort her mom. And then she looked through the door's peephole on her toes. Beryl cried out, "Oh,

"Is that the new word your teacher taught you

have already learned how to use it,"

Emily, with a proud

her daughter talking, Jack silently swallowed his bitterness. Poor guy!

it, the more he felt uncomfortable. Suddenly, Jack's stomach lurched and gurgled. Before long, waves of nausea surged up, adding to his misery.

first thought on his mind was whether Emily would be more angry if she found out that he had puked on

Jack and his dignity was growing wider and

Beryl watched the whole thing through the peephole, she gave her mother live updates on what was going on.

playing, so she ignored Beryl's concern and continued to process the

stop herself, "His face looks so white. He looks like a ghost.

asserted, "Beryl, you'd better get down from

look. The uncle

you talking about?" asked Emily, as she walked over towards the door. Emily was not interested in Jack's tricks, so she