Valo and Lissie drove back in stormy silence. Valo clenched the steering wheel, her knuckles white and her eyes narrowed to thin slits. Lissie frowned and peered out the window at the passing scenery.

After several seconds, Valo finally spoke. “What a jerk,” she grumbled. “Total and complete jerk.”

“I was tryin’ to be friendly. D’ ya think maybe he’s shy?” Lissie responded.

“I don’t know. He acted pretty much the same way when I was there earlier.”

“Havin’ a bad day, then?”

“I don’t know, Lissie. But I won’t put up with anyone treating me or my friends like that, if I have any say in it. I’ve met more famous people than him who were decent to me. I’m not going to let some two-bit actor mistreat us.”

“Don’tcha cause trouble on m’ part. He mighta been havin’ a bad day.”

“No way, Lissie. I’m not letting this one go,” Valo responded. She pulled the car over, scowling.

“Whatcha doin’?” Lissie asked, surprised.

“Going back over there and giving Chad a piece of my mind.”


Valo stormed into the room, eyes blazing. Chad and Steve looked up from their video game, surprised.

“Did you forget something?” Steve asked. “Graham’s downstairs, if you need him.”

“This doesn’t concern you, Steve,” Valo replied stonily. “It’s Chad I want to talk to.”

“Yeah, what do you want?” Chad asked, exasperatedly setting his game controller aside. “You seem to be interrupting my games a lot lately.”


“Is that all you care about, Chad? Your games?” Valo snapped. “Look, I know I’m not much to look at. I’m a nerdy widow who isn’t even middle-aged yet and probably looks it on bad days, and I‘ve been having lots of those. And my friend Lissie, she may be a housewife who seems kind of ‘hick’ to people like you, but she‘s a good person, better than some of the people I‘ve had to deal with in my life. Guess what, Chad. I’ve met people way more famous than you, and I’ve been treated with nothing but the respect and dignity that should be afforded to a fellow human being who wants nothing more than to be friendly. Hell, some of my best friends have some form of ‘celebrity status.’ Graham, for starters. Samuel Verona. Tacita Brown. Ophelia Foley-Cloud. People like that. I know you want to be a big actor someday. Remember this: it’s the so-called ‘common people,’ the fans, who are going to make you who you are. And when you treat them poorly, you know what happens? Most of them won’t be quite so fond of you. I’m not asking you to like me or be my friend, but I do ask that you treat me and my friends with some semblance of kindness. If my friends or I ever come over while you are here, all I ask is that you show some basic manners. Talk to us like we’re people, and don’t talk through us. Is that so much to ask?”

With that said, Valo turned and strode back out of the room. Steve watched her leave, then looked over to Chad, who looked quite astonished, and said, “Man, she just told you what’s what. She does have a point, though. You were being kind of a jerk.”

“I was?” Chad replied.


Steve nodded, then rose and walked out of the house to where the car was in the driveway. Valo was about to get back into the car.

“Hey, Valo, wait up,” he called.

“What?” Valo asked. “Going to chew me a new one for telling your friend off?”

“Nope. Just wanted to say you were right. I guess you really are a force to be reckoned with; right now, Chad looks like he could be knocked over with a feather,” Steve responded, grinning broadly.

“Now, if it just makes him act like a more decent person, we’ll be all set,” Valo replied. “Here’s to hoping.”

“Man, I really wish Phoebe could have come along. You two would have gotten along great. Maybe next time I come here, I’ll bring her with me.”

“We’ll see. Right now, I’ve got to bring Lissie home and go take care of my nephew.”

Steve nodded. “Yeah, hang in there. You’re a strong woman, even with everything you‘ve been through. Just remember to take some time for yourself when you’re taking care of everyone else and dealing with the stupid people of the world.”

“I’ll do my best.”