Hulga Hopewell's Deception

A Salesman’s Deception
Hulga Hopewell was a thirty-two year old woman who still lived at home with her mother, Mrs. Hopewell. She did not enjoy her mother’s company nor did she enjoy the company of the neighbor, Mrs. Freeman, or Mrs. Freeman’s two daughters, Glynese and Carramae. In her mind, Hulga referred to them frequently as Glycerin and Caramel. She did find joy in the company of a young man named Manley Pointer, though, who taught Hulga that he was not the boy he seemed to be and that she never should have trusted him.
Hulga Hopewell was a very intelligent woman who was involved in an unfortunate hunting accident at the age of ten. During this accident, her leg was shot off and she was never quite the same. She had a degree in philosophy,
Hopewell loved what she referred to as good country people; she thought they were the salt of the earth. That is why she allowed Mr. and Mrs. Freeman and their two daughters to live in their tenant house, even though Mrs. Freeman was a very nosey neighbor. So when a polite, young country gentleman named Manley Pointer came by one day selling bibles, she could never have known that he was in fact the scum of the earth. He took an instant interest in Hulga and quickly accepted the invite to stay for dinner. At dinner Manley did what he was expected to do, which was to talk about the lord, his church, himself, and also of a heart condition that was similar to Hulga’s. Mrs. Hopewell was touched by this young man and extended him an invitation to come back any time he wished, which he kindly accepted. As he was leaving, he stopped to talk to Hulga. Their conversation began with a lousy joke about a chicken and he asked her how old she was. Her response was a lie; she claimed she was only seventeen. He then told her that he noticed she had a wooden leg and that he found her very brave and sweet and that they were destined to meet. He also asked her to meet him on Saturday at her gate and go on a picnic with him, to which she