The Housemaid Is Watching
by Freida McFadden
Contents
Chapter 68
Overview
Ada’s relief after Gabe stops harassing her is short-lived when Hunter begins repeatedly humiliating her during Library class by loudly “asking her out” in front of laughing friends. Ada considers the pocketknife her father gave her as a possible deterrent but decides she will not use it. Feeling cornered, Ada chooses avoidance and hides in the bathroom to read, showing how isolated and pressured she feels at school.
Summary
Ada notes that since her father confronted Gabe, Gabe has stopped bothering her. However, a new boy, Hunter, has started targeting her at school.
During the class period called Library, Ada happily reads Someday Angeline by Louis Sachar while other kids complain. Hunter sits across from Ada, greets her, and loudly asks her to go out on a date while his friends listen and snicker.
Ada repeatedly refuses, but Hunter keeps returning during later Library periods to ask her out and mock her love of books, even joking that she will “marry” a book and claiming her “eyeballs will fall out” from reading.
Feeling fed up, Ada thinks about the pocketknife her father told her to carry, which is hidden at the bottom of her backpack. Ada admits she likes having it, but also knows she will not use it, even as she briefly imagines it might scare Hunter off.
When Hunter escalates to asking if Ada will marry him and the boys laugh again, Ada grabs her bag, escapes to the bathroom, and hides there for the rest of the period reading on the toilet.
Who Appears
- AdaBook-loving student; targeted by Hunter, considers her pocketknife, and hides in the bathroom.
- HunterClassmate who repeatedly asks Ada out to mock and embarrass her during Library period.
- EnzoAda’s father; previously confronted Gabe and instructed Ada to carry a pocketknife.