Student Question
What did Minny do to Hilly in The Help that she vowed to keep secret after being fired?
Quick answer:
Minny retaliated against Hilly's mistreatment by baking a chocolate mousse pie with her own excrement and ensuring Hilly ate it. Although initially pleased with her revenge, Minny later realized the severe consequences, fearing it would ruin her employability. Hilly, equally desperate to keep the incident secret, would face social embarrassment if the truth came out.
When Minny was working for Hilly's mother's, Hilly treated Minny poorly and always accused her of trying to steal things from the home. Minny was fed-up with Hilly's disrespectful attitude, so she made a chocolate mousse pie and put her own excrement into the mousse. Minny would not let Hilly's mother eat any of the pie, and insisted that it was only for Hilly to enjoy. Hilly ate it up. Minny was initially excited about her revenge, but afterwards, she realized that her actions could have severe consequences. No one will want to hire Minny as a maid if word gets out about what she did, and Minny fears that she will be left without a job. But Hilly cannot stand for anyone to know this because she too will be socially embarrassed having to admit that she ate the pie.
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