May 13th.

Queenie hadn't slept all night. She woke up around two in the morning and started baking her daughter's favorite cake; Depression cake—shortening, water, baking powder, coffee to add a tiny bit of flavor, cinnamon and white sugar toppled on top. When the cake was done she placed the cake on her pink and white China plate as she poured the rest of the made coffee into a rose colored coffee mug. Queenie charmed the tray up and had it follow her white she crept up into Poppy's room. Ten minutes until ten minutes past two-thirty AM. The exact moment her little girl came into her life.

Inside of the bedroom slept the almost eighteen year old (to the exact time according to Queenie). Queenie walked in silently and just stared at Poppy. Poppy slept peacefully even with drool sitting on her pillow, her hair wacky and twisted in the back and pieces across her face. She still looked like a baby when she slept.

Right on the dot Queenie sat on the bed as the tray hovered. Queenie cuddled up next to the girl and poked her nose gently. "Wake up, little girl."

"Every year," Poppy mumbled as one eye opened and met with same green eyes. "Why?" She asked more awake.

"Tradition."

"I asked to sleep in today." Poppy groaned. She was a morning girl but today. Of course of all days, today was the day. "I hate a date with Jack last night."

Queenie giggled as she sat on her elbow. "I know. Just as much as I know I don't wanna be a granny."

"Mom!" Poppy shouted but laughed as her face turned hot read. "I told you for the past two years now! I ain't ready to had a baby! Neither is Jack!"

"Good girl," Queenie kissed Poppy's head. "So eighteen year old, how's the world?"

Poppy sighed as she looked back at her Mom. "Eh. Could be better in some ways. Not a fan of freezing weather exactly. But it's all good for me." She smirked. "You still feel intense pain of labor while knowing your pre-pregnancy figure isn't coming back eighteen years later?"

"Yes. All worth it."

A couple of hours later some friends came over. Most of them were Queenie's from work with their little little children. The closest child to Poppy's age was eleven year old Everett MacCoy. The only thing the two had in common was Everett and Poppy looking inside of a neighbor's engine and talking about the parts inside of the engine and car. She wished Jack was here today but he's coming over for dinner later.

Halfway through the small party Queenie and her friend Lillianna were sitting on a bench facing the water. The small children were splashing around while Poppy kept in at ankle's height and watched. "Tell me the secret Queenie." Lilianna sipped her tea.

"What secret?"

"You know. The secret to raising a kind and respectful teenager? Especially a teenage girl." Lillianna said. "Everett is becoming a handful with climbing all over the house and Maisy might be four years away from teenage years but she's already acting like one. Don't even get me started when either of them get a hold of my wand or their father's and start acting it up. By the time they're both teenage we're gonna have to Obliviate the whole country. Maybe even into America."

"We've got a best friend relationship. No lies, nothing. But maybe I just lucked out too." Queenie smiled, knowing her lie was her secret. "How's Felicity doing?"

"Fine. Still studying at an all No-Maj Muggle school. Farleigh Dickinson. Tourist program or something." Lillianna shrugged. "Whatever. I don't know too many guys who'd date a working girl."

"I work. You work."

"Me, homemaker housewife. You, secretary assistant."

Queenie kept her mouth shut. Lillianna was the old fashion kind. She was glad she raised Poppy to not be like that type of woman. She raised a strong, leader like, I-Can-Do-What-Men-Can-Do persona.

A short time later Poppy came out of the water soaking head to toe after chasing some of the kids around the water. She took a towel and began drying herself off when she felt herself rapidly dry up in seconds. Magic. She looked up expecting her mother but instead saw another person. Mary-Helen.

"Mary-Helen?"

"Hey."

"What are you doing here?"

She shifted on her feet and mumbled her words for a minute. "Just wanted to come by and wish a happy birthday." She said. "So, uh, happy birthday."

Poppy felt uncomfortable now. Their conversations weren't this at all so why was Mary-Helen talking to her? Regardless of it Poppy just nodded. "Thanks."

Mary-Helen gave a faint grin smile. "Sure." She then paused and looked as if she was thinking about something. Finally she asked, "Hey, uh, do you remember yesterday?"

"Yesterday?"

"Yeah."

"Uh, yeah."

"What'd you do?"

"What?"

"What'd you do? All day? Start to finish?"

Poppy again felt uncomfortable. Odd questions. "Woke up at five. Showered for work. Hung around the house until I left at seven-thirty for the eight to three shift. Hung out at home, probably sleeping for a while since I woke up close to seven and went out on a date with my boyfriend from eight until one in the morning." She answered. "Why?"

"Oh." Mary-Helen nodded. "Well, because...I came by yesterday. Around five."

"Did you?"

"Yes. To get something. And uh, you said you'd find it for me because you had no idea where it was now." She explained. "A hat. Remember five years ago it was super nice and sunny out than a rain storm and thunderstorm started and you had to run home without a jacket and hat and, uh, since you lived the furthest—running straight home for fifteen minutes at least—I lend you my hat. I never got it back." She told her. "I randomly remembered it yesterday looking at an old photograph and, uh, I wanted to know I could have it back. If you still had it."

Poppy tried to remember yesterday. She had no memory of that. Just sleeping for a couple of hours straight until she got woke up for her date with Jack. "Sorry. I can't recall that visit."

"Oh."

She released a faint smile and said, "I might had drank a little too much last night. Maybe I just blank it out. Do you wanna look for it now?"

"Is your mom inside?"

"Might be."

"You working tomorrow?"

Poppy smirked. "The day after my party?"

Mary-Helen laughed. "Of course. You always take off the day of and day after. Can I come over around noon?"

"Yeah."

"Cool. Thanks." Mary-Helen said. "And, uh, don't tell your mom. Or think it."

"Why?"

"I don't think she likes me much. It's fine."

"Okay. See you then."

Mary-Helen nodded and then was out of sight in seconds. Poppy stood there blank. Odd conversation.

Later that night Queenie and Poppy sat on the couch eating leftover cake. "Who was you talking to on the beach?" Queenie asked.

"Oh Mary-Helen. She wanted to wish me a happy birthday." She said.

"That it?"

"Yeah."

"Okay honey." Queenie said. She couldn't shake off a feeling though and said, "Hey tomorrow how about you and I go out and take a girls day. My treat."

Poppy smiled. "No thanks. Jack might come over later to hang out."

"Oh...okay." Queenie said. "Just Jack?"

"Hmm."

"Promise?"

"Mom, I'm inviting an army over."

"Smarty-pants."