"H-hello?
...
...
...
...
Yes. Yes, it's me.
...
I... I am calling because...
...
I want you to accept my apology.
...
...
You must understand - that it is not easy for me to... to tell you all this. I have never talked to anyone before... about Luciana and... and the baby. Not even to the Headmaster. And I must have told him about everything else.
...
...
Thank you.
...
...
Yes, it's- no!
...
Not at all painful. I said it isn't easy, but I didn't say it wasn't a great relief as well.
...
Yes, that's it. It is... comforting. In a way. You know when I was telling you about the baby yesterday? And about Luciana keeping the cradle going?
...
Well, I had to think of these mornings when... are you interested at all?
...
I thought you'd say that.
Well then, as I said I would always be the first to wake. Never moved, of course, just lay there, listening to Luciana's even breathing and the huge grandfather clock striking one...
two...
three...
four...
five...
six times. Lucaian would make a sleepy movement or two, then outstretch her arm as if to keep me from leaving.
'Not yet, Severus,' she'd say, 'just a few more minutes.'
I'd get up anyway, of course, which would make her put an arm around me in an effort to force me back again. But I'd shake her off and get to my feet. She'd not be pleased.
'If you wake the baby I'll make you regret it for the rest of your life.'
'Shut up then,' I'd reply.
...
...
...
...
Pardon? Ah, no - I was distracted.
...
Yes, it always happened like that. She would scowl and I'd explain that I needed to see Wock.
...
The crocodile.
...
The crocodile in the moat I told you about. Have you been listening at all? Our vegetarian crocodile.
...
...
I want to be taken seriously. If you want to laugh about everything I tell you, I am going to hang up.
...
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Yes, I AM! Why would I be joking?
...
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Never.
...
Well, let me explain it to you.
...
...
My... uhm... my father needed a crocodile to... er... get rid of unpleasant guests - or customers. If someone would not agree to his opinion or was generally unpleasant, he'd just throw them in, basically, for Wock to eat.
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No, honestly.
...
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I said what???
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Well, uhm, that would be because... because Wock wouldn't... er... wouldn't eat them. He'd just... make sure they drowned. Pulled them down, you see.
...
...
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No, it was my fault. I didn't make myself clear.
...
...
Anyway, Wock never failed to do his duty. No one ever survived a journey into our moat... no one except - him, of course.
...
What? Oh, you know who.
...
...
You're a bit slow, aren't you? Come on, YOU - KNOW - WHO!
...
I don't want to talk about this anyway. Ask me something else.
...
...
...
...
The baby?
...
Sil, yes.
...
Well, she didn't have a proper one. She was just never named.
...
...
I think my mother was going to, but... never did for some reason.
...
...
Don't know. Probably just forgot about it. Used to be a very strange person, my mother. In the mornings at least. Somewhen around six HE'd come home and she'd become more... sensitive. Watchful, I should say. As if waking from a long and unpleasant dream. They even tried to talk once.
...
...
Once. In many years, yes.
...
I do remember bits and pieces of that conversation. You sure you want to hear about it?
...
...
Very well then. It went like this:
'You're late.'
'Where's the boy?'
'Upstairs.'
...
...
'You have more than one child, you know.'
'Shut up. What is in there?'
'Bordeaux de Clavier 1877'
'Pass me the bottle!'
'I'd like to talk for a change.'
He gave a grumpy growl, but for some reason didn't argue, so she went on, 'I've been thinking about our life, Lance, and I seriously don't think we can carry on like this.'
No answer.
'I can't handle three children all by myself,' she continued, 'I need someone to look after the baby. And... and I need help with my drinking problem.'
'Who says you got a drinking problem?'
'I...' And suddenly she seemed to have lost all her confidence. He, on the other hand, didn't even let her finish.
'Is this another barrier you intend to set up between us? Or is it just another strange mood of yours?'
He was very upset by then. I think they haven't... had a very good marriage. Not as long as I can remember, at least. Anyway, my mother's never mentioned a drinking problem ever since, so I presume she was just a bit confused that evening. Because he'd stayed away for so long again. Do you think she might have been confused?
...
...
He said... I can't remember, really. I only know that he was very upset, he-
...
...
Someone's coming I've got to go. Can I call you again tomorrow?
...
Thank you. Goodbye."
...
...
...
...
Yes. Yes, it's me.
...
I... I am calling because...
...
I want you to accept my apology.
...
...
You must understand - that it is not easy for me to... to tell you all this. I have never talked to anyone before... about Luciana and... and the baby. Not even to the Headmaster. And I must have told him about everything else.
...
...
Thank you.
...
...
Yes, it's- no!
...
Not at all painful. I said it isn't easy, but I didn't say it wasn't a great relief as well.
...
Yes, that's it. It is... comforting. In a way. You know when I was telling you about the baby yesterday? And about Luciana keeping the cradle going?
...
Well, I had to think of these mornings when... are you interested at all?
...
I thought you'd say that.
Well then, as I said I would always be the first to wake. Never moved, of course, just lay there, listening to Luciana's even breathing and the huge grandfather clock striking one...
two...
three...
four...
five...
six times. Lucaian would make a sleepy movement or two, then outstretch her arm as if to keep me from leaving.
'Not yet, Severus,' she'd say, 'just a few more minutes.'
I'd get up anyway, of course, which would make her put an arm around me in an effort to force me back again. But I'd shake her off and get to my feet. She'd not be pleased.
'If you wake the baby I'll make you regret it for the rest of your life.'
'Shut up then,' I'd reply.
...
...
...
...
Pardon? Ah, no - I was distracted.
...
Yes, it always happened like that. She would scowl and I'd explain that I needed to see Wock.
...
The crocodile.
...
The crocodile in the moat I told you about. Have you been listening at all? Our vegetarian crocodile.
...
...
I want to be taken seriously. If you want to laugh about everything I tell you, I am going to hang up.
...
...
Yes, I AM! Why would I be joking?
...
...
Never.
...
Well, let me explain it to you.
...
...
My... uhm... my father needed a crocodile to... er... get rid of unpleasant guests - or customers. If someone would not agree to his opinion or was generally unpleasant, he'd just throw them in, basically, for Wock to eat.
...
No, honestly.
...
...
I said what???
...
Well, uhm, that would be because... because Wock wouldn't... er... wouldn't eat them. He'd just... make sure they drowned. Pulled them down, you see.
...
...
...
No, it was my fault. I didn't make myself clear.
...
...
Anyway, Wock never failed to do his duty. No one ever survived a journey into our moat... no one except - him, of course.
...
What? Oh, you know who.
...
...
You're a bit slow, aren't you? Come on, YOU - KNOW - WHO!
...
I don't want to talk about this anyway. Ask me something else.
...
...
...
...
The baby?
...
Sil, yes.
...
Well, she didn't have a proper one. She was just never named.
...
...
I think my mother was going to, but... never did for some reason.
...
...
Don't know. Probably just forgot about it. Used to be a very strange person, my mother. In the mornings at least. Somewhen around six HE'd come home and she'd become more... sensitive. Watchful, I should say. As if waking from a long and unpleasant dream. They even tried to talk once.
...
...
Once. In many years, yes.
...
I do remember bits and pieces of that conversation. You sure you want to hear about it?
...
...
Very well then. It went like this:
'You're late.'
'Where's the boy?'
'Upstairs.'
...
...
'You have more than one child, you know.'
'Shut up. What is in there?'
'Bordeaux de Clavier 1877'
'Pass me the bottle!'
'I'd like to talk for a change.'
He gave a grumpy growl, but for some reason didn't argue, so she went on, 'I've been thinking about our life, Lance, and I seriously don't think we can carry on like this.'
No answer.
'I can't handle three children all by myself,' she continued, 'I need someone to look after the baby. And... and I need help with my drinking problem.'
'Who says you got a drinking problem?'
'I...' And suddenly she seemed to have lost all her confidence. He, on the other hand, didn't even let her finish.
'Is this another barrier you intend to set up between us? Or is it just another strange mood of yours?'
He was very upset by then. I think they haven't... had a very good marriage. Not as long as I can remember, at least. Anyway, my mother's never mentioned a drinking problem ever since, so I presume she was just a bit confused that evening. Because he'd stayed away for so long again. Do you think she might have been confused?
...
...
He said... I can't remember, really. I only know that he was very upset, he-
...
...
Someone's coming I've got to go. Can I call you again tomorrow?
...
Thank you. Goodbye."
