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Tuesday Afternoon: Colin

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I think I stood in front of the door to Carla's office a full minute before I finally opened the door and went inside. Carla was balanced precariously on a pile of books stacked on a chair while she attempted to wrench out a box from the top of her bookshelf.

"Carla, what do you think you're doing up there?" I demanded as she balanced on her tiptoes on the leaning stack of books. She spun around, startled. This action caused the books to give way and she fell to the floor with a loud thumb. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine," she replied, standing up and rubbing her head. Now that she was in front of me, I noticed how she was dressed. Her hair was throw back into a messy ponytail with strands sticking every which way and she was wearing old, faded jeans and a t-shirt that read 'All-American Girl'. And she had no shoes! She definitely did not look like a professional reporter working at the Ministry. She looked like an overgrown schoolgirl. "Do you need something?" She asked me.

"Carla, why, may I ask, are you dressed like this?" I asked a little disdainfully.

"Oh. You know, I was going to do some spring cleaning."

"It's the middle of summer," I pointed out.

"Summer cleaning, then. You need something?"

"I just wanted to." Okay, Colin. Spit it out. You can do it. For God's sake I'm a Press Secretary! "Well, yesterday I said some things.the point is." I've verbally battled the fiercest reporters and won! Now here I was stammering like I did when I was nothing but a child! "Carla, yesterday."

"You're sorry. I forgive you. All is well," she cut in breezily.

"You're not angry?"

"Sure I was! 'Was' being the key word. Mom always said 'You can be angry and be miserable. Or you can be happy and free'."

"That's not much of a saying."

"Yeah, well," she shrugged. "It's something."

"So, summer cleaning," I said, gazing around at the cluttered office.

"Yep."

"Why weren't you at the briefing today?"

"I decided to.what is it you Brits always say? Take a leaf? I took a leaf off your book and decided to get myself an interview."

"It's 'take a leaf out of your book' and this isn't the time you'd use it."

"Whatever. It works."

"Who'd you interview?"

"Mrs. Harrison. And I'm set up to do Mrs. Riley this weekend."

"Well.I'm glad you'll get your article."

"Thank you. Now give me a hand and grab me that box up there," she said, pointing at the box she had been trying to get when I came in. Deciding that doing a small favor couldn't hurt; I got the box for her.

"I'm amazed an office could get so cluttered when you've been here only a few months."

"Yeah, well, I'm a bit of a packrat." I nodded and watched her sort through a pile of photos in a file marked 'staff'. I knew I should leave but something was still bothering me.

"Why aren't you upset?" I blurted. She looked up at me, waving a few strands of blond hair out of her face.

"About what?"

"My calling you unprofessional and annoying."

"Well, you apologized didn't you?"

"Yes, but." I didn't get it! If I were her, I would never have forgiven me so easily. "Why weren't you upset?"

"I was upset! I had a good cry, flooed my mom-who was not home by the way. How aggravating. So I flooed my sister, had a nice long talk and I decided I wasn't going to let your bad mood ruin my day." I just stared at her as she went back to pulling pictures out of the folder. How could she not be angry? She must've knew what I was thinking because she looked up and said with exasperation, "Colin, not everyone jumps for the chance to be mad and get revenge like you always seem to do. Some of us just 'flow around' as mom would say."

"You sure do seem to talk about your mum a lot," I cut in, trying to needle her into a fight although I had no reason why.

"She's my best friend. Dad was never around so it was just her to raise two daughters and 'hold down the fort'. Now-oh, look at this, I forgot I had this! This is going in 'Magical U.S.A.' for sure!" She cried out happily, pulling a photo out of the 'staff' folder.

"What?"

"Look at you! You were a cute little boy!" She waved the picture in front of my face. It was of me and Harry Potter, taken in my first year at Hogwarts. "You were so small! Aww."

"Carla," I warned. "You just better not put that in the paper."

"And you looked so happy!" Carla continued, ignoring what I had said. "How did that cute, mousy little boy grow up to be such a grouch? Folks, I have uncovered a mystery."

"Carla! Give me that!" I cried, trying to snatch it out of her hand. She jumped easily out of my way.

"No, no. You said that I must want revenge."

"No, I never-"

"You implied it anyway. So why not? I'll have some good revenge. Where's an owl? This is going to my editor." She let out a happy squeal and ran out of the room. I had no choice but to follow her and make sure that picture never got anywhere near her editor.