Mam was forever patient.

Before the next full moon, she took one of her nice dresses to a shop. She gave them the dress, they gave her money. Enough for a good Sunday dinner and a phone call.

The phone in the phone booth rang for a few minutes, before it was picked up. I could hear a man's voice on the other end.

"Résidence de Lupin," he said.

"This is Madeleine," she responded in clear French.

"Ah!" the man's voice held surprise and delight. "Madam Connolly."

"No, not anymore," Mam said. "I got a divorce. Listen, I would like to talk to the housekeeper……Madam Gavet."

"Oui, Ma'amselle."

The phone was put down and I could hear footsteps hurrying along. I asked Mam who that man was. She said it was the butler. She then told me to listen to what the housekeeper had to say, so that I could help her remember, and I would know for later on.

A soft voice on the other end said, "She got a divorce. Be careful not to call her 'Connolly', it might be offensive."

"Mlle Lupin?" a woman's voice now.

"Madam Gavet? I need to know a few things," Mam said, quickly.

"Oui?"

"First, how do you get blood out of clothes?" I knew why Mam had asked that. We couldn't afford to buy me new clothes whenever I ruined them, whether it was playing or my transformations that I hurt myself.

"Hydrogen Peroxide. Salt does just as well. What else?"

"How do you cook a turkey? And please be quick, I don't have much time."

The woman gave instructions fast, and within a few moments, Mam had hung up the phone and were heading back to our tiny house.

I asked why we couldn't just ask for a little money, if Mam's family was so rich, could afford a butler and a housekeeper.

"I will not ask for aid," Mam said, sharply. "We are not beggars, and we are not helpless."

The way she said it made it sound like she was saying some sort of swear word. I soon learned not to mention asking for help, for asking for help was really asking for charity. I came from a proud family, one too proud for charity. Charity was Pity in my mother's eyes.

Pity is that last thing any of us want.


Notes: Argh……still so much to talk about . ! No, but I shall fight to the very end!

Mlle – the abbreviation for

Celli: Very much so, yes. I love Remus hugs him too

Thanks to Nicky, and Waterfairy-rose too!