Ann: When I awoke from my nap I found the young landlady with her friends playing a strange game. They called it Mah-Jhong and said it came from the far east. I began to talk to them and learn the game.

We were having tea when Meg and Erik returned. Meg came to me and gave me a small package. "Oh, you went to Shelton's Chocolate Store! Silly goose, I should have given you some money to buy me some too." The landlady laughed and Meg smiled.

Erik was eyeing the game board. "Do you ladies play Mah-Jhong?" He asked. Meg replied, "What is that?" Erik explained the concept and the ladies giggled. Two were gossiping in each others ear, but I paid no attention.

The landlady asked Meg and Erik to play in the next round, and we had quite a wonderful game. Later I asked what sort of restaurants they would recommend to us, and the ladies told us several. Erik thanked them for an enjoyable time, and we walked outside.

The air was colder and I shivered. "What did you two do today?' I asked. Meg replied, "We just went for a walk, stopped at a few stores, and visited a park." Erik nodded. We came to the restaurant and tried English for the host.

He didn't understand and Erik asked in Italian, but another man tapped him on his shoulder and the host moved aside. The man asked us in perfect French, "Three for a table? Would you like to sit on the veranda?"

Meg said yes and we followed the man. He told us, "I'm very sorry for Juen, he can only speak Swiss for now, but it is a requirement for our waiters and hosts that they speak multiple languages for the many tourists."

Erik nodded and I asked, "What sort of wine do you serve?" Meg nudged me and said "Mother." I smiled and looked at her, "We are on vacation." The host told us the many wines and champagnes they served, and I chose one.

I was sick of water and bread, which was all we had had during the last few days in Slovenia. I wanted something relaxing and pleasant. We ordered our dinner and discussed what we thought of Switzerland so far.

I had hardly seen it yet, but Erik and Meg kept shooting glances at each other. I finally asked, "Is there something you need to tell me?"

Meg examined her fork as if it were a priceless antique. Finally she spoke up, "Mother, I really don't want to go somewhere like a spa or some retreat. I'd rather, go camping. Hiking." I immediately shot that idea down. No way was I going to walk around some dirty forest and sleep another night under the stars.

I asked her if she wasn't tired of all that after our wilderness trek in Slovenia. Erik told me, "Switzerland is different." I retorted, "Yes. It has mountains."

Meg sighed and said, "Listen. I'm old enough to make my own decisions, and I don't want to do something just because you tell me to."

I slammed my glass down and looked at Meg. "You listen to me young lady. Your not old enough to go scampering about some unknown place in dangerous territory. I'm doing this for your own good. We leave tomorrow for the Preve Gstaad Center, and I'll be damned if you disobey me."

I saw Erik looking at me, and I glared at him. "You can do whatever you want to do. As long as no one gets hurt." Erik replied, "Meg will be hurt. Do you really think she'll be content to sit around with mud on her face?"

I looked at the view from our table. I didn't really want Meg to run off for a week without me knowing where she was. I certainly didn't want her climbing some mountain or hiking in some forest, and above all, I was still reserved about sending her away with Erik.

Although I trusted him with her, I knew that he often led her to do things I didn't feel were very ladylike. Being ladylike meant going to a spa, and receiving massages and manicures; not cajoling about the wilderness with a man. All I could see was one big fiasco. I looked at Meg, but she glanced away angrily.

I told her finally, "If I let you stay with Erik here, while I go there, what are your exact plans?" Meg replied, "I'm going to hike in the Treves Glade, and camp. Alright? I promise I will not go up the mountains." Erik looked at me and said, "I will keep her close and watch her. I'll even buy a dog leash if you'd like." I wanted to slap him for his little sarcasm.

Instead I pointed my finger in his face. "You had better keep her safe. Both from the elements and from you." Meg shook her head and asked, "What would he do to me? Honestly Mother, get off my back."

She stood up and walked towards the restrooms. Erik stood up as well and said, "Antoinette, the more you try to pull Meg closer, the more your pushing her away. Giver her some freedom; she'll respect you more."

He placed some money on the table and walked outside. I was stunned as the host came over and asked, "Any dessert? No. I'll come back with your change." I watched Meg emerge and walk towards the door.

Erik and her walked away down the street and I fumed angrily.

Meg: After our fight I ran to the restroom and sobbed. It was the first time I'd ever stood up to my mother, and it felt awful. I knew she was mad at me, but I was mad at her too.

All my life she had been watching over me like a hawk, smothering me with her protectiveness. All I wanted was a little independence, some space. I cried as I heard someone knocking on the door. "Someone's in here!" I screamed, a little too angrily.

I leaned against the wall and dabbed at my eyes with some paper. I threw it down the hole in the floor and walked out. I didn't even glance back at my mother, but I noticed Erik waiting just outside the door.

I walked past him and he followed quietly. I liked that about Erik, he was never a nuisance. He gave me my space and independence, but always brought me back if I went too far. We had gone hiking earlier that day, and I'd wanted to keep going, leaving the path.

Unlike my mother, who wouldn't have even let me past the wooden benches, he had allowed me to explore up to a point, and then pulled me back. Now he wasn't pressuring me, only following.

Neither of us spoke as I walked up a small boulevard, and turned left. I finally stopped and crossed my arms. Erik glanced at the sky and I told him, "I don't like fighting with her. She just. Won't let go."

Erik looked at me and nodded. "She can be a bit tough. But she's only doing what she thinks is right for you. She loves you." I nodded and looked up.

The clouds were covering the stars and nothing was visible. I looked back down the street and unfolded my arms. "I want to apologize." I began to walk and Erik strode beside me.

Erik: I had had nothing to do with Meg and Ann's fight. All I had told Meg was that she needed to discuss what she wanted to do while in Switzerland.

Of course Ann was relentless, she was afraid for her daughter. I could understand both of them, Ann's frustration at her daughter and Meg's frustration at her mother. Ann wanted to hold on to the child that Meg had once been, while Meg was ready to grow older and break free.

Both of them needed to set a limit between them, and while breaking away they needed to pull closer, and communicate more often. It had surprised me really; while in Italy Meg had been content to listen to her mother and obey, here in Switzerland she wanted to do the exact opposite.

I wondered if our time in Slovenia had changed her so much, or if it was a natural process of maturing. Meg was certainly not a child anymore, nearly seventeen and a young woman.

If we were still in France her mother would be scrambling about to find a young suitor. Of course, in our journey, we were all three together, and perhaps that tight confinement had broken the barriers between them.

Either way, I hoped that I was not the cause for such friction.