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Chapter Thirty
Second Meeting
Julie was back at Cackles for a meeting with Ada and Hecate. After her last meeting with them she was not looking forward to it very much but this was important. Ethel would have to leave school soon now she was so heavily pregnant and her and the teachers had to discuss how to go about this. Julie met up with Mildred and her foster daughters who were allowed to be present and saw how tired Ethel, and Esmerelda for that matter, looked. They didn't have much time to talk as Hecate came out to invite them in.
Julie walked in ans sat down on one of the seats that had been set out in the circle, Julie assumed to make it easier for everyone to see each other. Esmerelda sat next to her on the right and Sybil to her left, Mildred took a seat next to Sybil and Ethel next to the eldest blonde. Julie decided to start the conversation before the teachers could say something that could be taken the wrong way.
"The midwife recommended Ethel leaves school at five months, I have been mirroring the girls and now that Ethel is five months and she is struggling with daily school life I think now is the right time for it" Julie explained to them.
"Would she be staying with you?" Ada asked as she adjusted her glasses and Julie nodded.
"I am a nurse and her social worker is happy to let me have her, I have taken some time of work and am all ready for her" Julie said smiling over at Ethel who returned it weakly as she was tired and uncomfortable.
"What about her schoolwork?" Hecate asked of course she was going to be the person to only worry about her work.
"Well her sisters and Mildred will still be attending school, Mildred is in her year so she could bring her work back for her, or you can transfer it for her" Julie told them having thought of that already. Ethel was very smart and she didn't want her to have to be held back like Esmerelda. If she kept up with her work as long as she could she should be on track with the rest of her year group.
"That should not be a problem, should it Miss Hardbroom?" Ada commented not wanting this meeting to end up like the last one. Hecate looked like she was struggling with not yelling at Julie for suggesting the girl was homeschooled but only nodded.
"When Ethel has had the baby will they still be staying with you?" Ada asked wondering if she was only going to have the blonde until she had given birth.
"That is the plan, Ethel is the mother so I will not be fostering the baby, the care of the baby will still purely be in Ethel's hands but her and the baby can both live with me and I can provide them a home" Julie explained having already spoken to the social worker about that very issue. As Ethel wanted to keep the baby and as she had already bonded with the baby and no-one had any concerns about the child's well-being Julie would merely be helping Ethel with childcare but the sole responsibility for parenting would lie to Ethel. If Ethel had not been sure about what she was doing Julie would of fostered the baby as well but the baby had a parent so it was not needed.
Ada took a moment to look at the girls sitting around Julie. Sybil was looking around. Mildred hid a yawn, bored out of her mind. Esmie had her eyes closed, pretending to listen because it was about Ethel and Ethel looked like she wa about to doze of any second. Seeing the girls were distracted Ada seemed to decide that she could say what was on her mind.
"Are you sure that is a good idea? Are you sure Ethel is up for caring for the baby herself?" Ada whispered.
"I am sorry what do you mean?" Julie asked not understanding.
"It is just Miss Hubble, we all know Ethel has a bit of a temper on her, I can see Esmerelda being brilliant as a mother but Ethel I am not sure is mature enough yet" Hecate explained clearly her and Ada had been discussing this.
"Ethel wouldn't hurt the baby!" Julie said shocked they would think that. Yes Ethel had a tempter but she loved her baby, Julie could see her eyes light up when she looked at the scan photo and how she would cry for hours if she rolled over in the night and thought she has squished her child to much, Julie just knew Ethel would not hurt the baby.
Esmerelda suddenly shot her eyes open and Ethel suddenly seemed wide awake because of this but didn't say anything, to hurt to try and defend herself from what they had accused her off. Esmerelda though was on her last line of patience with her teachers.
"How dare you! You compare our grades and now you are comparing our parenting duties!" Esmerelda shouted and Julie opened her mouth to reply but knew when Esmerelda was angry no-one could get any words in.
"You are brilliant with your sisters Esmerelda, if the situation was reversed..." Hecate said as if suggesting if she was pregnant instead they would not be worried.
"Well it isn't! You make me sick, you know nothing about Ethel, only what you want to see, she hasn't even had the baby yet, how dare you tell her she will fail!" Esmerelda went on shouting at the top of her voice now.
"A baby is not something you can get wrong Esmerelda" Ada told her not thinking she understood this time this was something Ethel had to get right first time.
"Just because Ethel is young and has done things in the past means nothing, my parents couldn't parent a salad leaf without messing it up completely, Ethel loves her baby and has grown up a lot to prepare to have it, I know she will do brilliantly because unlike YOUR stupid sister" Esmerelda said turning her gaze to Ada as she spoke about Agatha "Ethel is capable of loving something other than power" Esmerelda told her, ranging angry in that moment. Julie decided to cut in then before sparks of magic started to fly.
"That is not acceptable, Ethel has being working very hard to change her ways and prepare for the baby and I have no worries about the care her child will receive, now please apologise" Julie told the teachers. Hecate had steam come out of her ears but Ada sighed and uttered a sorry.
"I WILL SHOW YOU SORRY" Esmerelda shouted preparing to curse them.
"Esmerelda calm down this second, we don't need this situation to be any worse" Julie scolded her knowing her and Ethel's anger was not acceptable in everyday life. She understood why she was angry, Julie in all honestly was too but Esmerelda had yet to learn that she couldn't curse someone every time they insulted her sisters, or there would be no-one left uncursed. The reality of life was there was always going to be someone who didn't like someone and Esmerelda had to learn not to take it so seriously.
Esmerelda folded her arms over her chest and scolded as she was disciplined. Julie leaned forward more to look at Ethel.
"Are you okay?" Julie asked her. Ethel kept her head down, hand on her bump and nodded slowly. Julie knew she was upset but they had to finish this meeting before she could do anything about it.
"Please put everything in order for Ethel to leave" Julie told the teachers taking a breathe to carry on. She needed to remain calm.
"Very well" Ada told her.
"I want to leave school, I can't be away from Ethel for so long" Esmerelda spoke up knowing she would be worried sick if she had to leave her.
"Esmerelda you can't afford to miss anymore of your education, you have already missed a year" Hecate explained this time not being awkward but being sensible. Esmerelda sighed.
"How about Esmerelda comes to her lessons but then comes home, so she is not boarding, in fact I think this might be wise for all the girls so they can all be around when the baby arrives, if they are boarding they will hardly get to see it" Julie responded
"I am not sure if it will be allowed, I have to ask the Great Wizard" Ada told the women not waning to give her her define word yet.
"That will be great, thank you" Julie told them and she got up to leave with the girls the meeting now over. Esmerelda was still fuming.
"The nerve of them!" Esmerelda cried as soon as they had left the room.
"Try not to worry about it, they are wrong, and we have to prove them wrong" Julie told the girls as she hugged them all goodbye. Ethel cried a little into her chest.
"You will be the best mother ever Ethel, you are brilliant, believe in yourself" Julie whispered to the pregnant girl as she cuddled her close.