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Monday 7/16/90
Dear Harry
You're right, it does seem like your Mrs Figg knows more about what's happening to you than she's admitting, and that she's deliberately not doing anything to get you taken away from the Dursleys. It could be something quite simple like the fact that she needs the money that the Dursleys or someone else are paying her to look after you, or it could be something quite different. Do you think she could be the reason that none of the neighbours question the Dursleys' stories about you being a delinquent and getting hurt outside of the house and family? Could she be the one who keeps an eye out and removes people's memories if they see you using your power for something?
It's also a bit odd that the Dursleys let her babysit instead of just locking you in your room and pretending to have taken you with them. How did they come to trust that she wouldn't add to the stories going around the neighbourhood of you being neglected, and that she wouldn't take you to child protection or the hospital to have your injuries properly looked at, documented and treated? Or does she have some sort of hold over them?
Are Mrs Figg and Petunia friendly? Wouldn't she think that it's odd that she always looks after you and never Dudley? I agree there's something not quite right, and I don't think you should trust her. I'm glad that you met your friends at the restaurant to give you a better option for receiving my letters before you tried to ask her. Though I don't see why she would have an opinion either way on you having a pen pal in America, none of the rest of it makes sense either so maybe she would. The Dursleys have done their best to isolate you and Mrs Figg hasn't done anything to stop it, in fact her looking after you as a toddler probably made it worse, if she hadn't been there then someone who has children would probably have been asked or the Dursleys would've had to take you with them,.
Either way you would have been exposed to more people who could get to know you before you were old enough to have a reputation as a trouble maker.
Alton Towers does sound like it would be fun, I'm sorry that you didn't get to go, but I guess that you're right that you are better off not being in close confines with the Dursleys for the weekend.
Aunt Ethel came for dinner. Well to be honest Aunt Ethel and her husband Uncle Daniel came but Aunt Ethel does all the talking for both of them. She spent quite a lot of time insulting Dad, not just for leaving but for everything. She says he's the reason she stopped visiting us but Dad always worked from nine til six. If she wanted to see us and not see him it wouldn't have been that hard to do. Uncle Daniel seems nice enough I just didn't get to know him very well since he didn't talk until Aunt Ethel needed to use the facilities. He asked how we were managing financially, he was prepared to help out if we needed it and suggested that we give up the house and come and live with them but Mom didn't like the idea. Part of me is glad that we'll still have the house I grew up in and I understand Mom not wanting to leave the familiar neighbourhood but part of me feels like I'm being selfish, Mom would be better off with someone there to make sure she eats three times a day and takes her medications and looks after herself. Anyway, Mom wants to stay here and Ethel and Daniel agreed that they'd visit Tuesdays and Thursdays while I'm away at Caltech. I don't know if they realise how much Mom's going to need that help sometimes but I hope I can trust them to keep coming even if Mom's doing well at first and doesn't seem to need them. Her friends are coming next week and hopefully they will agree to cover Mom's care the other days.
I read 'The Mysterious Adventures of Sherlock Holmes', it was very good. I couldn't guess the killer at all until Sherlock worked it out. I wonder if I could teach myself to be that observant? I feel like I already have a bit of the skill at least when it comes to Mom and her delusions and knowing when to get out before I get hurt and when it's going to be safe to cajole her into taking her medicine or having a shower and getting dressed, not to mention when it would be okay to change the bedsheets and tidy her room while she's not in it and when it would cause more trouble than it's worth.
I'm not doing any formal study, other than attending Mom's lectures when she wants me there. I have a list of books to read for my classes next semester and I'm also researching things as I come across them. I'm sure you'd think it silly that I can't read mention of something without trying to find out all I can about it every time, but it's comforting to know more about the world around me.
Your friend
Spencer
Harry was surprised to get a parcel from Spencer before he'd had a chance to reply to Spencer's first letter. He felt guilty for being a bad friend and worried that something horrible had happened again. Then he opened it to find a birthday present and card. Spencer had sent him a book. One of his own personal favourites. 'The Count of Monte Christo' by Alexandre Dumas.
Wednesday 7/25/90
Dear Harry
Happy Birthday. I hope you get to celebrate somehow. Do your friends at the restaurant know when your birthday is? I can understand you not wanting to drop hints considering how much they already help you. Just remember, even if nobody else celebrates with you I will be thinking of you and wishing as hard as I can that you have a great birthday. And wishing that next year is better for you with the Dursleys.
I've sent you one of my favourite books, it's originally in French but the translation isn't too bad. I hope you like it.
Love your friend
Spencer
A/N: Thank you to all those who reviewed followed or favourited this story for your support.