Chapter 85

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To: Harry Potter email

From: Spencer Reid

Monday 6/29/92 2:30pm Pacific Standard Time (PST)

Dear Harry

You got an email address that's great we can write much more easily now and it'll be cheaper for you too. I was so excited when I logged on this morning and saw your email.

I guess you know that I'm eight hours behind you time wise so we need to make a plan when to 'talk'. I probably have more flexible access to a computer than you do. I usually get up and get Mom sorted. I could be on line at ten o'clock tomorrow morning here which would be six pm where you are but what time is supper, I wouldn't want you to miss it or make Mrs Thomas angry at you not coming to the table on time or doing your share of setting the table or cleaning up afterwards. Anytime, after that suits me fine as well. I should be able to stay on line until about four o'clock here (midnight there). Just let me know when. It would be great if we could be on line together, almost like getting to talk to you. I'll let you know if something changes.

Summer seems to be passing slowly here, I hate to have to admit that it's already dragging. Mom isn't as well as she could be, unfortunately her Doctor retired six months ago and she doesn't trust his replacement so she's stopped taking her medication again, which is probably why her carers insisted I come home this summer to sort things out. Unfortunately, they have more faith in my ability to manage her illness and get her take her medication than I do. I'm trying to find her a new Doctor that she finds trustworthy and that her insurance will accept, but it's a catch 22, I need her on the medication to be rational enough to give a new doctor a chance and she needs to trust the doctor to stop fighting taking the medication they prescribe.

The hideout is just as I left it. In fact, I haven't changed much since you were here other than swap out the books and clothing. I am always a little surprised when I return that the building hasn't been demolished or taken over by squatters. I wonder if your accidental magic that night the vagrant frightened you is still affecting the hideout and keeping it hidden. Even the mattress in the room hasn't been overrun with the rats that continue to live in the rest of the building, though the one under the pipe entrance is nearly eaten and rotted away. It's still easy for me to get in, I was afraid that I would have grown too big to get through the pipes but I'm still thin and short for my age. Mom says I'll start growing soon but I've yet to see signs of it. The boys my age are all a lot taller than me now. And to be honest I don't know if she really knows how old I am half the time either so I don't know if she's right or not. Or just being encouraging, not that she usually tells white lies like that, she says that it's always better to face the truth than to believe pretty lies.

I went to the buffet I took you to yesterday and had a big feed, I chose some vegetables because I know you worry about my diet as much as I did yours when you were with the Dursleys. I think being small for my age helped there, I won't be able to go much longer until I'm old enough to pay to eat there on my own. The staff on the door looked surprised and relieved to see me. I think they thought something bad might have happened to me when I stopped going there.

I'm attempting to do a correspondence course for one of my subjects but while the subject is interesting, or it should be, it doesn't hold my attention the way being in class does. Lectures may not be very interactive but I always seem to learn something more by being there. Two years ago, in high school I never thought I'd say that, I thought class was almost a waste of time. I miss Caltech, my dorm room and the atmosphere almost as much as I miss going to class. I feel selfish for resenting Mom and her need to be looked after for bringing me home. I'm trying hard to focus on spending quality time with Mom and enjoying the time we have together on her good days.

My other summer project is learning to cook properly. I've borrowed all the beginner cookbooks from the library and read them but this also seems to be something that is easier to learn when taught while doing so I haven't had much success. I thought it would be a lot like chemistry only edible but the instructions are too vague or I need to look up what they mean in the first place. The book you made for me is a lot better than any of them are, though the first time I used it was a disaster. I tried to cook the roast beef and I didn't realize that you used a different measurement of temperature than we do and it turned out almost raw, and then I worked out the problem and cooked it some more but it I ended up overcooking it. I've managed a couple of barely edible meals so far, all out of your book, but luckily Mom's been willing to eat my humble efforts even if they're a bit overcooked. Hopefully my Aunt will arrive back before I have to leave and will be willing to give me a couple of lessons to get me on my way.

Hoping to hear from you tomorrow.

Your friend always

Spencer

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