private message to Sally-Anne Perks

[alt_megan]

It is a lot quieter around here today. And Mrs Stretton is being super nice to me, I think because she tried to get her usual helper to come back from his hols but he wouldn't come, and now she is regretting that she yelled at you and tried to make you pay for that wrong delivery that was her mistake anyhow. Or at least regretting that you left because of it.

She actually asked if I were happy, this afternoon.

I think too that she is regretting you are gone because Gemma was howling all yesterday but today she is not speaking to her. Gemma, I mean. Not speaking to Mrs Stretton.

She doesn't like me as much as she did you, Gemma I mean of course, and why should she? But today she is sitting under that table where we pack the baskets. She has made a little cave down there, and I am just pretending that I don't see her. Like I do with Fang when he is in a mood and doesn't want to be petted but does want to be around humans but doesn't want to actually be nice to them. So I can do that. And she's fine right there, really. And I think mostly Mrs Stretton is glad she's not howling any more.

How long can does Gemma usually keep up the silent treatment?

But this was not what I set out to write to you about at all. What I meant to write is happy birthday. So happy birthday! I hope it is a good one.

Also I meant to say thank you. So thank you for putting in a word for me here, and for helping me get used to it and for teaching me things. I know we were never friends at school and things happened but I think we had some fun times helping each other out here and that is something. So thank you for that too.

And happy birthday.

Comments

[alt_sally_anne]

Thanks for the birthday wishes.

I'm going to miss Gemma. I mean, I think Jeremy will bring her to visit and I'll get to see her, but I won't see her as often, you know? If you want to soften her up you could offer to let her wear your school tie or something else with a Hufflepuff badger on it. She wants to be in Hufflepuff House when she goes to school.

Anyway, she has definitely mastered badger stubbornness. She can keep up her silent treatment for days. But probably she'll save that for her Mum, not you.

[alt_megan]

I did not know she wanted to be a Hufflepuff! How wonderful! Not that Slytherins are not nice too, of course.

When I had a break between sorting the jams by date, I went to my room and got my little Hufflepuff coin purse for her. You know the charmed ones where the little badger pulls the zip partly closed, climbs into the coin purse, and then reaches one paw out to zip it the rest of the way closed? She thinks it is the most nift thing ever. I can hear it zipping and unzipping as I am working.

(Do you have one of the Slytherin ones? Only I think it is so clever how the Slytherin snake doesn't pull the zip closed, because of course it doesn't have paws, but just comes out and hisses at the zip and it closes itself!)

Anyhow she is still under the table. And she sniffles now and then but she is mostly playing with the coin purse. And glaring at Mrs Stretton when she comes by to give me something else to do.

[alt_sally_anne]

I didn't tell you about Gemma's fixation on Hufflepuff House?!? Oh, that's right, I was assuming SHE'D tell you. Yes, she decided years and years ago she wanted to be a Hufflepuff because her favourite colour was yellow. When she was four, I assumed it was sort of a whim -- you know both her parents were Ravenclaws, Jeremy was a Ravenclaw, Phillip's a Ravenclaw... but she's stuck with it. And it's not just the yellow anymore. She had me explain the four Houses at some point and she APPROVES of Hufflepuff House. And Helga Hufflepuff. And the fact that you're near the kitchens. Just....all of it.

I don't have one of the Slytherin coin purses though I've seen them! They are nift.

[alt_sally_anne]

Oh and believe me I tried plenty of times to talk her into wanting to be a Slytherin but that effort was doomed to fail.

[alt_sally_anne]

And about helping you get the job for the Strettons -- I just hope it works out well. I'm glad Mrs Stretton is being pleasant to you at least for the moment.

[alt_megan]

So far anyway.

And really, anything is better than Umbridg Madam Umb that b some people were. You know who I mean. People w

People we don't miss.

Anyhow it is OK here for now. I'm just sorry she was so awful to you. It doesn't seem fair that she is being nice to me to make up for being awful to you. Only she probably isn't anyway, it's just that she's afraid of being without help at all. But it's still not fair.

If you ever want jam I could send you some? If the Strettons keep me on over the summer hols I mean.

[alt_sally_anne]

I'm sure they'll want you back for the summer. If you wanted to send me some jam I wouldn't complain.