"Thanks, Mom. I'm learning a lot at college," I said, proudly."That wasn't just learning, that was raw talent," Mom beamed. I blushed and looked down....You must do a recital at Church."I looked up quickly. This wasn't what I was hoping to achieve. "Mom, ..." Oh, but you must. Please, Jon."I shook my head. "Mom, you know I ..." It would mean so much to me," Mom interrupted, her voice softening. The change in her voice triggered an immediate feeling within me. I lowered my head to avoid her eyes,. "Mom banged on my door. "Dee, we need you and Missy. Now!" Got that?" I asked Missy as I opened the door. She nodded numbly, and all I could do was cross my fingers. The thought of her in Worthington's clutches made me want to throw up."What were you doing up there?" Mom asked suspiciously."Bringing Missy up to speed," I answered truthfully as we trailed her down the stairs.You would have thought it was the entrance of the Queen of England or something when we showed up in the doorway. All eyes. She went to the kitchen and wroked away in there for a few mins and came back out again and she then brought you back into the dining room the table was set out for the two of you she went off then and brought out the starters and sat down and ate and chatted away,next was the main course and you loved it, after dinner got done she asked you to go to the parlour and you went in and sat down on the couch, she came on with the dessert and another bottle of wine you told her about the driving but. " Mummy said."Melissa? Did you notice that your mother and I said used terms like'he', 'him', and his' when talking about you in that last littlediscussion?" Yes Ruth. I did." Wondering what I'd done wrong now."After this? Anyone makes that mistake again? I want you to remind themthat your name is Melissa, and that you're a girl. Understand?" Yes Ruth." Well then? Let's hear you tell us."Mummy beamed with pleasure when I informed them, in my 'girl' voice thatmy name was Melissa and that I was.