Tried so hard to make her proud, but never once was anything acknowledged, not once were their words of praise. She pictured her mother walking into t...e bathroom. Saw her pick up the paper and read the words so carelessly scrawled. ‘Dear mother, I am sorry this had to be, but I can not seem to live up to your expectations. Every deed I have done goes unnoticed. Every good grade unpraised. I have tried my best, but I can try no more. I am sorry I failed, I am sorry I let you down. Please, I. The woman (Mavis I assumed) said, "Don't mind Alfere, he's just jealous also he's past it." Alf spluttered and protested,"I'm not past it girl," that broke the ice and they joined us we talkedaway for ages, the two of them listening to Brett telling them where I'dtaken him today, and they in turn offered me places to take himtomorrow, soon it was seven o'clock, Mavis and Alf left with us, Mavissaying to me, "He seems a good un girl, don't let him escape." I smiledat her and answered, "I think. "We went to bed in matching pink satin nighties and were soon asleep ineach others arms.~*~It was a cold night and I wakened after a nasty dream to do with a hugeturkey and stuffing.I got up and looked out of the window. I shivered slightly in my thinnightie.The snow lay on the ground, all deep and crisp and even (it made methink of a pizza, Deep pan, crisp and even!. The moon was shiningbrightly, everything looked clean, fresh and bright.In the little village of Trumphampton there was no. ”I felt the smile leave my face, to be replaced by a frown matching Anna’s as my mind raced to process what she’d said, analyze the implication, and develop a viable plan. A few moments later I was mentally cussing myself for being a fool. In retrospect, it should have been obvious that I, or rather, we, would be attacked today. Whoever this mysterious boss in Santa Fe was, he had already shown he liked to make very public statements with his violence, and what better day to make an example of.