There was something about the way Hesper spoke of her parents that made Flora ill to her stomach. Would life be no different without her Mama and Papa? She thought not, because they were always waiting for her no matter how long it was until her next opportunity to visit home. Mama always saw her off at the beginning of the school year and greeted her at the end of the school year. What would she do if she only had Aunt Belle or Grandma Hermione? It wouldn't be the same.
"My Mama is my favorite person," she confided, as if embarrassed to admit it. Most girls she knew wouldn't consider their mother their favorite people. They preferred their friends, or even their sisters or cousins. But Flora had always loved—no, idolized—her mother, and she could not imagine a future where she thought differently. "She's elegant and popular. She does a lot of fundraising and charity work, and she always knows what the right thing to say is." If Flora could grow up to be a miniature Rufina Mulciber, she would be mot pleased.
"My Papa is very important, too," she said, her smile faltering in spite of herself. She loved her Papa, but he wasn't as present as her Mama was. "He has an important Ministry job and works a lot. He's very smart." Smarter than anyone else in the world, in her mind. She would never be as smart as him, but she made an effort to do well in her studies to make him happy. (She could not imagine the disappointment on his face if she got anything less than an E. And besides, showing him her marks was one the best parts of the summer!)
Flora's smile fell altogether at the sudden thought that something could happen to them. What if her Papa wasn't there to see her marks? Or what if Mama wasn't around to help her through her first season? No, she couldn't think of it—it was much too painful.
"My Mama is my favorite person," she confided, as if embarrassed to admit it. Most girls she knew wouldn't consider their mother their favorite people. They preferred their friends, or even their sisters or cousins. But Flora had always loved—no, idolized—her mother, and she could not imagine a future where she thought differently. "She's elegant and popular. She does a lot of fundraising and charity work, and she always knows what the right thing to say is." If Flora could grow up to be a miniature Rufina Mulciber, she would be mot pleased.
"My Papa is very important, too," she said, her smile faltering in spite of herself. She loved her Papa, but he wasn't as present as her Mama was. "He has an important Ministry job and works a lot. He's very smart." Smarter than anyone else in the world, in her mind. She would never be as smart as him, but she made an effort to do well in her studies to make him happy. (She could not imagine the disappointment on his face if she got anything less than an E. And besides, showing him her marks was one the best parts of the summer!)
Flora's smile fell altogether at the sudden thought that something could happen to them. What if her Papa wasn't there to see her marks? Or what if Mama wasn't around to help her through her first season? No, she couldn't think of it—it was much too painful.
