ELIZABETH'S BOSS CALLED ME THIS MORNING
My hair stood on end. However, the good news was, she was at work. The bad news was that she'd obtained a "free" phone by signing a $60/month contract. B. was incensed that the phone purveyors would take advantage of E. that way (she bought it in person) and called the Sprint main phone people to cancel the contract and will take E. to return the phone itself and tear the salesmen off a strip for their treachery. What a wonderful boss! How kind of her to -- as I told her -- help E. have a life, a task that isn't all fun and games. I am heartened by B.'s goodness.

I keep meaning to write that on E.'s birthday her workmates gave her flowers and a card -- how nice of them! About her birthday in general: If E. had heightened expectations because of last year, I hope my explanation to her helped her understand. I told her last year was different because Mummy had just died, and people were being more generous than usual because they knew she was having a hard time. And that of course it was not the same this year. She told me "I know that," so perhaps she does.