i've written home to mother

[truthwright]

They fly from the aquarium to Charlie's house, because Helen wants to see Charlie.

Comments

[alicornucopia]

It's a longish flight. Ranata elects to follow the highway. There are a lot of billboards. For miscellaneous services, for miscellaneous products, for miscellaneous movies.

Apparently in four months audiences may expect yet another movie about the Shade-Dreamer. This one is entitled "Isabella Amariah and the Harpies' Bargain"; the actress they have got to play her at least looks like a convincing witch when photographed and does have an owl posing dramatically on her shoulder, albeit a barn owl.

[carillons]

"What's a harpy?" says Helen. "And isn't that my secret mom's name?"

[alicornucopia]

"A harpy is a creature that lives in the afterlife and acts as a gatekeeper there," says Ranata, "and - yes - yes it is, they're talking about the same person."

[carillons]

"Why's there a movie about my secret mom? Isn't she a secret?"

[alicornucopia]

"It's a secret that she's your mom. It's not a secret that she did what she did."

[carillons]

"What'd she do?"

[alicornucopia]

"She made the afterlife."

[carillons]

"Really?" says Helen. "How'd she do that?"

[alicornucopia]

"No one knows exactly." Ranata swallows. "Most witches think she did a sacrificial spell - with herself as the sacrifice - and that that's why she hasn't turned up since - but something Kas said makes me think maybe that isn't what happened - he would know more than me about it, though, he was closer to her at the time it happened and he won't tell me everything."

[carillons]

"Oh."

Helen contemplates this.

"Why not? Is it because she's secret?"

[alicornucopia]

"I don't know why he won't tell me. He just won't."

[carillons]

"I bet it's because she's secret," says Helen.

[alicornucopia]

"She's only partly secret. They make movies about her," says Ranata. "But that you're her daughter needs to stay a secret, because people would bother you about it if they knew."

[carillons]

"I don't want people bothering me about her," says Helen. "Because she's secret."

[alicornucopia]

"Very good," sighs Ranata.

[carillons]

And that is all Helen has to say on the subject of her secret mom for now.

[alicornucopia]

They arrive at Charlie's eventually.

[carillons]

Helen swoops upon him for hugs.

"Hi, grandpa! Manatees are really huggable, did you know? And Grandma is more huggable than manatees. She is like the best manatee. She's a granatee!"

[alicornucopia]

He hugs her. "I did not know that about manatees," he says, laughing softly.

[carillons]

"It's true! We looked at some and they looked huggy," she asserts.

[alicornucopia]

"But you didn't try it and see?"

[carillons]

"There was a sign that said we're not s'posed to. So I hugged Granatee instead!"

[alicornucopia]

"Is that my name now?" chuckles Ranata.

[carillons]

"No! Your name is Ranata Ekamma," says Helen. "Granatee is your other thing."

[alicornucopia]

"Her other thing?" asks Charlie, amused.

[carillons]

"The other thing that's not a name but it's what you call somebody! Like grandma and grandpa and granatee and mommy and daddy and spinach!"

[alicornucopia]

"All right then," laughs Ranata. "But I'm still only secretly your grandma, so 'granatee' is a word for in private, okay? I only ever had - the one child, so if people knew you were my grandchild, they would know about your... secret mom."

[carillons]

"Okay," says Helen.

[alicornucopia]

"Good." Forehead-kiss. "Let's have some food, that was a long flight."

[carillons]

"Food!" says Helen. "I like food!"

[alicornucopia]

And thus, a late dinner is produced and consumed.

[carillons]

Omty nomty nom.