My sister stared at her and made a face without even seeming to move her facial muscles.

“You all need to speak to Kate through us,” said Lavender, who had dyed her hair gray and curled it really tight so it looked like she was wearing an old lady wig.

“I’m sorry?” said my mom, still looking at Kate.

“Please speak through her intermediaries,” said Cavendish. “That’s us.”

“We are her spokespeople,” said Lavender. “She’s been through enough.”

Kate nodded.

They were being very strange, as usual, but it was sort of funny, and I was glad they were with us. It made me wish I had a friend there, but I’m not saying that to make you feel bad.

Then Elizabeth came in with her long, real gray hair hanging all the way to her waist, practically. There was a man beside her who was shaped like a rutabaga, which we both agree is the funniest vegetable.

Elizabeth was staring at Kate and Lavender and Cavendish, and I wondered if she was jealous that Lavender also had gray hair, even though she’s only a teenager. Maybe it’s something everyone really wants to have now.

But instead of glaring at them, Elizabeth smiled, like the sight of them made her feel better about everything.

“Hello,” she said. “It’s so nice to see you all.”

Kate and her friends stared back at Elizabeth and a little bit of the mad went out of them. Even they couldn’t be too angry at a soft gray cloud.

“Hello,” said my mom.

“I’d like to speak with Rodney first,” said Elizabeth the Cloud.

I sort of jumped because, to be honest, I sort of forgot that I was there and that people could see me, which I do sometimes, as you know.

I wondered who was going to have to talk to the rutabaga man. I hoped it was Kate via Lavender and Cavendish.

“Hi,” he said, and he had a really deep voice, like a sportscaster or radio announcer or something. Then he told my mom she would be speaking to him before the family conference.

My mom nodded, and picked up her bags.

“And us?” said Cavendish. “Who are we and Kate seeing?”

“I’ll be recording the whole thing with my phone,” said Lavender. “For legal purposes.”

“I’ll be back to speak with Kate…and you, if that’s what Kate wants, after I speak with Rodney,” said Elizabeth.

Before I got to hear or see any more, Elizabeth opened the door for me, and we left the room, followed by my mom and her deep-voiced rutabaga counselor.

I’m going to stop here because I need a snack. Family visits, even ones with professionals in charge, are extremely tiring, even to remember.

Back soon!

Rodney

21

Hey, Lar,

I’m back! But you aren’t! Ha, ha!

So here’s what happened.