How Long Does It Take.....?

Just A Little Detail......

Well, I don't know about You, Dear Readers, but I find the vagaries of the Passing of Time to be endlessly fascinating, and annoying, and even sometimes Amusing! You might recall that it was just a short few minutes ago (depending on who you ask!) that Daphne was asking Raymond to tell her the address for Gabrielle, the former Nanny, so that Renee could send her a letter explaining that Hibou (her toy Owl) was safe after an adventurous night! And Raymond was not wishing to cooperate with Daphne, who he felt should not be given the chance to be the new Nanny even though he had been over-ruled by Renee's Grandmother. But Daphne was determined to do what she could to stay in her daughter's life, and she was willing to put up with a certain amount of disapproval, as long as it did not prevent Renee from having what she needed. She had suggested that Renee might like to mail the letter herself, and so Raymond was forced to give Daphne the address for Gabrielle.

 He dictated as Daphne wrote on the envelope...

"Gabrielle St.Claire,

 c/o Fleur Webster,

  Elm Street,

 Greenfields,

 USA"

Renee watched, fascinated.

"Fleur Webster?" remarked Daphne. 

"She has a Flower Shop? She is married to Daniel Webster?

"I believe we have met.... " she added.

Raymond had not expected that! 

He scowled, thinking he would have to ask Fleur a few questions!

"Here is my picture of Hibou...." said Renee, 

handing Daphne her drawing.

"How will Gabrielle see it?" she asked.

"We will put it in the envelope and put a stamp on it 

and send it in the mail" explained Daphne.

"Oh." said Renee. 

"But how will it get to Gabrielle?" she asked again.

"Well, we will go put it in a Post box" explained Daphne. 

"And the Postman will come and get it and take it to her." she added.

"But how does he know where Gabrielle is?" asked Renee.

"The address we wrote tells him exactly where Gabrielle is" replied Daphne.

"Get Hibou ready and we will go now" she added.

"Hibou is ready!" said Renee. 

"Where is the Post Box?' she added.

"We will go find one," said Daphne. 

"I think there is one near here on the way to the Park."

It was just around the corner!

"Here, you can put the letter in... " said Daphne.

"Hibou can watch from up here..." she added.

'Where does it go?" asked Renee.

"Just put it in the slot...." explained Daphne as she lifted Renee up.

"Push it all the way in.... " said Daphne.

"But where does it go...?" asked Renee.

"It waits in the box 'til the Postman comes to get it..." 

explained Daphne.

"I want to see..." said Renee....

"It is too dark in there to see.." said Daphne.

"When will the Postman come get it?" asked Renee.

"In a little while ...." replied Daphne.

"And meanwhile we will take Hibou to the Park...." she added.

"But when will Gabrielle get it...?" asked Renee.

"Well, it has a long way to go 

so that might take many days..." replied Daphne.

"But we can draw more pictures while we are

 waiting for it to get there" she added.

"Okay" agreed Renee.

And she headed for the Park which was not far away.

Daphne was right behind her, and Raymond followed behind.

He was feeling a little bit left out.

But it hadn't occurred to him that Renee might like to write to Gabrielle.

Or that she might learn so much from the experience. 

He was thinking maybe he had not been thinking enough about what Renee needed,

But he didn't want to admit it!

As I am sure you remember, Dear Readers, 

Renee was very familiar with the Park!

She came almost every day!

But she had never been there with both

 Mademoiselle O'Malley and Raymond!

She was so excited that she ran on ahead to see her friends the birds...

But she didn't watch where she was going 

and she tripped and fell....!

"Ooooowww..." cried Renee as Daphne hurried up.

"Ooopsies...." said Daphne. "Let me see where you hurt..."

(She had a private moment of panic to see Renee crying!)

"It is only a little scrape..." she said over Renee's tears.

"Here, let me kiss it better..." she said.

"There!" said Daphne, kissing the scrapes. "All better!"

Renee was so surprised she stopped crying.

And then Daphne said "Here is Hibou."

"I think he needs a kiss too!"

Renee gave Hibou a big kiss, her own tears forgotten!

And then she continued on towards the fountain 

where the birds were splashing in the waters...

She turned to Mademoiselle O'Malley and said 

"You must hold Hibou, so he won't fly into the fountain!"

"He is only a baby, so he can't swim!" she added.

And then she turned and ran to the birds.

They were used to her, so they did not fly very far away...

they were too interested in their breadcrumbs!

Renee liked to grab the breadcrumbs and throw them again and again...

Daphne realized they might be here for a while, 

so she might as well sit down.

She didn't want to disturb the birds.... 

or walk the long way around to the benches.

She decided to walk across the lovely tended grass.....

She wasn't sure if it was "against the rules"!

But she didn't care. 

There was nobody to see but Raymond... 

and he already thought the worst of her!

She was here to be with Renee, 

and she would take however much Time was needed!

But maybe next time she would bring her drawing pad and pencils!

Well, Dear Readers, I hope you have enjoyed this visit to the Park....
and that you don't mind waiting....
No matter how long it takes for me to add
just a few little details to this Tale!