I Heard It Through The Grapevine

[Prudence Silvertree]

March 15, 1886

Modesty, 
I've heard from mother that you've been engaged in troubling behavior again. She refuses to tell me what you've done, but she's quite upset about it. However, I am certain that she has already written to you expressing her disappointment by now so I will not stress that point. 

What I will stress is that you start behaving like a proper young lady. Your actions do not just reflect poorly on you, but on your entire family. Beyond that, you will never gain any grounds for favors with mother if you continue to vex her in this way. Trust me, you do not want to get on her bad side. 

I implore you to think before you act in the future. If you cannot do that, then I fear that mother will insist on making life difficult for you. 

Why do you feel the need to act out in this way?

Please respond when you are able. 

With love,
Prudence

@'Modesty Beechworth'
dated for the future so that there's time for her parents to have been notified.

  

[Modesty Beechworth]

March 15, 1886
Prue,
Mother sent me a howler. It was much worse than the ones before,  and maybe I deserved it. I think I'm lucky that it was detentions, house point deductions, and a howler. It could have been worse; I could have been expelled.

I'm not even sure why I did it. I gethink myself into enough trouble as it is. And the day was going just fine...

I actually interested in what had been taught that day, a first, I know, and I hadn't wanted to wreck a nice day by losing points.

I think I secretly want to be expelled. Why else would I like causing problems. Did I push the boundaries and break rules as a baby too? Was I ever not against disappointment to Mother? Or Father? 

Please tell them that, while I doubt I'll stop getting in trouble... that I won't do as many reckless things. I think... being at school makes me forget that my actions do still reflect on my family.

Again, I'm very sorry.

Love,
Modesty 

P.S: If mother hasn't told you yet, I was in The Forbidden Forest. Why is it forbidden if there isn't anything scary in it?

  

[Prudence Silvertree]

March 16, 1886

Modesty, 
Well, you know mother has a flair for the dramatic. She does not enjoy being defied or embarrassed and expresses that very clearly.

Expulsion is entirely out of the question. Detention is bad enough, but being removed from school ... Neither mother nor father would stand for that. You must not find yourself in a position where that is a potential consequence again. You do not want to be expelled.

If you must rebel, do so responsibly. That may seem like a paradox, but I assure you it is possible.

Also, it is not me you must apologize to. That honor goes to our parents. I am simply concerned for the security of your future.

With love,
Prudence

P.S. The Forbidden Forest is named so for a reason and you are lucky to have gotten out without encountering one of the many hostile creatures that inhabit it.

  

[Modesty Beechworth]

March 17, 1886

Prue,
I'm not sure how much I want to rebel anymore; Mother and Father haven't gotten another letter, right? The professors are out to get me, sister!

Yesterday, during lunch, I was going to send my letter to you, but they stopped me! I wasn't doing anything wrong! I didn't get in trouble.. I don't think... but Mother actually will kill me if she gets another letter this soon! From the school, anyways! I don't want to be more of a disappointment to them; I do that well enough on my own without the Professors trying to help!

Do you think Mother and Father will let me play Quiddich if I don't get into anymore trouble for at least a month? I really want to play! Mother told me no, that I couldn't be in the club, but that was at the start of my first year! It might've been because it was still a new experience, being away from home, but its going to be my fifth year in the fall, surely that's long enough for them to at least be assured that I take responsibility for my actions... No matter how grudgingly it may be.

I know I'm going to end up asking them myself, but if you suggest it... maybe their first answer won't be no, absolutely  not.

I'm writing this early in the morning, so maybe you'll have a chance to reply today! It may not be sent until this afternoon... And  I know you're busy taking care of your children... How are they, anyways? It seems like forever since I've seen them! And it's only been a few months!

Love, Modesty

P.S. If you didn't notice-- like something actually didn't fall out of the envelope-- Yesterday's latter is also included!

March 16, 1886

Prue,
I've been having a problem, lately, not that it's anything new... but some of my year-mates have a strange disliking for me... even some of my housemates. Is it because of my lack of thought before I say what's on my mind...? Writing is much easier to try and not make a fool of myself, but I don't think they'd believe anything I write... How do I make friends with them? Is there even a way too... since some people don't change and it's a rare occurrence when someone really, truly, changes?

They probably wouldn't let me try to make up for four years of doing my own thing. ... and not even trying to follow some rules. Is it a bad thing, sister, that I want to be my own person and not have to worry about what everyone else thinks?

It becomes more and more apparent that I do care what they think; that we have to grow up eventually and our actions... reflect on how others think of us... before we've even met them.

I need to do something about my behavior, and how I go about my homework when I actually try to do it. Is there a way to... catch up on everything that I just didn't pay attention to.. over the summer? I want to be a prefect, and how I am now- a rule breaker- won't help me any with that goal.

Honestly, it might be better if I give up on that dream and just... try to change, maybe sixth year I'll be ready for it... but I want to be a Prefect in my fifth year...

Love, Modesty