Feeling sad about elsie. I don't know how to feel. It is sad that elsie had to grow up too soon, sad that elsie's parents needed elsie to be the parent because of the way their parents (well, <font color="red">HER </font> parents) behaved.

<font color="red">SHE</font> was abandoned by <font color="red">HER</font> parents, disowned by them, but as an adult. Knowing how much this must have hurt <font color="red">HER </font> , I can't understand how <font color="red">SHE</font> could emotionally abandon elsie, <font color="red">HER </font> own daughter. How could <font color="red">SHE</font> stop speaking to elsie, just as the grandparents stopped talking to <font color="red">HER </font> ? How could <font color="red">SHE</font> threaten to leave, make elsie plead with <font color="red">HER </font> , when <font color="red">SHE</font> had watched the grandparents turn their backs on <font color="red">HER </font> ?
I don't understand it. I am not angry - that is Shula's job - just sad for elsie. elsie needs looking after, but there was no-one there to do that for her. She had to look after them instead.

Caroline