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

"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."

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

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

"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."

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

"Very good," sighs Ranata.

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

They arrive at Charlie's eventually.

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

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

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

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

"Is that my name now?" chuckles Ranata.

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

"Her other thing?" asks Charlie, amused.

"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!"

"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."

"Okay," says Helen.

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

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

And thus, a late dinner is produced and consumed.

Omty nomty nom.