Maggie Charnock is a pseudonym, but this is a true account in every detail, based on notes I took during the period discussed and my memory of past events. I may have substituted some similar word for a few of my mother's misapplied words, such as, "Are the skies banana today?" when my memory was not exact--but very few even of these. Nothing is exaggerated or added or omitted in this true story.