Thanks for all the good thoughts, which are much appreciated. I'm weighing many things here and I understand all points of view. I have no idea if any of this is emanating from the youngster - there's no way for me to know that unfortunately. I think these people live in some kind of bubble and it's all about them. These are people who called me their guardian angel, these are people who told me I was family and then these are people who disappeared, then tried to make contact, which I responded to very positively while addressing the central problem. I received a kind of half-assed apology, to which I replied again very positively, saying I was glad we were past it - after which silence.
I have no idea whether they plan to do the act again, but if and when that happens I will put a stop to it. That part is easy and it will be done by a lawyer, not me. I've explained it all here - no need to beat it to death. The only question is to send or not to send. I'm going to re-read it in a bit and see how I feel. Some people suggest sending it and being done with it once and for all. I don't care about burning bridges when I'm not treated well and anyone who has read and understood the Kritzer books will understand my reaction here. The real question for me is if I don't send it will it continue to bug me - if I don't send it they never really know how I feel. I see no reason to temper what I wrote because they deserve to hear it in the strongest possible way. I don't expect any good to come from it IF I send it, and I don't care if any good comes from it. On the other hand, in the end other than getting it off my chest, what does it gain me? Nothing will change and they've done the damage, really. For all I know, they may be going through difficult times, but all it takes is a one-line e-mail of congratulations and thanks. How bloody hard is that? Certainly this woman is all over Facebook begging her friends to vote for her daughter - apparently she has all the time in the world for that and to contact every human being she knows so they can vote, which is why Melody is currently in second place. I'm easy - thank me and appreciate me if I've done something beyond the call of duty for your child - if I've put in a year and a half nurturing her talent and making her a better performer. They probably think THEY did it all, but I have given this girl incredible opportunities and material no one in their right mind would have ever given her - and then I've directed her carefully and she's gotten better and better for it. To just continue to ignore this reprehensible behavior is weird to me, but again, I understand all points of view here and I ultimately have to do what's going to make me the most comfortable so this doesn't gnaw at me. If I can truly wash it down the drain and not have residue, that would be the best. I don't know that that's possible, though.
