SEPTEMBER, 1998

Buffy had tried to excuse herself from her mother's dear friend Pat a total of five times.

Guess her success.

"Well, I guess that having me back is causing Mom some problems. I'll try to do better."

"Try? You think that's good enough? If I had my way, you'd be back at the clinic. I mean, why your mother listened to me last time and not this time is just beyond me."

Buffy felt a rage swell that no amount of hitting or yelling could alleviate. So she bypassed all that, and picked up a thick book, which she placed on the table. Pat stared.

"Why the phone book? Who are you calling?"

Buffy took her index finger, jammed it through the phone book, and pulled it out of the deep, visible hole she made quite uninjured. She gave the book to Pat.

"I'm calling you. Out. Go support Mom. Blindly. Don't mention book."

And for the remaining seven hours of her life, Pat did not mention this incident.