An immigration enforcement agent arrives

Day 40

Dear diary,

Had a big scare today. So you remember I was only supposed to be in the country for a few weeks? Well a government labor inspector came by today and started asking Miss Jean questions about her new domestic. I had to hide in my room, but when he was gone Miss Jean looked really, really angry. She told me I'd really put her in a bind now, since she'd let me stay for so long. I was officially past my original visa stay, and she could get in trouble for harboring me, an illegal immigrant. I burst into tears, the stress of the past month getting to me.

Miss Jean was kind to me again though. She told me he was going to return sometime in the next few weeks, he might catch me before I could get my passport back. Even then she reminded, they might stop me at the border and arrest me. I was so lost, but Miss Jean knew just what to do. She had a friend who might be able to help out. How her friend could help, I had no idea, but Miss Jean took her keys and said she'd be back in a few hours with everything I needed.

Day 41

Dear diary,

My name is Coline Faustine Cartier. At least, that's what it says on my new French passport. I had no idea what Miss Jean had planned to help me, but forging a passport and documents was not it. I don't know how to thank her for this, but hopefully once I am actually able to return to the US I will be able to.

But right now, I have other problems. I don't look like a poor French girl, and I certainly don't sound like it. I've been getting by with the guests by not saying very much to them and trying just to nod my head and keep my talking to a minimum. I already knew some French from classes before, but Miss Jean has put a TV in my room that plays only French soap operas all the time, and has gotten me some language books to study at night. From today onward, I am not allowed to speak in English, at all. Even in the last few weeks my French has gotten better, but I am not close to sounding native.

Today as well, we're going to the salon. Not the one in Faveyrolle, but in the big city down the road. There I'm going to get my hair dyed black and some new treatment that will permanently turn my irises a dark brown (because that's what my documents say). For a special treat, Miss Jean says that I'm going to get a full laser treatment so that I don't have to spend as much time shaving anymore. She's not even charging it to my debt!