I walked over to Tracy’s room and knocked on it also. Again I tiptoed in, and opened the drapes. But she did not awake. Instead, she just flipped over, away from the sun. This shocked me. I went and shook her, but that didn’t help either. I left the breakfast on a nearby dresser, and was about to leave when I heard her say, “You really thought you could get up early without waking me up?”

“You heard me?” I asked, startled.

“I’m a very light sleeper.” She replied.

“Swell. I suppose you wouldn’t like breakfast in bed.”

“Is it for two?”

“Is there two in that bed?”

“No, not at the moment.”

“Well, I think it’s only for one.”

“Could you make it for two?”

“Possibly, but why would I want to?”

“Who knows, it might be fun.”

“Okay, but if I do this, you’ve gotta try something for me.”

“And what’s that?”

“A little game called Capture the Flag.”

“Okay, but who else will play?”

“Just wait and see!” I said, going to get my tray of food. I returned and finished my food at the foot of her bed. I left, in order for her to change, and I went downstairs. I picked up the phone and called a few of my friends who played in the past. For adults, we sure acted like kids sometimes. We all got together in the living room. Present were: Dan, Jacie, Noah, Laura, Andy, Marie, David, Karin, (who I caught before they left) Hannah, Tricia, Tracy, and I. That made 12 of us. That made 5 guys and 7 girls. We were tempted to make it boys against girls, but in order to be fair, I used the computer to randomize the teams.

“Okay The teams will be: Team A will consist of: Dan, Tricia, Laura, Tracy, David, and Andy. Team B will consist of: Karin, Adam, Noah, Marie, Jacie, and Hannah.” There was a murmur in the crowd.

“I think that we’re above this, but don’t let yourself get caught on purpose, just to be with your wife, husband, boyfriend, or girlfriend.” Noah commented.

“Right, there are hostages that can be taken. Here are the rules.” I handed a copy to everyone. “You will have one hour to develop your flag. At the end of that hour, each group will be given a chance to go and hide their flag. You will have fifteen minutes each, for one person to hide your flag. That person must not tell his teammates where the flag is hidden, so if they switch sides they will not tell. Team A, you go first, because you are A. After an hour and a half is passed, you will hear a whistle blow. You are to leave the building and go to your hiding places, or group command center. This game will last until one of the flags is captured and run up the flag pole. Food is in the stables, so you can get it, if you aren’t captured. Any questions?”

“Yes, hostages are allowed?” Tracy asked.

“Yes. If you are taken hostage, you will be taken with your opponents. The computers supplied to each team for their command center will update you on each team mate’s situation/position, through their watch. Then here are three things that can happen to you. 1. You can escape and go back to your team, 2. You can be traded for a hostage that belongs to the opponents team, or 3. (The one we’ve added) After five hours of not doing one or two, you change sides. To trade hostages, write to one another on your computer.”

The afternoon passed swiftly. I worked a little on my book, while Tracy spent some time with Tricia, who was almost normal. Everything was fine. It was dinner time, and I went to the room where my ‘girl’ was staying, and knocked on the door. It opened, and out came Tracy, who had again changed. She was now in a long jacket/skirt. (I don’t know how else to describe it.) I, on the other hand, was still in my polo-shirt and jeans. I escorted her to the table, and found that Tricia had come to join us. I pulled out Tracy’s chair, and then sat down in my own. We asked the blessing, and then Tricia said, “So, old Adam actually asked a girl out!”

“You mean I’m the first one he has ever asked?” Tracy inquired.

“You’ve got it!” Tricia responded.

“You’re kidding! What about you?”

“No he didn’t ask me out, my friend Laura asked me to go out with him.”

“Wow!” She exclaimed.

“Well, if you two girls are done with your little conversation, my ‘client’ and I have an appointment outside.” I stated, putting my utensils down, I got up. “And I suggest you dress warmly.” I said, turning around to change. I went upstairs and put on a sweat-shirt. I went outside and waited on the porch. Tracy quickly joined me in a turtleneck with flannel shirt over-top and jeans. “Two questions?” I asked.

“Shoot.” She responded.

“One, are those my clothes?”

“Yes. What’s number two?”

“Do you always wear four different sets of clothes a day?”

“No, usually more.” She said, trying to keep a straight face. “Just kidding, no.”

“Ready to go?” I asked her. She nodded in agreement, and we went to the pond. I spread out a blanket I had brought, and we sat there, watching the sun set. “You know, you are very enchanting.”

“Thank you, you’re not so bad lookin’ yourself.” She giggled. We sat back, and I put my arm around her. We watched the pond reflect the sun, and she looked at me. I looked at her and our faces met. We retracted, and looked at each other for quite a while, before we realized that it was getting cold. “It’s getting kind of cold.” Tracy half said.

“Here.” I said, taking off my sweater and handing it to her. “You know, I wish this would never end.

“Me either.”

“Shall we go back in?”

“Nah, let’s stay out here a little while longer.” She said. We just sat there for a while, then it got too cold, and we went in and went to bed, in our own rooms.

The next morning, I got up real early. Friday was the day that Karin and David got off, and I was left to run the house. I cooked breakfast, and decided to treat my guests with breakfast in bed. I made pancakes, and put them on two trays to take upstairs. I went to Tricia’s room first, knocking on the door. She wasn’t up, so I quietly tiptoed in and opened the drapes. She awoke with a start, and clutching the blanket, she asked what I was doing in her room. I showed her the breakfast, and was forgiven.

“Okay, just go around the corner and think of something and it happens.” She went around the corner and it appeared as nothing had changed. “What did you think of?”

“That the door was open.” She walked over to the door and opened it. We went inside and dried off. “So, what part of the game did this involve?”

“Well, this was the past. Matt had hidden Tricia somewhere and I had to find her.”

“Oh. Let’s look around for a while, shall we.”

“Let’s.” I replied. I took her arm and we started touring the church building and reliving past events as we went through. We had had enough in a little while, and exited the game. I went back to the control room to turn the game off, and afterwards we walked back to the house. Once inside, I went over to the sofa and sat down. Karin came in with some tea and put it on the coffee table.

“I think I’ll go upstairs and change.” Tracy said, heading upstairs. I poured us each some tea, then I sat back in the sofa. Karin again came in with some toasty rolls.

“Adam, do you like her?” She asked.

“Yes, I suppose I do.”

“Well then, instead of waiting for some dream girl to appear, why don’t you get in gear and go with this girl? She’s attractive, smart, nice, and you two appear to have fun being together.”

“Thanks Karin.” I said. Karin left and Tracy returned to the living room. She was now dressed in a white blouse and navy blue skirt. “I hope that you didn’t find that skirt in my drawer too!”

“No, this was one of Tricia’s.”

She sat down and I poured her some tea. “Tracy?” I asked.

“Yes?”

“There’s something I’ve got to ask you.”

“What’s that?”

“Uh. . .Will you consider being my girlfriend?”

“Your what!??”

“My girl. You know… you and I… go out.”

“Why, I’d love to. Tricia didn’t think you’d ever ask. She gave me this skirt because she thought that you liked it.”

“Well, I guess I proved her wrong!”

“About the dress?”

“No, about asking you!”

“Well, since I’m now your ‘girl’, I guess I get to be involved in what you do, right?”

“Well, you’re still under my supervision, you know. We can’t have you disappearing next week.”

“Right, but that doesn’t mean we can’t have any fun in the meantime!” She exclaimed.

“What do you suggest?”

“Well, how about we go out tonight and watch the sunset, together.”

“Alone?”

“Of course.”

“Well, I guess.” I said.