“Was it? Tracy, come here.” I said, motioning toward her. She moved over, and I put my arm around her. “You are the most special girl in the world to me. I don’t care what Belle says, I wouldn’t trade you for the world.”

“You’re just saying that.”

“No, I’m not. Here,” I said, putting her head on my shoulder. “Now, let it all out, and get some sleep.” She cried for a bit, then turned around and lay down on the bed. I looked at her then realized that there was only one bed, and if Phillip was to check on me, it would look kinda funny if I slept on the floor. I undressed, put on a pair of shorts, and got in the bed, next to Tracy, who had turned on her side facing the opposite direction. I tried to fall asleep. She kept taking the blanket off of me, and I kept pulling back.

That night I had another dream. It was like what was happening now, except I felt a little seasick. I saw someone in the same room as me. It was strange.

The next morning, I awoke. Tracy’s arm was atop me. I lifted it off me, trying not to wake her. I got up and went downstairs for breakfast. I looked outside and saw that it was in the sixties. “Kinda chilly for October, isn’t it?” I asked Phillip.

“Yes. It’s awful chilly for October 11.”

“Where’s Belle?”

“She went to her sister’s. After what she said last night, she couldn’t face Tracy this morning.”

“It wasn’t that bad. Are we still planning to go to the zoo?”

“If you want to. I’ve gotta go down street today and find Belle.”

“Find her? I thought she was at your sister’s?”

“She is, but I’ve gotta pretend to find her. She gets this way.”

“Oh. Where’s your brother? I thought he lived her too.”

“Oh, he does. He came in late last night, after you went to bed. He doesn’t get up until late. You’ll probably be gone when he gets up.”

“How come I didn’t see him yesterday?”

“He was out with his girlfriend.”

“That explains it. Would you like me to take Joey to the zoo?”

“You might want to. He knows his way around there better than some of the attendants.” He said, with a straight face.

“You’re kidding!” I laughed.

“I’m serious. He studied the map for weeks before he went, and he told us where to go to get anywhere. There he is. Joey, how do you get to the panda from the front door?”

“Left, right, strait for two cages, left.” Joey said.

“Wow! I guess I’d better bring him with us. How about it, Joey. Would you like to go?” I asked.

“Sure, thanks Mr. Schofield. Will Mrs. Schofield be joining us?”

“Yes, and Kristin.” I replied.

“Kristin? I don’t want to go.”

“Joey, where are your manners?”

“Oh! Okay, what is kool?”

“Walking’s kool.” She said, so we walked to Phillip’s house. Once there, we went inside.

“Did you have a refreshing walk?” Belle asked us.

“Yes Belle, quite.” I responded.

“Did he take you to see the fair?” Phillip asked Kristin.

“Yes, indeed. It was so much fun.”

“Good. Kristin, I’d like you to meet Joey. Joey, come here for a minute.” A little kid came out, I think he was about ten. “Joey, meet Kristin. She and her parents have popped in for a little while.”

“A girl! Yuk!” Joey said.

“Shh, shh.” Belle said. “Now go wash up for tea.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Joey said, depressingly while he left.

“Joey is at that stage, Kristin. Don’t worry, you’ll have a good time here, you’ll see.” Belle commented. Tracy came down the stairs, and assumed a position next to me. I put my arm around her, and she looked at me.

“Well, hello stranger.” Tracy said to me.

“Howdy, pardner.” I replied. “Ready for tea, m’lady?”

“Why yes, quite.” Tracy quickly changed accents. Tea progressed and it went into the night. Tracy and Kristin went to bed early, and I stayed up to talk to Phillip and Belle about my case.

“Here’s the low down. Tracy is not just my … a …wife… but my client. Her friends got kidnapped by someone who tried to brainwash people to steal money from the U.S. government.”

“Well, let them. It’ll just make England better.” Belle said.

“That’s not the point. We need to get her friends back. I’m counting on your help.”

“Well, you’ve got it. I’ll check you into an apartment tomorrow. Meanwhile, I’ll keep my ears open.”

“If you ask me, she isn’t worth it. These uppity up people always think their better than the rest of us. No offense Adam, but I don’t like her.” Belle commented.

“Belle, that’s not nice.” Phillip said. At that moment, Tracy stumbled into the room.

“Dear! What’s up.” Her eyes were red. She was turned around and headed up for her room. I proceeded to chase.

“Now see what you did, Belle. You didn’t even give her a chance!” I heard Phillip say as I went up the stairs.

“Tracy, Tracy! Let me in!!” I said, knocking on the door. I managed to open the door, and went over to the bed where Tracy was bent over, crying. “Come on Tracy, she didn’t mean it.”

“Oh, yes she did! I’m no good.”

“Come on, you’ll never get anywhere with that attitude. I seem to remember someone telling me this same thing, a few weeks ago.”

“Yes, but that was different.”

“Yes, I’m on a case right now.”

“And you brought your wife and daughter?!”

“Well, it helps for the cover.”

“I should say! They could be kidnapped or killed!!”

“Don’t worry now, Belle. I’m sure Adam has a perfectly safe plan, otherwise he wouldn’t have done it this way, don’t you?” Phillip asked.

“Sure. . .right.” I said, uncertainly. I just thought of something, What if something did happen?! Awe, I’ll just trust the Lord, he’ll watch over us, he always does.

My ‘wife’ and ‘child’ came down the stairs and into the kitchen. Belle and Tracy didn’t get along to well. Belle thought Tracy was too pretty, and dressed too fancy. Kristin mumbled through her meal, doing nothing much but pushing it all around the plate. Phillip and I discussed sports and changes made to Bracknell since I had left it. “Adam, can we see the London Zoo while we’re here?” Tracy asked.

“Awe, you best not go there, miss. There are wild animals there. You might get your clothes dirty!” Belle said.

“Belle!” Phillip said. “Of course we can. We’ll go tomorrow, if that’s all right with you?”

“Sure, I think Kristin will like that, eh Kristin?” I looked at her.

“Fine.” She said, continuing to push her food around.

“Kristin, come with me.” I said. I stood up and took her hand. “Tracy, stay here. I don’t want you out of Phillip and Belle’s sight. I want to show Kristin something.” I said. We went outside and I said to her, “Kristin, let’s go for a walk.”

“Where to?”

“Down town.”

“Down town?! Why don’t we drive?”

“Because, gas costs so much more in England, and the cities were built so that everything is just a few steps away.”

“Oh.”

“Shall we continue?” I asked.

“Sure, why not.” She said. I put my arm out, and she took it. We went down town, through the many underpasses and tunnels that are filled with drawings and filthy spray painting messages. We arrived down town at two. There we observed the many amazing things that made England different than home. We went into a department store and picked up a few souvenirs, when we went to the counter the man rung up our purchases.

“That’ll be five quid.” He said.

“Quid?!!” Kristin responded. “What’s a quid?!”

“It’s a pound. It’s like us calling dollars, bucks.”

“Oh.”

“Here you go, five quid.” I said, handing him the money. We walked out of the store and went to the town fair, where we observed the many people running to and fro throughout the fair getting goods. At four, we headed home.

“Home, so early?” Kristin asked.

“Yes, it’s time for tea, and our host will be disappointed if we’re not on time. Let’s race.”

“Naw, racing’s not kool.”