Title: what I did on my european vacation

fandom: labyrinth

rating: PG-13 for innuendoes and serious content at some points

parts: 16

disclaimer: I don't own labyrinth, any lyrics used by other people belong

to them, any original poetry is mine

Summary: jareth plays chaperone on my college choir trip through poland

and germany. fun abounds

Ch. 1

            I blinked myself out of my daze as Mom pulled the car into the

preassigned meeting place for the morning - a parking lot at the

university. Looking out of the window I could tell lots of the singers

were already there, as well as the chaperons. Dan was busy barking

orders to people, Sandy our nurse was making sure she had all her

equipment, Larry, otherwise known as Big Papa was giving some people

some more information, Neal our accompanist was checking to see if he

had all his music, the singers were saying their last good-byes to

family and friends...but where was *he*?!

            Shrugging, I turned to my mom and tried to stay calm. This would be

the first time I had really traveled without either of my parents. It

was long overdue, but that didn't mean it would be easy.

            "Well, I guess this is it," I sighed, hugging her tightly.

            "You'll be fine! Just be careful, have fun, don't spend all your money

right away, and wear those shower shoes!" Yep, always the mother!

            "Yeah, I know, anything else?" I inwardly winced, knowing that I had

just set myself up for the possibility of a long maternal lecture.

            "Don't drink the tap water, buy all the Bowie albums you can carry,

and remember that you go with God to meet your good." Well, that's my

mother for ya! I grinned at that last part, that's sort of our motto

when we have to go through something tough. "Now get going!" I nodded

and hugged her again before jumping out of the car and grabbing my

luggage. I watched with mixed emotions as she pulled off before hefting

it...or trying to heft it. All I had was a garment bag, my carry on,

and my suitcase - a hardshell with no wheels. I should mention now that

I'm a chronic packrat as it is, and I always find the need to pack for

trips as though the apocalypse is coming. I gritted my teeth and yanked

on the handle, feeling like a moron as I succeeded in lifting it a

whole two inches off the ground.

            "Oh, perfect!" I muttered, sitting it back onto the pavement, which

cracked slightly in response to the new source of weight.

            "Need a hand?" I turned in slight surprise at the smug accented voice

that seemed to be right behind me. Jareth stood there, hands on hips

with a slight smirk on his face at my predicament.

            "Hey, where have you been?" I asked, sitting on my luggage.

            "Dan needed me to help pack a few things...having trouble with your

things?"

            "Hey, I'm not the one who wanted to pack five suitcases filled with

hair products!" I bit back, rolling my eyes. What can I say, I'm not

the nicest person at five a.m.!

            "I only brought one, dear! I'm conforming to your mortal standards,

ridiculous though they are." I nodded, seeing for the first time his

outfit. It was more than a little surprising to realize the high and

mighty goblin king was wearing blue jeans, a plain blue t-shirt, tennis

shoes, no make-up, and had his hair tied back in a simple ponytail. He

looked as fantastic as ever, though. In the back of my mind I wondered

why I couldn't look half that decent at five in the morning.

            "Who are you and what have you done with Jareth?!"

            "Very funny. Now then, before we attract attention, we need to get a

few things straight."

            "Such as...?"

            "You can't expect me to make things easier for you...you're not an

official listian at the moment, so I cannot use my magic to bail you

out of every situation!"

            "Excuse me!? The last time I checked, I wasn't exactly a damsel in

distress! I'll abide by that, but while you're here you have to do

things the mortal way! No turning your rooms into five-star conditions,

no getting out of walking everywhere, none of that! Deal?" I held out

my hand and raised an eyebrow. He made a face, but took it.

            "Deal...you also have to realize that we won't be able to be together

every moment of every day-"

            "I think I'll live," I quipped, smiling sweetly.

            "But if you absolutely need to tell me something, I've come up with an

idea." He discreetly conjured two crystals and handed me one. I gave

him a questioning look. "This will be a lot easier and more specific

than you using the Force...this way you'll be able to send and receive

thoughts from me and vice versa...don't give me that look, I won't be

able to spy on you! I'll only be able to read thoughts that you want me

to read...and the same goes for you. Is that suitable?"

            "Yeah, I guess it could come in handy, but this is only for the trip,

right?"

            "Of course! I wouldn't want to be corrupted by your thoughts for the

rest of eternity!" I glared at his smirk, but my attention was diverted

as the two crystals jumped into the air, merged, and vanished.

            He continued his little speech as if nothing had happened. I suppose I

would find out how well that worked later on. "....And I must also

remind you that since I am a chaperon you can't be flinging yourself at

me every time I turn around...people would talk." I jumped up at his

wicked grin.

            "Why you...you....-" It was probably a good thing I was interrupted at

that moment.

            "Hey, woman! You gonna get your stuff on the bus or what? We wanna get

to Europe by tomorrow!" I turned and grinned at the short, brown-haired

girl in front of me.

            "Kim, hey! Yeah, I'm coming! Oh, this is-"

            "One of the chaperons, I know. Come on, the bus is filling up fast!" I

nodded and turned to grab my suitcase. Maybe if I dragged it along the

ground I could actually make it move.

            "Don't worry about that, dear, I'll get it." Jareth gave me a

chilvalrous smile before removing my hand from the suitcase.

            "You can't use..." I made a gesture resembling his crystal-conjuring

hand movements.

            "I do have two hands! Please, it can't be that bad!" I shrugged and

turned to follow Kim to the bus, pausing only to grin at the gk as he

nearly threw his back out trying to lift the bright yellow suitcase

with the rainbow luggage straps. I really had to restrain my laughter

as he managed to get it to the bus, but not without some pretty unregal

language!

            Still in the fog of sleep I stumbled onto the bus and tried to find

Kim. Unfortunately she was sitting with my other good friend in the

group, Antoinette. "Sorry, ya snooze ya lose!" she said, shrugging. I

grinned and dropped into the seat in front of them.

            "You ready?" I asked the perky blond.

            "Of course! I can't wait! If you need any help, you can ask me, by the

way." Antoinette is one who has been on these tours before and

considers herself pretty knowledgeable about Poland. I nodded and

turned at movement in the once-empty seat next to me. I immediately

stifled a groan and I could tell Kim was doing the same thing behind

me.

            "Hey, Steve," I said, trying to sound sincere. He grinned back and put

his backpack under his seat. I should explain now that he's a theatre

major, like myself, but bar-none one of the most annoying guys I have

ever known. He can be okay company, but he just doesn't come across as

that intelligent, mainly really, really goofy and IQ deprived. One of

the only good points is that he's a Star Wars fan.

            "So, you think episode one will be playing in Poland?"

            "No, I read that it won't open there till September," I reminded him

for the thousandth time, turning towards the window. Maybe he'd get the

idea.

            "Well, maybe that was a typo or something." Nope, I guess he didn't.

Maybe if I were to cover my ears and scream for mercy...

            I sat up as Dan and the others made their way onto the bus. "Well good

morning everybody...first let's get a count and then we'll be off!" I

watched in slight indifference as Big Papa made the first head count of

the trip.

            "38...let's go!" Cheers greeted the instruction to the driver and soon

we were leaving the familiarity of the school behind.

            "Hey Dan, guess what May is!!! It's national masturbation month!!!!" I

rolled my eyes at Mike, who was in the backseat. "Group celebration in

my room at the hostel as soon as we get there!" I managed to hide a

chuckle at J's reaction...he really had no idea of what he was getting

into! My grin got even wider as the guys in the back insisted on

putting "Dirty Work" into the VCR...ah, this was going to be quite an

experience! I pushed the dumb movie and Steve's ramblings out of my

head and leaned against the window, letting sleep claim me.

********

            *Wake up!* I was jerked back to concsiousness by an annoying voice,

but I decided to feign sleep for as long as possible. *That's not going

to work, love...remember, I can send thoughts right to your mind, now

wake up!* Groaning quietly I sat up, shaking the cobwebs from my

brain. Half our group was asleep and the others were entertaining

themselves with music or gossip. I let my gaze reach Jareth.

            *What?! You'd better have a good reason for waking me up!*

            *We're almost to the airport.*

            *Whatever...* I became slightly suspicious as a road sign caught my

eye...according to that we had more than two hours till we reached

O'Hara!!! *Very cute, J, now what do you want?*

            *Who is -that-?* I blinked slightly in confusion, but nearly had a

laughing fit as he gestured to Steve with a nod of his head. *Is this

you're way of thanking me...you unsub and immediately try to replace

me!!!?* For the record I should mention that ever since Steve bleached

his hair he could pass as a younger, short-haired version of Jareth,

but without the charisma or IQ.

            *Oh good god!!! Give me a little credit...I do have standards after

all!!! He's just a friend, not even that! He's someone I've learned to

put up with!!*

            *Alright...if you say so, but I'm going to keep my eye on him!*

            I grinned at the king's scowl. *Jareth...are you...jealous?* I nearly

rolled into the aisle at his response...luckily it was thought to me

and not spoken, otherwise a few people on that bus would've felt their

ears burn! Shaking my head, I decided I was too concsious to get back

to sleep. Turning to Kim, I borrowed one of her crossword puzzle books.

After a few minutes of solving the ones I knew and using the back of

the book to do some of the ones I didn't I glanced up and noticed that

J was almost asleep.

            *Jareth...* He shook his head slightly, his eyes still closed.

            *Hey, J, wake up, I need you!* The king promptly turned his back to me

and continued sleeping.

            *JARETH!!!!*

            *Huh? What! What?! What is it?*

            *What's a four-letter word for a Tamarisk salt tree?* At that he sat

up and gave me a glare that could've punctured a tire. I smiled sweetly

and returned to my book.

********

            Hours later found me face-to-face with the one thing I'd been scared

to death of ever since I signed up for the trip. I squirmed slightly in

the airplane seat, wondering how good of a chance I had of blowing up

before reaching Europe. It's not that I'm scared of flying...it's just

that this would be my first time. Not that my family hadn't been

supportive...my eleven-year-old sister had even shown me a television

special to get me prepared...unfortunately it was about the forty-seven

million possible ways to die in a plane crash.

            "My, my, the great Selah isn't nervous now, is she?" I jumped in my

seat at the sudden interruption and rolled my eyes at Jareth's smug

grin.

            "Very funny. What are you doing here?"

            "Well, you're in luck...it looks like we'll be sitting next to each

other during the entire nine-hour flight!" I gave him a suspicious

glance...I hadn't thought any of our people were sitting right next to

each other. I could tell from his "innocent" look that he wasn't going

to admit to anything, so I shrugged as he sat down. There were

definitely worse people I could be stuck next to. "The plane won't be

taking off for a while, dear...you might want to read a book or

something; you'll just torture yourself if you sit here letting your

mind wander." Nodding, I yanked my backpack from underneath the seat in

front of me and brought out my book. The book. The book which I'd been

dutifuly saving until I got onto the plane to start reading. J must

have noticed my eager expression. "What is that...something by

Dosteyevsky or Dumas?" It is true that I love Russian and French

literature, but those volumes would have needed their own suitcase if I

would've packed them! I shook my head and grinned.

            "Nope...but it's destined to be a classic!" My grin broadened as the

king winced when I proudly showed him the cover of "Loving the Alien."

Man, that face on the cover could definitely calm my nerves!

            "Do you mean I'm going to have *that* face staring at me the entire

trip?!" he asked huffily.

            "You better believe it!" I sat up slightly and automatically grabbed

his hand as the plane started to taxi to the runway. "Oh boy..." I

muttered, not really sure if these would be my last moments on the face

of the earth... Glancing over at my traveling companion did little to

help me out - J looked perfectly calm and vastly amused at my

condition.

            "All I ask is if you have to be sick, do it in any direction but

mine," he chuckled.

            "Please! I've got an iron stomach...I'm just a little nervous!"

Suddenly there was no room for arguing because we were taking off. I

relaxed slightly as we climbed into the sky...this was just like the

Star Wars ride at Disneyworld...I could handle this! "Whoa...this is

awesome! I wonder if I can get the pilot to go faster..." I mumured, my

face plastered to the window as I strained to take in every detail.

            "See...I told you flying wasn't that bad!"

            "Yeah, you were right...it's no big deal!"

            "Then in that case...could you do me the favor of releasing my hand

before you draw blood?" I turned and grinned feebley at the hand I was

squeezing for dear life before letting him go. Struck by inspiration, I

dove back underneath the seat and fished out the small notebook I had

packed, ready to start my journal for the trip. Actually, it would

double as an account of the trip and an artistic vent...sometimes I

just can't squash the urge to write. Glancing out the window again, I

let feelings pour onto paper.

                         Tugging on my soul equal to that on my body

                         I'm pulled up into the great beyond

                         My time has come, changes await

                         The transformation must be done

                         Below me lies electric blue

                         (showered with glistening hopes)

                         Above is mellow blueness still

                         (streaked with silver-white promises)

                         All of us floating together as one

                         Suspended on the Spirit's will

                         What's ahead I do not know

                         Only a glimmer of future dreams ahead 

                         Drifting higher I am certain there is a God

                         It's by His hand I will be led

                         Equal paths spread out before me,

                         In time I'll come to each test

                         As pale white quietly invades my mind

                         I commit myself to Him that knows best

            I jumped slightly as J peeked over my shoulder; I had been so caught

up in my creative impulse I hadn't been paying attention to anything

else!

            "Hmm...Not bad...not bad at all for something that isn't about me." I

rolled my eyes and decided to take it as a compliment.

            Hours later, after I had eaten and tried to watch "Message in a

Bottle" in Polish (it doesn't work, trust me!), I finally decided to

get some rest. Inflating my neck pillow and putting on my sleep mask, I

settled down for a somewhat-restful, much-needed-

            "WWWWWWWWWWAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!"

            I ripped off the mask and sat up at the screech that had pierced

through my calm. About three rows in front of me sat a little boy who

was screaming his head off. He must have been Pavorati's successor; he

had a huge lung capacity. Maybe that was why the parents sat there

beside him, ignoring the kid altogether.

            "Oh good lord...J, can't you do something?!" Jareth gave me a somewhat

regretful stare, and I could've sworn I saw him clench his teeth at the

incessant yowling. I think cats mating would have been easier to fall

asleep to at that point.

            "Well-"

            "No!!!" The kid interrupted his attempt to speak.

            "I really-"

            "NO!!!!!"

            "What I'm trying-"

            "NONONONONONONONONNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

WWWWWWWAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!"

            He shot a look to the parents, but they didn't seem to mind. "I'm

sorry, but I can't use my magic to help you out tremendously...besides,

too many people would get suspicious if a goblin were to start wreaking

havoc on the plane!"

            "You wouldn't have to turn him into a very big one!" I pleaded.

            "Sorry, but you were the one who wanted me to be incognito...we'll

both just have to ride this out." He sighed as the boy started into the

next chorus of wails. Grumbling about sleep deprivation, I dug my

earplugs out of my hip pack and shoved them into place. Not bad...now

all I needed was five more pairs and maybe the noise would be drowned

out a little. Giving a sigh of defeat, I put my mask back into place

and tried to get some sleep.

            Yeah, right.

2

            I sat up and groggily blinked my eyes...so much for loads of sleep.

Stretching as much as I could, I turned to look at the person next to

me. Jareth was contentedly perusing a magazine, which wouldn't have

been that surprising, except that the entire thing was in Polish!

Shaking my head, I remembered that he was doubling as a translator. He

glanced up and smiled at me, putting the magazine away.

            "And how are we doing this morning?" Oh, brother...just my luck that

he had to be one of those people who are actually alive in the

mornings!

            "I'm okay-" I stopped and gave a horrified look.

            "What the heck!?" I closed my eyes and groaned, my now-baritone voice

cutting through the drone of the engines. Great...my sinuses had been

affected by the flight, and drainage had settled on my cords. How

peachy.

            "Selah...I must admit that's a wonderful impression of Cookie Monster

you're doing, but is this really the place?"

            "This isn't an impression!!!! My voice is stuck like this until I can

get my sinuses cleared...can't you do something?!"

            "That would be a special request, now wouldn't it?" That grin can be

sooo annoying sometimes!

            "So the answer's no?" I asked, somewhat defeated.

            "Very good!"

            "Fine...but can I ask for just a little favor?" I replied sweetly,

which sounded really interesting given the fact that I could now pass

for Cookie Monster's sister.

            "I don't know...can it be done without magic?"

            "I don't think you'll have a hard time with it..."

            "Well, I don't know..." He must not have sensed my desperation.

            "Come on, please? I'd be really, really grateful!"

            "Then of course...what is it?" I swear, J can pick some of the worst

times to be casual!

            "GET UP SO I CAN GO TO THE BATHROOM!!!!" Man, I've never seen him move

so fast! Chuckling to myself, which sounded even worse, I headed into

the closet-sized bathroom.

******************

            I folded my arms across my chest and glared out the window of the

small plane, pointedly ignoring the goblin king sitting next to me. We

had long-since landed in Warsaw and were now on a connecting flight to

Poznan. The new plane was occupied with just our group and maybe two or

three others.

            *Does this mean you're angry with me?*

            I decided he wasn't worthy of a reply, not even via thought.

            *I had to move my own luggage, after all!* Sometimes he just doesn't

know when to give up.

            *You were standing next to two luggage carts...didn't it ever occur to

you to save one for me?!* I bit back, still focusing my attention on

the clouds outside.

            *Surely it wasn't that bad...*

            *Having to drag my luggage across the entire airport to the other

terminal????!!! Oh, gee, I guess you're right, it was loads of fun!*

            *Oh, you're just upset because your voice still sounds like Linda

Blair!"

            *SHUT UP!!!*

            *Oh, are you having a bad day?* I turned away from him even more,

slightly startled that the statement purred across my mind just like

his voice could in open air.

            *Gee, I get practically no sleep, wake up sounding like something from

a sci-fi movie, barely have enough time to get some money exchanged,

have to wait for the airport's computers to come back up before we can

leave for our next flight, and now my arms won't stop aching because my

dear chaperon decides that I don't need a luggage cart!*

            *I'll take that as a yes...believe me, if there weren't so many

witnesses, I'd be happy to cheer you up.* My eyes narrowed and I sent

Jareth a mental picture of him in owl form, flying through a peaceful

sky, then suddenly being bombarded by anvils.

            *Hmm...it looks like I might have to put forth an extra effort-*

            *And you say I'm the one flinging myself at you?! Besides...you can't

touch me, I'm not an official listian.* I turned around just enough so

he could see my smirk.

            *True...but you're still my ex. In that regard, we're still connected,

and I plan to keep that connection a very good one.* At that point I

did my best to push him out of my mind. Getting the idea, he left me to

watching the cloudscape pass by.

******************************

            Hours later I was finally in the arms of sleep on the bus that would

be our only transportation for the next couple of weeks. Finally, peace

and quiet for a little while. Sometimes getting lost was one of the

best things! I blinked and sat up as I realized we had stopped...we

must have reached the hostel!

            "This CAN'T be right!!!" one kid was saying.

            "Well, this is the address the director of the Poznan choir gave

me...I guess this is where they're putting us up for the next four

days." I instantly became awake at the tone of Dan's voice and looked

out the window.

            A campground.

            After the initial shock set in I pulled myself together...I could

handle this. I've camped with my family every year since I could walk

and it looked like here we would at least have cabins. Anything is

better than a tent trailer, believe me. I could even handle the fact

that Dan was saying that instead of three girls or two guys to a room,

there would be six people to one of those small, adorable

A-frames...yeah, I could handle it, sure. This was fine, this was good,

I'd be okay. I'd survive. I was on my own, I had to make the most of

it. Still in a daze, I followed the others off the bus and started to

look around as Dan went to the main cabin to check in.

            "And this is where we're staying right now...We're Camping!!!" A huge,

deep-voiced guy named Brian, nicknamed Bass, was saying, capturing the

moment on video.

"And look, there's wildlife, too!" That brought me into reality! I

covered a grin as half the choir ran around screaming about the gnats

that swarmed to us as soon as our feet hit the pavement. Nothing I

hadn't handled before...as long as it wasn't spiders, I'd be fine. A

few of the brighter individuals who had the resources immediately

grabbed cigarrettes and puffed the bugs away. There were some, though,

who just couldn't deal with it. I grinned in amusement as another

singer started whimpering uncontrolably about how she was going to get

eaten alived by killer insects. My grin turned to all-out laughter as I

spotted J. It seemed the gnats especially liked hair-spray and were now

flocking in droves to get at his blond mane. For his part, he kept his

cool, although seeing him finally give in to swatting at his head and

growling mennacingly was quite entertaining. All too soon it was time

to group up and find where I'd be staying.

            Kim and Antoinette were okay; we'd been asked to be put together

through the entire trip, but the rest...Jondi and Liz were chronic

complainers and could just really get to a person after awhile. Their

way was the only way, end of story. To them, Dan was evil and out to

get them; he was responsible for every single bad thing that would

happen on the trip. Amy wasn't so bad, goofy like me and also an alto.

I decided I'd let Liz and Jondi sleep downstairs, Kim and Antoinette

share a room, and Amy and I would share the other upstairs room.

Gathering my things I prepared to head to...cabin 21. Which was on the

other side of the campground.

            Of course it was.

            Gritting my teeth, I watched the others take their rolling suitcases

up the path. My attention was diverted as one girl got a guy to carry

her luggage...but did so because of the excuse that she was incapable.

That was just ridiculous! I may complain and get sore, but there's no

way I'll ever be dependent, if I can help it! Not even bothering to

look for Jareth, I set my jaw, yanked up my suitcase, garment bag, and

backpack with new-found strength and proceeded to eventually get it to

the cabin, after a series of short walks.

***********************

            Later that evening our crew made it back to the bus to go to a

restaurant that was a favorite of Dan's. After listening to half of my

cabin's occupants whine for an hour, move furniture so we could have

enough space, and figure out a shower schedule, I was more than ready

to go eat. After a short bus ride we got out in front of our

destination. Bright yellow canopies bearing the name, the Sphinx,

greeted us, along with a plump statue of a chef bearing the specials.

It didn't look like anything special to me, but I didn't care at that

point. I couldn't help but wonder why the other customers bothered to

get so dolled up if it was just a little more than a trendy bar.

            Upon entering, I got my answer...at least I had the trendy part right.

Even that didn't suit the conditions...ultracool was more like it. I

also got the eerie feeling that I'd seen something like it before.

After being seated and ordering (the waiter had insisted I get the

special - it didn't matter to me, Dan was buying!) I sat back and had a

look at the surroundings. Pretty spacious, lots of tables, the Egyptian

theme was sure played up...

            "What are you so wrapped up in?" I turned my attention to Jareth, who

was seated across from me.

            "I just can't help thinking that this is all vaguely familiar..." I

let my gaze follow one of the incredibly gorgeous waiters to the bar

that stretched across the far wall.

            "Ahem..."

            "Oh, did you say something?" I asked, grinning sheepishly. J fixed me

with a look; he had caught me checking the waiter out and he knew it.

Hey, I wasn't a listian at the moment, and even so he didn't own me.

Shrugging, I gladly accepted my Coke from another waiter, who was just

as good-looking as the first. The decor was Egyptian all over - statues

everywhere, paintings galore, heiroglyphics covering the walls, but it

also had a surreal, art-deco, even a slight glam touch, right down to

the tight white shirts and black pants that were the uniforms...

            I smiled slightly as some of the other customers came walking

by...their gait was studied, purposely trendy. It was then that I

noticed that even the waiters held the trays just right, with a

flourish, almost like in...

            "Oh my lord!" I laughed, covering my mouth as an indignant snicker

escaped.

            "What?" J asked, still fed-up with me for admiring the service.

            "Do you know what this is almost exactly like?"

            "Do I want to know?"     he asked, raising an eyebrow.

            "I think this could be classified as 'The Linguini Incident' goes

Egyptian!" I laughed, unable to keep it in any longer! It was true, the

entire thing looked like a twin to the restaurant in the movie, except

done with an ancient Egyptian flair. Jareth really wasn't appreciative

of that remark. Feeling slightly playful, I couldn't help but remark,

"Hmm...It's so close a match, I wonder if David Bowie's gonna come

walking in..." That earned me a really dark scowl!

            "Oh, lighten up!"

            "Why should I when you insist on doing...that!" he hissed as my gaze

left his to be focused on another server.

            "Oh, please! Like you haven't done the same thing before! Besides,

it's safe...I don't think I'm exactly his type."

            "What do you mean?"

            "That," I stated as one of the waiters planted a kiss on another,

right on the kisser. Okay, maybe it wasn't exactly like the 'Linguini

Incident!' The corners of my mouth tugged up slightly at J's horrified

expression. It didn't really phase me; maybe all the viewings of my

Ziggy video had just made me used to stuff like that. I probably

shouldn't have directed my next thought to him, but I was still

irritated with him, and sometimes I just can't resist. *Why Jareth, are

you uncomfortable? I would've thought you'd feel right at home in a

place like this!*

            *Don't even imply that! I am -not- gay!!!*

            *Hey, you've convinced me already....but, you might want to tell them

that!* I laughed out loud as he noticed that a couple of the servers

were more than a little intrigued by his presence.

            Just then our food came, so I became more preoccupied with the

Wookie-sized portion of meat on my plate than with the goblin king.

Oy...as a rule I eat meat more like a condiment except when dining

out, but this was ridiculous! A slab of beef, a kabob, crumbled

sausage, cabbage salad, pita bread, and fries covered a huge plate. I

gulped slightly before daring to pick up my fork.

            *What's the matter, love, not hungry? Remember, people here consider

it a personal insult if you don't clean your plate!* I rolled my eyes

at J's remark, stopping to laugh as Kim openly oggled her server.

            *Har, har...go flirt with a waiter!*

3

            "Come on, I know it's around here somewhere!!!" I rolled my eyes at

Antoinette; for the past fifteen minutes we had been searching for a

place that sold a specific type of ice cream. As much as I love the

stuff, come on! I wanted to look around the town square! All I had seen

of Poznan so far was the cathedral we had practiced in that morning -

it had a crypt! and a CD store that had just sold its last Bowie

album!!!!! We only had a little more time until we had to meet with the

rest of the group to go to lunch, and I wanted to go into all the shops

in the center!

            "Wait, there's a toy store! We have to go in there!!!" I commanded,

running towards the Lego sign. Inside I jumped up and down with

delight; I love toys! My radar perked up and instinctively I headed

towards a shelf...yep, I hadn't lost my touch! It had Star Wars Lego

sets! Antoinette shook her head while I drooled and complained of the

high price before letting her drag me away. As we reached the door she

looked down and noticed a cooler...

            "That's it! That's what we want!!! Magnum Bars!!!" Sighing, I perused

the selection and chose a double Magnum Bar...soft vanilla ice cream

covered by caramel and then a thick chocolate shell, all on a stick. We

paid and then headed outside.

            "Now, prepare yourself for something truly spectacular...ice cream as

you know it has no meaning!" I played along; I consider myself to be

quite a sugar conneisur and this thing just didn't look like much.

Slowly, I unwrapped it and took a bite...

            And promptly rocketed into the next stratosphere.

            "Oh...good gravy....this is...is..."

            "Is a Magnum Bar!" she finished for me, pleased with my reaction. I

thought only Cadbury eggs could merit that response from me...all I can

say is WOW!!! I happily munched, letting my eyes flicker back under my

lids as ecstacy hit.

            "This is....heavenly..." I sighed.

            "What in the world did you *do* to her?!" I recognized J's voice,

really I did, but at that moment I didn't care.

            "Behold the power of the Magnum Bar!" Antoinette crowed, biting into

her own.

            "Darling...are you all right?" he asked, shaking me slightly.

            "Oh, yeah! I don't think I've ever been better..." I sighed, and

opened my eyes just in time to see him snatch the wrapper away from me,

right as I polished the contents off. His eyes widened in horror as he

read over the ingredients.

            "Oh no...what have you done?!"

            "What are you talking about?" Antoinette asked him in that

annoyed-at-chaperons way.

            "Do you realize how much sugar this thing has in it??!!!!"

            "Yeah!" she answered, smiling smugly. At that moment the full power of

the snack kicked in.

            "WOO-HOO!!!!!!!!! This is GRRREEEAAATTT!!!!!!" I shouted, jumping up

and down. "What a RUSH!!!! Come on, let's go find Dan!!!!" With that I

sped off towards the meeting point, but still caught the conversation

between the two I left behind.

            "Why in the world did you give that to her!!!!?" J was bellowing.

            "I didn't know she'd be that hyper over it!!!! Come on, we've gotta

catch up!!!"

            Little did they know the horror that would await them when they found

me and Dan...Dan had about the same reaction to the things as I did and

he was completely addicted to them...it turned out that in the hour he

had given us to go exploring, he had had five Magnum Bars!!!

**********************

            "So what did you find?" J asked me as we walked from the enormous

shopping mall back to the bus. After partaking of a traditional Polish

lunch at the university, Dan had given us the afternoon to shop at M1,

a gigantic mall.

            "Oh, a Kovu doll from The Lion King II for Sang Mee...a pair of

purple, glittery socks for myself...and these!!!!" I flashed him a

manic grin as I produced two CDs. Yep, that got the desired

reaction...I do love it when I can make people turn colors! Deciding he

had had enough, I returned the David Bowie narration of Peter and the

Wolf and Culture Club: Collect to the bag.

            "You know the point of shopping here is to get things you can't find

in the states!" he complained.

            "I can't find this in the states! At least not where I live!!!" I

argued, pouting slightly as I took a seat.

            "I seriously doubt anyone else takes that meaning-"

            "Hey guys, you won't believe what I found! I've just found the ELO

albums I've been looking for...the ones only sold in Europe!" Dan

crowed, jumping into the bus while producing a stack of about twenty

CDs.

            "See?!" I said, flashing Jareth a smirk. The only response he could

muster was to roll his eyes.

***********************************

            I eagerly exited the bus and followed the rest of our group into the

Blue Note Jazz Club where we would meet with students in the university

choir. As I dropped into a chair next to Kim and Antoinette I scanned

the dim interior. At least it was a change in scenery. Jareth, on duty

at the moment, was keeping along the perimeter. I watched in amusement

as he raised an eyebrow at the number of our group making a bee-line

for the cash bar.

            *Let me guess, you're not just the iron lung choir but the sloshed

singers as well?* I didn't even fight the grin; it was true, most of

our members were well acquainted with those substances and worse. Not

that it was any of my business!

            "Come on, Selah, aren't you even going to get a beer?" Kim asked,

already carrying a screwdriver in one hand and a white Russian in the

other.

            "Nope, let's just say I'd rather behave myself," I said, smiling

slightly as my eyes fell upon Jareth...I really didn't want a repeat of

the Vegas incident...not that it didn't have it's good points...

            "Oh, come on, live a little!"

            "Look, point one, I take a prescription that when mixed with alcohol

could cause me to go into respiratory arrest...so unless you want to

carry me to an emergency room, back off! Point two, I'd rather spend my

money on more important things, like Bowie albums. Point three, it just

doesn't interest me...I'd rather stay sober and watch you all dance

around like wackos." I gave her a sweet smile to which she rolled her

eyes. The first point had made her back off though, it was true enough;

I really didn't want to experiment with something like that. I guess it

just didn't have any reaction with peach wine, though, lucky for me.

            I cringed slightly at the band that started to play...uh, blend,

people!!! Really, someone needed to turn the mikes down...way down.

None of them looked as if they were actually alive, except for the

flute player, either. Oy, this was going to be a fun evening...

            "Uh, hi...mind if I sit with you?" I glanced up to see a Polish girl

with short brown hair and glasses. Smiling slightly, I gestured for her

to have a seat.

            "I'm Anne."

            "Selah."

            "So...what is with the blend on that group?!" Hmm...maybe this

wouldn't be boring after all!

            Soon Antoinette joined us, as did Anne's boyfriend, Valdek. Both were

really nice and spoke very good english. Throughout the evening they

taught us a little bit of Polish, answered some questions, and just

joked around with us. I raised my eyebrows as Kim came walking towards

us, a drink which looked like her fourth in hand. Well, she tried to

walk; it was really more of a stumble.

            "Uh, is it just me or are your friends having a little trouble holding

their alcohol?" Anne whispered, gesturing to where a big group was

dancing around the room to a Polish folk music group. It might not have

been so bad if they hadn't been falling over chairs and causing the

Polish students to laugh like mad. Holding my head in a hand I briefly

wondered what Dan would say. 

            "In the bus NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Half a second later

my question was answered. I gulped slightly at the colors our director

was turning...this could not be good. Hastily I said good-bye to Valdek

and Anne and made a mad dash for the door. Once on the street I made

sure to stick close...the last thing I wanted was to be prey for

pickpockets or worse or to get lost. I must have been lost in thought

because I suddenly had to stop to avoid colliding into Dan. He turned

to me and raised an eyebrow.

            "How much did you have?"

            "Not a drop...not even a soft drink!" I promised him. "Why would I

want to when I'm this goofy normally? The world would cower in fear!"

He gave me a half-smile and rolled his eyes.

            "Point...good girl, now just stick close." I nodded, struggling to

keep up with his huge strides. My ears perked up at the sudden

cacophany behind me as I realized the other three-fourths of the choir

(excluding me, Antoinette, and a couple others) was now singing a

spiritual at the top of their lungs...and off-key.

            "Ugh...I think they need to pick a verse!" Antoinette said, rolling

her eyes.

            "Verse nothing, they need to pick a tune!" I said, glancing back. I

immediately turned back around at the sight of a few house lights

turning on abruptly...so much for being polite company. Almost at the

end of his rope, Dan whirled around.

            "Will you guys hush your mouths?!!!"

            "HUSH, HUSH, SOMEBODY'S CALLING MY NAME!!!!!!!!!!!!!" an off-key

chorus replied.

            When we finally reached the bus I gladly took a seat, dodging Regis, a

sort of friend of mine who is known for being not especially nice when

under the influence. I inwardly clenched my entire body as Kim sat next

to me, punch drunk and bawling her eyes out.

            "What is it?" I asked, wrapping an arm around her. I was almost afraid

to ask. Sure enough, Regis, who was also pretty smitten with her, had

gone off the deep end and really bit her head off when she tried to kid

with him. Sighing, I calmed her down, holding her and rocking her

slightly as she sobbed. As her tears died down I about screamed at the

sound of a wet splat from the back of the bus.

            "What was that?" Dan asked, his voice deadly quiet.

            "Uh....Chanda sort of threw up," someone replied.

            "On the stairs?"

            "On the carpet and on the stairs."

            A few seconds later Kim Franklin (not the Kim I was rooming with), who

was sitting diagonally from me moaned, whimpered, and promptly

displayed her stomach's contents all across her outfit.

            "Who was that?"

            "Me...but don't worry, I always throw up when I drink!" Oh, for

heaven's sakes!!! I let my head fall to my hand slightly and occupied

myself with the Kim sitting next to me until we reached the campground.

            When we got to the cabin I managed to get her up the narrow stairs and

deposited her on her bed, sighing at the evening's events. Clomping

down the stairs to assess the situation I nodded a greeting to

Antoinette who immediately went upstairs to check on Kim. Liz greeted

me with a goofy grin.

            "Look, it's Selah-cja!" I should mention that's a running gag in our

group...if you want to speak Polish for Dummies, just add -cja on the

end of everything. But at one in the morning, it isn't drop dead funny!

            "Shouldn't you get to bed?"

            "Nah...I'm not drunk!" she replied and promptly half-fell off the bed.

"I'll just get some food in my stomach..." she added, downing a

NutriGrain bar. "It's Dan's fault, anyway...he didn't tell us to eat at

the mall!"

            "I was there, he did."

            "Nope...he did this, he shouldn't be mad!" I rolled my eyes at her

ramblings and turned as Jondi and Amy entered. Immediately Jondi echoed

Liz's statements, but much more violently. I was almost happy to escort

Amy to her boyfriend Greg's cabin just to get out of ours. Gripping her

by the shoulder and waist I helped her down the steps and into the

path. All was quiet...too quiet. Swallowing hard I scanned the road,

wishing I had brought my jacket and flashlight.

            "Okay, which way?"

            "Uh..I forget!" she mumbled then burst into giggles. Great, if getting

sloshed gave me the IQ of a goblin, forget it. I'd learned my lesson.

            "I bet you're laughing at all us right now..." she managed to get out.

            "You have no idea," I agreed, too tired to be nice.

            "It's cabin 10...uh, this way." I caught her as she tried to push

ahead, not steady on her feet at all.

            "Thanks for holding me," she said, shivering in the night air.

            "No problem, that's what I'm here for." I pushed my frustration away

and concentrated on helping her out as she almost tipped over again.

Finally, I managed to half-lead half-carry her down the road.

            I almost had a heart attack when we ran into the two waiting Polish

men.

            They almost blended into the trees, except they moved. They appeared

to be dressed in green fatigues and from their behavior I gathered they

had had some alcohol themselves.

            "Hi," one said, coming to stand in front of us on the path.

Immediately my instincts went off...we needed to get away, fast.

            "Hi yourself!!" Amy announced, then laughed. The two guys gave each

other a knowing look. Great...one I could probably handle...two, I

don't know...but two while carrying someone about my size...definitely

not. I wondered if anyone would hear if I screamed...we were on a part

of the path that wasn't near any cabin.

            "And where are you from....where are you going, hmm?" He asked, coming

closer. "What's your names?"

            "Nothing!" Amy answered, letting loose a stream of giggles. Grabbing

her tightly I shoved past the two who backed off, but only a little.

            "Wait-" Luckily Amy chose that moment to bend forward slightly. I

decided to make the most of it.

            "Make way, looks like she's gonna be sick!!!" I bellowed, smirking

inwardly at their surprised reactions as I rushed past.

            "Sorry..." she whispered, realizing she should have kept her mouth

shut.

            "Yeah yeah...it's okay." A few more minutes and we were there. I

managed to get her up the stairs and Greg answered the door. "Special

delivery..." I paused as I noticed Corey, a really tall, butch-looking

guy. "Hey...do me a favor and walk me back!" He agreed and escorted me

back to the hut I was temporarily calling home. Although I couldn't be

sure, I shivered when something in the trees moved unlike a plant or

animal, almost as if it had been waiting...

            I'll spare the rest of the evening's details, but it involved me

staying out of the bathroom except to give assistance to those

experiencing reverse peristalsis, and attending a meeting with other

coherent people that was supposed to reach a decision about consumption

of alcohol but involved mostly trashing Dan. When I finally fell into

bed around three I was dead tired and sick of hearing everyone blame

everyone else except themselves. Mentally I composed a postcard to Jade

and Millennia.

            Dear Millennia/Dear Jade...

                         My trip's just peachy...so far I haven't slept a bit and got to help

people vomit all evening. Seems some of our group forgot that European

brew is tons stronger than American...But being solicited by two Polish

guys was fun, too...Hope you're having as great a time as I am...

                         Ziggy

            Rolling my eyes, I wondered what I had done to deserve this. I really

am too nice sometimes. Pulling the pillow and comforter over my head, I

tried to drown out the complaints of the two downstairs, to no avail.

At the thought of it being only the second full day of the trip and

wondering if the rest of the trip would be like this hot tears began to

roll down my cheeks. Yes, that's the way things were...but still, it

wasn't fair or right for people to be acting like morons then placing

blame on anyone but themselves. Tired, depressed, and on my last nerve

I laid there, searching frantically for a solution. Almost immediately,

I found one.

            He might not be thrilled with me for it, but at that moment I didn't

exactly care. Resting my head back on the pillow and rolling over to

face the wall I whispered the words I hoped would make everything

better.

            "I wish the goblins would come and take me away, right now."

            Almost immediately, things stilled. I perked my ears but heard

nothing. Absolutely nothing. Abruptly, the sound of footsteps coming up

the stairs broke the silence. But it wasn't the sound of sneakers like

Amy wore...it was the click of boot heels. I didn't even turn around, I

was that depressed.

            "Are you disappointed with me?" I whispered, remembering that I

formerly thought one should be able to stand anything. Maybe I'm just a

hypocritical stoic.

            "No, just surprised." The smooth voice comforted me as soon as it

reached my ears; at least it was something familiar.

            "Well, what are you waiting for?"

            "I'm not going to take you."

            "What?!" I rolled around to face Jareth and was startled to note that

for the moment he was decked out in all his full Labyrinthian glory.

            "You're not a listian-"

            "So? Neither was Sarah! Besides, you said before I was always a

listian!"

            "Still, you wanted me to lay off the magic unless absolutely

necessary."

            "But this is necessary!! I can't take it much longer!" I nearly kicked

myself at the tremble in my voice and looked away quickly. Steeling

myself as much as possible I continued. "Fine...if you won't help, then

you can just leave," I sniffed, occupying my field of vision with the

most interesting wall. My teeth dug into my lip as the pressure on the

bed changed slightly with new weight. As delicate fingers lightly

brushed wetness from my cheeks I tried to seem indifferent but when I

glanced up at the goblin king's sigh I found myself trapped by gentle

eyes.

            "Such steel yet such a big heart...no wonder you get yourself into

trouble all the time." I nearly bit out a reply but was silenced by the

affection in his voice. "These past few days have been hard on you,

haven't they?" I nodded, trying not to show just how miserable I was

and relaxed slightly as his fingers occupied themselves with running

through my hair. "Maybe I can help a little...." I was able to shift my

gaze from his in time to catch the crystal forming out of thin air.

"You need your rest...and what is sleep without a pleasant dream? This

might cheer you up...a dream for hard times," he all but whispered, his

lips tugging into a slight smile which I returned upon remembering the

last time he had said that phrase.

            I followed the crystal's path as it danced along Jareth's fingertips

and through the air until it burst into a shower of magic right above

my face. As the sparkles vanished I felt suddenly incredibly

tired...almost unable to keep my eyes open. And the fact that I knew

which dream awaited me helped quite a bit, too. Right before I lost

myself entirely to sleep I felt a light presence on my lips and a

whisper of "Sweet dreams, love." Then all was perfect.

4

            I hummed softly as I bounded up the trail to the hostel's restaurant

for breakfast, plunking myself into a vacant seat next to Antoinette.

Actually, all of the seats were vacant except for the ones occupied by

us two, Jareth, Dan, Larry, Neil, and Sandy.

            "Kids these days," I tsked, shaking my head. Antoinette gave me a look

of utter disbelief as I contentedly buttered my bread and munched on

ham and cheese.

            "What in the world are you on?" she asked, still staring at me.

            "What are you talking about?" I asked around my mouthful of food.

            "I thought you weren't a morning person...you are way too happy this

morning. What's up?"

            "Nothing...just had a really, really pleasant dream," I said, trying

to look innocent.

            "Really? What about?" Dan asked from his table. Biting my lip I

stalled as I took time to spread preserves over a piece of bread...it

took me a moment to realize it was peach preserves. Fighting a laugh, I

composed myself before answering. "I don't really remember too

much...only that it was very enjoyable," I replied. The director

chuckled, and I could tell he was fighting a smart remark. I turned my

attention back to my food, but not before glancing over at Jareth.

            *Thanks, Jareth...that was sweet of you...I really needed it.*

            *Don't mention it, dear...I'll put it on your tab.* I rolled my eyes

and bit into my bread, relishing the quiet of the early morning.

*********************************

            "Come on, Selah...I want to look at that shopping center!" Kim

Franklin (not my roomate) called from outside the McDonalds. I nodded

and paused only to stuff my happy meal toy in my backpack. I'm sorry,

but I have to get a happy meal whenever I go to McDonalds...I don't

even know the rest of the menu! If it's something I like, fine, if not

I give it away at Halloween, a Specht family tradition. This time it

happened to be something I like a lot...My Little Pony toys!!! I was

amazed, also, to find that the fast food here was a lot less greasy

than in the states...and I got my food with practically no wait! I

needed to take that crew of workers back with me! Opening my umbrella,

I hurried across the street to where Kim stood outside a huge,

cylindrical shopping complex. On each floor was a separate store.

Following her inside, we quickly got to work. Floor number one had

nothing special, just expensive jewelry. Floor number two, cool

clothes, but nothing weird enough for me to take time to figure out

what the equivilent of my size was, Floor number three, more clothes.

We met up with Troy, Kasey, Mike, Dave Carter (Decart), Bass and Joni

there. Floor number four...

            "Looks like art stuff and toys," Bass observed as we stepped inside.

Sure enough, there were pencils and art supplies, stuffed animals... I

paused as my radar perked up.

            "This way! I can feel it!" I tried not to shout, honest, but I was

getting that feeling...

            "What in the world is up with Selah?" Dave asked, struggling to stay

up.

            "It's around here somewhere...we're getting close, I just know

it...HERE IT IS!!!!" I crowed, triumphantly pointing to a small shelf

occupied with Star Wars figures and vehicles.

            "How did she do that? I don't believe it!" Mike stammered in

amazement.

            "That is why you fail," I automatically replied, on a trip due to this

utterly fantastic discovery. Frantically I dug through everything,

noting that it was all stuff that had already been released in the

states, but with the logo in Polish!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was then that my

eyes fell upon him...the figure that haunted my dreams, the figure that

was absolutely captivating...with a hushed awe I slowly picked up the

medium box and stared at the twelve inch Luke Skywalker figure with

lightsaber swinging action.

            "I've never seen this one before...I have to have it!!!!!"

            "Selah...you're scaring me," Joni said, her eyes big.

            "Have you seen this one in the states?" I asked Mike, who was kneeling

next to me.

            "I've seen it somewhere, but it's not as common as most of the

others."

            "Right...this one is for me..." I picked up a Boba Fett and Han Solo

Deluxe figures for Kassie, Sang Mee and I (the Luke one didn't have the

logo in Polish...so I splurged a little!) and an FX Ben Kenobi for a

dealer friend of mine who always gives me stuff. Motioning the others

to go on without me, I managed to take my huge stack of items to the

counter. The woman at the register about danced with joy at the sight

of my purchases.

            Paying for them with only a minimal amount of digging in my money and

pasport holder, I exited the store and ran into Jareth, Antoinette, and

John. I took one look at the two singers and wanted to run...they had

been slowly getting friendly toward each other and by this time it was

pretty evident that they were a couple (a couple of what, don't ask me,

but a couple still the same.). It was cute the first day or so, but now

it was so lovey-dovey that I wanted to yak on my shoes. And it wasn't

just that...John was pretty much the rudest person I had ever met...he

was always putting Antoinette down and she would just take it. I know I

have my moments, but even I think that is just plain stupid.

            "What in the world did you buy?" she asked, pointing at the huge red

bag I was carrying.

            "Check it out!" I laughed, opening the bag for all to see.

            "STAR WARS!!!" the couple exclaimed.

            "I should have known," Antoinette sighed.

            "You need to get a life! Star Wars is so stupid!" John commented. (See

what I mean?) At that I was ready to defend my obsession, but J's

thoughts broke through my anger.

            *Down girl! Don't let it get to you...do you really care what -he-

thinks?*

            *No...man I hate it when you're right*

            He laughed and shook his head. "See, I knew I would find you here!"

            "Yeah, well, I've almost run out of zloty...I'll exchange a little bit

more, but since we're going to Berlin in a couple of days, I don't know

if there's a point." I followed the others out of the complex and down

the street, quite satisfied until I spied...

            "A CD STORE!!! Come on!!!" I yelped, running up the staires and into

the shop.

            "Oh, for heaven's sakes!" Antoinette remarked.

            "You mean you didn't know she's like this?" Jareth asked, raising his

eyebrows.

            "No way...she's always so quiet and mild-mannered in class..."

            I turned as J broke out into peals of laughter. "Oh, Selah, I must

commend you, you really do have them fooled!"

            "I know, isn't it fun?" I replied, grinning at the couple's astonished

looks.

            "Wait a minute...how do you two know each other?" John asked, giving

us a suspicious look.

            "He's a friend of the family," I automatically replied. Hey, it wasn't

a real lie...the list is like a second family to me. I immediately

turned my attention to the guy at the counter.

            "Do you have anything by David Bowie?" I asked hopefully.

            "Bowie? Of course!" he replied in broken english, flipping through the

racks until he came to one filled with Bowie albums.

            "Let's see...Never Let Me Down...got it...Tonight...got it...The Best

of albums...got em both...the Singles Collection...I'll wait with

that...BLACK TIE WHITE NOISE!!!!?????" I've heard it and love it; Kas

managed to order it from who knows where when it first came out, but

I've never been able to get my paws on a copy till now.

            "I'll take it!!!!" I exclaimed, jumping up and down. But I also noted

that they had the first Tin Machine album and something titled David

Bowie: Glamour...hmmm....what in the world was that? I had the book on

every track he's ever recorded and this was not familiar to me...oh,

well. I had to get to a kantor any way, so I could come back for it

tomorrow. Besides, it was almost time to meet the rest of the group! I

quickly paid for the album, flew through a kantor to exchange some more

money, and raced with the others to meet Dan and the gang by McDonalds.

            "Dan Dan Dan Dan Dan!!!!!!" I chanted, hopping up and down.

            "Let me guess: Magnum Bar?" he asked, grinning.

            "Nope, Star Wars!!!! And BOWIE!!!!" I showed him my purchases and he

rolled his eyes. He likes Star Wars but thinks I'm way too absorbed in

it, and he always has to get a roll of the eyes in when I mention

Bowie.

            "Ah, going for the classics, I see," he chuckled. Once everyone had

gathered we returned to the campground for a while and then it was back

to the Sphinx for dinner. I do have to say that I loved that

place...the ambience was just great (among other

things...heeheehee...).

***********************

            "Selah, give it up! You're never going to get a straight answer!" Joni

complained, leaning against the wall of the CD shop I had been in the

previous day. I had returned with Kim, Bass, Corey, Jason, Joni,

Hillary, and Mike in hopes of finding out exactly what that Glamour

album was. So far I was going into almost an hour of haggling with the

store owner.

            "Just give me a minute!" I collected myself and changed my body

lanuage, assuming a dominant position over the counter. I picked up the

album and shook my head before returning my stare to the guy in front

of me. Yes, the language barrier was a slight problem, but that had

never stopped me before!

            "Okay, look. I have the Bowie Collector's Guide at home and it details

every album he's ever done...this isn't one of them. Stop trying to

pass it off as one done by a major company right now, because I'm not

going to pay this price if it isn't. So for the last time, what is it?"

My voice was cool, calculated, and very deliberate. Swallowing, he

walked over to where another worker was and they talked for a few

minutes in Polish. Upon returning he smiled weakly.

            "Uh...I just found out it is a....a...bootleg." Uh-huh. Just as I had

suspected. As interesting as it was, I knew I could find whatever album

it was from somewhere along the line...besides, the cover was cracked

and not worth the price they were asking.

            "Fine. I can't take it...but I will take Tin Machine," I said, smiling

slightly as he nodded, happy that I was buying something. I had figured

the gesture might smooth things over and I had been planning to get

that one, anyway. I left the shop and returned to the small group I was

with, smiling smugly.

            "Well?" Kim asked, raising an eyebrow.

            "It was a bootleg, but I got what I was really after," I said, giving

a slightly Jarethian laugh.

            "Oh my stars! That was positively evil-sounding!" she exclaimed,

cracking up. What can I say? I learn from the best!

            "Well, let's see what else we can find," Bass instructed, leading us

down another street. Soon we came to a magazine shop.

            "Let's go in here...hey I think it even has CDs-" WHOOSH!!!! I flew

through the door and was at that section of the store in seconds. I was

a little bit hesitant when I saw the worker was an elderly man.

            "Do you have any Metallica?" Kim asked. He gave an apathetic gesture

to a rack along a wall. A couple other folks asked for other groups and

got the same response. Now very hesitant, I gathered my courage,

figuring I should at least try.

            "Uh...David Bowie?" I asked.

            "Oh, David Bowie! Of course, right this way!!!" he replied, dropping

what he was doing and hurrying over to a rack by another wall. He

flashed me an understanding grin as he produced a tall stack of albums.

            "Thank you, er, gencuyen," I replied in Polish. He nodded and returned

to the counter, grinning still.

            "Let's see...Earthling, got it. Best of...got it. Ziggy, duh, of

course I've got it. What else do we have here....OH MY FRAGGIN

ARDVARKS!!!!!!!!!!!!"

            "What, What?!!!!" Joni replied, rushing over.

            "THEY HAVE LET'S DANCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AND IT'S A DECENT

PRICE!!!!" I laughed, dancing around the shop. My fellow americans

looked at me like I was the biggest nut on the planet, but the store

owner didn't seem to think there was anything wrong. I couldn't believe

it...the least I had ever seen it foor in the states was like, eighteen

something, but here it was barely ten!!! Eagerly I paid for it and

thanked the owner profusely before leaving.

Ch. 5

            "Y'know...I'm hungry," Bass muttered as he rejoined us after glancing

in a store window.

            "So?" Kim asked, checking her watch. We had to be at the bus by one so

that we could eat at the university.

            "So, let's go eat!" Corey and Jason readily agreed.

            "Are you nuts? By time we get food it'll be time to go eat lunch,"

Mike said, exasperated.

            "I don't care...we're eating, now!" Rolling my eyes I followed them to

a restaurant called the Spaghetti Bar, but there weren't enough vacant

seats. Still in pursuit of food, Bass pushed on until we came to the

Restaurant Colosseo. He ran inside and after a few minutes motioned us

in. Upon entering I gaped...this place was *nice*! Decorated with Greek

and Roman decor, it was not your average pizza place like the sign had

advertised. Kim, Hillary, Joni, and I exchanged nervous looks as we

noticed the coat check and the waiter that was dressed in a tux.

            "Uh...maybe we should just forget it," Joni mumured.

            "No way, come on!" Bass insisted. Sighing, I took a seat a long table

and waited while the others ordered...Mike, Joni, and myself got Cokes,

Hillary got coffee, Kim got ice cream and the other guys...

            "No way! Those meals are not going to be ready in time! We only have

half an hour!" Mike bellowed.

            "It'll be all right...trust me. Dan won't get mad..." Bass paused as

our drinks arrived. "Will you stop looking at your watch, Selah?! We'll

be fine...besides, we would've been done by now if we had just stayed

at the Spaghetti Bar..." That did it...I had heard him whine about that

ever since we had left the place!

            "Mention that place one more time and I'll go get my umbrella from

coat check, shove it down your throat, and open it!" I snarled, taking

a swig of my coke. Most laughed at that, but I did notice the uneasy

looks I got. Smirking, I glanced at my watch again...ten minutes! We

were going to be in so much trou-

            "Here it comes!" Jason about shouted. The waiter brought their pasta

and I could tell he was fighting laughter at our table conversation.

Immediately the three inhaled their dinners. Sitting back and relaxing

as much as I could I sighed. This was way too close...

            My ears perked up as a song started on the radio and I grinned

manically...who would've thunk! In this fancy-looking, serious place

what should come blaring over the speakers?

            "KARMA KARMA KARMA CAMELEON..............YOU COME AND GO....YOU COME

AND GOOOOOO...." I immediately started singing along, and Mike covered

his ears.

            "He hates Culture Club," Hillary, also his girlfriend explained. Ah,

an added bonus! At that minute everyone finished and we paid, grabbed

our stuff, paused only a moment to commemorate the experience on film,

then ran like heck to the bus.

            We made it in record time, with about a minute to spare. Dan was

waiting for us and by time we reached him I was panting. Bass, though,

couldn't resist.

            "We would've been here, but these girls had to eat! You should've seen

em! Real pigs..."

            "WHAT!!!!???" a chorus of four angry female voices replied before

chasing him onto the bus.

******************

            "I absolutely can't believe this stupid, moronic dress!" I growled,

trying to make my way along the trail to the bus so we could get to the

cathedral and give our first concert. I was in uniform: black dress

with short sleeves and a long, flowing taffeta and crinolin layered

skirt. Unfortunately, mine was a leetle bit longer than most and I

couldn't walk three feet without nearly killing myself when I fell over

it. "Forget this!" I bit out and grabbed the entire skirt and hefted it

in my arms, not really caring that all my undergarments were now in

plain view.

            "Well...I suppose I do have to remind you not to be flinging yourself

at me, after all..." I turned and glared at J, now dressed in a suit

and leaning against a tree.

            "Don't flatter yourself...I can't walk in this thing, that's all!

Besides, I don't want to tear the skirt...this thing cost me enough!"

            "And you look lovely, dear...now come on, you can't be late!" he

replied, walking me down to where the group was gathering.

            Sometime later I was in the rehearsal room, doing warm-ups with the

choir. It would be all right...if all of us would just pay

attention...I handed Sandy my camera and then focused on the problem of

what to do with my money and passport holder. Not in the folder...might

fall out...didn't want to leave it in the room unattended...I glanced

over at a couple other girls who were slipping them around their waist

underneath their skirts...that looked like the best idea. I turned to

our guide, Natalia and asked where the bathroom was.

            "I'm sorry, there's not enough time...just stand in a corner and try

to do it discreetly," was her reply. All right...I've done theater, I

can forego modesty when I need to. Turning to the wall I lifted my

skirts and proceeded to step into the pouch's band.

            *Oh, now this is when I wish I had a camera.* Turning slightly, I gave

Jareth a withering glare before turning back to the wall.

            *It's only cause I can't get to a bathroom,* I mentally replied.

            *Still...maybe you should let me make sure it's tight enough...*

            I contemplated the consequences of flashing him, and decided that I

didn't want to get written up for impropriety. I settled for smoothing

my dress back into place and stuck my tongue out at him. Crossing to

sit by Hillary, I half-listened as Dan talked to a couple other choir

members.

            "But what if we just don't see you?"

            "Then you'll mess up and you'll be Bantha Fodder, HAHAHA!" he laughed,

doing an amazingly accurate impression of Jabba the Hutt. They looked

at him blankly but I was doubled over, laughing hard.

            "See, I knew someone would get it! Now, Selah, would you care to

explain what Bantha Fodder is?" he asked, grinning evilly. The other

two students just stared at us.

            "Uh....without getting graphic, I think the proper descriptive

translation would be Bantha poodoo," I replied, grinning.

            "Ah, yes, fail and you will be Bantha poodoo, HAHAHAHA!" This was just

too funny!

            Then the concert was ready to begin. I quickly got into place and

followed the line outside, into the cathedral and up the stairs to do

two songs for mass, mentally cursing each time I tripped over my skirt

on the way. We did Easter Acclamation and The Last Words of David

before taking a place at the front of the sanctuary. Everything went

very well, with only a few minor mistakes...I kept up the energy and

swayed to the beat the entire time...what can I say? I loooove to sing!

My favorite pieces of our concert were definitely Turn the World Around

(we finally got all the repeats right this time!) and Elijah Rock.

Elijah is great because there's a part where I end up taking third alto

because I'm the only one who can reach it comfortably to belt it...it's

so low it could cause aural distress to small birds and animals! It's

probably the female equivalent to Bowie's rendition of "I Feel Free" on

Black Tie White Noise...I do love to watch people's reactions at that

point! We finished our set and received a standing ovation! Then it

was time to chow down at some extremely classy place Dan was taking us

to, The Hacienda.

************************

            I sat next to Antoinette, John, Neil, and Jareth as we waited for our

food. Kim had decided to sit with Andy, a guy she was getting friendly

with...geez, what was in the air here! It was bad enough I had to risk

losing my lunch around one cheesey couple, but two!? Gag me with a

spoon!!!

            "Will you stop fiddling with the table settings, baby?" Antoinette

cooed to John. I glanced over at Neil and J and rolled my eyes.

            *Trouble in paradise?* he thought to me.

            *One can only hope...you realize if he comes over to the cabin one

more time I'm going to have to start living on Pepto...this is just

plain nauseating.*

            *They do seem to be overdoing it a bit,* he agreed.

            *It's partly genuine, but the other part is that Antoinette is ribbing

me because I don't really care too much about dating or anything. She's

out to make me jealous or force me to hook up with someone in the

group...and I know who she's aiming for,* I thought, shivering as I

glanced over at Steve's table. We had been joined by the University

students and he was surrounded by females. Don't ask me why, but he

was.

            *You've got to be kidding!*

            *I don't know why she feels it's her mission to set me up with

someone, but it is...*

            *You could always tell her you just got through a divorce...* I choked

slightly on the Coke I was sipping and had to fight the grin. Looking

straight ahead I rolled my eyes as the lovebirds were engaged in close

conversation...I didn't miss her "I've got something you don't have"

stare and replied with a "So what, why would I care, keep him!" look of

my own. She returned her gaze to John's and I turned mine to the

arriving food. Grinning evilly, I couldn't resist...

            "Antoinette...DUCK!!!"

            "What?!!" she yelped, bumping her chin on the table as she bent her

head down.

            "What are you doing? I said duck...that's what I ordered." I smiled

sweetly and gladly took my plate. I had never had duck before, but I

must say it was manifique...surrounded by baked apple rings and

accompanied by dumplings and red cabbage salad it was a great meal. As

we were finishing Jareth decided to go mingle and make sure our members

were not overdoing the drinks. Great, that left me with the dream

team...hopefully I could keep my food down. We started into a

conversation about music and upon John's statement that Bowie was an

old fairy I decided I might need that Pepto after all...

            "Hey, Simon, get over here!" I turned as Antoinette called to a Polish

student wearing a stylish black suit with purple shirt. A little taller

than me and with slightly rugged features he was definitely not

something to glance over quickly. I recalled that she had met him

during her last trip and was eager to catch up...I glanced over at

John's indignant stare...oh, this might be fun after all!

            "Sorry...I was talking to some of the others and lost track of

time...what are you talking about?" he asked in accented English,

taking the seat beside me.

            "We were discussing the music we listen to...she's a David Bowie

freak," Antoinette stated, rolling her eyes and giving me a smirk. She

can be really nice, but sometimes around John she is just a

little...different.

            "Ah...I only know a little bit about him," he said, smiling.

            "See? He obviously isn't that great if nobody can remember anything

he's done!" John retorted.

            "Oh, no...it's just that he's done so much...but his recent work is

wonderful." With that he started singing "I'm Afraid of Americans!!!"

Taking up the challenge I joined in on the repeat of the chorus,

grinning at the startled Antoinette and the shocked American students.

The Polish students didn't seem to mind and even enjoyed the

performance. Only then did it occur to me how interesting it must look

to passers-by to see a Polish guy and an American girl singing that

song...oh well, I'm a bit of an expatriot, anyway.

            "Hmmm....come, we must think of something else to sing!" he announced,

grinning. Hey, he wasn't bad! After a few moments of discussion we

started a rendition of the Bowie/Jagger version of "Dancing in the

Street," doing all the ad-libbing, of course. Dan looked at us from his

table and shook his head.

            "Simon, I see those voice lessons are really paying off," he quipped,

grinning wickedly. It was then that I caught J's eye...which was giving

me quite a dark look.

            *What are you doing!!?*

            *I'm just making conversation...you left the table! Besides, we like

the same music.*

            "I think you know more Bowie than you're letting on," Antoinette was

saying with a slight frown across her features. Simon shrugged and

smiled at me. Not able to resist, I smiled back.

            "Let's think of what else we can sing..." Antoinette said, breaking

into my thoughts. Hmm...it looked like her attention was quite torn

between John and Simon...interesting. We started into some Michael

Jackson and Simon did a wonderful impression, promising to show us his

moonwalk when his choir came to Evansville in the fall. Antoinette and

I explained that we wouldn't be in the choir for different reasons, but

we would definitely come to their concert. John started trying to

regain Antoinette's attention and I just shook my head with the

mini-drama going on across from me. I tore my eyes away from them,

though upon feeling a tap on my shoulder. Turning my head I caught my

breath as I stared up into stormy grey eyes...

            "Do you know "China Girl?" he whispered, his breath hitting my cheek.

            "Of course, I love that song!" I answered back. Immediately he segued

into the number, slipping an arm round my shoulders as the song

progressed. I glanced over to Jareth, who was now steaming. At that

moment, though, he was the farthest person from my mind.

            "And when I get excited my little China girl, she says, oh baby just

you hush your mouth..."

            "Ahem." We both looked up and smiled sheepishly at Antoinette's hard

stare. "Why don't we sing something we *all* know?"

            "Oh...right...how bout this one?" I asked, then proceeded to launch

into "Karma Cameleon." Simon grinned and joined in, as did Antoinette

and Kim, who had just joined us. Turning slightly at the sound of a new

voice, we were joined by Matthew, another Polish student. After

finishing the chorus I launched into the verse, as did Simon and

Matthew...it turned out we were the only ones who actually knew the

entire song. Upon receiving indignant looks from Mike and other choir

members we canned the dinner music and just settled for talking.

            "I can't wait till I turn twenty-one next year!" Antoinette was

saying.

            "You're a young kid!" Simon shot back, grinning.

            "Why, how old are you?" My ears perked up at that and promptly fell at

the answer...twenty-seven. Sensing victory was at hand, Antoinette

proceeded to tell him just how old, or how young I actually was. He

nodded, a little surprised, but was just as nice, at least. After a few

minutes he got up to say hi to some other folks and I shot Antoinette a

glare. She shrugged and returned her attention to John, a very visible

"I've got someone and you don't" look on her face. Rolling my eyes, I

glanced towards J.

            *All right...so you feel safe now?* I thought to him.

            *He's too old for you, anyway, love.*

            *And may I ask just how old you are?* I raised an eyebrow at his

slight smile.

            *You've made you're point, but still, there's the issue of you living

on different continents.*

            *Duh! It's not like anything would have happened...she just didn't

have to ruin my fun quite so soon!*

            *And -what- do you mean by that?* I gave Jareth an innocent smile in

reply to his frown.

            Too soon it was time to leave...the next day we would be heading to

Berlin. I headed towards the bus but stopped upon hearing my name.

Turning, I smiled as Simon walked over to me.

            "You will come to our concert in September?" he asked.

            "Of course, I'll do my best."

            "Good. Then I'll see you then, my Bowie-sister," he replied, grabbing

my hand and squeezing it. Returning his grin, I bounded back up to the

bus and took my seat, pausing only to give Antoinette a slight smirk

before turning back to the front of the bus.

******************************************

Ch. 6

            Blinking sleep away I turned and grabbed the grocery sack of food I

had bought the day before. I noted the cheers our bus driver was

getting...all right, he had gotten us through traffic and we were way

ahead of schedule! I tore into my bread and cheese right as we got to

the Polish border. After a few minutes of the driver talking to the

guards on duty, we were waved through. We all watched with curiousity

the cars that were being searched and the other activities going on

outside. Some people even tried to take pictures, although most of us

thought it was just a little inappropriate. I downed some raisins and

polished off a Snickers bar by the time we reached the German border.

Dan and Jareth conversed with the attendants in German and we handed

over our passports. After twenty minutes of tense waiting we were given

them back and waved through. We all let out unconciously held

breaths...all of us were slightly nervous.

            Everyone relaxed though as Dan grabbed the mike on the front of the

bus. "Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen...welcome to Germany!" We

cheered as the bus pulled into Berlin, and I was especially happy. I

had talked to Dan that morning and he had agreed that if I tracked it

down on a map and took two people with me I could go look for Bowie's

old apartment if I went while the others shopped on Monday. Yes!!!! The

Mecca of a lifetime for a die-hard Bowie fan....I couldn't wait! Kim

had already agreed to join me, and I figured if worse came to worse I

would offer to buy Bass dinner at the restaurant of his choice if he'd

tag along for protection factors. After a while of driving we pulled up

at Die Fabrik, a cross between a hostel and hotel situated in

Kreuzburg, the Turkish area of Berlin. We had been told to be careful,

especially the females. No staying out too late and no going out alone.

I wasn't worried though...everything had been fine so far. Grabbing my

stuff I headed up the stairs to the room I would share with Antoinette

and Kim. It was pretty big and really nice, especially after spending

four days in a campground! I dumped my stuff and went to check out the

bathrooms down the hall...not bad, not bad at all! In high spirits, I

trotted downstairs to see what the plans for dinner were.

            Slowly people gathered in the lobby; we were all anxious to explore

and downright starving! Finally, finally, Dan came walking slowly down

the stairs.

            "All right...go out and find something for dinner...we've all talked

about the safety rules...don't get trashed, and I'd like it if tonight

you would eat and come right back. I just heard that the US attacked

Kosavo today and killed seventy-nine..." The unspoken warning hung in

the air. We had been told we especially had to be careful here, because

Turks at times were known to take out frustrations about Americans on

tourists, especially young American girls. I swallowed hard and glanced

at Jareth. He seemed concerned, but at that point I was too stunned to

even send a thought to him. Automatically, even droid-like, I followed

John, Antoinette, and Andy out the door to find something to eat. Kim

was in bed with a migraine and we had promised to bring something back.

The guys didn't seem upset, but Antoinette looked like I felt:

downright sick inside.

            We finally decided upon a Turkish deli that specialized in Doner

kabobs; it's a type of meat cooked on a giant kabob then shaved into

pita bread and mixed with lettuce, tomato, onions, cabbage, and sauce.

All in all, very good, but I just wasn't hungry. The owner seemed nice

enough, but the tension just hung in the air. I ate my sandwich, even

though I had no appetite, drank my soda which did nothing to help my

dry throat.

            "Selah?" Antoinette asked.

            Sighing, I banged my coke can down. "Why? Why does everybody always

have to fight...this is so stupid-" She immediately hushed me as my

voice started to tremble.

            "Are you crying?" John asked, somehow thinking the entire thing was

downright funny.

            "No. I don't cry. I mourn." Wiping my eyes I ate as much as I could

then just sat quietly, thinking. The sound of the volume being turned

up on a television kicked me outt of my musings and I looked up into

the screen with widened eyes. Although I couldn't understand all of

what was being said, I knew the pictures, I knew the area, and I

understood the word Kosavo very well. The store owner didn't seem too

upset, but I sensed that not everyone else in the restaurant was as

forgiving as he. We stood out badly and I tried not to stare back at

the looks we got. We couldn't stay there long.

            "I'm going back."

            "What?" Antoinette asked, shocked.

            "I'm going back," I said through clenched teeth, nodding my head

towards a burly looking customer that looked pretty irritated and that

also happened to be heading right towards us.

            "I think I'll join you," she agreed. Hastily we paid and left the guys

to walk around while we headed back to the hostel.

            "Look, I don't know why Dan had to tell us this before we went to go

eat-"

            "Maybe so we could avoid situations like that?" I retorted, shaking my

head.

            "Look, God will take care of us."

            "I know, but that doesn't mean we should stand out in the street and

let everyone know who we are! I have nothing against them...nothing at

all. We're all equal in my eyes...I know it seems uncoventional, but

I've always had the belief that Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, Judaism,

Shinto, and Hinduism all are about the same thing...it's just God's way

of reaching out to different people..." 

            "I understand it, but I don't know if I agree with it," she whispered.

            "Still, it isn't our place to always come in and tear a place

up...sometimes it needs to be done, but other times it doesn't. I don't

know about this time....but I do know that the world survived when we

didn't try and police everything so it doesn't need us checking up on

everyone. I don't know...it just seems so pointless."

****************

            Later, after a shower I felt a lot better, but still pretty bitter.

The uneasyness in my stomach hadn't completely gone away and I was more

than a little nervous, but it didn't matter. Kim and Antoinette were

out for the moment and I had been given Antoinette's personal CD player

to take my mind off of everything for the evening. Sighing, I fell onto

the bed and picked up my journal, flipping to the section I was using

for writing. I wasn' t a great poetess, I'll admit it...that's probably

why when I write stuff like that I do it in the style of song

lyrics...one of these days I'll get enough courage to write the music

out to all of the pieces I've done. Shaking my head, I attempted to get

some of my emotions down onto the paper.

                         Watched the TV newscast

                         America's tossin bombs again

                         I used to pause then change the channel

                         Return to mundane, ignorant bliss

                         Now I'm cross the ocean

                         Closer to the target zone

                         Praying they won't see where I'm from

                         Take out bitter anger on me

                         Used to be "We are the World"

                         Now we all "Look back in Anger"

                         Everyone's "Afraid of Americans"

                         I wonder what I am

                         And if those politicians care I'm here

                         Does anyone have an answer

                         Or is violence all we can think of?

                         Is thought and logic too outdated

                         Or are we just too blind to use it?

                         Love one another has no meaning

                         Freedom for all but don't you be different

                         In spirit we are all of one nation

                         But heaven forbid that we should show it

                         Who are you? Are you like me?

                         You cry salt tears and bleed red blood

                         I do too, imagine that

                         Then why are we ripping children to pieces

                         Just to see which culture's best?

                         Can't we all just get along

                         Or are we too grown-up for that?

            Sighing again at how depressing this was getting, I put away my

journal and took out Tin Machine. Not bothering to look at the lyrics I

flipped through the songs until I came to "Under the God." I paused at

a knock on the door and carrying the CD player with me I unlocked it

and let Jareth in.

            "You all right?"

            "I guess..."

            "What are you listening too?" With a flip of his hand he caused the

music to flow out of the headphones but at a volume and blend you'd

expect from a larger machine. Setting the thing on the bed he turned

and raised an eyebrow at the lyrics.

            white trash picking up nazi flags

            while you was gone there was war

            this is the west, get used to it

            they put a swastika over the door...

            Instantly he turned it off. "Darling, you are going to drive yourself

insane if you listen to lyrics like this right now...surely there's

something more upbeat! You need to get your mind off of this..."

            "But what if we have to leave early, what if we're attacked by

terrorists...what if a bomb is planted on our plane, what if-"

            "Will you stop it?!" The king rolled his mismatched eyes before

leaning against the grey metal lockers that served as closets. "Just

put it out of your mind...you can't do anything about it, so just

relax. Now then, what song would put you in a better mood?"

            "I dunno...anything on Black Tie White Noise is pretty good."

            "Very well..." he paused to switch the CDs and pointed to the machine.

The familiar melody of track number eight came pouring out and I

relaxed slightly at the danceable melody. After a few moments I

suddenly began to wonder at what point I had been swept into J's arms

and into a dance.

            "What in the world are you doing?" I asked, trying to push away.

"You're a chaperon, remember?"

            "I know, but I've missed being able to have you to myself...come on,

this is just a little innocent fun to take your mind off of

everything." He paused and for a moment I just stood there gazing into

his eyes, suddenly feeling quite safe...sighing, I nodded and once

again we began to move to the music. I was so caught up in everything,

the lyrics, his presence and closeness, everything that I didn't even

see my backpack on the floor. I backed into it and fell backwards onto

my bed, pulling the goblin king with me. He grinned wryly and I was

pretty sure he was about to make some comment about how graceful I was

when we both realized exactly how close we were. As the ending chorus

began to fade his lips brushed against mine, a gesture I readily

returned until logic began to take hold. Quickly I pushed him away and

sat up.

            "We can't be doing this! You're still a chaperon and if we get

caught.."

            "That's why we won't get caught. You really need to lighten up

sometimes."

            "You can leave now!" I barked, glaring at the monarch who was trying

to look innocent.

            "Oh, come on, I'm sorry...I'll be good, I suppose...although need I

remind you that less than a week ago you were letting me kiss your-"

            "Don't even go there. One, that was when we were married. Two, we had

a deal...that was turned into a dream, remember?"

            "Very well...just think of how good reality could be." I threw him

another warning glance and he nodded. "All right all right..." I

crossed to the CD player and put Tin Machine back in.

            "Here, if we're going to listen to anything, we can listen to

something serious."

            "If that last song bothered you-" I clenched my teeth at his annoying

grin.

            "It did not bother me! I love "Miracle Goodnight," I just don't think

it's safe to listen to it with you under these circumstances!" It did

not help matters when he shook his head and let loose a chuckle. I

punched the play button and sat beside him, stubbornly crossing my arms

over my chest as "Heaven's in Here" began to play. Man, I really should

have read over the lyrics....

            Baby I dream between the blade and your tongue

            of the rose on your cheek the wounded and dumb

            we stumble and fall we stumble and fall

            skin on skin but there's heaven in...

            heaven's in here

            heaven's in here

            among the twilight and stars

            like a rocket to mars

            heaven in here

I reached for the stop button but stopped at J's knowing smirk.

Glaring, I thought to him, *I can handle this, Tight's...it doesn't

bother me! It doesn't affect me at all!* Assuming a bored position I

settled down to try and make it through the rest of the song.

            ....heaven lies between your marbled thighs

            the rustle of your falling gown

            we stumble and fall like tragedy falls

            we stumble and twirl there's heaven in here

            we stumble and fall uncertain we fall

            flesh on flesh but there's heaven in...

            heaven's in here

I winced and licked my lips, trying to get through the next chorus. At

that moment I became very aware of just how close Jareth was sitting

and the amused look he was giving me. Looking away I tried not to

remember the evening before we had signed the divorce papers...

            ...heaven's in here

            among the twilight and stars

            like a rocket to mars

            heaven's in here

            you'll dance to my tongue we'll

            dance on the sun-

At that, I decided I really couldn't take it any more and I hit the

forward button.

Remembering that my collector's guide had called track number 10 the

worst track on the album, I flipped ahead, knowing I could easily make

it through-

            The song started but I wasn't paying attention. I was busy reading the

inside jacket that Jareth decided to hand to me. My eyes widened as the

lyrics hit my eyes and ears...good god! Why would they decide this was

a bad track?! My cheeks started to burn as I read the second verse.

            Think about the love thing

            think about the sex thing

            think about you holding me taking me down

            something getting hard when you rock it up

            something getting hot when you rock it up....

My mind started to whirl as I struggled to not be affected by the

music, by the words, by the guy sitting next to me, and when had it

gotten so hot in the room?!

             ...pretty little girl let your sweet thing sway

               never gonna do you wrong

               strip you down and take you to pieces

                always gonna love this song-

That may be, but I really couldn't listen to it at the moment! Jumping

up I shut off the music, trying to ignore the words that had come after

that...quickly I crossed to the window and threw it open, letting the

cold night air in. Amused laughter met my ears and I turned in

indignation to face the goblin king.

            "Now what was the matter with that piece? I thought it was quite

enjoyable."

            "Very funny, now look-"

            "Hey Selah? Can you let us in? We need to get our stuff to brush our

teeth and junk." I paled at the sound of Kim's voice. My roomates had

returned. I turned to look in horror at Jareth, but he was gone.

Breathing a sigh of relief I unlocked the door and let them in. The two

girls grabbed their things and headed off to the bathroom, but not

before giving me a curious glance. After they left I slipped under the

covers and prepared to settle down for the night. My eyes widened

slightly as I discovered that the lyric sheet had been slipped under my

pillow so that only the last portion of the song showed.

            Oh you pretty thing

            feel that pretty thing

            suck that pretty thing

I rolled my eyes and grinned...he always had to get the last word in.

Chuckling, I slid it back into its case along with the album before

setting my alarm and going to sleep.

***************************

Ch. 7

            I smiled as we took our seats after singing for a morning church

service at ChristusKirche Evangeliche Methodistiche Kirche, a German

United Methodist Church whose traditions are very close to my

denomination, United Church of Christ. They even had one of their

members translate the service into english - it was so much like back

home! Well...maybe not exactly, but it was still nice. I even took a

stab at singing the hymns, even though I know my pronunciation on a few

words was less than adequate.

            After services we congregated downstairs for lunch: potatoes,

German-style meatballs, beets, and for dessert a blueberry-flavored

cross between yogurt and custard.

Not bad, at least I didn't think so. I rolled my eyes as many of my

fellow choir members exchanged looks of disgust...geez, they needed to

get out more. Maybe it was because I'm from a German family, or maybe

it's just because I eat a lot more than fast food, but I didn't see the

big deal with it! Besides, it's really rude to turn down a meal someone

spent a long time cooking!

            *You know, dear, someone ought to teach some of your friends some

manners,* Jareth thought to me as I looked around the table I was

sitting at. A few were quietly complaining, and others just weren't

eating. Hmmph, looked like a few people were going to be hungry in a

while, but they'd probably just blame it on Dan. I sighed before

resuming my conversation with a pastor-in-training about the growth of

our denominations in Germany.

            *Since when did you get interested in religious politics?*

            I rolled my eyes before replying. *Please! I do know a lot more

besides Bowie and Star Wars, give me some credit! It's just more fun to

flaunt what I love and irritate the hell out of people!* 

**********************************************************

            I processed out of the enormous cathedral with the rest of the choir;

our second concert of the day and our last in Berlin had been a huge

success...except we *all* needed to watch our conductor!!!! Duh, I

swear sometimes I wonder how thick-headed people are! You'd think

they'd expect Dan to change tempo, but of course us finishing

"Everytime I feel the Spirit" in two different speeds was his fault, at

least it was according to the Chronic Complainers of America. Turning,

I smiled as my gaze hit the mosaic at the front of the sanctuary...it

was a gold background with Jesus walking forward with arms outstretched

- an amazing piece of work; it looked real. Feeling quite satisfied, I

turned to follow the guy in front of me...

            And promptly went skidding across the slick floor on the edge of my

dress. I couldn't even shout in surprise, it happened too fast. One

minute I'm walking, the next, madrigals on ice. Fortunately I was able

to catch myself before ramming into someone or falling on my rear.

Blushing slightly, I continued just a little more carefully then I had

been. Hopefully no one had seen...

            *That was simply lovely, dear...now what would you call that?* I

narrowed my eyes as my gaze found the goblin king sitting in the

audience.

            *Not a word!!!*

            *If I had known you were that talented I wouldn't have given you a

crystal to enhance your skating abilities when we did 'Labyrinth on

Ice.'*

            *That's not funny!!!*

            *And to think, Larry got it all on tape for prosterity* My eyes

widened in horror as I realized Big Papa had the camera aimed right at

me. Ah, well...normally I'm quite all right, but sometimes I get a

little overzealous and my coordination skills rank right up there with

Jar Jar Binks.

            *Yeah, yeah...just sign me up for the next Olympics!* I ignored his

grin as I stalked out of the room.

*****************

            Later, we were all in the same church but in a small room enjoying a

magnificent meal of borsht and something that resembled homemade

hotpockets (sorry, don't know what else to call it!) stuffed with meats

and spinach. At least I was enjoying it. Looked like some people were

going to be reeeaaalllly hungry. Some were even talking about going out

to eat later!

            "Why? Look, save money when you can! Make a meal out of this!"

            "How? Man, I need more food than this to fill me up!" John retorted. I

rolled my eyes and turned to chat with Neil and Big Papa, ignoring the

excited twittering when we were offered a selection of wines. Geez, it

looked like a few people had only gone on this trip for one reason!

Shaking my head, I turned towards where Kim was slouched in a chair,

her feet propped up in another. Due to a drastic change in her blood

sugar she had suddenly fainted after the concert. Sandy was by her

side, trying to coax her to eat something. Unfortunately, she had a

thing against red meat and really tried to refuse. I'm not saying it's

the healthiest stuff in the world, but when in Rome...

            Speaking of not feeling on top of the world, I was beginning to

develop another sore throat...and my sinus medicine was almost gone!

Great...I winced as a twinge of pain hit my stomach. Oh, now this would

be fun.

            "So, you coming with us to eat later?" Antoinette was saying.

            "Uh...I don't think so...I'm not feeling too great." I gritted my

teeth as another stabbing pain hit me, then suddenly realized it wasn't

my stomach. Oh, brother; this was even more fun. "I think I'll just

stay in and listen to some Bowie...I've got a spare Snickers bar if I

get hungry."

            "I'll bring you back something, anyways," she insisted as we thanked

our hosts and boarded the bus.

            "See if you can find some milk or something milk-like," I pleaded. I

was not used to going without it and I had only had a few sips on my

cereal that morning...surely there were cows in Europe!

            "I'll see what I can do," she agreed.

            Sitting down, I noticed that I still had Bass's folder of music that

he had asked me to hold when he was asked to support Kim...hmmm....this

could be useful. Maybe I would be able to get him back for the

Restaurant Colosseo, after all...

*******************

            That evening, after Kim had checked in with Sandy and decided to hang

out with Andy I was left to myself in the room I was temporarily

calling home. It would have been all right...I had my Bowie, I had my

journal...I also had evil cramps. Downing some Tylenol, taking a swig

of the milkshake in a bottle thing Antoinette had brought me, and

plopping down on the bed, I put on some music and settled down to wait.

            "And what are you doing here all by yourself?" I nearly fell off the

bed in shock. Turning, I removed the headphones and glared as the sight

of the goblin king lounging on a bed by the far window hit my eyes.

            "Don't do that! You about scared me to death!"

            "Sorry, but I just wondered why you were so quiet this evening...why

aren't you out with your friends?"

            "One, I'm not hungry, two, I don't need to see my dinner again after

watching the lovebirds, three..." I winced again. "That."

            "Not feeling well? Want me to get Sandy?" I shook my head at his

concerned expression. He had been just a little startled by Kim's

condition and I could tell it was still fresh in his mind.

            "No, I know what it is and I've taken the precautions."

            "Darling, do you have some condition that I don't know about?" I

laughed at his dumbfounded expression.

            "Not unless you call being female a condition! It's just my monthly

blood sacrifice deal."

            "Oh good god, you don't mean-"

            "Will you cut it out?" I chuckled as Jareth's face paled. "It's a

perfectly normal function and you're lucky not to have it. I've decided

that only the truly courageous spirits are made female because guys

just couldn't handle it." He rolled his eyes, but I wasn't paying

attention. I was now watching a big black moving blotch on the floor.

Shrieking, I jumped off of my bed, rolled over the second, and hopped

onto the third while pushing J in front of me.

            "AUGH!!!! SPIDER!!! Kill it Kill IT KILL IT!!!!!!!!!!" He looked at

me, incredulous.

            "Now why would you need me to do that, after all, you are the truly

courageous spirit in the room."

            "SHUT UP AND KILL THE FRAGGIN SPIDER!!!!!!!!!!!!" Laughing, he walked

across the room and stared at the offending creature.

            "What's so funny!? Smush that sucker!!!"

            "Darling...it's a fuzzball."

            "What?!" I blurted, suddenly feeling like a huge moron. I knew I was

turning crimson as he began to laugh so hard he began to shed tears.

            "Shut up! You know I hate bugs!" I muttered, walking over to my bed

and sitting down.

            "This is when I wish I had a camcorder," he sighed, sitting beside me.

            "Yeah, yeah...why aren't you in your own room?!"

            "Because I miss you," he purred, leaning closer.

            "Uh-huh...what did you run out of?" I was beginning to regret making

him put a curb on his magic.

            "Now what would make you think that I was coming to borrow something?"

he pouted.

            "Because you either visit me to borrow or irritate me...or both," I

shot back, then rolled my eyes as he feigned a hurt expression.

            "Now that was uncalled for! You've cut me to the quick! Now how can

you make it up to me...I know, why don't you lend me your ear plugs!" I

rolled my eyes and went to my backpack to fish them out of a pocket.

            "What do you need them for?"

            "Dan's sleeping in the room next to mine and he is most vocal in his

sleep habits." I grinned; Larry had warned us all that the director

snored loud enough to saw down a forest.

            "Oh, you poor thing. I guess I'm just lucky-"

            "What are you talking about?" I shrugged and continued to search for

the items that I knew were in the bag, somewhere! Probably at the

bottom, knowing my luck.

            "Antoinette and Kim decided they need quality time with their new

counterparts so they're staying in John and Andy's room."

            "Isn't that against regulations?"

            "Nope, as long as the roomates don't mind...and believe me, I don't

mind. Gives me some privacy, and a much bigger bed!" I grinned and

motioned to where I had pushed two beds together and heaped the three

pillows up. Immediately Jareth fixed me with a hopeful stare.

            "Darling, you don't suppose-"

            "No. Out of the question. No way, no how! Forget about it! You are NOT

sleeping here! You're a chaperon-"

            "I'd transport myself to my room before anyone could figure it out in

the mornings. Please, I can't stand another night listening to that

noise!" I shook my head vehemently.

            "No!"

            "Think of the fun we could have-"

            "Out! Come on, out out OUT!!!" I bellowed, pushing a wickedly grinning

J through the door before locking it and heading to the bathroom.

            After prepping myself for bed, I exited the bathroom and started down

the long series of halls towards my room. Swallowing hard and clutching

my bag of toiletries to my chest, I glanced around at the dark

hallways...dark hallways with plenty of hiding spaces...and what were

those shadows attached to? Glancing around to make sure no one was

looking, I started to walk just a little bit faster. Lights on motion

detectors blinked on as I passed them, but it did little to calm my

nerves. Suddenly, the light behind me blinked off and the light before

me didn't blink on. Not thinking, I took off through the halls as I

fast as I could.

            "What the-" I screeched to a halt and very nearly ran the goblin king

over.

            "What are you doing here?" I asked, frowning at the paranoia in my

voice.

            "I was going to my room...the men's restroom is down the hall that

way," he said, nodding in the direction. "What's the matter?"

            At that moment the light nearest us chose to blink out and footsteps

echoed on the stairs at the end of the hall. Grabbing his hand, I

pulled Jareth along as I barrelled down the hall and back to my room.

            "All right, I changed my mind, you can stay with me!!!!!"

            "What? You aren't scared, are you?" I couldn't help getting defensive

at that blasted grin.

            "NO! I just thought that if you need to-"

            His grin broadened at having found the basis of my sudden generosity.

"Oh, I wouldn't want to interfere...I'll just be going...good night-"

            "Not so fast, glitter boy! Get in here!!!!" I yanked him in and locked

the door. "You're staying!" My ears perked up as shrieks echoed through

the courtyard enclosed by the hostel's walls...they belonged to our

choir members, but still...Shutting the window and locking it, I nodded

to the empty twin bed on the far side of the room. "You can have that

bed."

            "How come you get the bigger bed? What if I get cold? What if I get

lonely-" He shut up at the look I gave him.

            "I get the big bed because it's my room. If you get cold, wrap

yourself tighter in the comforter...if you get lonely, listen to Bowie,

that always helps me!" He rolled his eyes and climbed into the smaller

bed. Smirking, I shut off the light and climbed into the bigger one.

Only then did I realize just how dark it was...

            At the sound of footsteps running down the hall I clenched my eyes

shut. At the sound of more shrieks from the courtyard I bit my lip and

tried to put up with it...

            "YYYYYYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

            "Uh, Jareth...maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea for you to sleep over

here-" I didn't even get the entire sentence out before he appeared

beside me.

            "Thank you dear...I am glad you changed your mind."

            "Yeah, yeah...hey, keep your hands to yourself!" I hissed as he

decided to make himself more comfortable.

            "Oh, now that wouldn't be any fun, now would it?" he purred, wrapping

his arms around me. I gave a defeated sigh and closed my eyes.

            "And may I add you look simply adorable in those pajamas," he added,

referring to the grey sweat pants and Winnie-the-Pooh sweatshirt I was

clothed in.

            "Cut it out, or your going back over to the other side!" I retorted.

"YEAYEAYEAYEAYYYYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

            Upon hearing amused laughter I looked up and blushed as I realized my

arms were tightly wound around Jareth's neck and my face was buried in

his chest.

            "And here I was beginning to think you didn't care," he remarked,

pulling me close. Giving in for the time-being, I sighed and let him

hold me.

            "Good night, Jareth."

            "Good night, love," he whispered, lightly pressing his lips against my

cheek. I briefly wondered how many hours it was till morning before

letting myself drift into dreamland.

*******************************

Ch. 8

            I eagerly waited at the door of the hostel for the rest of the group.

Today was the day!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The day of my long-awaited quest for

Bowiedom!!! The much-anticipated day of my pilgrimage! The day of-

            "So why in the world are you going so beserk over a stupid photograph,

anyway?" Antoinette asked when she saw I was scanning my subway map.

            "Stupid photo?! How can you say that!!! It's only a photo of the place

where the best singer in the universe used to live!!! Besides, Berlin

is where he did some of his most innovative work...maybe there's some

left-over inspiration floating around near that place I can suck up...

            "Do you even have any idea where this place is?"

            "The lady at the desk gave me directions to Hauptstrasse," I said,

still looking over my map.

            "But do you know exactly-"

            "155 Hauptstrasse. His apartment was on the first floor on the corner

above the old auto place and costume jewelry shop." I rolled my eyes as

she walked over to John, muttering something about hair-brained ideas

and being obsessed with a weirdo.

            "You'd never catch me or anyone I know doing something like that!" she

remarked. Just then Kim came running over to me.

            "Selah! Are you ready!? Today's the day!!!!!"

            "Don't tell me she talked you into this! You don't even like Bowie!"

Antoinette protested.

            "I've just never really listened to him...besides, it's an adventure!"

she retorted, taking the map from my hands to glance over it, herself. 

            "Are we all here?" Dan asked, coming outside. We took a head count and

then started off for the subway terminal near the hostel. Once there,

we took a train to the Checkpoint Charlie Museum.

*******************************

            "You know...I was only nine or ten when the wall came down and I

really didn't see the big deal, but now..." I murmured to Jareth, who

was standing beside me as we walked through the exibits.

            "It was a very big deal, indeed." I nodded as I turned my gaze from

the box a man had used to smuggle his wife, a contortionist for a

circus, to the west side of Berlin. Silently we watched a documentary

with some fabricated shots (shots showing the photographer were done

with an actress, shots that the photographer actually took were

documentary). Near the end, a guard got angry with the photographer,

and it's all captured on film. The ending is where the film erupts into

static because the guard decided to take care of the photographer,

himself.

            In the gift shop I picked out some postcards and a book for my dad.

Walking outside, I got a few shots of the guardtowers, the place where

Checkpoint Charlie used to be, and of me sitting next to where the wall

used to be. The morning only got more serious as we walked to the

Topography of Terror. It's sort of a timeline of Nazi Germany. After a

sobering history lesson, we continued on to the Brandenburg Gates and

the Reichstag (government building) that had just been restored. Along

the way we took pictures of pieces of wall that art students had

painted on and of segments that still had to be taken down. It was also

amazing to see all the construction that was going up; we couldn't tour

Hitler's bunker because it was gone due to a real estate sale.

            As we neared the Brandenburg Gates we also had to walk along the edge

of the Tiergarten. Suddenly, a few of our members pulled out their

cameras and began taking pictures frantically. 

            "What's going on?" Jareth asked.

            "This dude is running around naked!!!!" Mike yelled back, laughing

hysterically. Geez, no one could tell we were American tourists!

            "Yea, it's almost as good as the exibitionist in the building across

from the hostel!" Jondi laughed, referring to the man some of our

members had been watching through the windows as he proudly displayed

his....package each evening for public display.

********************************

            As we walked away from the government building and gates after mugging

for pictures, I suddenly stopped, whipped out my camera, clicked a

picture, then caught up with the group, laughing hysterically.

            "What?" J asked me.

            "My sister has always wanted a convertible van-" I started.

            "There's no such thing."

            "Nope, but there's a convertible bus, and it's a double-decker!" I

laughed, pointing to what I had caught on film for my sibling. Shaking

his head, he followed me to the subway station that would take us to

the zoological garden.

*********************************

            All forty or so of us were crammed into a subway car, anxiously

waiting when we could stop imitating sardines. Only a few more

stops...my ears perked up as I caught snippets of some beggar asking

for change...then my eyes caught up with my ears. A few people in front

of me stood an image that could be from Diamond Dogs...this punk was

the real deal. Decked out in a jacked emblazoned with skulls, chains,

green spiked hair in the style of a unicorn horn, he was definitely

nothing to mess with. At least I thought it was a he; I frowned as I

watched him getting friendly with members of each gender. Upon watching

closer, my suspicions were confirmed; yep, it was a guy. I glanced over

at Jareth who gave me a warning look.

            *Don't even think about asking him anything, love!*

            *Will you give me some credit?! I know not to mess with him...I'm not

a moron!*

            Soon, we reached our stop and we began to pile out into the

terminal...soon I would be able to go hunt for my photo op!!!!!

            Click! That one sound would change the rest of the day for me.

            All of us whirled at the sound of animal-like snarling and shouts of

"Two marks! Two marks!" Joel and Logan stood there, dumbfounded. Joel

was still holding his camera. I'm sorry, but he is not the brightest

individual in the world...far from it. He thinks he can't possibly get

hurt. Logan is better, but he still is pretty ignorant sometimes.

            "WHAT DID YOU DO?" Dan bellowed. Before the guys could answer, the

punk shouted again, this time for the police. He didn't hesitate to

start running towards us.

            "Get out of here!" Dan yelled, and urged Big Papa and J to get us to

safety. We all turned and tried to get away, but the kid followed us,

shouting all the way. Dan immediately reacted. "GET AWAY!!!" The kid

only pushed forward, rubbing against Kim who immediately shrieked and

got back as soon as she could. I walked as fast as was possible, but I

was caught behind Joel who still wasn't moving. To my right and left

were members of our group frantically trying to get out of his way and

curious on-lookers. My eyes widened as I discovered faces similar to

the punk's lurking in the crowd, coming closer to lend a hand...

            I tried to run again, but Joel still wouldn't move! I nearly screamed

as I realized he was trying to take another picture! I turned back to

the punk who was coming closer...he was only a few people away from me.

He scanned over our group with eyes that seemed to take in everything

and nothing at the same time. Abruptly, his gaze met mine. His eyes

were haunted and glazed-over...there was such an alien aura about him.

I don't know what it was that drew his attention to me, but at that

moment I didn't care. I cared only about the spark of an idea in his

eyes, the slow leering grin that began to cross his face, and his hand

wrapping around the handle of a blade that suddenly appeared in his

belt from underneath his jacket.

            I turned, trying to push past Joel and the others, but I was caught;

people simply weren't moving fast enough. Trying not to panic, I turned

back. The punk was slowly moving closer and the people that separated

us was quickly being pushed out of his way. Taking my backpack off my

shoulder I grabbed a strap in both hands and spread my legs, digging my

feet into the ground. I couldn't run, and I would probably only get one

chance to deflect any blow if he came close...

            Everything was still for a moment, my eyes locked on my group's

assailant's. He looked amused at my attempt to block him, and I knew I

hadn't scared him away. Little did he know that I was prepared to

scream, fight, and rip his head off if it would save my neck. However,

I hate the thought of knives and didn't know what I would do if I

didn't knock it out of his hand with that one allowed blow. Briefly I

entertained the morbid thought of envisioning my own funeral...*I hope

the list manages to track down and convince Bowie to come...Underground

or 'Heroes' would be nice music to bid farewell to this life to...*

Suddenly, my time for thinking was over. He lunged to strike. My entire

body tensed and all of me wondered what would happen next...

            He never reached me. I yelped as I was yanked backwards, hard, and a

huge figure ran at him from the side, roaring in German. The kid was so

startled by Dan that he immediatlely took his hand off his knife.

Passers-by quickly filled the space between us and him and the group;

he had lost his chance. Dan ran him off quickly and soon he was nothing

more than a shadow against the wall.

            Trembling, I glanced back and gave a feeble grin to the one who had

pulled me out of harm's way: the goblin king.

            "Thanks..." I managed, swallowing hard.

            "Don't mention it...this is why I wanted to come along...I knew you'd

get yourself into trouble," he quipped, squeezing my shoulder.

            *Are you sure you're all right?*

            *Yes...thank you, Jareth.*

            He nodded simply and we both turned as Dan approached.

            "Are you okay?" he asked, guiding me up the stairs and into the

sunlight. I nodded, returning my backpack to my shoulder.

            "Yeah, thank you. I can't believe that..."

            "I can...those morons...I told them not to do that!" He was pretty

steamed. Kim, who had been waiting at the bottom of the stairs, caught

up to us.

            "Are you all right?"

            "Uh-huh...Kim?"

            "Yeah?"

            "I think I'm gonna let that picture go...we'd have to go back through

here to get to the next stop, and I don't want to run into our friendly

neighborhood delinquent again."

            "I wholeheartedly agree...he rubbed up against me!!!"

            "I know...I'm just glad Dan got rid of him."

            She turned to Dan with a sudden question popping into her mind. "Hey,

Dan? What was it that you said to him?"

            He shook his head, glaring at the figures of Joel and Logan at the top

of the stairs; they were laughing about the incident! "I told him if he

didn't leave right now I'd kick his ass."

            "Hey, it worked!" I remarked, adrenaline racing through my veins. Upon

regrouping with the others we found out that most of the group members

hadn't seen all that had happened. Some couldn't decide which gender

the punk was (trust me, it was a guy! Kim and I both agree to this and

we had the closest encounters.) and others were a little shaken but

still didn't think the morons in our group had done anything wrong!

Somehow, when someone tries to slice me in two, I can't help thinking

there's something wrong with the picture!

********************************

            My heartrate finally slowed down by the time we reached the Kaiser

Wilhelm monument, a church that was bombed during WWII. It features

beautiful mosaics and amazing sculptures and other artwork. I didn't

think twice before buying two books on it - one for me and one for my

dad. Afterwords, it was time for us to split into groups and go shop

and eat in the city center. Kim and I decided to go with John,

Antoinette, and Andy. I raised my eyebrows slightly as Jareth silently

joined us.

            *I would've thought you would want to hang around with some of the

adults,* I thought to him.

            *Are you crazy? I almost lost you once today, I'm not letting you out

of my sight for the rest of the trip! I can only imagine what Millennia

and the rest of your friends on the list would do to me if they found

out something happened to you.*

            *Aw, they'd forgive ya...you are, after all, so darn loveable!*

            *Very cute, but someone does have to keep you in line!* I turned my

attention to a grinning Antoinette.

            "Aw, so your photo op didn't work out? Sorry...you gonna let some punk

scare ya off? Nothing much happened..." I didn't even have to say a

thing; Kim started reeming her out before I got a chance. Opening the

map, I sighed. I had been so close...

            *It doesn't look that far,* I thought.

            *It's further than you think, and time is short. Besides, I don't want

to meet up with that friend of yours...although...* I instantly caught

the satisfied look in his eyes.

            *What did you do?*

            *For the time-being he's a goblin, love. A vast improvement, if I do

say so myself. But it was only temporary, until we could get a good

distance away. Please, Selah...don't do anything you'll regret.*

            *Hey, you don't have to tell me twice! Like I said, I'm not a moron!

Besides, it was only a picture...* I sighed heavily and put my map back

in my pocket.

            "Hey, cheer up, woman! Maybe someday you'll actually get to meet

Bowie..." Kim said, patting me on the back.

            "Yeah...maybe. At least then I could finally find out the outcome of

that bet my friend Kas and I have going."

            "What bet is that?" she asked.

            "Oh, we have dibs on what reaction I'd get from Bowie if I ever met

him. She says that he'd adore me, I say he'd run away screaming."

            "Hmm...that's a close call," she admitted.

            "Put me down for screaming," Antoinette said without turning around.

            "Well, I don't know much about him, but if she says screaming, I'm

saying he'd adore ya," she instantly replied. "So, are we gonna eat or

what?"

            "Yeah, I'm starved...where are we going to?" Andy asked.

            "HARDROCK CAFE!!!!" Antoinette blurted out.

**************************************

            Forty-five minutes later we found the place after walking around

endlessly and finally asking at tourist information. I was a little

curious, I had never been to a Hardrock before, and this was a cool

place to go to one. But still, the experience that morning had left me

edgey and deflated. We entered and I perked up a little at the

atmosphere. We waved to other members of our group that had beat us

there and waited to be seated. Looking around, we realized there

weren't many people there. Oh, well...I really didn't care about much

at that point anyway. All I knew is that I had missed the best photo

opportunity of the trip...I needed something to pick me up, a sign that

I had really made the best decision-

            "Selah..." Kim whispered, tapping me on the shoulder.

            "Huh?" I muttered, still in an apathetic mood.

            "Don't freak out...I want you to turn around slowly...and whatever you

do, don't have a heart attack or completely go nuts..."

            Rolling my eyes, I did as I was told, wondering what she had set me up

for this time....My eyes got as big as saucers at the sight that

greeted me and my jaw dropped.

            "Oh my lord..." I whispered, turning to face the sight that was like

paradise to my depressed state of mind.

            "Selah...don't freak out. Please don't cause a scene!" Antoinette was

begging.

            "Oh, let her; she's had a hard day," Kim shot back. I barely heard

them, I was too busy staring at the entire wall covered with Bowie

relics. His guitar...his gold record from Young Americans...an

autographed flyer advertising 'Heroes'...a framed pamphlet about him

during the Ziggy period...and quite a few pictures of him in Berlin....

I did what any normal Bowie fan would do; I went completely beserk.

Okay, it was just pictures and stuff, but remember, I had had a really

hard morning!

            "OH MY SPACE ODDITY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! IT'S.....IT'S.........."

            "It's just a wall filled with junk," John yawned.

            "No...IT'S AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Bowiedom

had come through for me after all! I suppose me yelling and jumping up

and down in ecstacy attracted some attention, because a hostess

instantly arrived to seat us. Since the place was far from full she

said we could sit anywhere we wanted!

            "There, we have to sit there!!!!" I demanded, pointing to a table

directly in front of the shrine o' Bowie.

            "No, we don't!" Antoinette protested.

            "Yes we do!!!!!!!!!!!! Come on, don't make me beg!!!!"

            "It's in the smoking section!"

            "SO?! There's no one there!!!! Come on, PLEEEEAAAASSSSEEE????!!!!" All

right, so I was a little persistent in the matter!

            The hostess tried to hide a smile and waited for us to give her an

answer. Before any of the non-Bowie lovers in our group could say a

word, Kim and Jareth both told her at the same time, "We'll sit there."

Bursting into grateful and manic laughter and hugging them both, I

raced into the booth and began to bask in the glow of Bowiedom. Sighing

happily, I turned to scan over every single piece of history that was

there. I turned slightly to look at the other end of the wall and my

jaw dropped as my eyes found the sure sign I had been looking for.

There was no doubt about it; I had made the best decision. On a small

nook next to the table was a huge painting done in red and purple of

the starman, himself posed at the microphone. I looked with awe at the

portrait of Bowie as Ziggy...it was truly incredible.

            "Hey...I wonder if they'd miss that..."

            "Yeah, I'll distract them, you grab it and run!" Kim laughed, shaking

her head at my adoring gaze. "Maybe I should change my vote to

screaming," she said, grinning wickedly.

            "Oh, please! I would never be such a dork if I met him! I wouldn't be

superfan or anything that stupid...I'd just be my weird ol' self-"

            "In that case I'm keeping my vote on screaming," Antoinette retorted,

rolling her eyes.

            At that moment our waiter came to take our orders. We struck up a

conversation and soon he found out that we were a singing group and

insisted that all of us perform. Grinning and talking to our members

seated at another table, we decided on 'Sixteen Tons.' It was a

showchoir song and not all of us knew it, but I joined in anyway. Heck,

I already knew it, it was a classic, and I can ad-lib with the best of

em! We got a big round of applause and then returned to our seats to

chow down.

            As I finished I turned to Kim to ask her the question I'd been dying

to the entire time. She laughed and answered before I could even ask

her.

            "Yes, I'll take your picture to capture this moment forever...give me

your camera!" I nodded eagerly and handed it to her before quickly

running back into the booth and instinctively posing. (Not a word; you

all know I'm a big ham!) I instantly positioned myself next to the

'Heroes' flyer and mimicked his pose on the album cover. After the

flash I hurried to the Ziggy picture and mugged next to it...what a

great Kodak moment, the two Ziggys together at last! After the pictures

had been taken I frowned, wondering if they'd turn out without a flash.

Kim was nice enough to take them again with it; she was used to

humoring me, anyway.

            The restaurant itself was awesome...not only was the atmosphere great,

but there were good old American style bathrooms! And we got ice in our

drinks!!! Actually, I hardly ever use ice at home, I have no idea why

not, it's not a huge deal with me. But for some reason I was ecstatic

to have it now. I guess it's just one of those things you don't miss

until you don't have it. I stayed in the booth until the last possible

moment; they practically had to pry me out of it! And

inspiration-wise...I was suddenly getting some killer ideas for

stories, including ways to flesh out the plotline of the apocalyptic

novel I'm developing. It had to be the guitar...I was sitting right

underneath it so inspiration must have just poured down onto my head or

something. Or maybe the terror of the morning and the happiness of the

afternoon just had really bizarre effects on me.

********************

            Sometime later we were roaming the streets, looking in all the shops

and just enjoying the city. I loved it; there was something in Berlin

that was unique to itself; it seemed old and experienced, yet

ever-changing, always in motion. No two people's views of it were the

same...almost like a goblin king I happen to know.

            I turned and gagged with disgust at the lovebirds. Geez, couldn't they

get a room or something? Did they absolutely have to give a show every

time we went out in public? I was now not the only one that was totally

disgusted; Andy had left to join another group. We past by a gallery

window and Kim, Jareth, and I had to go back to find the two staring in

horror at the subject of the display. I faced the window dead-on and

looked at the paintings with a deadpan expression.

            "Whoa..." was all Kim could muster, but I had a feeling that her brain

was having a field day. Finally I spoke.

            "I like how they've done them in the Impressionist style," I remarked,

glancing at J.

            "Yes...the colors are quite nice, too...the blending is very well

done," he replied, nodding slightly, his face a match of my own.

            "Mm-hmm...I like that one, the close-up of the female in the water?

Look at how the waves are reflected off the skin...that's quite good."

I drew his attention to one in the corner.

            "True...look at the proportions, though...it's slightly distorted." I

tilted my head to get a better look at what he was trying to point out.

            "Oh, I didn't notice that...I do like the position, though; it makes

for an excellent contrast to the background."

            "What are you two saying!!!???? It's an exhibit on...on-"

            "Masturbation?" I replied, smiling slightly.

            "YES!!!!!!!!!!!" Antoinette blurted, totally stunned at my calm.

            "True, but I think it might be some sort of a statement on today's

society or something...either way, it's very well done," I chuckled,

grinning.

            "But...but...they're such close-up images," Kim muttered.

            "Yeah...I wonder how much the models got paid...do you think it was

per hour?" I quipped, grinning.

            J immediately picked up where I left off. "I don't know...I wonder how

they decide who to do...do they make the models go through an

auditioning process or something?"

            "Oh, that is just sick!!!!" Antoinette practically shouted, giving a

disgusted look at John.

            I laughed. "Do we have time to go to the zoo? A friend on the list

told me it was something I shouldn't miss!"

            "Uh...sorry, we only have a little time left," Kim replied, frowning.

I sighed...oh, well. I wanted to return someday, anyway. Now I had the

zoo and Bowie's apartment as things on my list of activities for my

next trip to Berlin. I looked up as Steve came bounding towards us.

            "Hey, I just found a store with Star Wars stuff! Come on!" he cried,

frowning at Jareth. I turned and smiled at the king softly.

            *Don't even think of leaving me with him! You do, I swear I will put

runs in your tights!*

            *No need to get viscious, dear! I wouldn't dream of making you suffer

such a

                                        -boy's- presence alone. Like I

said, I'm here to protect you.* I rolled my eyes and mentally gagged at

that.

            As it turned out, we never reached the store. We found World of Music

instead! As soon as I entered I knew I had reached Nirvana. The store

was absolutely huge!!! I typed in information in their computer catalog

and soon located the Bowie albums.

            "YES YES YES!!!! Let's see...Earthling...got it...best of albums...got

em...Black Tie White Noise...got it at a better price...Outside...got

it...LODGER!!! Woo-Hoo!!! Diamond Dogs!!!!!!!!!! Yes Yes YES!!!!! SCARY

MONSTERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was almost dancing by the time I found

Low, but then my heart sank. Seventy deutchmarks!!! Yipes, that was

about forty bucks and I knew I didn't have that much exchanged.

Besides, we would be returning to Poland the next day so I didn't need

to exchange more. Sighing, I continued to flip through...if need-be I'd

end up ordering it. I even had to pass up the solo Boy George stuff I

saw sitting next to the Bowie items. I paused quietly when I found the

Labyrinth soundtrack.

            *You already have that one, dear.*

            *I know, but my sister always wants to borrow it...it's not much but I

don't have enough...I want to save my money to get family members gifts

in Krakow.*

            *I think she'd understand...what she doesn't know can't hurt her,

right?*

            *Yeah...man I miss the list. I can't help but wonder what everyone

would think if they knew all that had happened so far!*

            *Well, you are going to turn this into a story...I'm sure you'll get

plenty of comments so you can find out.* (Okay, that's evil of me, but

I've missed everybody!!!!)

            I took my purchases to be paid for and ended up having to borrow from

Antoinette, anyway. Immediately after we left the shop I went to an

exchange and paid her back. As soon as we left she and John decided to

venture off on their own.

            "I'm sorry, I don't want to be mean, but I will anyway.

HALLELUJIAH!!!!!" I shrieked, much to the amusement of Kim and Jareth.

            "Oh, it isn't that bad; it's kinda cute," Steve remarked, flashing me

a grin.

            "Please! There's nothing wrong with being emotional, but that's so

sickening it makes me want to ralph on the pavement!" He backed off at

that and I could hear Jareth's mental laughter echoing in my mind.

            *Good defense, dear.*

            *Thanks...I had to do something!*

            *Yes, you did!*

            *Hey, I thought you weren't jealous!* He flashed me a warning glare

and I backed off. We wandered in some more shops and soon we were

walking past...

            "Oh good lord...this is even better than the exhibit!" Kim laughed,

pressing her nose against the front window of the Berlin Museum of

World Erotika.

            "Let's get going...no way I'm going to hang around here! My dad's a

pastor and everything, this is just nuts!" Steve blurted. I looked at

him and rolled my eyes.

            "So is mine, but what difference does that make? Aren't you curious as

to what might be inside?" I asked him, grinning evilly.

            "No thanks, I'll wait for you guys over there," he said, and headed

across the street.

            "Geez, what a party pooper...I wonder how much admission is..."

            "SELAH!!!!" Kim shouted, turning to me. "Are you serious!?"

            *Yes, love, are you serious?* I gave J's grin a dark look before

answering Kim.

            "Oh, come on, we don't have enough time, and I probably wouldn't

anyway...but still...maybe I should get a picture of me in front, just

to freak out my dad!" I laughed.

            "Uh, do you think that's such a good idea?" she asked, pointing to a

series of large television screens in the front window.

            "Hmm...man, I didn't know that was even physically possible," I said

softly, my eyes widening slightly as I watched the footage.

            *I did.*

            *SHUT UP!!!* I retorted. *We are not going in!*

            *But think of all the new ideas you could learn for your dreams-*

            *Stop right there! Don't even finish that!!!*

            "All right, we'll skip it...but Kim, don't you want to at least go in

the gift shop to get a souvenier?" I laughed at her flustered response,

and she is not one that gets flustered easily!

            "I don't believe I heard you say that!" she said, shocked.

            "Oh, what are you talking about? I'm just sweet, innocent Selah!"

            *Oh please!*

            "Yeah right! I'm beginning to realize that's far from the truth!" she

laughed as we headed back to the Kaiser Wilhelm. There we watched a

Turkish protest of one of their own getting killed in Iran and listened

to Neil play the organ inside the church. Outside, in the midst of the

protest I knew not to draw attention to my nationality, but I loved

sitting there listening from a distance...there was something so raw

and emotional to it, something that I'd never heard before. All the

protestors were singing and dancing...it was quite moving. Neil's organ

piece was awesome, too, but in a different way. Inside was a life-size

sculpture of Jesus on the cross that was so life-like that when Neil

played I felt sure it was going to jump off the wall and dance round

the sanctuary!

            Finally, it was time to group up and head back. The subway ride back

to the hostel was uneventful, praise the lord! Tired and happy, I spent

the evening listening to Diamond Dogs, but then switched to

Lodger...the punk incident had left me not wanting to even think of

anything remotely similar for a while. When I heard "Yassassin" I about

fell off the bed...the chord sequence and lilting instumental was

almost exactly like what the protestors had been playing! I knew it

wasn't the same piece, but it was very, very close. Bowie really was

such a genius, to capture something like that and make it so close to

the real thing. That song is still very special to me because I feel

like I've lived it.

            I turned slightly and smiled as J appeared in the room.

            "They're not sleeping here tonight, go ahead," I sighed, not about to

argue with him.

            "Why so agreeable tonight...did the exhibit and the museum change your

mind?" he asked, grinning as he sat down next to me.

            "NO! I'm just not about to argue with the guy who saved my

life...though there are limits," I added at his eager expression.

            "Fair enough...although you know I'm not about to let you forget this

any time soon."

            "I know...and now I'm glad you came along. Thanks, Jareth."

            "Your welcome, dear...you know I couldn't let that kid take you

out...I do care about you, you know," he said seriously, squeezing my

hand.

            "Why thank you," I replied, slightly shocked at the simple statement.

I must have been really tired, because I couldn't even begin to fight a

yawn.

            "I think it's time for lights out," Jareth chuckled.

            "All right...but if I catch you doing anything I saw in those monitors

today then you're sleeping in the single bed!" I warned as he hit the

lights and crawled into bed next to me.

            "You know, you're taking all the fun out of this-"

            "Don't even start!" I laughed before my head hit the pillow and I fell

sound asleep.

Ch. 9

            Groggily I examined myself in the bathroom mirror. I was packed and

ready to go down to breakfast; now all I had to do was make myself

presentable to human beings. The last thing I wanted was for everyone

who got near me to run screaming from my presence!

         As the door swung open I tried hard to fight a grin as Leeann

came in. She's this really preppy, prissy girl who tries to be an

actress. Key word, tries. I am sorry, but she has about an IQ of

ketchup and she tries to be so tough, but wimps out every time. She is

also so fun to get a rise of...and she always looks perfect. That's the

frustrating thing. She's practically drop-dead gorgeous as it is and

always is. Except for now...it looked like that morning I had stumbled

upon her secret...in the morning she looked worse than I did, and

that's an accomplishment!!!

            Finishing my primping, I decided to go ahead and be evil...she had

been whining the entire trip about how everything was so not like

America...well then don't go overseas, duh! Watching her in the mirror,

I waited until she acknowledged my presence, making sure I had all my

supplies packed and in my hands. She nodded to me and muttered

something. Turning, I looked at her and widened my eyes, a complete

look of horror on my face at her mussed hair and bleary-eyed

expression.

            "AAAAUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!" I screamed with

all the diaphramatic action I could muster before running out the door

and into the hall.

**********************************************

            Later that morning I was contentedly snoozing as we bussed our way to

Wroclaw (pronounced Rosewaw), Poland. Or I tried to snooze contentedly.

Unfortunately, I was woken up by Kim, Andy, Logan, John, and Antoinette

who were engaged in an enlightening religious conversation. John and

Antoinette, being the to-the-letter Catholics that they are (I have

nothing against Catholics, don't peach me, don't get mad!!!) couldn't

see that the rest were just trying to get a rise from them. Kim is

atheist and the others have dabbled with all sorts of religions,

including the occult. I'm sorry, but I just don't feel like being

yanked out of a good dream my discriptions of ceremonies, no matter

what religion a person is!

            "Well my motto is to accept all people, no matter what their

religion," Kim stated.

            "Well, my motto is that some things are just wrong and always will

be," Antoinette retorted.

            "Well my motto is live and learn," Logan was saying.

            "Well my motto is not to wake people up when they're trying to sleep!"

I stated, rising up to look behind me at the surprised faces.

            "AMEN, SELAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Jen, a fellow sopaltenoritone

(that's what we've dubbed ourselves since we can range the vocal

spectrum) cheered me from her groggy state a few seats in front of me

and to the side. "You people need to learn two words: SHUT UP!!!!"

            At that point sleep was totally out of the question, so I took out my

journal and began to scribble.

            *Quite an interesting speech, dear. What are you writing?*

            *You wouldn't be interested. It's not about you.*

            *Very funny, but it's bound to be better than the other conversational

choices. Read me what you've got.* Sighing, I mentally read my latest

attempt at lyrics.

(And this one even has a title!)

                         Song of the Innocent

            Young as a flower

            Old as the stars

            Decked out like a

            Proto-punk being from Mars

            Neglecting the future light

            All I need is the now

            Delve into the dark of the soul

            Subway station my field

            Begging my plow

            Green spiked hair

            Leather jacket and chains

            I write my story, sing my song

            Hold my life's reigns

            Don't need television

            Watch the visions with glazed eyes

            More coins mean nirvana tonight

            Leave the dark for a while

            To enter heaven's arms

            Cash, sex, food - it's all worth it

            Don't care which or how much I get

            I may look like a little wannabe

            But I'm more dangerous than you know

            Threats flash on my lips like the

            Blade on my belt

            Don't come close or I'll take

            What I beg for

            Hurry past or I'll

            Call the badge

            I'm the innocent created

            By your corrupt world

            Don't look into my eyes

            And fall under my spell

            *Interesting...sort of a first-person view of what happened

yesterday?*

            *You got it...I don't know...maybe I should scrap it.*

            *I didn't say that...I'd at least keep it around for experimental

purposes.*

             Nodding, I drew my attention to the border we had reached. This time

it took a little longer, but we got through without a problem

            By the time we got to Wroclaw I only had time to eat, shower, and

change before high-tailing it to the bus. Holding my backpack in front

of my face, I sat down and sighed.

            *What in the world are you doing?*

            *Protecting the innocent.*

            *What?*

            *All the people at the concert tonight will run out in terror; I

didn't have time to put on my makeup.*

            *Oh for heaven's sake, cut that out! You look fine!*

            *Thank you very much Mr. Maybelline!*

            *Shut up, I have an image to protect!*

            *Well so do I! It's called 'Selah likes to look somewhat human.'*

            *Very cute, but you do not need to be so self-concious! I swear, you

can be so impossible sometimes. Besides, you have more important things

to think about.*

            *Like what?!*

            *Like that spider crawling up your leg...* Immediately I jumped,

dropping my bag. Nothing was there. Looking up to the front of the bus,

I gave Jareth the iciest glare I could muster.

            *Made you look...* His enormous grin was not helping matters!

            *That was so low...*

            *Yes, but wonder of wonders: you look fine!*

            I rolled my eyes and smiled. Leave it to the goblin king to be one of

the few to leave me tongue-tied.

************************** 

            "Where the hell is my music!!!?" Bass ranted, pacing around the

warm-up room we were in.

            "Didn't I give it to you yesterday?" he asked, looking to me with

begging eyes.

            "I don't think so...sorry. I think you set it down for a while...geez,

I hope you didn't leave it in Berlin!" I replied with a straight face.

            "Damn! Dan's gonna kill me! I'll have to pay for all of that stuff!"

Before I could reply Dan walked in and took over from Logan, who had

been warming us up.

            "All right people, 'Every Time I Feel the Spirit!' And EYES ON ME!" We

started in on the number and I could barely contain myself as Bass

struggled to remember the words, searching for his music all the while.

Almost demurely I stretched, gracefully rose, delicately picked up a

black binder from my bag that looked the same as the thirty-seven

others in the room, sauntered across the room to face him, and held it

out to the bass singer.

            "WHY YOU-I will pray, Every time I feel the spirit..." I laughed

maniclly and quickly raced out of his reach as he regained his

composure and continued singing.

            I only took time to mouth "That's for the Spaghetti Bucket and

Restaurant Colosseo," before joining in the song.

*******************************

            The concert went well, dinner at the hostel was great, and now I was

in my room listening to Scary Monsters. Again, my roomies were nowhere

to be seen. Antoinette insisted nothing was going on. Uh-huh. Somehow

she seemed just a little too happy each morning for me to believe that.

Not that I was complaining...I liked having a room to myself and free

reign over her CD player. Except that at this hostel you couldn't move

the beds...darn. I smiled as I wrote in my journal how three of us had

squeezed in a closet- sized elevator to get up to our floor,

practically on each other's shoulders because of the luggage.

            BAM BAM BAM!!!!

            Rolling my eyes, I shouted to the door, "Come on Antoinette, get what

you need already!" She'd already been in and out of the room too much

that evening.

            BAM BAM BAAAAMMMM!!!!

            "All right, all right!" I sighed, flipping off 'Fashion' and walking

to the door. It took about five minutes to get it unlocked. I'm sorry,

but I don't like the idea that anyone can walk in on me, so I actually

use the locks, but these were really hard to get locked and unlocked!

Finally, I flung it open and promptly screamed my lungs out.

            "GET OUT OF HERE YOU AMERICAN SCUM!!!!!!!!!!" a huge, booming voice

roared as the muzzle of a gun was shoved in my face. All I could make

out was a big furry Russian-esque hat and a huge figure-

            ...and laughter that was too familiar. Bass lowered the toy rubber

pellet gun and leaned against the doorway, still laughing. "Man, you

should have seen the look on your face!!!!

            "Why you...you..." Maybe it was because he was used to me taking most

anything, maybe it was because he assumed I was the quiet, shy type,

maybe it was just the words I chose to use, but he actually blushed at

my response before high-tailing it out of the room as I chased him down

the corridor.

            Once I got back I found that Kim had come back for a few things and

invited Joel and Logan in in the process. Great...they'd never leave

and I was tired! For some reason we got onto the subject of Bowie and I

got to explain the whole phenomenon of Ziggy Stardust to Logan. Joel

just sat there, not really caring to listen to anything. He still

thought Bowie was an old fairy. After that I happened to mention that I

write and he asked to see some of my work. Shrugging, I showed him Song

of the Innocent, and he actually liked it! He's a musician, too, and

some of his stuff is quite good. He told me that I should stick with

it...that with a little work it could be great song lyrics. After that

he made me promise to at least show him some other stuff so maybe we

could collaborate together. That done, I managed to kick them out so I

could get some sleep.

            "And just *who* was that?" I turned and gave a nod of acknoledgement

to the king on the bed next to mine.

            "Friends...well, actually one friend. Joel just sort of comes with the

package. Why?"

            "You shouldn't be having guys in your room so late at night," Jareth

chided, pointing out that it was one a.m.

            I rolled my eyes. "For heaven's sakes, we were talking about music!

And who are you to complain...you're a guy!"

            "Yes, but that's different," he pouted, standing.

            "Whatever...you crashing here?"

            "Are you kidding? This time I'm far away from Dan...oh, don't take it

that way, dear, but the furniture is so small and I just couldn't bear

to spend the night in your room, but in a different bed."

            "Uh, thanks, I think. Wait a minute...shouldn't my mere presence make

you feel your life is fulfilled?" I retorted, grinning.

            "And you all think I'm egotistical...good night dear," he chuckled

before transporting to his own room.

            "Yeah yeah...night," I yawned before falling into bed.

**************************************

Ch. 10

            We drove along to Krakow in the bus again...but this time we would

take a side trip to the shrine of the black madonna (named thusly

because it survived so many fires and supposedly has healing

properties) and then head on to Krakow to give our first concert there.

We would be there four days and it was the last stop of the tour.

Sighing, I prepared to catch some shut-eye...

            I sat up as the bus changed lanes to get out of the way of an enormous

truck...something didn't feel right...

            A little red car behind us actually *drove off the road* in an attempt

to pass us! The truck swerved, so we had to, and suddenly...

            Thump.

            "DID WE HIT SOMETHING???!!" Dan bellowed.

            "Uh, yeah," Bass answered from the back. The director swore and had J

give directions to the bus driver to pull over and see what was up.

After watching from the window what seemed to be an enlightening

conversation with the Polish couple who resembled people from Jerry

Springer and were quite educated in that language, as well, calling the

police, and waiting forever, it became quite evident that we would have

to skip the shrine. I sighed, sulking, until a memory of one of the

last emails I had received before leaving crossed my mind. The corners

of my mouth tugged up, and although I tried to fight it, pretty soon I

was falling out of my seat, convulsing in hysteric laughter.

            "What's up with you, dear? People are staring!!" J told me, coming

over to where I sat.

            "Selah...I know it's hot in here...do you need water or want to go sit

outside?" Nurse Sandy asked me carefully.

            "Oh, no...it's just that I was remembering something someone told me

before I left." *J, Millennia was right!!!!!*

            *What?*

            *She told me I shouldn't be afraid of flying because more traffic

accidents happen than plane crashes...I guess this just proves it!!!*

At that I went into another bout of giggles. Jareth just shook his head

and rolled his eyes, but the others still on the bus looked at me as if

I were nuts before attempting to take pictures without getting caught.

**************************

            We stood outside the cathedral where we would be singing...it was

amazing! Well, at least the part that wasn't hidden behind scaffolding

was amazing. But later that week I would find great postcards of the

Cathedral Mariatzke that would verify that it was, indeed amazing.

(Yes, I did get a thesaurus for Christmas, why do you ask?)

            Clothed again in the dress that had become an enemy of war for me I

smiled at the passers-by, looking at us like we were some famous rock

group or something. Or maybe it was just because I had nearly broken

both legs trying to walk in the stupid gown. Ah, yes, I would take

great pleasure bragging to everyone that right after my freshman year

of college I went on my first European tour (hey, no one asks what it's

for, and I'm not about to tell em! heeheehee...)!

            "LOOK AT THE SIZE OF THESE BUGS!!!!" I turned and raised an eyebrow at

Leeann...who now had the top layer of her skirt over her head.

            "What in the world are you doing?" I asked, raising an eyebrow while

smacking at a swarm of small gnats that were flocking to us eagerly.

            "I hate bugs!" she whimpered. Well, so do I but these were tiny little

harmless things!

            "But they're so tiny!"

            "Yeah, that's why I hate em...you can't tell where they get to!" Okay,

the comment I responded to that with was so evil, but she was getting

on my nerves!!!! Good looks and a whiny attitude just don't mix, I'm

sorry!

            "Well, Leeann, I wouldn't worry about these things," I said, chuckling

lightly. "I'd worried about the ones they *eat*! Man, they must be

microscopic...think of where they could get...up your nose, in your

ears...I know a lady who got a bug in her eye and had to have it

surgically removed because it rolled back to her optic nerve!"

Actually, I think that was an exaggeration, but boy it was worth it!!!

            "Selah, that is so not funny! Stop being such a loser!" Uh-huh. Now

you know I just couldn't let this little comment go unretorted.

            "How much is it worth to you?" I asked, a Cheshire Cat grin on my

face.

            "Your life!" she bit back, glaring. Now, normally that would take me

by surprise and maybe make me feel a little intimidated, but from a

whiny, whimpering chick with her dress over her head...it just doesn't

work. So, I replied with the only thing that came to mind. I laughed

right in her face.

            "Then I guess I'm safe then, huh?!!!!" I roared, laughing even harder

at a new swarm of evil man-eating gnats that swooped down on her. Maybe

that was a little mean, because then she actually started to cry. This

was the girl that had scratched all her roommate's CDs because she got

mad at her? (I had sent out a warning that if I found one smudge on my

Bowie stuff I was hunting her down and ripping her appendages off,

whether Dan would send me home to a murder trial or not.) Man, if ya

can't stand the heat...

            I watched in wry amusement as she retreated to some of the guys to be

consolled.

            *This is really when I wish I had a camcorder.* I turned and smiled

sweetly at Jareth.

            *I guess you're just rubbing off on me, oh king of the insult.*

            *That was a little rough, though...*

            *True, but at this point I don't care...if I have to hear her utter

-that phrase- one more time...I'll scream!* He nodded, and I knew -that

phrase- was not his favorite, either. *I don't care if the

accomodations aren't five star, I don't care if she doesn't eat at all

because she'll only eat American grease...I don't care if-*

            "Augh! This whole trip is a disaster! IT'S NOT FAIR!!!!!!!!" That

would be -the phrase-. My jaw clenched and I just about had an

anneurism, I'm sure. Stomping back to where she stood, I calmed myself

and got ready to give the best retort I knew. She was leaning against

the wall of the church - oh, that was perfect! I leaned over her,

raising my palm to press against the stone right by her head, my eyes

boring into hers.

            "You say that so often, I wonder what your basis for comparison is," I

replied in a pretty good British accent...actually I've perfected it

from listening to Bowie and watcing Labyrinth so much. She just stared

at me like I had lost my mind and I started to stride back to where I

had been standing. But suddenly, behind me came the sounds of muffled

laughter.

            "WHAT'S SO FUNNY!?" she hollared.

            "It's from Labyrinth...oh, Selah, that was perfect!!!" Logan shouted,

practically jumping up and down! "You had the stance and everything!"

Pretty soon some of her sympathetic listeners were rolling with

laughter.

            "Well, it's official, Selah's nuts," Andy declared. Gee, I could've

attested to that years ago!

            "Nah, just obsessed," Antoinette interjected.

            "No, just appreciative," Logan defended. "That shirt you wore

yesterday was just like the black one he wore in that, too!" he

recalled, referring to my brilliant find at a thrift shop. (Hey,

awesome stuff for cheap prices - that 100% silk black poet's blouse

cost me all of $1.50!) I nodded and walked over to Jareth.

            *That was wonderful, dear...but do I really sound like that?* I

grinned.

            *Beats me...I probably wasn't on all the way cause I was mad...man,

what do guys see in her, besides the obvious?!* I rolled my eyes as her

harem started up again.

            *I don't know...but she seems worse than....-her-!* I glanced up at

him and flashed a wicked grin.

            *You mean she's worse than S-*

            *Say it and you will be sorry.* I nodded, knowing not to push that

button. Besides, it was time for us to go in and sing!

************************

            After the concert the choir of the Univerity of Technology invited us

to a party and dinner. It was fun, or I guess it was fun. By that time

I was trying to stop the percussion section that must've set up in my

head. I tried to eat as much as I could, forcing down some stew in a

muffin, some salad, some vegetables in a chicken boullion geletain

(which was actually really good), and a slice of cake...but only bits

and pieces of these courses made it down. The rest stayed on my plate

because I just couldn't move.

            I cringed as the choir began to sang for us; not because they were

bad, but because my head was beyond throbbing at that point. The

champagne we were required to drink in a toast probably didn't help,

either. I managed to glance over at Steve as he tried to talk to a

group of people in Polish. He did okay, I guess, but I couldn't

comprehend much at that time. He mentioned Star Wars and introduced

the group to me. I put on a polite smile and tried to send him

telepathic thoughts of *Steve I'm dying and not in the mood for this

now...stop it or I'll hurt you!* but the Force didn't seem to be with

him.

            "Ah, so how are you getting on with these Americans?" one asked me.

            "What?" I replied, dumbfounded.

            "Huh?" Steve replied, just dumb. (okay, that's mean, I know! but you

have to admit it's funny!)

            "Well, aren't you a translator?"

            "Uh...no."

            "Well, are you British?"

            "Not that I'm aware of," I replied, staring at the speaker through a

haze.

            "You mean you're *American*?!" he asked in shock. "I never would have

guessed...your demeanor is not like most Americans at all...I thought

you were European, I'm sorry!"

            I managed a grin, quite amused by this time. "Hey, don't be, that's

quite a compliment, thanks!" And they hadn't even seen how I really

dressed yet! My amusement was short-lived, though, as my headache

increased and I nearly fell off the chair I was in.

            "Selah, are you all right?" Neil asked, coming over to me. I managed

to shake my head (I was having to hold it up at the time) and get my

eyes to focus on him. "I'll get Sandy," he replied.

            Pretty soon Paula (really nice, by the way) found me and decided I

couldn't wait for Sandy; I had to get to her. She had become sort of a

Sandy number two and assisted with giving us our daily wellness pills

(they're horse pills, I'm sure...at least they taste like horse) and

such. That meant that she actually had to help me walk, and she's a bit

shorter than I am. We met Neil half way and he handed me some Aleve.

Nodding, I managed to open a bottle of water and down the stuff...then

nearly fall over as Paula let go.

            "Kiddo, you okay? Headache?" I looked back and up into Dan's worried

face. He managed to catch me before I hit the floor.

            "Yeah...at this point I feel like there's a nuclear war going on in my

skull..." I said, smiling weakly.

            "Do you get migraines?"

            "I don't think I've ever had one..." That's the truth, too. This one

must've been my first, oh joy of joys.

            "It must be the stress...you've had a hard day," he sighed, running a

hand against my head lightly. "Go get your things and sit on the steps

outside...I want you on the bus as soon as it gets here." Nodding, I

managed to sort of walk to where I had been sitting, fumble around for

my stuff, almost lose a camera (Dan found it, bless him!), and stumble

outside...where the rest of the choir had been guzzling wine and was

now singing at the top of their lungs. I buried my head between my

knees and actually began to cry from the pain...I've never had a

headache that bad, and now was *not* the time to start! I looked up at

the figure who sat down beside me.

            "Dan said to come keep an eye on you," Jareth explained, giving me a

worried look.

            "Good...honestly, I've never had a headache this bad..."

            "Is the medicine working any?"

            "It hasn't had enough time..." I glared as the group started a really

(purposfully) bad rendition of I'll Tumble 4 Ya which was also

extremely loud. "I think I am going to die," I moaned, unable to stop

the tears. Thankfully, at that moment the bus pulled up and J managed

to get me on. I spread out across the seat and tried to focus on

something nice; thankfully Kim was now sitting with Andy. Dan

immediately turned off the interior lights and we rode in peace

until...

            "All right ladies and gentlemen," he said from the microphone, causing

the pain which had downgraded from a-bomb to halocaust to rise up in my

head again. "Get some sleep, stay inside...good night." I said my

good-byes and managed to make it inside, up the elevator, to my floor

and into the room I was now sharing with Liz (see the Poznan episode).

Actually, the migraine was good in the fact that it made her take pity

on me and not have her boyfriend move in with us...she decided she'd

spend nights with him so I had another four days of a room to myself!!!

            I plopped onto the bed and realized I had to put the slipcover on the

comforter and pillowcase on the pillow. And I wanted to take a

shower...

            Groaning, I got out the linen and about burst into tears again when I

found out all the button holes were sewn shut. I had brought a sewing

kit with me but in this state...

            I jumped at the hand on my shoulder and managed to look up into J's

face. "Go do what you need to do...I'll take care of this," he

insisted. Too weak to argue, I headed for the showers. . One benefit to

everyone in your sector (the rooms were arranged in groups of four to

one main door) being punch drunk was that the shower was free and there

was a surplus of hot water. Okay, it wasn't exactly free...upon closer

inspection I realized Leeann was in the midst of taking one of her

three-hour long showers.

            "Leeann..." I managed, "you need to hurry. I really need to take a

shower, please."

            "Well, I'll try, but I just got in." I could hear the smirk in her

voice...she had stepped in twenty minutes ago.

            "Look, you're using up all the hot water!"

            "Yes I am." At that I snapped completely. I was tired of being nice to

her, tired of dealing with her whining, tired of her attitude, and

tired of the explosions going on in my head. Not caring, I yanked aside

the curtain to the shower room and stood in front of the door to the

actual shower. She shrieked in surpise, which only triggered more of my

anger.

            "ALL RIGHT YOU LITTLE TWERP...I AM TIRED OF BEING NICE TO YOU SO

LOOK...IF YOU DON'T GET OUT OF THERE IN THIRTY SECONDS I'M COMING IN

AND STRANGLING YOU WITH THE SHOWER HEAD'S HOSE, THEN I'LL THROW YOU

DOWN THE STAIRS, RIP OFF YOUR LIMBS, HACK YOU TO PIECES WITH MY MINI

SEWING SCISSORS, PUT YOUR PIECES ON THE HARD BREAD AND CHEESE AT

BREAKFAST TOMORROW MORNING, EAT YOU, SPIT OUT YOUR EYEBALLS, AND PICK

MY TEETH WITH YOUR

VERTEBRAE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

            By this time I was actually banging on the shower door. I couldn't

really tell what her reaction was, but I knew I had convinced her.

Turning, I left the shower room to wait in the main bathroom. Ten

seconds later she was out and I was stepping into cascades of

beautifully warm water. It did help my head, but not completely. But

that little incident did ensure the fact that Leeann wouldn't try to

mess with me much during the rest of the trip. I had never been so

mad...honestly, I probably would've done it at that point, I was

feeling so evil. But the water helped to wash my tension and anger

away.

            Finally, I was able to fall into bed (literally). I sighed as I

realized everything was in place and the lights were out. The windows

were open slightly, letting a cool breeze waft in, giving me some

tranquility. I started slightly at the change of weight on the

bunkbed. Yes, bunkbed. Actually, since I was the only one in the room I

claimed bottom and threw my junk up on top, mainly because I just

*knew* I would fall out if I needed to get up during the night...as it

was, I had already clunked my head against the top bunk three times

trying to get the stupid slipcover on before Jareth intervened. I

looked up into mismatched eyes that were dead serious.

            "Are you sure you'll be okay?" he asked quietly. Ah, quiet...it was so

nice for someone to actually try and be quiet. I nodded weakly, but he

remained unconvinced. "I'll stay with you until you fall asleep," J

insisted, raising my head to rest in his lap. I didn't argue at all as

he removed the ponytail holder I usually keep my hair up with when I

sleep, mainly because I have the thickest hair on the planet and

suffocate if I leave it down...I'm serious, my hair could stop a truck.

But this time I would chance it.

            *This won't do...you'll just make it hurt more.* I nodded silent

agreement and sighed as he ran his fingers through my tresses. With the

strong medicine and such good treatment, I couldn't help but fall

asleep in no time.

Ch. 11

            Jen and I looked at each other with eager grins before making a mad

dash down the main strip in Krakow's city center. We were headed

towards the main shopping area, the cloth hall. We passed by the small

shops on the streets that hadn't opened yet; we'd hit those later.

Pausing only to pick up some post cards and watch some street musicians

and mimes, we soon found ourselves face to face with the huge indoor

market.

            "So, what do we look for first?" she asked me, grinning maniclly;

we're both shop-aholics, especially when we're around people who are

the same way.

            "Gifts for the family, but I wanna see everything!"

            "Suits me!" she laughed and we began wedging through the crowds of

people at the booths. Soon we had discovered which one was the cheapest

and best place to buy amber jewelry. With Jen's help I picked out a

necklace for my grandma and one for my voice teacher and earrings for

my mom. She found a beautiful amber cameo pin and decided to splurge.

After that we walked up and down the hall until my eyes hit...

            "Oh my word...it's amazing," I murmured, totally captivated by the

wooded triptek hanging off the roof of one booth. It featured Christ on

the cross in the middle, and his mother Mary on one hinged door and

Mary Magdalene on the other. It could be folded up or left hanging

open...it would also be the perfect anniversary present for my parents,

if I could afford it. My family is always buying antiques and folk art,

and this would go great with some of our other pieces...but it was

bound to be loads.

            "First off, can you fit it in your suitcase?" she asked me.

            "Yeah, I'm positive...well, here goes. How much?" I asked the vendor.

            "One hundred and five zloty."

            "Selah!" Jen whispered, "You'll never find a deal like that

again...that's like, twenty bucks!!! If you want it, buy it now!"

Nodding, I quickly paid for the piece and had it wrapped. We then

continued on, buying some wooden eggs for gifts and buying doilies from

a little old lady street vendor. My grandma in Ohio would love them.

Walking along the city streets was amazing...everything had its own

rhythm and the languages blended together in a fascinating way. Taking

our time, we gaped at the paintings being sold...so many styles! From

Impressionist, to abstract, to old master-like paintings...they were

incredible.

            We stopped at a pastry shop and gorged ourselves before meeting Big

Papa and the other folks who would be visiting a salt mine that

afternoon.

*********************

            The mine was amazing...it was filled with statues all carved from

salt. My favorites were a cavern filled with gnomes that supposedly

helped the miners and a huge cathedral complete with salt chandaleers.

It even detailed Christ's life in murals along the walls; too bad it

was too dark for pictures, but I got some postcards on the way out. We

even got to sing in the main cathedral, which took two men sixty-eight

years to carve by hand. The best part, though, had to be...

            The ride back out! To get in we had to walk down three hundred stairs,

which nearly killed poor Kasey, who had developed a stress fracture in

Berlin and was on crutches. We would ride up in a rickety old metal

elevator...in the dark! That was cool enough, but this was another

instance where we would see just how many singers we could cram in an

elevator. The girls and smaller guys got in one...we averaged about ten

people, I think. Everything was dark, and we had been told it was a

lightning-fast ride.

            "I'm scared! Somebody hold me," Troy shouted as the doors were shut.

All of us giggled.

            "Hey, who just grabbed my butt?!" Jen shouted. Laughing, we

waited...the suspense starting to take it's toll.

            "We're all gonna die!" sombody shrieked, and Jen and I clung to each

other for dear life. Suddenly, we were off!

            "You mean this is it?" I asked, disappointed that it wasn't fast

enough to shoot me to the ceiling.

            "No fair! I wanna hurl!" That would be Troy again.

            "Okay...group scream!" Jen advised. "One...two...three..."

*****AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGGGGGGHHHHHH******

            Finally, we were brought up to the sunlight and waited for the rest of

our group to join us.

            "That's it, I'm suing!" Bass bellowed, climbing out of the elevator.

"They stuffed all us huge people in one elevator...there was like

twelve of us!

            "No doubt, we weren't breathing at all!" Dave Carter shouted,

grinning. We piled back on the bus and got ready for another few hours

of shopping.

**************

            "Hey look! PIGEONS!!!" Jondi squealed, pointing to the flocks that

filled the square in front of the Cloth Hall. I'm not kidding; they

were everywhere. "Let's feed them!" she shouted. Nodding, I followed

her to a vendor and got some bird seed. Feeding the birds turned out to

be more exciting than we thought...they came right up to you and ate

out of your hand! I had one perch on my shoulder and one climbed on my

arm and refused to get off! Grinning, we began to sing in unison:

            "Feeeed the biiiiirds, tupence a bag....tupence, tupence, tupence a

baaaaagggg...."

            "Hey Antoinette, take our picture!" Jondi commanded as she spotted the

blond. They do *not* get along, but hey, we needed someone to

commemerate the moment on film. She did, and soon we were back at the

cloth hall. I purchased an amber-handled letter opener for my grandpa

and something told me to go back to the jewelry booth I had been to

earlier...

            My eyes widened in loving awe as I saw them: a whole display of

crystals. One captivated me, though...a small paperweight, just a

little smaller than the crystals Jareth usually conjured; just large

enough to sit in the palm of my hand. In its center was an eruption of

purple and green swirled glass...truly stunning. I didn't even think

twice before buying it. As I turned to leave, though, I spotted the one

the lady put in its place...instead of purple and green, it had blue

swirls just the color of a certain king's cape in a certain movie.

Well...he had done a lot for me and I did owe him my life...glancing

around, I made sure he wasn't nearby before buying it. Grinning, I

accepted the box and started to put it in my bag-

            "And what are you up to?"

            "Uh..Jareth! Hi! I didn't see you..." I sputtered, turning around

quickly.

            "I just came in...find much?"

            "Oh yeah...I'm going to go wander around outside...later!" I waved to

him and started to leave, but stopped, trapped again as my attention

was taken by an object in the case. I had sworn not to get any jewelry

for myself because I just hadn't seen any I liked, but this...It was a

silver owl with a small oval of amber on its center, suspended on a

delicate silver chain. The price was reasonable, but I had been buying

for myself throughout the trip and I still needed to get stuff for

other people...

            "What is it?"

            "Nothing...nothing at all," I sighed, silently bidding the necklace a

sad farewell. I'm a jewelry-aholic as it is...but that was just

amazing. Ah well...it would probably be gone by time I came back on

Sunday and the thought of it would plague me no more.

            Leaving the cloth hall, I stopped (yep, you guessed it) when I saw

what was hanging in a booth...a leather relief of Christ's face

complete with a golden crown of thorns...it would make a great father's

day gift and maybe get my dad to lay off me for a while (it didn't

work, by the way). Paying the Polish equivilent of fifteen bucks, I

proudly slipped it into a bag and left.

            After walking around with Antoinette and John, I stumbled upon Neil

and Steve and walked with them. We ended up looking at the paintings

Jen and I had seen earlier, only now there was a woman selling jewelry,

as well. I bought a totally brilliant ring: something that resembled a

moonstone with colors like those of twilight in a silver setting, the

metal curved into coils that resembled the letter s next to the stone.

It was kind of big, but that never stopped me from wearing stuff

before! Going to meet the rest of the group, I proudly displayed my

hand.

            "What is that?" Dan asked.

            "A ring!" I laughed.

            "I know that!" he said, rolling his eyes.

            "Look what else I got, though," I replied, quickly pulling out the

leather picture. He actually gasped and lightly traced where tears had

been carved down Jesus' cheeks. He assured me my dad would love it.

**********************

            Back at the hostel, I watched as Kim struggled to put her slipcover on

her comforter; she wasn't sure which room she was staying in tonight.

Grumbling, she pushed it onto the floor and crawled part way in, trying

to get the corners to match.

            "I don't know how this could be harder!" she complained.

            "I do!" I shouted, picking up her ankles and throwing the rest of her

in the bag.

            "SELAH!!!!" Laughing, she struggled to get out. "I think I'm

stuck!!!" After a little thinking, a little struggling, and a lot of

laughing, we got her out. Leaning against the bunkbed, I spied a

sticker of a dwarf.

            "Kim! You just had to take a salt gnome with you from the mine! I knew

you had a harem somewhere!"

            "Oh you know it...he's just unbeatable!" she replied, smirking. I

couldn't resist...

            "Yeah, who says good things don't come in small packages!"

            "OH MY LORD!!!!!!!!!!!!! SSEEEELAAAAHH!!!!!! That is just...you are

certainly *NOT* innocent!"

            "Who me? Of course I'm innocent!" I breathed, striking a damsel in

distress-ish pose. Antoinette came in right at that moment.

            "Do I even want to know what's going on?"

            "Kim kidnapped a gnome from the salt mines so she could make him her

personal concubine," I replied, deadpan before Kim and I cracked up

again.

            "Okay...uh, if you're coming to Burger King with us...we're leaving in

a few minutes."

            "Okay! I'm coming!"

            Ten minutes later I was pacing the halls, waiting for the lovebirds to

come on! My eyes fell upon Regis and Andy sitting on a windowsill in

the hallway, smoking out the open window, and Kim standing behind them.

Cackling, I didn't think as I jogged towards them and lifted a foot up

in slow-motion, miming like I was gonna kick her out the window...

            She turned around and nearly had a heart attack. Grinning feebley, I

tried to stop...

            Then realized both my feet were in the air.

            TTTTHHHHHHHHHHHUUUUUUUUUMMMMMMMPPPPPPPPPP!!!!!!!!!!!!

            I looked up into the bright ceiling lights, stunned. I could've sworn

birdies were flying over my head, honest. Joni, Bass's girlfriend, came

running as soon as she heard.

            "Oh my-what happened!?" By this time we were all laughing

uncontrollably and Kim had to catch her breath before explaining.

Slowly feeling began to creep back into my appendages.

            "What's going on here?" We paused at the deathly calm of the accented

voice. The others turned slowly around and I lifted my head up to find

Jareth standing at the other end of the hall. "What happened?"

            "Uh...nothing, Jareth, honest!" Kim said, blushing. "Just a little

accident on the slippery floor!" He nodded.

            *Darling, I just can't keep you out of trouble, can I?* His thoughts

were definitely amused and I frowned as his laughter echoed through my

mind. Walking over, he helped me up and looked into my eyes, still as

stern as ever.

            "Well...you don't seem to have split your skull open or anything, but

next time be careful?" *Just think, you could've gone soaring out the

window!* Rolling my eyes, I agreed, partially unsure how to handle his

serious chaperon impersination.

*************************************

            Steve and I walked back from Burger King...a very long walk with him,

indeed. It wasn't all that far, but when you have to listen to a guy do

really bad Canadian impressions...it's far, trust me. We frowned upon

hearing sirens in the hostel.

            "Fire alarm! Stay outside!" Dan shouted, running out. Pretty soon, all

of us were standing on the steps. It turned out to be a false alarm, so

we walked inside and I started up the stairs...

            WHEEWHEEWHEEEWHEEEWHEEEWHEEEE....

            Cursing, I ran back down and outside. All of us gathered again and I

took the opportunity to cram a fish sandwich and fries into my stomach.

It was this time that we noticed a group of students hanging out the

windows, laughing at us and pointing. Once the sirens stopped, Dan

marched back in and declared he wasn't paying if it happened again.

Five seconds later, it did. He was just venting, but spending half the

evening outside is not a picnic. In between alarms we sent people up to

lock all our doors in case someone was trying to pull off a robbery.

Finally, finallly I was able to get into my room.

****************

            I sighed with contentment from my shower and sat in my room, putting

on my pj's. I tugged on my top and a pair of underwear (hey, I said I'm

lazy in the morning, and it's a good thing too!) and socks, breathing

in the crisp night air coming from the open window.

            BAM BAM BAM BAM!!!!

            "Just a minute!" I called. The door was unlocked, but only because I

had been back and forth to the bathroom to fetch stuff. I started to

tug on my sweat pants...

            When the door opened, in stepped some Polish guy Leeann had dubbed as

cute and invited up to her room at eleven...except that because of the

way the rooms were set up, mine was right across from the main entry

door and she hadn't told him where hers was. And it looked like he

didn't care who was in the room, as long as it was female.

            I paled as his gaze travelled where it didn't belong. That was

it...first drunk Polish guys, then a punk, now this! I was totally

exasperated and began taking my own survey: a little taller than

myself, well built, slightly muscular, looked as dumb as rocks.

            I could so take him.

            As he stepped inside I let my pants drop to the floor and shrieked,

bellowed, and roared all at the same time.

            "GET OUT OF HERE YOU PSYCHO PERVERT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" I

shouted as I jumped up and flew towards him, ready to tackle. His eyes

widened in horror and he backed away.

            "I-I'm sorry! I was just uh..."

            "JUST ACTING LIKE A MORON! YOU'RE GONNA BE SORRY, YOU LOSER!!!!!!!!"

Screaming, I shot down the hall after him like a rocket. Lucky for him

he had a running start.

            ****************

            Quickly, I rushed down the hall and headed to J's room. Banging on the

door, I yelled, "Jareth! Get out here *now*!!!!"

            "Just a second..." I could hear the sound of a key in the lock. "What

is it?" he asked upon opening the door.

            "Come on!" I shouted, grabbing his hand and dragging him to my room. I

quickly slammed the door and pointed to the key. "I am locking us in

here for the night...you are not leaving this room till sunrise, you

got that? And no funny stuff!!!" He merely gave me an amused look

before sitting down on the bed.

            "Darling...are you aware that you're sending me mixed signals?" he

asked, glancing down at my lower portion.

            It was at that moment that I realized that I still wasn't wearing any

pants.

            I blushed from the tip of my ears to the soles of my feet before

attempting a reply. "Blast it! I forgot I dropped them when I chased

the crazy guy out of here!"

            "WHAT?!"

            "Some guy Leeann invited up here barged into my room and...well I

didn't give him a chance to state what he wanted! I chased him out!!!"

            "Good girl...you sure you're all right?" he asked, plucking my pants

off the floor and handing them to me.

            "Yeah, but I am so going to slaughter that girl!!! What?!" I asked

upon noticing his thoughtful look.

            "You know...you really don't need those on-"

            "Can it! I'm not in the mood at the moment!" I bit back, tugging on

the clothing. "Hang on," I told the the king before stepping out into

the hall where my name was being called.

            Hillary and Liz were out in the room where all our doors led out to.

            "He caught me in the shower! Luckily I was in a towel!" Hillary

shouted, mad as hell.

            "Yeah...Leeann has such good taste, doesn't she? Remind me to thank

her," I said, adding my own incident to the mix. So I hadn't been the

only one he had tried...I was just the one who chased him away.

            "I swear, how do her parents live with her? They must be just like she

is!" Hillary sighed, frowning.

            "If she were my kid I'd ship her off to boot camp," I grumbled.

            "MAN, IF SHE WERE MY KID, I'D BEAT HER!!!!!" Liz roared, then turned

to face Leeann, who had just come down the hall. The two explained what

had happened and she gave a reaction so like her: she ran into her

room, locked the door, and hid.

            "I'm changing my vote to agree with Liz," I muttered.

            "Hey...who's that down the hall? Is he coming back here?" Liz asked,

eyes widening. Quickly she began banging on all the doors in our nook,

spreading the word to lock things down for the night. I entered my room

and shut and locked the door before facing the goblin king again.

            "That's it, you're definitely staying!"

            "You better believe I am...I heard what you were saying in the hall;

someone has to protect you - don't look at me like that! Like it or

not, you're female and there are some very persistent males out there

in the world..."

            "Yeah, so I noticed," I quipped, grinning sweetly before walking over

to the bunkbed. "All right...I guess you can have the top bunk," I

sighed.

            "Are you insane?"

            "Okay, you can have the bottom." Jareth stood and shook his head, his

eyes sparkling the way they tend to when he gets an idea that I know

I'm going to regret.

            "You want me to protect you? Well then the best way for me to

discourage anyone is-"

            "You are not sleeping in the same bed as me!!!"

            "You didn't mind in Berlin!" he pouted.

            "That's because in Berlin the beds weren't the size of a thimble! No

way are we going to be able to fit in one here!" I argued, still

steamed. 

            "Oh, come on," he purred, taking me by the shoulders and urging me to

the bed. "Where's your sense of fun? We can cuddle..."

            "No we can't!!" I started to retort, but it was muffled then silenced

as his lips found mine. I'll admit, it had been an interesting past few

days and this was a perfect way to relieve stress, but...

            "Jareth! We can't be making out in here! You're a chaperon, remember?"

I told him, pulling away as much as he would let me.

            He grinned before whispering a reply. "True, but I was right...it's

much more fun now that it's so wrong," he teased and I rolled my eyes.

            "Yeah, yeah...but it's late and I'm tired so can we please just go to

bed?"

            "Well...that is a bit forward, but...of course." I glared at him as he

hit the lights.

            "That is *not* what I meant!!!"

Ch. 12

            Boring...boring...BOOORRRRINNNNGGGG!!!!! I sighed and resisted beating

some of the obnoxious kids behind me. Normally touring a castle,

especially one as magnificent as Wawel would be a dream come true, but

our tour guide had the volume of a mouse, I knew nothing about Polish

history, and there were a million noisy kids there also for field

trips. Now I know Europeans have a lot less personal space than

Americans...actually I'm pretty much that way too, so I normally don't

mind. But I do mind when little ankle-biters are jumping on my back!!!!

            I grimaced at Jareth as another munchkin decided for the zillionth

time that I would make a good jungle gym.

            *What's the matter, dear? I thought you liked children.* I resisted

the urge to toss the dear little delinquent on my back at him in an

attempt to knock the grin off his face.

            *I do...but these aren't children. They've gotta be goblins that

somehow reversed the spell.* My frown deepened as I heard giggles

behind me and another weight launched itself upon my personage. That

was it.

            Turning around, I grabbed a girl about half my size and looked her in

the eyes, a huge frown plastered on my face. "Hello," I said

mock-sweetly. "Good-bye," I added, tossing her to the closest

teacher-like person. "The next person to try that is going to take up

permanent residence in the crypt!" I growled.

            *My, but that was handled well...did you learn that from working

day-care?*

            *Not that particular technique...my mom's a preschool teacher,* I shot

back. Normally I love kids, I really do...but at the moment...

            I hurried to catch up to the group that was going up to the bell

tower. Unfortunately, I had to heave myself through a lot of tiny

places to get there. Yes, I'm slender, no, I don't have

claustrophobia...the reason for my terror at the moment was because....

            A million little kids were coming with us.

            I huffed up the flights of stairs, smiling in slight amusement as Dan

struggled to get his huge form through...and I have it on good

authority that he is slightly claustrophobic. It was worth it,

though...the bell was huge - eleven tons. The clapper alone was almost

as tall as I was.

            "All right, the legend on this is that if you touch the clapper with

your left hand and make a wish, it'll come true!" Dan yelled above the

roar of tiny voices. What the heck, certainly no harm in trying!

Grinning, I had Steve (at least he's good for something!) take my

picture as I put my hand into position.

            *And what are you going to wish for, love? I already can make your

dreams come true...*

            *Shut your face. If you want to flaunt your magic, take some of these

kids!!!* He looked absolutely appalled at that suggestion.

            *Are you kidding? Think of what havoc they'd wreak on my throne room!

Out of curiousity...what are you wishing for...maybe I can comply-*

            *Don't finish that! And I'm not telling...everyone knows if you tell

what you wish for, you'll never get it!* (heheh...got ya curious now,

don't I?) Jareth pouted momentarily, but was broken from his

performance as a little twerp decided he'd be fun to climb. I could

tell J was really trying to restrain himself...his hands were just

itching to form a crystal, I know.

            *Why Jareth...I think you've made a friend!!!*

            *Shut up!*

**************************************

            From there Natalia, our guide and a friend of Dan's, decided we had

missed the best part of the tour and she needed to show us, herself.

We trekked along by the river next to the castle, wondering what in the

world she had in mind.

            "Now then, there is a dragon that lives under the river...he protects

the city of Krakow whenever it's in danger, so most of the time no one

ever sees him..."

            "That's stupid! There's no such thing as dragons!!!" Gee, guess who

that was. Our own dear Miss Skeptic and Loudmouth, Leeann! Upon hearing

her voice I really tried hard not to push her in the river and hope the

dragon would think she was tastey.

            "Don't say that! There's one here!" Natalia shot back. "Besides, I can

show you...he even breathes fire!" Now I'm a fantasy-lover to begin

with...but this just sounded too cool! I leapt ahead to walk at her

side, knowing it probably wasn't what I hoped, but still, it sounded

interesting...

            My jaw dropped in awe and excitement upon seeing the statue. It was

huge...a dragon rearing up on its hind legs, wings spread. It just

couldn't get any more amazi-

            WHHHHOOOOOOOOOOOOOSSSSSSSHHHHH!!!!!

            "I don't believe it!!! The thing actually BLEW FIRE!!!!" I laughed.

"SOMEONE TAKE MY PICTURE!!!" I was jumping up and down by time it did

it again, a few minutes later. After getting it on film we turned

around and were bombarded by vendors. Grinning, I bought a handful of

dragon medallions and a beautiful hand-made nesting doll for my mom's

birthday in July (the suspense is killing me!!!) Hopping into the bus,

I sighed with contentment and looked out the window, drinking in the

view of the river and the castle. I almost missed the ripple moving

across the body of water...

            *Uh...J? Do you see that?*

            *What, dear?*

            *That...* I repeated, gesturing out the window with my head. *Is

that...is that what I think it is?* There weren't any boats or moving

debris of any kind out on the water at all, and the wind was perfectly

still.

            *Well...if there can be goblin kings, I suppose dragons are a

possibility!* he replied, looking wistfully out his own window. Gee, I

guess it could remind him of home...speaking of large, scaley, hungry,

viscious beasts...I wondered if Thor had remembered to feed Ronno, my

pet Rancor that J has graciously let me keep in the Underground. I

missed the 'little' guy...

*********************************

            "Dum de dum dum...What do you get a Wookie for Christmas, when he

already owns a coooomb? What do you get in a hurry for a furry kind of

friend like that to take hooooome!!!! He'll never use a tie clip and he

doesn't use shaving foaaaaam so what do you get a Wookie for Christmas

when he already owns a cooooomb!" I sang lightly as I did my makeup in

the bathroom mirror. That was probably one of the more difficult parts

of living with me; any time I go into a bathroom for any reason, I have

to give a full concert. It's just some weird, primal urge I get;

besides, bathrooms have great acoustics. I chuckled at the look Joni

was giving me.

            "What in the world are you singing!?"

            "What do you get a Wookie for Christmas when he already owns a comb!"

I laughed. "It's from the Star Wars Christmas album. Another good one

is 'R2-D2 we wish you a Merry Christmas, R2-D2 we love you it's true,

R2-D2 we wish you a merry Christmas, we hope our little message gets to

you!!!" All right, so I was in a festive mood for no reason! I returned

to my room to dress, humming Rainbow Connection. Inspiration sparked

suddenly, and I segued into Chilly Down.

            "SSSSSSHHHHHHHUUUUUUUUUUTTTTTTT UUUUUUUUUUUUPPPPP!!!!!!" My eyes

narrowed at Leeann's voice. Oh for pete's sakes...Without giving it a

second thought, clothed in my slip and nylons I ran across the nook and

skidded into her room.

            "NO, YOU SHUT UP MWAHAHAHAHAAHAAAAA!!!!!" I screeched in my best

goblin voice before skidding out. Those who were in the bathroom

rewarded my looney efforts with a round of laughter; I think Leeann had

passed out from shock or gone into cardiac arrest.

****************************

            Well...our last performance had been almost perfect. There were a few

bugs, but it was good enough to keep the recording. Even Ascendit Deus

turned out well...that's the Latin chant-like church piece that we

did...it's fabulous. Now we were driving to the city center to divide

up into groups and eat. Looking out the window, I gave a melancholy

sigh.

            "What's the matter?" Kim asked from the seat behind me.

            "It started on Wednesday...and I'm not there. I'm missing it...the

greatest phenomenon of the decade, and I'm missing it."

            "What?" Antoinette asked, pausing only a brief second to gaze away

from John's eyes.

            "Episode One...the thing that I need to keep on going...the glory that

is Star Wars...I'm suffering from deprivation...I don't think I can

make it-

            WHAT IS THAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!????????????????"

            "What What!!!!?" practically half the people on the bus shouted back.

            "Tell the bus driver to turn up the radio, QUICK!!!!" I grinned,

taking in the melodies I had first heard on an Entertainment Tonight

special...it couldn't be...it just....

            It was.

            "It's the Episode One music they put together for the radio and music

video!!!!" I shrieked, jumping up and down on the edge of my seat. "All

right, guys...SHUT UP!!!!!!" Grinning broader still, I closed my eyes

and let the sweet music sweep over me...man, if only I could be in that

chorus for episodes two and three!!! I sighed, nearly to the point of

tears as it faded, Yoda's voice barely audible over the music...

            "Fear leads to anger...anger leads to hate...hate leads to

suffering..." Sure, I was getting plenty of looks, but I didn't care!

IT WAS STAR WARS!!!!!!!!

***************************

            Kim Franklin and I hurried down the dark streets, avoiding the concert

that was going on in the square...as well as public displays of

affection that I had never really thought possible, let alone

comfortable. We had to find a restaurant for us, Kasey, Dave Tingley,

and Chanda that was close enough for Kasey to get to, but open.

            "Hey, how about there?" she asked, pointing to a sign labeled the

Coroner's Pub. I took a good look...a really good look....oh good

gravy, she couldn't be serious...

            Around the place were bunches of shops featuring occult items, gothic

stuff, groups and cults that I really wasn't sure I wanted to know what

their goal in life was...what stopped me cold, though, was a display in

one store that was sort of like a gallery exhibit...

            For the sake of keeping this piece at a reasonable audience level, I

won't describe it. But let's just say this....

            It was exactly like something from the album, Outside.

            My attention was diverted by a group entering the pub through an alley

entrance...a female was faintly reminiscent of one of the

characters...gulping, I turned and shook my head vehemently to Kim.

            "Look, for one thing, we don't blend in..we're in our formals! For

another thing...you don't want to go in there."

            "Look, it's just the name for shock factor...there's places named like

that in the states, it's no big deal-" she started to head for the

entrance.

            "ARE YOU INSANE!!!!??? EVEN I WOULN'T SET FOOT IN THERE!!!!"

            "So it's some kind of goth techno place, big deal!"

            I took her by the shoulders and resisted the urge to shake her. Kasey

had been right...no common sense at all. "Look, I like techno stuff,

goth really doesn't bother me, but it's different here!! This isn't the

states...besides, it's not even completely that!!!!! You haven't seen

this before! Listen to me...if you want to go in, you can, but I'm not.

And if you don't come out right away, I'm not going in after you!"

            "I can take care of myself, Selah!!!" I paused a moment to run off a

drunk guy that was standing too close before answering.

            "Uh-huh...I want you to look at something, and look good. See those

nice folk over there? Look closely at their 'jewelry' and what it

really is..." I paused, letting her watch some patrons enter through

the alley. She paled slightly.

            "Those have gotta be fake."

            "They're not. They're from animals...but trust me, they're real. These

guys are futurists...artists going for the real bizarre, no matter what

the consequence. You go in there, you might not come out...or you

might, but missing a few appendages or sporting some extra ones!!! Come

on, let's get out of here!" I hissed, noticing we were beginning to

attract attention. I love Bowie, don't get me wrong, but I had no

desire to experience that album at a more personal level.

            Fifteen minutes later found our small group inside a pizza place,

wolfing down a goat cheese pizza, a tropical pizza, and some sort of

pizza topped with corn and alfalfa sprouts...all three were covered

with ketchup that tasted faintly like Arby's sauce.

            "I hate this sauce!" Kim whined.

            "Aw, ya gotta love the sauce, just spread it around," Kasey laughed,

taking up a fork and mushing it over the entire pizza before starting

to take a slice out of another.

            "Wait a minute...you didn't mush it in on yours!" I replied, taking my

own fork and smacking it across her slice.

            "Touche!" she laughed before cramming the entire thing in her mouth.

And here I thought I was the only one with such good manners! We talked

slightly about the situation between Joni and Bass...it didn't look too

good...but I stayed out of it, for the most part. I was hungry and

frankly, I didn't really care.

            Walking back proved not a problem for Kasey...we hired a driver with a

cart attatched to a bicycle and he had her to the bus in no time! We

all were full and contented...but I wasn't sure if I was looking

forward to tomorrow. I knew I had to go through with it...it was

important everyone did, but that didn't mean it would be easy.

            We were going to visit Auschwitz.

Ch. 13

            I braced myself slightly as our group exited the theater and headed

out into the main park. I had seen documentaries like that before, no

big deal. They always did get to me though...I still haven't seen

Schindler's List and refused to go into the Holocaust Museum when my

family went to D.C. last year. And now I had to go into the actual

location where a lot of the carnage took place. Sighing slightly, I bit

my lip as we approached the gates bearing the German phrase "Arbeit

macht frei," which means work makes you free. Uh-huh. Tell that to the

dead. I took a picture and turned my head slightly to look down the

double rows of fencing, suddenly feeling very small and very lucky. I

forced myself on and followed other group members into some of the

bunkhouses which had been redone as museum rooms.

            Upon entering I stopped breathing momentarily at the hundreds of

pictures that lined the walls of that and every other bunkhouse;

pictures taken when a new prisoner arrived. Walking to the first room,

I bit my lip at the glassed-in area that was full of hair, greyed from

being on display so long. On top of the pile, though, was one small

golden braid that still held its luster. Turning away, I tried to

fathom the piles of glasses, clothing, shoes...then read what all of it

was used for. Walking out, I took a picture of an enclosed case full of

empty gas cans; yes these pictures were morbid, but I never wanted to

forget what this place was, or have any future generations think this

had never happened.

            I decided the next room looked pretty safe and entered. What I saw

nearly knocked me over...it looked innocent enough, or at least better

than the other options. Along the walls were huge, enlarged photos in

black and white...emaciated children, workers being beated, the horrid

living conditions. Then my attention was brought to the wall directly

in front of me; it beared only two slogans. (Don't quote me on the

exact phrasing, I'm doing my best.)

            "The aim of this establishment is to eliminate the Pols, Russians,

Jews, and Gypsies."

            "The Jews are a race that must be exterminated."

            As my brain slowly began to comprehend the hate behind the messages,

my eyes began to burn. I'm stoic by nature, but even I couldn't hold it

in. I glanced over at a startled Jondi; yeah, I guess it was pretty

ironic to see me fall apart so easily.

            "Selah...are you okay?"

            "Why?" I whispered. "Why did this have to happen? And how could

someone be that cruel...they said they were superior, but to kill all

those people for no reason...and to be purposely cruel!"

            "Calm down...it's okay."

            "Okay? Okay! No it's not okay! These people took millions of lives!!

Not numbers, but people, just like us! For no real reason at all! They

took their victim's hair and made clothes and stuffed mattresses with

it! They used their skin for couches and lamp shades...that is Not

Okay," I blurted, mentally cursing as I began to sob, tears spilling

freely down my cheeks. Sighing heavily, I shook my head and left the

room. Geez, how could people just walk by it and not react? I felt

slightly better as I met Dan outside, and saw that he was fighting for

control, as well. Silently, we headed for the Nazi headquarters of the

camp. I toured the building quietly, letting the tears stay. It was

okay to show emotion...somebody had to. Slowly I descended the steps to

the basement where the torture chambers lay. There, with a few other

group members I saw where a priest had starved to death, but saved the

life of another, trading his for his own. We stood in an open "box"

where four people at a time would be shoved in and left for weeks to

starve...it was about as large as a big cabinet.

            I found Dan at his call and slowly followed his instructions to see

the wall. The wall where twenty thousand prisoners were shot. I stared,

numb, before flashing a photo. In front of it was a smaller memorial

wall, its bricks made of the ashes of the camps victims. Flowers

covered it and memorial stones had been placed in its crevices. I

turned slightly as Jareth came walking slowly over.

            *Are you all right?*

            *No, but that's as it should be. No one should be all right when

seeing something like this. You know...it's funny. You know it all

really did happen when you see the documentaries and learn about it in

text books, but now, walking through the camp I realize that before it

hadn't seemed real. It's like my eyes are opening. Can you answer

something, though?*

            *What?*

            *How? How can any person be so utterly cruel, so soulless. You've been

around long enough, can't you tell me?* I glanced at him, and I knew I

wanted an answer badly.

            *I'm afraid no one knows the answer to that, love...not even the

soulless, themselves,* he thought back, his tone a regretful sigh as he

slipped an arm around my shoulders and led me away.

            When we reached the gas chambers and crematory I had calmed down a

little, but it was still horrible. You could smell the stain of burn

flesh in the ovens and you felt sick just standing in a room where so

many people died. I silently gathered my proof, took in everything, and

left.

********************* 

            I glanced up as Jareth sat next to me on a bench outside the park. It

was lunchtime, then afterwords we would travel to Birkenau, also known

as Auschwitz II; that was the enormous camp.

            I raised an eyebrow at the sack of food he laid in my lap.

            "You've got to eat something."

            "I'm not hungry. At this rate, I don't think I'll ever eat again."

            "I know it's bad...but at least you can empathize. You're here and you

know what's happened. What happened was terrible...but people like you

need to see this so that history doesn't repeat itself." I nodded.

            "I know, and I'm not sorry I came...I guess what bothers me is

people...well, like that!" I sighed, pointing to where Leeann sat

lounging in the sun in a tight tank top and something that might be

shorts...they were too small to tell for sure. "It's like it's a

tourist vacation in Florida or something to them!"

            "We all have our own way of dealing with things...for some, it's to

block it out."

            "Well for me it's to embrace it and share the word." I gave him a

bitter smile and opened my bag, picking at a sandwich.

            "You're going to have to eat more than that," he reminded me.

            "And what are you? My baby-sitter?"

            "I'm your king...and that seems to be the same thing for some

listians..."

            "Very funny. Fine. I'll eat my yogurt," I agreed, taking out the cup.

Upon looking at the label a tiny smile tugged at my lips...I couldn't

help it. Pretty soon it developed into an all-out grin. "Well what do

you know...it's peach. What a surprise."

            "Isn't it though?" Jareth replied, giving me an angelic smile.

            "You're a goober!" I laughed, nudging him with an elbow.

            "But I made you smile," he pointed out.

*************************************

            By the time we were at Birkenau I wasn't so depressed...but I took

everything in. We stood on the railroad tracks and loading

platform...doom was written all over it. At this camp most everything

was destroyed because the Germans blew it up upon hearing the Russians

invaded Auschwitz. But we toured a couple reconstructed

bunkhouses...they were really horsebarns with thirty-six people in the

space of one horse. I shook my head as different members admired the

wildflowers and tried to make conversation...I guess everybody did have

their own way of dealing with it. I smiled as Kasey whizzed by in the

wheelchair we had rented for her. What was neat was that we weren't on

an actual tour; Big Papa knew so much about it and had been there a few

times so he showed us around, and we even got to see the sewer system

and holding camps for gypsies, something that isn't on the regular tour

because it's at the very back of the camp, along with the fire pools.

In a forest-like area lay the swamps where ashes had been

dumped...frogs croaked and the wind blew, but the saying was true.

            No bird sings at Auschwitz.

            I talked with Larry and he answered my questions...how sometimes if

you say something long enough, like it's not real, it can become the

truth for you (sort of like the Meisner technique in acting). And some

of the parts of the camps were given names like Mexico and Canada

because for people seeing another part of the camp was like going to

another country...and he suspected they also named parts after hopeful

places of future domination. I let him walk ahead as I took everything

in...I had ran out of film, but I still wanted everything ingrained in

my memory. Andy and some others were walking a ways back...he had an

interest in this period of history and he knew lots, too. At least

people were being respectful, so I thought.

            "It is so hot!!! And why do we have to walk all the way around this

camp??!! Even the Jews got to ride on a train!!!!" At that I froze and

turned around very, very slowly. I'll give you one guess and one guess

only who the speaker was. She looked at me like she was going to pass

out because walking was too strenuous an effort to be expected of her.

            Normally, I am not prone to violence. I joke about it, and have quite

a temper, but there are very rare cases where I would actually strike

someone. At that moment, I was fighting the urge to make her nose bleed

and pummel her into the ground with every fiber in my being. I know it

wasn't Christian of me and it wasn't very Jedi-ish, either, but that

was just uncalled for. Instead, I stared into her eyes, a very, very

cold stare. Maybe she did feel empathy, but she shouldn't have opened

her mouth. I regarded her silently for a few moments before turning to

join the rest of the group. I changed my mind, too...if I was her

parents I wouldn't ship her off to boot camp or beat her...I'd teach

her how to show respect.

**********************************

            Back on the bus I managed to write down a few notes in my journal

before drifting off to sleep...I didn't want to forget the day...I

couldn't forget it. Weeks later, I would turn my notes into songs I one

day hope to write music to...sort of my own warning to the world in

Diamond Dogs-ish style, maybe.

            Ghost Town

            It's a haunted ghost town

            It's secret known to all the world

            Yet sturdy trees line forest paths

            And flowers dare to let petals uncurl

            But this town has a railroad

            That sends souls straight to hell

            And the relics are the death-machines

            That guests knew all too well

            No crime need be committed

            Breathing is enough

            Once you leave you can't come out unchanged

            Now it lets all visitors know

            Evil can truly exist

            Be careful that this doesn't happen again

            Stench of death is in the air

            Ashes float in forest graves

            Ruins of stone ovens, piles of hair

            Empty gas cans on display

            No crime need be committed

            Breathing is enough

            Once you leave you can't come out unchanged

            Now it lets all visitors know

            Evil can truly exist

            Be careful that this doesn't happen again

**************

                         Superior Salvation

            There they stand, blond tresses, blue eyes

            And empty stares fixed on their flag

            These are the ones who obey no law

            The salvation for which the world was made

            The weak are old news; he's the superior race

            But why is cruelty and evil plain on his face?

            How does turning children's hair to clothes better any nation

            How does making couches of skin ensure earth's salvation

            Slaughtering millions isn't the answer

            Just cause Nietzche wrote it doesn't make it right

            You survived by using cruelty and terror

            But the weak won't give up without a fight

            So you're better - is it okay to murder babies?

            So you're on top - rape is excusable for you?

            The last time I checked these were wrong, end of sentence

            Guess what - you're human either way and there is no excuse

****************************************

            Back at the hostel I decided to stay with the group that was eating at

Burger King...I didn't feel like going into the town square for three

hours. So, we tromped off, using Antoinette's "shortcut" through a

field and up a small, but steep hill...actually you could either go up

the hill or around on another path near some low tree limbs and then up

to the street and cross. Either way had it's "benefits."

            Jen and I quietly talked about the day's expedtion as we walked

through the tall grass. It was quiet, it was peaceful outside, it was-"

            "I'M NOT GOING UP THE HILL!!!!!!!!" I glanced behind me and raised an

eyebrow at Leeann.

            "I THOUGHT THIS WAS A SHORTCUT!!!!"

            "Oh come on, Leeann! It'll be fun!" Jen shouted before racing me to

the hill. I laughed as she slipped and nearly fell on top of me.

            "Push my butt up, push it up!!!!" she screeched. By time we reached

the street we were almost falling over each other from laughing so

hard.

            "Do you know what this is like?" I panted.

            "What?"

            "You remember that Bugs Bunny cartoon where he's being chased by the

fox-hunting dogs and they're all yappy and falling over each other like

this," I said, doing my best yappy-stupid-dog imitation. She cracked up

and nearly fell back down the hill. I giggled and reached out a hand to

pull Jareth up; he had practically taken his life in his hands by

choosing to remain here with us!

            "Thank you, dear...my but isn't this a nice little workout!" I grinned

as he rolled his eyes.

            "Oh, I think someone else has it worse than you do, J," I chuckled,

pointing back at the bottom of the hill. Leeann was trying to use the

low path, but it was covered in bushes and low tree branches and she

screeched at being scratched up. Suddenly, she came running out of the

path.

            "THERE ARE BUGS!!!!" she whimpered, starting to cry as a hoard of

gnats followed her out. I tried to restrain the grin, really I did.

            "Just climb up the hill, Leeann!" Antoinette told her.

            "YEAH, BE A WOMAN!!!!" Jen yelled, trying to fight a laugh, very

unsuccessfully, by the way!

            Cursing, Leeann tried to trudge up the hill...but high heels aren't

the best climbing shoes...she promptly slid back down, putting her

hands out to catch her and nearly falling flat on her face.

            "ANTOINETTE I'M GONNA KILL YOU!!!!!" she screamed, pacing in the space

between the hill and the path. Suddenly she burst out into tears!!!

            "Come on, we're not gonna wait forever!!!" I bellowed. Still crying,

she tried the hill again, clawing her way up and slipping down a few

times, getting very disheveled in the process.

            "I only have two words for this," Jen said, an amused smile playing on

her lips as she glanced at a few others.

            "WHAT??!!!"

            "SAY CHEESE!!!!!" Suddenly, about five people whipped out their

cameras and flashes pierced the twilight sky.

            "I HATE YOU GUYS!!!" she screamed, finally reaching the top with a

little help from Joel.

            "MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!" was all I could think of to reply.

            We ate at the restaurant and by time we were coming back it was dark.

Approaching the hill, we decided to go in a straight line.

            "Okay, Jareth is in front...and Selah, you get in back...you can be

our point-chick! You can chase off all the wackos!" Hillary commanded,

flashing me an impish grin. "Heeey...this is like the seven dwarves!

Leeann is Snow White cause she's prissy and can't do anything! Who here

is a med major...they can be doc!"

            "I'M DOPEY!!!!" I shouted.

            "Um...that might be Joel," Jen whispered, grinning evilly as she mimed

smoking a joint.

            "Okay, let's start down the hill, and SING PEOPLE!!!"

            "Wait! Waaaiiiittt!!!" I shouted from the back. "I just have to get

three words in here...." I said, grinning at Jareth.

            "What?" Hillary asked.

            "COME ON FEET!!!!" I cried jubilantly. The others looked at me like I

had totally lost my mind and J tried to conceal a laughing fit.

            "Uh...okay, I guess you're Dopey, after all!" Jen said, before turning

around and walking.

            *Very nice dear...but when did you start empathizing with -her-?"

            *Ugh...don't ever insult me like that again! I'm just providing the

comic relief!* I laughed as I nearly slid down the hill. *See?*

            "Okay, everybody SING!!!!" Hillary shouted.

            "HEIGH HO, HEIGH HO, IT'S TO THE HOSTEL WE GOOOOOO!!!!!!!!"

***************************************

             I rolled over at the sound of glass breaking...great. It seemed that

the party animals were at it again, and this time they had broken a

door handle off the door. Sighing, I tried to go back to sleep, but

those morons were just too loud!!! Stretching, I got out of bed and

padded to the door and into the hall. Leaning against the door jamb, I

raised an eyebrow at the sight of people chasing each other around the

hall with the plastic rubber pellet guns.

            "Uh..Selah! What's up?" Bass asked, stopping in his tracks.

            "Oh, not much...listen, can I ask you guys a teeny little favor?"

            "Sure! Whatever you need!!"

            "Great, you don't know how happy I am to hear that." I cleared my

throat slightly before replying. "SHUT THE F*** UP!!!!!!!!!!!" I roared

before tromping into my room and slamming the door as loud as I could.

Jareth rolled over and leaned up on an elbow, giving me a groggy, but

amused look.

            "My, my...you have been working on your vocabulary!"

            "Shut up...you should be happy I'm letting you stay here...one more

word and you're out!" I sighed, trying to find room in the bottom bunk

that he had so nicely sprawled himself across.

            "It's just that I've never heard you use such language that

much...it's slightly...enticing," he said, grinning as he pulled me

back under the covers.

            "Yeah, and you're enticing me to kick you really, really hard!" I

mumbled before closing my eyes.

            "Oh, now you wouldn't do that..." he murmured in my ear before kissing

me on the cheek. "That's why we have Leeann along on the trip!" At that

I had to laugh, at least for the ten seconds it took me to fall back

asleep.

Ch. 14

            I smiled as I fed the birds in the square outside the Cloth Hall.

Today was our last day here, our last day in Europe, altogether. I

wanted to experience as much of it as possible again before we had to

leave. I had already grabbed a pastry for lunch, looked at the

paintings and street performers, bought some nick-nacks at the Cloth

Hall to use up all the change I had left (a dragon pencil and a cat

figurine for my sister), and now I was feeding the birds again. Getting

up, I returned the empty cup to the vendor and walked along the streets

near the cloth hall, trying to figure out how I was gonna kill four

more hours.

            "Selah! Come with us, we're going in that shop and then over to the

Russian market on the other side of the park!" Amy called, and motioned

to where she, her boyfriend Greg, Big Papa, and Sandy were standing.

Nodding, I followed them in a small shop that sold tons of different

things: shirts, post cards, cassettes, CDs...

            Immediately my radar perked up and I ran over to the racks. Amy rolled

her eyes...by this time I had already said, "Okay, that's the last CD

I'm going to buy for myself now, I promise this time!" at least ten

times on the trip. Hey, it's not my fault Bowie has done so much stuff

and it's impossible to find in Southern Indiana! But that wasn't what

caught my attention at the moment...letting my eyes drift to where the

plastic sleeves on the rack had been parted, my jaw dropped and I

actually squealed with delight...I couldn't believe it! I had *never*

seen any of his albums available before and they had five!!!! I paced

my breathing and checked my money; I wanted to return to the states

with a reasonable amount so I would only get one, but one Brian Eno

album was something I'd never had the opportunity to even find before!

I frowned as I glanced at the prices and then the albums...hmmm...some

only had a couple songs on them for the same price as others with ten

songs. Frowning, I wondered how I would ever be able to decide...then

the title of one caught my eye. I don't know, but there's something

about the name, "My Life in the Bush of Ghosts," that attracted me. So,

I bought it and caught up with the others.

            We walked blocks to the Russian market to find it wasn't open that

day! Ah, well, maybe it wasn't such a bad thing; I didn't want to be

tempted too much. So we walked back and I found yet another music store

where I actually had everything Bowie they were offering except a live

recording of a concert he did in Germany. I was sooo tempted, but it

was seventy zloty, and that averaged to be the same amount Low had

been...I wasn't going to turn down Low and then get this! Sighing, I

decided it was for the best and let it go. I walked back to the shop

where I had bought the Eno album and checked the price of the Bowie

singles collection on tape...it averaged about four American dollars.

Again, I was tempted, but when I checked the songs I laughed upon

realizing I had just bought all the albums whose songs I would've

bought the singles album for!

            I proceeded back to the Cloth Hall and ran into Dan and Regis. Regis

was now Dan's personal slave due to the fact that he had gotten

entirely too inebriated and had caused so much trouble one night Dan

tried to send him home. Unfortunately, he couldn't get a ticket and

since by that time we were going to be leaving soon, anyway, he decided

he could stay, but only if he would accompany him everywhere. I smiled

at them both and chuckled slightly.

            "What?" Dan asked, knowing I was dying to tell him something.

            "Prepare yourself for something truly amazing! I bought a CD and it's

not a Bowie album!!!" I laughed.

            "Really? I don't believe you! Let's see!" he replied. I took the Eno

album out of my bag and he about had a laughing fit.

            "Selah, that's about the same thing!!!"

            "What? You mean you've heard of Brian Eno!!!!?" I asked, incredulous.

            "Of course!!! He's only one of my favorite artists!!! I love the

orchestral sound he gets on his work."

            "I know...man, you're the only other person in our area that has

actually heard of Eno besides me!" I chuckled.

            "Well that's why you'll go far, Selah...you're into all the ecclectic

styles...I think it's good that you like Bowie. If he gives you the

music and artistry you need, then that's great. But I think it's great

that you like a lot of different styles." I nodded.

            "Have you heard the albums Eno did with Bowie?" Dan replied, getting

all excited like a little kid by this time.

            "The Berlin Trilogy!? Of course...well, I've heard a lot of it from

compilations and I bought Lodger in Berlin."

            "I've got Low! That's one of my favorite albums...it's amazing!" he

sighed. Laughing, I agreed.

            "I saw it in Berlin, but I really couldn't afford to get it," I

sighed.

            "Well, maybe we can work something out, copy it on tape or something,"

he said, turning his attention to some jewelry. I oohed and aahed over

a few pieces with him.

            "You're really loving this, aren't you?" he asked me.

            "Of course! It's a totally different world here...I feel like I almost

fit in," I laughed. "But seriously, it's like I'm discovering something

new every day...I can't wait to get the chance to come back!"

            "I'm glad you feel that way...I love watching your face light up all

the time! It's because of kids like you that I still do these trips.

I'm glad you're having fun." I grinned in reply and walked around for a

little while before settling down to write in my journal.

            "Selah!" I glanced up and smiled at Joni, Dave Tingley (Tingles), and

David Carter (Decart) who were admiring some paintings done by a spray

paint artist of strange, mythical spacescapes. "Come walk with us!"

Nodding, I got up and crossed to where they stood.

            "So, find much?" Decart asked me.

            "Yeah, some more stuff for folks, but look! I bought an album and it's

not Bowie!!!!" I giggled, producing the Eno album.

            "Oh my word, it's a miracle!!!" Joni laughed.

            "What, do you like Bowie or something?" Decart asked me.

            "Who? Never heard of him!" I replied, deadpan.

            "Now that's something I'd never thought I'd hear from such an

addict!!" Joni laughed. Go on, tell him all the albums you bought.

            "Let's see...Let's Dance, Lodger, Diamond Dogs, Scary Monsters, Tin

Machine, Black Tie White Noise, The Peter and the Wolf narration...and

I have a bunch more at home. In short: he's my hero!" Tingles just

shook his head and rolled his eyes.

            "I don't know why people get so worked up over him...all I know by him

is that song, Changes-"

            "Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes!!!! Turn and face the strange!!!!!!!!!!!" I

interjected, causing the others to laugh. They were under the strange

misconception that I am a shy, introverted individual, when in fact I

have the habit of only showing people the side of my personality I

think they can handle most.Very few get the privilege of experiencing

all of me, so to speak. The list members are many of the few I can open

up to without freaking out, actually, besides a few close friends that

live near me.

            "Who's Brian Eno?" Tingles asked, examining the jacket.

            "Only an awesome composer; one of the best synthesizer artists in the

world...he's an awesome musician!"

            "Still, I bet I know someone who's at least that good, at least on

piano," Decart said and I just raised an eyebrow.

            "Yeah? I bet he's not half as good as a pianist I know of!" I shot

back, knowing whoever he knew wasn't as good as Mike Garson...no

pianist was!

            "Hey, hey! Kids, please, let's be nice!" Tingles interjected and we

paused to let the tension float away.

            "So you're a Bowie fan, hmm?" Decart said. "I met him once."

            "WHAT!!!!!???? HOW WHEN WHA-"

            "Calm down!!!" Joni said, trying to force me to stop jumping up and

down. "I think somebody's had one too many pastries for today."

            "Then you'd be right!"

            "All right...let me get a word in! I met him backstage after a Nine

Inch Nails concert that he did with them-"

            "What was he like?" Tingles asked, curious.

            "Actually, he was pretty normal-"

            "Really?" Joni asked, doubtful. "I'd always heard he was really

weird."

            "Well...he's pretty weird, too...the closest example I can give you is

that he's a mix of the two...like Selah," he stated, serious as all

three turned to look at me.

            "You mean there's more like her out there?" Joni asked, wincing.

            "YEAHHHHH!!!! And one is in a position of power!!!

Mwahahaha...Bowiedom rules!" I laughed, and yes I was on a sugar

high!!!

            "'Bowiedom?'" Tingles asked, raising an eyebrow.

            "Long story, forget it...no, I'm not a stalker or anything!" I assured

them. "How did you manage to swing meeting him? He can't always be an

easy person to find, let alone meet," I asked Decart as we walked over

to a vendor to get a soda.

            "Oh, his pianist from the seventies and now the nineties is a close

family friend. He got me backstage...you've probably never heard of

him." I stopped and turned back to look at him quickly.

            "You mean...you know...MIKE GARSON?" I asked in awe.

            "YOU MEAN YOU'VE HEARD OF MIKE GARSON!!!????" he yelled. "I've never

met anyone who knows who he was in my entire life!!!" Suddenly, we were

talking and laughing as if we'd known each other our whole lives as

Joni and Tingles looked on in confusion.

            "Who's Mike Garson?" Joni asked.

            "Only the best pianist that's ever lived!" Dave stated and I nodded.

            "He's classicly-trained but performs with some of the best rock

groups!" I added. "You actually know him?"

            "Yeah! He and my dad play together when we visit him. Have you heard

any of his solo albums?"

            "No," I admitted. "I've never been able to find any of them!!!"

            "Well, I think I can get you hooked up; I have all of them and I'll

let you borrow them when we get back and Joni gets us the lists of

everyones' phone numbers and addresses," he assured me.

            "Hey, has he decided whether he's gonna tour with Bowie on his next

album or not?" I asked.

            "He's still trying to decide whether to stay with Smashing Pumpkins or

go with Bowie."

            "DAVE!!!! You've got to tell him it's imperative for him to play with

Bowie!!! It just won't be the same!!! Tell him that if I go to my first

Bowie concert and there's some other pianist there, I'll die of agony

from the effects of Garson-deprivation!!!" He laughed and nodded.

            "I'll be seeing him later this summer, probably in July. I'll get him

the message. I can't wait to tell him about this, he'll love it! I

still can't believe you actually know who I'm talking about!!"

            "Well, believe me, I do!" I agreed. "He's amazing!!! So, you met Bowie

on the Outside tour?"

            "Yup...let's walk down this street," he said, pointing to a very

familiar location.

            "Okay then...maybe you can settle a disagreement Kim Franklin and I

were having...take a look at that little establishment and the places

around it and tell me if you would go in there," I said, pointing to

the Coroner's Pub, which was closed during the daytime, as was the more

intriguing shops around it.

            "Oh, man...no way...that's like the stuff on his tour!!" he said,

giving a low whistle.

            "See? I was right! And here Kim thought it was fake!" I crowed.

            "Stuff like that was on Bowie's tour? And you say he's *normal*?!"

Joni said, her eyes widening at some of the displays.

            "I said he was pretty normal, but also pretty weird, like Selah,

here," he laughed, slinging an arm around my shoulders as we continued

down the street.

***********************

             Later, about an hour before our meeting time I wandered alone back to

the Cloth Hall...that darn necklace was still calling me. I had enough,

but I didn't want to buy too much...but I still had to see if it was

there, if the booth was even still open.

            It was, but it was crowded! Finally, I managed to push past some

people to see the counter. It was there, in all it's amazing glory!!

Excited, I tried to get the attention of the vendor...

            And promptly started to freak out as it was pulled out of the case and

handed to someone else. I about cried...well, at least I wouldn't have

to decide whether to buy it or not. Sighing, I walked outside to the

square and leaned against a large column of the Cloth Hall, watching

the world go by. I had already had a hamburger for dinner and gotten

enough money exchanged back into dollars...now I just had to wait...and

try not to dwell on my loss too much.

            "Now what's the matter? You look so depressed." I turned and gave

Jareth a wan smile; he wouldn't understand.

            "Nothing...just didn't get to the jewelry booth in time..." I sighed.

            "I'm sorry...but here's a little something that might cheer you up.

Close your eyes."

            "What?" I asked warily.

            "Just close them." Obeying, I frowned at the sensation of him leaning

forward, brushing against me just a little as something was brought

around my neck and attached at the back. "There..." he whispered,

pulling my hair out from under the chain, "now you can open them." I

did and nearly had a heart attack before jumping into his arms.

            "Jareth!!!! This is exactly what I was trying to get!!! How did you

know!!!?" I said, admiring the silver owl with the amber in its

stomach.

            "Please, I do have eyes! I'm more observant than you listians give me

credit," he said, smiling. "I thought it would be a nice thank you

gesture for letting me share your bed-"

            "Room," I corrected, glancing around to make sure no one in our group

was around to hear *that*. I really didn't want them to find out about

that! "Oh, I almost forgot...here, I got something for you, too...just

to let you know I am glad ya came along," I said, glancing up at him

shyly. Quickly, I produced a box from my backpack and handed it to him.

"It won't show you your dreams or anything, but maybe it'll help you

remember me while I've gotta stay unsubbed," I said as he opened the

box and produced the crystal with the blue explosions of glass in its

center.

            "It's beautiful...I love it. Thank you..." he said softly, kissing me

lightly. "But you know I don't need anything to remember you by..." he

paused and flashed a wicked grin. "I've got Thor, Ronno, and all your

so-called fanfic to remind me of the chaos you'll cause once you

resub!" I rolled my eyes and let the comment slide. Shaking my head, I

turned and walked with him to the assigned meeting spot, taking one

last look at the plaza of Krakow before we left. I got lots of

compliments on the necklace, by the way...Joni said it looked as if it

was made for me, and Kasey said we belonged together, that it was that

much like me. I'd have to say that's a pretty close analysis, even for

non-laby freaks.

*****************************************************

Heehee...yup, I wear that necklace all the time, too! I looove it!

Ah...only one or two more chapters to go on this...whimper! Oh, vell,

till later!!!

Ch. 15

            I managed to sort of make my way down the steps of the hostel and out

to the bus with my luggage. It had taken me forever to pack the night

before and then I had been kept awake by the others...I swear, they

sounded as loud and as wild as a pack of fireys! And since we had to be

on the bus at six a.m., suffice it to say that I was not in the best

of moods. Dropping my suitcase and now-full duffle bag that I was using

for laundry by the bus, I took my garment bag and backpack onto the

vehicle and slumped into a seat.

            "Good morning ladies and gentlemen!!!" Dan said, grinning goofily as

he leapt onto the bus.

            "Oh no...don't tell me you're actually alive at this hour," I mumbled

sleepily, trying to snuggle down into the bus seat as best I could.

            "Of course! It's a beautiful day and we'll be travelling...why

shouldn't I be happy?" I fixed him with a steady glare that said

'because it's six-freakin'-a.m., you goober!!!' He laughed at me and

leaned over the seat back in front of me. "Don't tell me you're not a

morning person!"

            "Of course I'm not!!! No sane person is!!! At least things could be

worse, though...you don't wake me up like my father used to on youth

trips..." I shivered remembering the "American Pie" incident...to this

day I can't listen to that song without screaming in terror. For those

who don't know, my dad is totally tone deaf and decided one morning to

wake up the church youth group at 4:30 in the morning with ALL TWELVE

VERSES!!!!!

            I raised an eyebrow and gave Dan a suspicious look as he gave me a

Cheshire Cat grin. Something was up...

            "Well...far be it from me to make you feel homesick...ready everybody?

'Bye bye Miss American Pie...'" My eyes widened in horror as everyone

that was gathered on the bus began to sing.

            "DROVE MY CHEVY TO THE LEVY BUT THE LEVY WAS DRY...."

            "No...nonononononoNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!" I whimpered, then

howled as I curled into a ball to try and block out some of the noise.

            "Aw...she's so appreciative!" Dan chuckled, patting my head before

cutting off the song and heading for his seat.

            As Jareth came onto the bus I fixed him with an icy glare.

            *YOU TOLD HIM!!!!!!!??????*

            *What, I thought you liked music!!!* he thought back to me, feigning

innocence.

            *Not -that- song...I HATE that song!!!!!*

            *But Dan sings it so well...I liked the choral effect,* he thought,

smirking at my outraged expression.

             *You...you....you....why you....*

            *Yes, I think you've established that word by now...is there anything

else?* His grin was at least one thousand watts. I narrowed my eyes to

slits and fell back on my seat, hmph-ing dramatically.

*******************************

            "When is the plane gonna get here?" someone asked. We were supposed to

leave at nine forty-five...it was now ten thirty.

            "Ladies and gentlemen we would like to inform you that the flight from

Krakow to Chicago will be delayed untill eleven o'clock and then will

make a stopover at Warsaw for technical reasons." The choir gave a

collected groan...this was truly what hell must be like. None of us had

eaten breakfast because it was supposed to be served on the

flight...and we had all converted our zloty to dollars so we couldn't

get anything from the cantina. A few people had snacks and tried to

hand them out evenly, but let's just say it didn't really help.

            "Hey, I bet the reason we're stopping at Warsaw is because we got the

plane who's wings are falling off!" Tingles laughed, inducing giggles

from Kasey. They began to play with an Action Man toy from McDonalds,

sending the diver shooting across the floor...it was one of those deals

that you pull back and it springs forward on its wheels. That amused

everyone for about three seconds. Some of us took short naps, but that

was kind of hard, too. Sighing, I watched as a bus pulled up, but the

terminal doors didn't open...hopefully that was the bus that would take

us to the plane, but still...

            My attention was captivated by a group of choir members that began to

take empty Pringles cans, suitcases, anything we had handy and start

thumping out different rhythms...pretty soon we had our own version of

Stomp and were rockin! All of us began to get in the act, humming

harmonies or any melody we could think of...pretty soon, even those who

weren't in the choir began clapping and tapping their feet. It was so

fun and really cool! Plus, it took my mind of the fact that at that

moment I probably was hungry enough to fulfill my threats to Leeann

that I had made earlier that week. Suddenly, our flight was called and

we all broke out in cheers.

***************************

            I sighed as we landed in Warsaw...we had another hour to wait before

we would take off. It turned out that the "technical difficulty" was

that the crew figured out they could fill more seats if they combined

flights from Krakow and Warsaw into one plane. I settled down,

temporarily ignoring my hunger and started scribbling in my journal. I

have a bizarre idea for a stage show I'd like to get done someday...I

haven't gotten the full plot worked out, but it's mainly about a girl

who's trying to go through adolescence, and each character represents

one aspect of her personality. Then there would actually be a person

playing her, trying to be the ringleader of all the different emotions

and not letting them control her too much, but being able to learn from

them, as well. I've toyed with different variations, like making her a

child actress as well and having to make her cope through the

transition of not being as popular and having to decide if she really

wants to continue her career. She does, but she knows it won't be easy.

I haven't gotten a lot of it written down yet, but suddenly I needed to

get some song ideas down. The whole thing would be done in a Ziggy

Stardust-ish style, with everything really big and open and even have

the actors purposely playing to the audience...

            I smiled slightly at J as he began to read over my shoulder. Yep, we

were stuck next to each other again, imagine that.

            I am a Kamakazi Raindrop (I have no idea if that's the right spelling,

don't kill me if it isn't...the title was spawned from one of the more

interesting conversations Kas and I have had...)

            Formed by my surroundings

            With a hint of soul

            All different parts of me

            Spin out of control

            Everything I've learned,

            Loved, hated, and want to do

            Coalesce into a single pearl

            The essence of what's true

            Brainstorm forms in the clouds

            Inspiration strikes as lightning

            The thunder of motivation rumbles

            Here I come, get ready

            I am a kamakazi raindrop

            I'll soak the ground below

            My ideas are gonna get through

            Don't ignore - I'll fall on you

            And trickle down into your mind's eye

            And soul

            True, I take getting used to

            I'm not your average Joe

            But I've got a lot to offer

            And I think I oughtta know

            Music of the storm

            Sweetly tells my coming

            From above I choose

            My destination

            I fall and gain momentum

            Here I come, get ready

            I am a Kamakazi raindrop

            Quench your thirst with my spark

            Can't duck or hide

            Open your soul wide

            Cause soon we will be one

                         Unleash the Weirdo Within (this is another one that I think really

describes me...maybe it's just the bizarre term that I've come up with,

but I like it.)

(this first part is spoken underneath the music, by the way)

                         Same old, same old

                         Blue jeans and tee

                         Drink Coke

                         Read Newsweek

                         Listen to bubblegum pop

                         Watch the soaps

                         Hafta be the same, gotta be the same (repeated, gets more intense

until music cuts through in almost a scream)

                         (sort of sung, spoken..sort of like African Night Flight)

                         No

                         I refuse

                         Can't, won't, won't conform

                         Platforms and glitz is my uniform

                         Read Dumas and sci-fi

                         Drink my chocolate milk

                         Listen to Bowie and Handel

                         (fully sung)

                         So much bland in the world today

                         I think I'll stand out

                         Do something really original

                         I'll be who I am

                         I'll do what I want

                         I'll say what I feel

                         I'll unleash the weirdo within

                         Deep inside she lurks

                         Pacing like a caged beast

                         Sees a chance, springs for the door

                         Takes control

                         I get the urge

                         I've unleashed the weirdo within

                         Nothing wrong with imagination

                         Nothing wrong with a sideways slant

                         Check the date - it ain't 1984

                         So why are we all clones

                         Why are we all robots

                         Why can't we all be

                         Who we are

                         Be weirdos

                         Unleash the weirdo within

***********************

            My creativity spent, I switched to Loving the Alien once the plane

took off...then switched to cramming as much food in my face as I

possibly could once the first meal was served. Jareth just shook his

head...I guess he's used to me acting like that by now.

            The flight was spent sleeping, or trying to sleep. I have no idea what

it was, but there was another annoying, stupid kid with parents that

ignored him!!! Only this one was old enough to walk. I smiled the first

time he came running down the aisle and grinned at me....fifty times

later, it just wasn't that cute. I tried to get J to transform him just

for the flight, but he was stubborn and refused. Sighing, I headed to

the bathroom and waited, since one was broken and the other was

occupied. My attention was drawn away from that, though as I smelled

smoke...the flight attendents were smoking in the back of the freaking

plane!!! And I raised an eyebrow as giggles sounded from behind a

curtain that divided their section from where I was standing...then a

camera flash went off. Ooookaaay....turning around, I decided not to

even think about what that could be about and entered the now-empty

bathroom.

            Walking back to my seat, I frowned slightly to find it now-occupied by

Decart, who was talking to Kasey and Tingles who were seated behind

Jareth and me.

            "Oh, you wanna sit down?" he asked me innocently.

            "That might be kind of nice," I replied.

            His grin got wider. "Well...you could always sit on my lap..."

            "Yeah, and you could always get your rear out of my seat," I replied,

grinning, myself. He and I had been flirting back and forth all week;

we were just friends, but it was enough to keep boredom away and to

drive Jareth absolutely nuts. Decart got up and I sat down, sighing at

the remaining time left before we landed. Looking out the window over

Jareth's shoulder, I could see that we were now over Greenland...the

snow-covered mountains were quite beautiful.

            "Stop hitting me!!!" Kasey shrieked.

            "You hit me first!!!" Tingles shot back.

            "No I didn't!!!"    she replied, whacking him across the face.

            "Did too...did, did, did, and now it's my turn to sit by the

window!!!"

            "You got to sit there when we took off!!!"

            "Children, if you don't be quiet right now I'm going to have the pilot

pull over and put you on a cloud or something," I said, not turning

around.

            "Yes ma'am," they replied angelicly, in unison. I yelped as my

ponytail was tugged through the divide in the seats and turned around

to find them giving me wicked grins.

            "He/she did it!!!" they replied at the same time. Oy vey...

******************************

            "We're in AMERICA!!! We're back!!!!" people shouted as we exited the

plane. I loved Europe, but it was kind of nice to be back. Smiling, I

followed the rest of our group to wait for our luggage. Strange...my

grip felt slightly empty...like I was relieved of the burden of

carrying something...my suitcase and duffel bag had been on the

plane...my backpack was my carry on...my garment bag...

            I froze and paled. Slowly, I walked over to Dan, feeling very small.

            "Dan? I'm a really big moron...I sort of left my garment back on the

plane..." I whispered.

            "You what? Go check with that attendent, quick!" he told me, trying to

hide a smile. Sighing, I walked over and asked about it, but he said

the person I had to talk to wasn't off the plane yet. I turned and

waited for our luggage to come off the ramp and onto the conveyor belt,

praying I'd be able to find it...

            "Excuse me?" I turned around and stared at a Polish woman....that was

holding a garment bag. MY GARMENT BAG!!! Laughing with relief, I took

it from her and thanked her till she was positive I was nuts. Then it

was back to waiting for the rest of our stupid luggage to come out. So

we waited. And waited. And waited.

            Finally, finally it began to pile onto the conveyor belt and travel

round the loop, a piece being pulled off every now and then by a choir

member or the attendant on duty.

            "Selah!!! There's your suitcase!!" Antoinette yelled.

            "Get it when it comes round!"

            "You can grab it...it's just a little bit to your side...if you move

fast you can grab it before it comes round!!" Nodding, I rubbed my

hands together and focused my attention on the big yellow

suitcase...slowly it came down the straight conveyor belt and slid to

the loop...

            "Got it!!!" I crowed, grabbing the handle. You know those times when

you get those feelings of impending doom? That's what happened to me at

that moment. Turning slightly, my eyes widened at the sight of a

suitcase that must've held an elephant; it was enormous. Before I could

let go of my suitcase or even breathe, it came at me...

            I blinked and wondered what all the yelling was about. Then I suddenly

realized that I was now sprawled on top of my suitcase and making my

merry way around the looped conveyor belt! I tried to conceal a laugh,

but I've always wanted to ride one of those!!!

            "Selah! You're not supposed to be on there!!" Dan shouted, trying not

to laugh. Big Papa and the choir members that saw me just stared with

open mouths.

            "WHERE'S A CAMERA!!!?" Liz yelled, busting a gut. I crawled over

suitcases that tried to slip under me, intent on maintaining my grip on

my suitcase-

            Suddenly, a rough hand yanked me off by the collar and dropped me on

the floor inside a metal gate next to it. I looked up at the Polish

attendant and grinned sheepishly.

            "Uh...Antoinette...grab my suitcase when it reaches you, would ya?"

            "Sure!" she laughed. I grinned again at the attendant, wondering why

he was still frowning.

            "Selah!!"

            "Yes Dan?

            "You're not supposed to be in there, either!!!!" Dan said.

            "Oh, oops!" I replied, jumping the gate and running to Antoinette's

side. My duffel bag came out then and she grabbed it for me,

thankfully. Taking up my things and putting them in an empty luggage

cart, I headed for customs.

            "Very nice, dear...what would you call that?" Jareth asked, coming up

beside me with his luggage cart.

            "I'm not entirely sure, but man I wish someone would've taken a

picture!" I replied, laughing. We made our way through customs easily

and headed towards arrivals to wait for the bus. I was behind Jareth,

and I guess I was just a little too eager...

            "Selah...would you stop that!" he said without turning round.

            "What?" I asked, before pushing my cart forward...maybe I pushed it

just a leetle too hard....

            "THAT!!" Jareth yelled as it ran into his heels. "You've hit me about

ten times already and these shoes aren't as protective as my boots..."

            "Oh, sorry...wait, THERE'S THE BUS!!! Oh, oops!" I replied sheepishly

upon realizing that I had done it again.

            "Would you mind getting in front of me?" he sighed, motioning for me

to go ahead.

            "Okay...LAST ONE TO THE BUS IS A FRAGGIN ARDVARK!!!!" I cried before

jumping on the cart and pushing it scooter-style outside and to the

bus. Quickly, everyone loaded up our things and were told to get

something at the McDonald's inside the airport as quickly as possible.

            Before I did that, though, I had something a little more important to

attend to...

            "Hello, Mom?" I asked, grinning at her voice over the phone. "Guess

who?!"

            "Hmm...I don't know, Queen Amidala, I presume?" I guess you can tell

that sarcasm and general weirdness is genetic in my family.

            "Yup, that's me! I'm baaaaack!"

            "DID SHE GET ME ANYTHING!!!!????" I laughed as I heard my sister's

frantic shouts in the background.

            "Tell her yes, I bought her half of Poland. We'll be at USI in about

five or six hours," I informed her.

            "Okay...we saw Star Wars, by the way."

            "YOU SAW IT WITHOUT *ME*???!!!!!"

            "Sorry, we'll go when you get home sometime soon...you'll love it,

though! And we have a surprise for you..."

            "WHATWHATWHAT TELL ME!!!!"

            "It's a surprise...anyway, glad you're back safe and sound. We'll be

waiting for you! Now go on and get to the bus!" Mom laughed as I tried

to tell her all the details of my trip in one minute. Laughing, I hung

up and headed to get a happy meal. Little did I know that the surprise

that awaited me was that they had taken the liberty of cleaning my

room, my inner sanctum...they actually organized everything so that I

would have no clue where anything was when I returned...hehehehe little

did they know that I would have it back to the way it was in about a

week-and-a-half!

*******

            I grabbed my food and sat next to Dan, Jen, and Jareth on the floor of

the airport, out of the way.

            "Man, you should've seen the look on your face!! 'Dan...I'm such a

moron...'" he laughed, quoting me.

            "Yeah, and did you see when she rode her suitcase!!!??? Now that

would've been a great Kodak moment!!!!" Jen laughed hysterically. I

giggled and shoved some fries in my mouth, admiring the cheetah beanie

baby I'd give to my sister...after all, I had my My Little Ponys from

Poland!

            "You think they have Magnum Bars here?" Dan asked, throwing me a grin

that I returned. Jen and Jareth just looked at each other with relief.

            "No, thank god!!! You guys are just scary when you eat those

things!!!" Jen replied.

            "Hey, I'm just a social Magnum Bar eater...he's the addict," I said,

indicating Dan.

            "Well, I'm done, how bout you guys?" he asked, getting up.

            We nodded and I grinned. In my best Ms. Frizzle imitation, I shouted,

"TO THE BUS!!!!!"

**********************************************

            Hours later, we stopped at a McDonalds for a pit stop. Jubilant cheers

greeted the sight of Dr. Pepper and Mt. Dew. I was too tired to do much

of anything. After taking care of the necessary business, I headed back

to the bus, and plopped down into a seat next to J, only taking a few

seconds before falling asleep.

********************

            Jareth glanced down and smiled slightly at the girl whose head lay in

his lap. She was sprawled across the seat, sound asleep and clutching

the Kovu doll she intended to give her sister tightly in her arms. He

reached out a finger and pushed a strand of hair out of her face, his

smile widening slightly at her contented sigh. She looked so

peaceful...so cute, almost like a kitten curled up in its master's lap.

The normal passer-by would never know that that *kitten* possesed the

passion, fury, and zeal of a tigress; he had found that out the hard

way, as had most of her fellow choir members. He was glad he had come,

though...it gave him a much-needed vacation...and a way to keep an eye

on her.

            The goblin king's smile faded as he remembered he wouldn't be seeing

her until late August...life truly wasn't fair. A grin returned to his

face as a thought sparked in his mind. *Ah, well...sleep well, now,

love, because I won't let you once you resub...* Yes, she wouldn't

stand a chance. Those couple of months would give him time to

prepare...but still, it would be nice if she would be able to come back

early.

            He removed his hand as her smile gave way to a discontented pout as

they passed a line of streetlights and light streamed onto her face.

Her brow furrowed and her lower lip slightly out, she really did look

like an innocent little thing. Pity the poor fool who thought she

really was. Slowly she stretched and sat up, throwing a look at those

who were now chattering excitedly about their impending arrival at the

college campus. Sighing with grogginess, she blinked and shrugged off

her exhaustion, focusing on the city they were approaching. Jareth put

his former thoughts out of his mind, concentrating not on what would

happen later, but what was happening now as they approached the end of

their journey.

*************************

            We cheered as we pulled into the campus and were given instructions to

hand in our music and boarding passes...Dan was going to have a few

words with the airline. I did so quickly and started to go get my

stuff, when I saw my parents getting out of the car and heading towards

me. I resisted the temptation to run to them and turned toward the

goblin king, instead.

            "I wish I had time to say good-bye..." I sighed, looking at him

regretfully.

            "I'll be by your room later for that. Go on and say hello to them;

they've missed you," he whispered before getting his things, saying his

good-byes, and suddenly disappearing in the night. Nodding to myself, I

went to meet my family and head home.

            Home. Gee that sounded nice.

Ch. 16

            I blinked sleepily from my dreams and glanced at the clock, knowing I

had slept enough to recover...my eyes widened as I realized it was one

in the afternoon!!! Well, I was back in my own bed and I had been up

till four in the morning...but geesh! That's a record, even for me!

Shaking myself awake, I put on my new Culture Club album and set it for

I'll Tumble 4 Ya...perfect music to start the day with. Humming

contentedly, I dressed and turned around to find that I had a captive

audience.

            "How long have you been there and are you having fun?" I asked

sarcastically. (Is there any other way to ask it in that situation?)

            "Long enough to see you do a striptease to outdated Boy George music

and yes, I'm having a delightful time," the goblin king replied,

smiling sweetly, but I didn't miss the look in his eyes.

            "Don't you have something more useful to do? Like go initiate newbies

or something?" I sighed, still tired around the edges.

            "Oh, now don't tell me you're trying to get rid of me already..." he

pouted, raising up to a sitting position. "After all, I won't see you

again for three months."

            "Yeah, yeah," I replied, trying to put on a happy front. "I'd have

thought you'd be thrilled at that idea." He looked at me as if I had

just told him David Bowie was now the president of the USA. (now

there's a concept...oy!)

            "Where would you get an idea like that?" he asked, snatching my wrist

and pulling me down beside him.

            "Excuse me! You're the one who's gotten fed up with all my antics,

even when I did tone it down, and plus you're always flaunting your

ego...among other things....and you insist on spying on me-"

            "I don't *spy*. I observe," he protested, grinning.

            "Whatever, I'd have thought that you'd be intent on going on to fresh

meat and getting away from my weirdness," I sighed, glancing around my

now-pristine room. Man, did I have work to do if I was ever going to

get it looking normal again.

            "Darling, my list-"

            "The list," I corrected.

            "*My* list is made up of all types...and although I'll admit you're

one of the more...ah...ecclectic, you certainly seem to fit in in some

sort of demented way," he teased. "Besides, I may have to visit the

newbies, but I do have my old stand-bys," he added, a wicked grin

erupting all over his face.

            "I've told you once, J: I gave in once on my terms, it won't happen

again."

            "We'll see about that...that will just be a topic we'll have to

explore in detail once you resub...but don't be surprised if you see

Thor running around somewhere..his house is being fumigated this summer

and all..."

            "He is NOT staying here! Get that thought out of you're head!! He's

Ash's problem until I resub, lucky her!" I laughed. "Besides, I don't

need that to remember the list...I'll hit the archives when I can at

the library, and I'll constantly be rereading what I printed out..and

I'll watch the movie and listen to the soundtrack...and, I'll miss you,

Jareth," I sighed, deciding I might as well admit it. He nodded

silently and conjured a crystal that was actually two merged together.

            "I suppose you want this spell reversed," he sighed, gesturing. The

two crystals separated and disappeared. "Although it would be

interesting to see what you were thinking about me while you're

away..."

            "I'll be thinking how nice it is to be able to get dressed without

someone always watching me! Well...besides him!" I added, grinning

mischeviously at my Luke Skywalker stand up. "You know...now that I'm

not a listian, someone is going to have to take you to Episode One!"

            "SHHHH!!!!! Don't say that out loud!!! You never know who will hear

you!!!" he whispered, clamping a hand over my mouth. "Don't even joke

about something like that!"

            "Aw, come on! This one has Liam Neeson and Ewan McGregor!!!" I sighed,

a dreamy look in my eyes.

            "Don't tell me I have more Jedi to look out for," he growled,

obviously still sore from the last time labyrinth and Star Wars had met

in one medium.

            "I don't think so...Luke's still my one and only...oh what!?" I

laughed at his scowl.

            "I still think I could convince you to forget about him..."

            "You'll have to wait till I resub, oh mighty king! Now, if I'm not

mistaken, I've got to go grocery shopping....I need pancakes and I need

them badly!!!! Plus I'll finally end my chocolate milk fast!!! I NEED

my Ovaltine!!! So...." I stared at him quietly for a moment. "This is

it, huh?"

            "I suppose it is...but if you need us before you resub..."

            "I'll write. And I'll call. And I'll miss you."

            "And I you." I realized just how sad this was getting and turned to

leave, but a hand caught my shoulder. "But you really don't think I

could let you go without a hint of what you're missing?"

            "Jareth! Please, we just got divorced-"

            "Just a little kiss?" I rolled my eyes and sighed, nodding slightly. I

nearly gasped as I was knocked back onto the bed and my mouth was

covered by his...so much for a little kiss...that one was enough to set

a world record. When he finally let me up he just grinned and shook his

head.

            "Don't forget us, now. We'll be waiting for you when you're able to

resub."

            "I won't...later, J," I replied, watching him vanish into thin air.

Sighing, I looked around at my room...I could read my SW

Insider...finish a lovely glam rock goblin puppet I'd been working on

(It's great, trust me...I didn't do it intentionally but it actually

looks a little like Woody Woodmansey from the Spiders from Mars, it's

spooky!) as sort of a way to jab at Jareth, but it all seemed sort of

empty with no one to talk about it to. Oh, well...I'm sure I'd find

something...

            My eyes widened as my stomach growled...that's right! There was

something I could do...something more important than Labyrinth, maybe

even more than Star Wars at that moment....

            I COULD GO EAT PANCAKES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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