They walked into Francaise International Hotel. It housed more Penthouse Suites and Royal Suites than your school has classrooms!
 
“How may I help you,” asked the clerk.
 
David answered in an impecullate high class English accent, with a voice reminiscent of Prince William. “I would like a Royal Suite for 3 days, please. And, if possible, I would like to reserve them for every weekend.”
 
“You would save over $1,000 if you simply rent it out for a month at a time. How long did you need it for?”
 
“I need it through Thanksgiving Weekend.”
 
Mary interjected in a suitable English accent, “But won’t we be back by then?”
 
“Oh yes! Quite right my dear. Thank you. I nearly forgot. I don’t know what I would be do without my trusty dear wife to keep me honest.” David gave a polite chuckle. The clerk merely smiled and then cleared his throat. “We leave Monday, don’t we?”
 
“Yes, the Monday before Thanksgiving.”
 
“So, you would like the room until Monday morning before Thanksgiving Thursday,” asked the clerk as he reached for the mouse.
 
“Yes, we would.”
 
“Oh dear! I see the only suites I have available is the Majestic Suite. It is probably more room than you want as it takes up the entire 15th floor.”
 
“Oh that’s quite alright. We will take it for the uh, almost 3 months. I shall like to pay in advance all monies due. Furthermore, we do not take to drink or to smoke and do not allow it in our quarters. So, if could you please be so kind as to see that the liquor is dutifully removed?”
 
“Yes. Very good sir. Right away. Your total comes to $142,000 all totaled. I trust you won’t need to pay anything else.”
 
“Except room service, of course.”
 
“Of course. And what periodical do you require?”
 
“The Scientific Engineering Journal Internationale.”
 
“Very good sir. The maids will turn down your beds at night and tidy up the place in the morning. Just ring when you are ready.”
 
“Actually,” Mary started and then paused for effect. “We value our privacy. So, they can come in on Monday morning after we’ve gone, if you will, please.”
 
“Very well, Madam.”
 
David unlocked the door and opened it onto a Louis the 14th style foyer, complete with a water fountain in the middle. But instead of the usual plain white walls, these had a hint of metallic silver mixed in. Wood trim was everywhere, with the dutiful dado rails and whatnots all suitably decked out in 24k gold. The parlour straight ahead, had Oriental blue walls. The furniture had a soft red velvet cover with Gold trim and tassels. Massive gold guilded frames framed Renoir and Monet original works of art.
 
One room included red mahogany bookcases with lead glass doors housing all the right books. Each book came complete with its own history and were first editions. Plus, this room contained 2 red mahogany desks complete with file cabinets.
 
Also, they had their very own ballroom for those grand expenditures into the foray of sheer boredom and foolishness of parties, a state room with dining for no less than 24 people all ready set with its silver and gold silverware, Lennox China, and dinner napkins in a peacock fashion displayed regally on the center of the plate. Gold charger plates sat waiting under each dinner plate. The other rooms contained 4 maids quarters, 6 guest suites each with their own sitting room and balcony, 2 Master suites complete with hot tubs, saunas, steam rooms, and walk-in closets.
 
Oh yes, we mustn’t forget the crème-de-la-crème, the Jardin Room. This was a grand private indoor garden. This garden housed silk versions of plants and trees from all over the world, several waterfalls and water fountains, tressels, vines, and so on. No expense was spared!
 
“This is amazing!” Mary looked around her in complete awe. “I’ve never stayed in a place like this before! I’ve never seen anything so beautiful! I mean, our house is large, but nothing like this!”
 
“I just wonder how many homeless people they could have afforded with homes and jobs with all the money they paid on this.”
 
“I know,” Mary answered quietly, still in awe.
 
“My grandfather rents out this suite whenever he can justify it. He host his biggest and most wealthiest clients here. It is how he became so rich. He pampers them until they are begging for mercy because the guilt of wasting so much money overcomes them.”
 
“Yeah right! The wealthy do not know the meaning of guilt! They were raised to not know that the homeless even exist. So, what’s so special about Thanksgiving?”
 
“You’ll find out soon enough. Anyways, we should plan our weekend. Two idle adults may be suspect.”
 
“Is there any Opera’s in town?”
 
“No, that would be sold out by now.”
 
“Ballet?”
 
“The same. But I seem to remember that Kelty is in town. Perhaps we can still get decent tickets for that. I’ll call down to service.”
 
David lift up the receiver and made the arrangements. “All set. We have box seats for 2 at 7. What should we do for an encore?”
 
“How about dinner at Le Carousel’s competitor - Le Royale Rouge`”
 
“Are you sure we won’t run into anyone we know? Like the Jonsey’s or your parents?”
 
“No, They’re out of town with the Jonsey’s - some pre-season trip to Europe. Besides, my parents have a lot of business to take of overseas.”
 
“I’m sure the pre-season trip involves shopping in Paris.”
 
“But of course! Why should one stop at 100 pairs of shoes when on could have 200?”
 
“And, one wouldn’t want to run out of Valentino or Versace dresses,” added David. “Afterall, one needs to have a different dress every hour - just in case someone else just happens to be wearing they same dress. This means that at the very least, one must have 168 different dresses - and that’s just for the weekend party. That doesn’t include the Yacht Club and other ventures out in public.”
 
“That would explain all the suitcases. Mrs. Jonsey had over 25 large suitcases!”
 
“I’m sure some were mostly empty. How else is she going to get all the new clothes home?”
 
“How do they know what they already have and avoid duplication?”
 
“I’m sure they unintentionally duplicate lots of times. Want to go to the Garden room and watch the sunrise?”
 
“Let’s!”
 
The garden room was laid out symmetrically with silk roses surrounded by silk violets at every path head. The walls were adorned with ivy and a variety of purple flowers. Interspersed throughout the garden were water fountains and waterfalls. At the far wall, was doors that led out to the balcony that looked over a large man-made pond with 5 water fountains in the middle. This pond was situated inside a man-made lake, specially constructed to give one the best sunrise possible. This lake, so large, that people often forgot that it was man made. David overlooked the pond in silence, waiting for the sunrise. His eyes became heavy with sleep as he lay in the chaise. Mary watched the sky, eagerly awaiting the sunrise. She was determined not to miss it. Soon, oranges and pinks filled the sky.
 
“Wow! Look at that sunrise David! David? David?”
 
“Skkzzz”
 
“He can survive on only 4 hours of sleep and still can’t manage to stay awake to see the sunrise! And I’m the one who requires 9 hours of sleep just to function!” Mary giggled to herself. “Guess I’ll have to get him to bed early if he’s going to ever see the sunrise.”
 
Mary got up and fetched a couple of blankets. She covered David and then covered herself and went to sleep.
 
After lunch, David and Mary decided to go to the mall. David held the door open for Mary and then led her over to the bike boats.
 
Mary looked around her. “Isn’t this place beautiful with all the waterways and 8 floors of shopping bliss amongst canals and piers and its own Marsha…Marsha! David! Let’s go now! There’s Marsha!”
 
They went even more quickly than they came, skeedattling to the nearest Taxi.
 
“To Wolf’s please,” David ordered, thinking quickly. When they finally arrived back at the hotel, it was 2 in the morning. David had a hard time keeping his feet from doing a jig on the way to the elevator. Mary wished she, too could learn to dance. She can’t simply use her hands as feet. Her legs do not stay up and its nearly impossible to do a one-handed stand even with someone holding her feet. Besides, even with the device David made, attached to her legs, she could walk but did not have enough balance for dancing jigs. She could only manage the slow romantic dances with David holding on to her and her trying not to hold on to him for dear life!”
 
David and Mary left the hotel to try once more to shop at the mall. This time no one they knew were seen. Mary gleefully took the helms of the boat while David rattled away about plans. “The way I see it, Mary, we have to make a home where no one knows us. I figured we can put Maine or Iowa or some other state on paper and leave it behind. Maybe, even leave 10 states behind as possibilities. Then, sneak off into Canada and acquire citizenship through residency rules. We’d need to save up enough to last us that long.”
 
Mary thought about it for a moment. “No doing. Canada requires all people to check in at the Canadian embassy in the country of ones domicile before even embarking on Canada for citizenship. We’d need fake I.D.’s and papers from the get go.”
 
“I’ll do some research and see what I can find. Maybe, I can find some silly website that gives away its secrets to success and I can buy my way to the papers we need.”
 
“Or, we can simply go through the attics of peoples homes whose parties we go to and see if anyone left behind papers that no one remembered leaving.”
 
Mary slowed the boat as the elevator door opened. She drove the boat into the special elevator for boats and pushed floor 2.
 
“That’s stupid! Everyone knows those names. We need non-high-society names.”
 
“Yes, but not everyone are original owners of their homes. At least one of those homes was owned by the mafia. Take your grandfather’s house on your mother’s side, was he the original owner of that house?”
 
“On my side, neither let the mafia into their homes for fear that they would walk off with the place. Besides, both families owned those homes for as long as anyone can remember.”
 
“And the Jonsey’s?”
 
“Well, we all know that they allowed the mafia to party with them but as far as letting them store any kind of papers of that sort I doubt it. The Jonsey’s go way back with that house. They definitely owned that house before prohibition.”
 
“And Isannah’s family?”
 
“Now, that is a possibility. Isannah’s family is Italian. Okay, next time we go to a party that they are hosting, we will make our excuse and scout out their attic. Of course, with you in a wheelchair, it won’t be easy.”
 
“What do you mean it won’t be easy?”
 
“I will have to lift your chair up all those steps. People might hear. I doubt that we would be able to sneak up the elevator without being caught.”
 
“Why not, we do it at school all the time.”
 
“That’s different! Students are not very observant. Servants, on the other hand, are paid to be observant and see that no one snitches anything, like the heirlooms when ones back is turned.”
 
“Excuse us, are you coming out or staying in?” a couple on another boat inquired.
 
“Oh, excuse me!” Mary apologized. “I’m coming out. On your right.”
 
David laughed. “Should I drive? At least I can drive and talk at the same time!”
 
“No, no. I can do it,” Mary muttered embarrassedly.
 
Mary and David found a parking spot and decided to go check out the latest fashions. “David, we are going to need clothes more befitting the real us, don’t you think? I mean, we need to blend in somewhere.”
 
“I know. I was thinking that if we ran with nothing, they would expect to find nothing so if we have something, they won’t recognize us.”
 
Mary thought about that one for awhile. Then asked, “What ever do you mean? That made no sense to me at all!”
 
“Sorry, I speak in riddles at times. Blame it on the philosophy. If they think we left with no money or virtually no money, then they will expect us to be on the streets or something with no more than the clothes on our backs. However, if we keep well abreast the latest fashions, they won’t recognize us.”
 
“Foul. They will be expecting us to have money because we come from money. They will look in malls and all the places rich kids go to try and find us. If, however, we fake our own deaths and dress like the majority of the world does, then we will blend in. Haven’t you noticed how you can always tell ones wealth by the clothes they wear?”
 
“Everyone wears name brand clothes.”
 
“Yes, but only the very wealthy wear haute couture clothes. It is those clothes that they would expect us to be in. They would even look amongst the name brand clothing rakes, figuring that we simply didn’t have easy access to haute couture. However, if we were to shop thrift stores and lower end fashion stores - even going so far as to dress in styles from another culture, then and only then might they not recognize us.”
 
“You have a point. So, what are we doing here?”
 
“You tell me.”
 
“You drove!”
 
“Oh, so I did. Well, come on then. Let’s go to Walmonty.”
 
“That’s where I buy all my school supplies.”
 
“Everyone does, except my mother.”
 
“But of course. Why should she when she can make up her own rules and buy Baraccat and Gucci for school boxes and supplies. Afterall, not even Queen Mum would do that for Priscilla!”
 
“Speaking of which, we have another party to go to next weekend. My parents will be back in town. It’s suppose to be the party of the year kick-off. I must be there. Will you save me?”
 
“Sure, I’ll save you and be your knight in shiny armor. Besides, I want to stick it to the Queen Mum. You said it yourself that she is trying to hook me up with Priscilla.”
 
“Frightening, isn’t it?”
 
“Quite. Well, this is the last time we’ll be in this mall. You know what?”
 
“What?”
 
“Today has been very uneventful. Almost dull. Now, how are we suppose to prepare for the excitement to come if life doesn’t teach us?”
 
“How about Mr. Logan? Is he exciting enough for you?”
 
“Hello David and Mary! What brings you two here?”
 
David decided to make up a story right their on the spot. After all, he was known for his quick wits. “I was here to help Mary pick up a dress for the party next weekend. I see Mrs. Goldstein forgot to inform the school?”
 
“What party?”
 
“Why it’s the big kick-off party for the party of the year. Mary’s parents insist that Mary is at all the parties they go to. It’s preparation for Mary’s debutante party. And they want me, to take her.”
 
“Well, I see. I’ll just call Mr. Goldstein and ask him.”
 
“Here, use my phone.” Mary offered. “It will be long distance otherwise because your cell phone won’t reach Europe.”
 
Mr. Logan scratched his head. “I forgot that your lifestyles are not atypical, are they.”
 
“No. I do expect many parents to not notify the school that their children are going to the party,” Mary stated. “They tend to assume that everyone knows because it is what everyone does. It is on Saturday night. It starts at 6 P.M. I don’t expect anyone to get back to school until dinner on Sunday. People usually end up crashing passed out at the last dig with the children sound asleep from waiting too long for their parents to finally finish partying.” This was not entirely true and Mary knew it. She was hoping that Mr. Logan didn’t know it.
 
“Well, just get back to school before dinner you two.”
 
“We are suppose to eat out at the Goldstein’s favorite restaurant and nab their favorite table. Something about competition and not wanting someone else to claim it. It was Mrs. Goldstein’s idea.”
 
Mr. Logan rolled his eyes. “Whatever.”
 
David and Mary took off to find that dress that Mary really did not need.
 
“Whew,” David said when they were long out of earshot. “That was way too close.”
 
“Satisfied now with life’s test?”
 
“With all due respect, I think I will take boredom for a little while longer. We still have our stuff at the hotel room and need to check out!”
 
“No we don’t. We rented the room the entire time.”
 
“That’s right, we did didn’t we. Hey, why can’t we get parent permission to not live on campus? We could live at the hotel the entire semester. It sure would make it easier than trying to sneak out of school every weekend.”
 
“Because my mother thinks that I will have a much better chance at spying on Queen Princess if I stay at school.”
 
“We can spy on her any old day. She blabbers her life schedule all up and down the school halls. Who could possibly miss it?”
 
Mary assumed a high class British accent and struck a pose, “Try telling that to me mum. She thinks that Priscilla and Isannah have nothing better to do than tell secrets on how to become the next Queen Mum. Such a tart.”
 
David howled with laughter. People turned around and glared at him. “Oh well, people just don’t have our sense of humor. Come on Mary. Mr. Logan will want to see that dress!” David then took over for Mary and pushed her. “You relax. I need something to do.”
 
“Fine. I don’t mind. Hey wait, let’s go in here!”
 
Dresses of black velvet and purple silk draped the windows. The style was eccentric Goth with a Victorian twist. Mary was in seventh heaven. “I just must buy at least one dress here!”
 
“I got it! Mary, you stay here and shop. I will be right back in about 20 minutes.” David then ran out the door, turned and handed Mary some money. “Buy whatever you want - everything. No wait, take this card instead.”
 
He then ran to the cashier. “The young lady in that wheelchair has my card. She is - has been given permission to buy everything she wants. I will sign for it when I get back.” He then took off down the hallway at a run.
 
Mary watched as he left. She felt both amused and confused at the same time. By the time David got back, Mary had finished her shopping and was sitting near a bench, waiting patiently for him. “Mary, I did it. I will tell you later. I’ll be right back.” David signed the credit slip and took Mary back to the hotel.
 
Mary opened the door and then turned to David, “So, are you going to divulge your secret?” David closed the door after making sure that no one was in ear shot. “Come, into the Parlour. No, the garden room. The waterfalls will drown out my words.”
 
David chose a spot on a bench that was nearest the loudest waterfalls. “I opened up a checking account in a small country - Honduras. I then transferred 10 million dollars into that account. Afterwards, I opened an account in an office they have in Canada. I transferred half that money to that account. We shall wait and see what happens. If all goes well, I will transfer more money.”
 
“What’s that suppose to do?”
 
“Legal money laundering without actually laundering it.”
 
“But, you are not allowed to sign contracts!”
 
“Honduras law does not have age limits when one is talking about large sums of money. They just turn a blind eye. They also refuse to give up information to the FBI or the CIA investigators too. They are hurting for funds.”
 
“So, when do we leave? Before next weekend?”
 
“No, of course not. We must wait until our bodies are ready to grow and develop it’s more mature look. We must leave just before that happens.”
 
“As if we can guess that!”
 
"I know, it will be difficult. But at least we will finally be challenged!"
 
"If that's the only kind of challenge I can get, I'd rather skip it!" Mary rolled her eyes.
 
David laughed, "It will work, just you wait and see! Shall I order room service so we can toast our future?”
 
“Yes, to our future!”
 

Dora and Ella sat down in the commons room.
"Where do you suppose David and Mary is hiding?" Dora asked.
 
"I haven't a clue! It's a complete mystery." Ella looked down at her notebook. "We've checked all the known places and under all the stairwells. Do you think that there might be a secret room that they found?"
 
"Quite possibly. Or," Dora moved in closer to Ella after making sure that no one was paying any attention to them. "They snuck out of school and is holding out in the lap of luxury at some hotel somewheres!"
 
"I like my secret room idea better. Should we go see if we can find one?"
 
"You and your secret rooms! This school is too modern for secret rooms and passageways!"
 
"Maybe, but it does not mean that Mrs. Volger didn't put one in for humor effect. She loves children and it shows!"
 
"I know. I haven't seen a climbing gym before coming here. It's larger than our dorm building!"
 
"It was pretty funny when Priscilla got lost in it when all she had to do was slide down the slide!"
 
"Well, she never was too bright!" Dora shook her head.
 
Mrs. Volger walked in. "Hello Dora! Hello Ella! Are you enjoying your new school?"
 
"Yes, quite." Dora responded.
 
"Mrs. Volger," Ella asked. "When you designed this school, did you put in any secret passageways or secret rooms?"
 
"Actually, I did. I also put up special security live video cameras so if anyone just happens to find one, they will still be safe. So far, no one has come close to finding them though. I would recommend checking out the library much better."
 
Dora's eyes popped out, "You did? Can you give us a clue?"
 
"Yes, I would love too! Here is the clue:
Under the deep blue sky,
Lies a book without a sty,
With a grey and a bark,
The board to the left,
Leads you to the dark.
 
"Okay, we will find that secret passage before tomorrow!" Dora was overly confident in her abilities to solve such puzzles.
 
Ella was not so sure they would find it that quickly.
 
"Just be sure, that you pack a lunch and bring it with you before you go through the passage," Mrs. Volger said with a wink before she took off.
 
Ella considered that wink just another argument in her favor.
nbsp;
Dutifully, they packed food and water. They also grabbed two flashlights and plenty of batteries before taking off. As a last moment thought, Ella grabbed her large graphpaper to make a map - just in case they actually found something.
 
"Ella," Dora said without looking at her, "If security is really as tight as Mrs. Volger says it is, then how on earth did David and Mary sneak out? They just couldn't have!" Dora sped up as she spook. Ella almost had to run to keep up. "I mean, seriously, I bet they found that secret passage!"
 
Ella eyes got very wide. "How on earth can Dora be so stupid," Ella thought. Patiently, she waited for Dora to come to her senses. Unfortunately, senses was something far from Dora's brain.
 
"And, I bet they found several secret passages and are hiding in one of them right now!"
 
Ella cleared her throat, "Not wanting to disappoint you, or anything but... Mrs. Volger did quite clearly say that no one came even close to finding the secret passage. And, last I checked, David and Mary are still people, so would qualify as part of the 'no one' group."
 
Dora just glared, not wishing to admit that she was wrong. After all, she prided herself with her superior logic.
 
They entered the library and immediately went to the elevators. Dora suddenly stopped in tracks. Ella just barely missed running into her, as she had lagged slightly behind.
 
"We should first think where no student goes, then see which of those places matches the clues the best." Dora commented.
 
"Well, I do not know about what part of the Library students have been avoiding, but I do know that the last line - 'Leads you to the dark' is useless as it merely means you will find it. 'The board to the left' is pretty obvious. The line 'Under the deep blue sky' could be a nothing line. This leaves us quite clearly with 'lies a book without a sty, With a grey and a bark,'.

 
"Well, duh! Now, that sty part is probably useless as well. We are probably looking for a book that is grey, and has a particular theme, like dogs, because dogs bark."
 
"I doubt that she made the clue that obvious."
 
"Well, then what do you think?"
 
"sty is just a rhyme for sky. However, I think sky IS key."
 
"But you said earlier that sky probably was a nothing line!"
 
"I know, but I've changed my mind."
 
Dora rolled her eyes.
 
"Now, the sky is where the animal lives under. I believe that deep blue refers to the grey and bark, but, more specifically, to the type of animal that barks under that sky."
 
"Grey Wolves do NOT bark. They howl!"
 
"They also have a bark and will bark when they are not howling. Plus, she did NOT say full moon, or late at night, when wolves are more likely to howl. She merely said that the sky was a deep blue. The only animals that are grey and bark are grey wolves -unless, of course, you have a better plan?"
 
"Oh, I don't know. I just can't believe she would make the clue that obvious. I mean, she knows we are bright."
 
"She knows that we are only 10. She knows nothing about our superior reasoning skills. As far as she knows, we could still be learning easy beazy multiplication of 3 digit numbers by 2 digit numbers. It's not like she is our teacher or anything."
 
"True. So, where do we find this book of yours?"
 
"Well, what part of the library do students avoid?"
 
"The nonfiction section, aparently. No, wait! Follow me!" Dora called as she ran to the elevator.
 
They got off on the 12th floor and took a right down a long, narrow hallway. At the end was a door clearly marked with the words 'Historical Books'. Dora turned the doorknob and pushed. Nothing happened. Dora banged her shoulder against the door.
 
"Ouch! I guess the door really is locked."
 
"The historical books are no longer there. They got moved to a special room where they would be better preserved on the second floor."
 
"Oh. Well, then lets go to the second floor."
 
"Let's explore up here first. I have an idea." Ella led the way to the left of the locked door.
 
Some books were on the mostly barren shelves. Dust was not found anywhere, but Ella expected to find dust given the ghostly look of the site. It looked more like the shelves were used for forgotten backroom sorting of books projects and were just that - forgotten. Carefully, she scanned the shelves for a book on Grey Wolves. Books on World Wars were spotted, a drivers manual from 1975, a Scandinavian book teaching English and a book on raising mindful boys from 1923. Nothing on dogs or wolves. For that matter, the closest thing that got to an animal was 'boys' being that science considered Human Beings to be animals. Ella and Dora never agreed with that theory.
 
"Well, pray tell, do let me know where thou shalt go next in thy quest?" Dora teased.
 
"So," Ella quiped back, "When was the last time you were up here exploring the shelves? Hm?"
 
"Yesterday, as a matter of fact. I was bored. That's how I found this door."
 
"Well, why don't you go down to the second floor and see if you can find it while I look around up here." Ella said a little more snottily then she intended.
 
"Okay, I will!" Dora then turned to leave.
 
"Wait!"
 
Dora spun around, put her hand on her hip and glared.
 
"Did you go all around back here?"
 
"What difference does that make?"
 
"Lots, because if you did, then I am wasting my time as Mrs. Volger did say that no student came even close to finding it."
 
"Well, I already know you are a waste of time!" Dora then turned around to leave.
 
Ella ignored her while she propped herself up against a bookshelf that was on her right. Her right shoulder pushed up against the right bookshelf support board, but did not stop. The bookshelf started moving as Ella lost her balance. She screamed as she fell and bumped her head.
 
Dora turned around and stared. "Ella? Ella? What happened?"
 
Ella was now on the floor, rubbing her head. "I think I found the secret passage. But, I thought she said it was the left board. My right shoulder pushed the shelf!"
 
"Yea, but the board was to the left of the book. It is a grey book. A grey book about a very grey squirrel climbing up the bark of a tree under a very deep blue sky! The book was by itself, with no sty or clutter around. I think she was referring to pig sty meaning mess."
 
"Under the deep blue sky,
Lies a book without a sty,
With a grey and a bark,
The board to the left,
Leads you to the dark." Ella recited. "Makes sense. Why would she decribe the book's cover in such detail? It was very obvious!"
 
"And yet, so obvious, that you insisted she was referring to one very grey wolf that barks?
 
"Well, words can have more than one meaning!"
 
"Which is why her clue was not so obvious as one might think it was."
 
"Well, shall we enter? Or shall we stand here and argue," Ella inquired.
 
Dora helped Ella to her feet and then walked thru the secret entrance, feeling with her hands as she went. Ella did not follow. Instead, she took her backpack off her left shoulder and went in search for the flashlights. She turned one on then passed it to Dora. Dora swiped the room with the light. Victorian red drapes dwarfed the windows. An old victorian red couch sat in front of one of the windows. The rest of the room was bookshelves and books, except for one beige panel with a beige plastic piece sticking out of it - a light switch.
 
"Dora, we did not find the secret passage after all. This is merely a room behind a bookshelf."
 
"Speaking of bookshelves, how do we get out of here?"
 
"Go back out the way we came in. I still know which book shelf it was. I put my backpack down in front of it."
 
"Cool!" Dora then went to explore the other bookshelves to see if any of them opened up. She pushed on every left board she could find. Nothing. She then pushed on all the right boards. Still nothing. In frustration, she kicked at a bookshelf, aiming for the foot of it, but missed and ended up hitting the left board instead. The bookshelf swung open. Dora just stared at the opening in disbelief.
 
"Way to go Dora! You found it!" Ella moved over to the bookshelf and immediately searched for the book. On the 2nd shelf from the top, a red book with the title "Under, Over, and Through: A Search for the Real You" caught her eye. She opened it up to a random page and read, "One must actively pursue rest and recreation in order to secure sanity of life, and peace in ones mind. I highly recommend doing what the Grey Wolves do, by enjoying life under the calming deep blue sky. If it is anger that ails ones soul, then by all means bark until one feels better, after all what is good for the Wolf..." Ella looked at Dora and smiled. "You found the secret passage. This IS the book. And, I was sort of right. The grey wolf is mentioned, but it is in relationship to one improving their sanity. By the way it is written, I'd say it was written in the time period of lunacy. Let's keep this book. It will be great for a good laugh!"
 
Dora reached for the book and started reading outloud. "It is important to understand stress. Stress is when one must wash ones hair before ones husband alights and one has yet to get the dinner on and set the table. After all, one must be very fresh and attractive looking for ones husband after a long days work. So, decide first, what is causing the stress, then solve the problem. Ones stress will magically vanish into thin air, never to alight again."
 
Dora rolled her eyes, "If, we conclude that reading her is the cause of stress, then if we stop reading her, then will the stress magically disappear? How about the wife? Doesn't she deserve a fresh and attractive husband after she has had a hard day?"
 
"No, because her day couldn't possibly be as long as his day is. Afterall, isn't that reflected in her pay, which is always less than his pay?"
 
"I wouldn't know. My father is a financial wizard and my mother does not need to work."
 
Dora continued, "Well, she goes on to say that we should find ways to relax. I think that if I were to stop reading her book, I could relax. This lunatic of an author than says that one of the coping skills is 'distracting'. Oh yes, she is distracting. She is distracting us from having a good time and relaxing. Wouldn't you agree, Ella?"
 
Ella giggled. "That book is ancient! Of course it's going to sound silly to us! Back in its day, I am sure that it was considered one of the must reads."
 
Dora ignored Ella and continued reading, "One can distract oneself with 'activities'." Dora looked over at Ella, "Good idea here. Lets distract ourself with the activity of switching her off and turning on the radio. Well, in this case, closing the book."
 
Ella grinned.
 
"She then goes on to give a vocabulary lesson. Why don't I read you my version instead." Not waiting for an answer, Dora continued. contributing- "I will contribute to my friend and I by shutting this book. This way we can all relax."
 
comparisons- "I'll compare myself to her. She is a lot more boring and looks more depressed than me. Therefore, I can't be all that bad."
 
"How do you know that? You don't what she looks like!"
 
"This book is not as old as you think. Her picture is right here and she looks like a very depressed Guppy!"
 
"Really? Let me see!" Ella peered over Dora's shoulder. "Hey, you are right! With her overly turned down lower lip, she does look like a guppy!"
 
"She says about emotions-read emotional books or go to emotional movies. Well, that means we have to turn her off. She isn't emotional enough. This reads like dribble! My baby brother could write better than this."
 
"You don't have a baby brother!"
 
"If I did, I know he could write better!"
 
Ella rolled her eyes.
 
"pushing away- push the situation away by leaving it for a while. Build an imaginary wall between yourself and the situation," Dora read. "That means I can build an imaginary wall between me and this stupid book by going into my dream world and telling myself an emotional story to use another coping skill."
"thoughts- Well, I already covered this one by thinking my way into my dream world. Next.

 
'sensations- seek after intense sensations like holding ice in hand'... I would like to put that ice down her back and see how she likes it!" 'squeeze a rubber ball very hard'... And I would like to see how she likes surgery after squeezing that rubber ball and destroying some muscle tissue!"
 
'stand under a very hard and hot shower'... What? Is she trying to burn us now?
 
Ella was laughing so hard, her sides ached.
 
'listen to very loud music'... Okay,not only is she trying to burn us, now she is trying to make us deaf! Well, at least I won't be able to hear her anymore! Maybe she does have a good idea after all. Um, problem with that. I am reading her. Shoot! Foiled!"
 
'Put rubber band on wrist, pull out and let go'... - Yeah, I think I will do that. Now, how do I get this rubberband on her wrist?
 
'self-soothe methods: Vision: look at pretty things like a flower, or ballet or beautiful art'... I guess that means that we have to avoid her picture. She is a disgrace to look at. She is always frowning. Way too depressing."
 
"That's bad! It's not like she can help how she was born!"
 
"What do you think plastic surgery is for? I mean, everyone is getting something done! Aren't they?"
 
"Only those who can afford it are."
 
"If her book is really that popular, than I know she can afford it!"
 
'Smell: use your favorite perfume or lotions. bake cookies, cake, or bread'... First, she tries to kill my sinuses by agravating them with allergens, then she wants to add another stressor to my already full plate. How am I suppose to have time to bake, when I can't even find the time to fly to the Swiss Alps? I mean, I do have school you know!"
 
'Taste: have a good meal'... Well, I have a good meal 3 times a day, 7 days a week. What is she talking about? I have anymore good meals and I will be a blimp!
 
'Have a soothing drink such as tea or hot chocolate, but no alcohol'... Hot chocolate puts me to sleep so fast, I'd have to drink it in bed so that I don't risk falling off my chair with the first sip. Might also burn myself in bed. Better skip that one.
 
'Really taste the food you eat; eat one thing MINDFULLY'... I tried that once, the fish started tasting like dry paper pulp I chewed it so much. And, I tried mindfully eating a chocolate dipped cone, courtesy of DQ. I ended up taking a bath in my ice cream! So much for mindfullness in eating!
 
'Touch: put on a silky blouse, dress or scarf. Try on a fur-lined gloves or fur coats in a department store'... Yeah, and support the killing of bambi's all over the world, I think not!
 
'Experience whatever you are touching; notice touch that is soothing'... I've always considered the victorian dresses to not only look soothing and beautiful, but also feels soothing to the touch. So, now what do I do with all the stares and dirty looks I get from people as I walk around the mall in my soothing victorian dress?"
 
Well, that is it. We should really do some exploring - beyond this book."
 
"What's her next chapter?"
 
"Improve the moment. I already know one way to improve the moment, we can not read anymore of this book and improve a whole lot of moments - the entire afternoon!"
 
Ella bursted out laughing. "Let's go you clown!"