Nasty Coffee And Freaky Mask

can't get enough of those..

 I stared down at the little boy in front of me, "Um..... it's okay?"

 The angel with blonde hair tugged on them hem of my shirt, "I'm Bo!"

 Wow, the kid even has a cute name to match that cute face. I smiled slightly and kneeled down.

 "I'm Penelope. Are you lost, Bo?"

 Bo shook his head quickly, "No! My friends are over there!"

 He pointed over to the other side of the fountain, where I saw a girl with dark brown hair in a braid sticking her nose in a book. My attention was caught to the boy who was grumpily playing with the fountain water. His dirty blonde hair was spiked up, his mouth slightly open showing quite....interesting teeth.

 I patted him gently on his small shoulder, "Alright...why don't you go back to them?"

 I really don't think they know that Bo had wandered off yet. Bo's face shown a slight frown.

 "But I don't want to!"

 Earl noticed the little conflict I was having, "Aren't you not allowed to talk to strangers?"

 Bo gasped a little, "No...I'm not. Please don't tell Prosper!"

 I sighed, "Whose Prosper..?"

 Bo jumped up and down, "The best brother in history! He and I live in a theater and--."

 Bo stopped talking, his attention was to a man with a red cap on and blue jacket.

 Earl asked, "A street entertainer?"

 The man seemed so familiar......wait. Victor Getz? Why on earth does he have millions of pigeons around him? Not to mention perched on him.

 Bo seemed to forget all about us and started to walk over to Victor. I was about to speak but Earl stopped me.

 "It's none of our business anyway."

 I nodded agreeing, "Yeah, you're right. Let's go get a bite to eat."

 With that mention we walked past Victor and Bo. They didn't seem to notice us.

 Earl pulled out a map, "Now....I heard there was a cafe right around here..."

 I pointed to the sign that displayed, 'Cafe'.

 I asked cheekily, "Would that be it, Mister all prepared?"

 Earl grumbled as he folded his map and slid it in his pocket. We entered the cafe.

 Earl stated, "I'll order for us. What do you want?"

 I glanced at the huge menu displayed above the front counter, "Uh....a coffee would be nice."

 He raised his eyebrow, "Since when do you drink coffee?"

 I replied, "Since I came to Italy."

 Earl shrugged and went on line. I grabbed a table and waited patiently. Outside I could still see Bo and Victor talking. Something sure is fishy about that Mr. Getz. I'm not quite sure he is a thief. Or he probably would have stolen something from us when he lead us to Hotel American Dinsen.

 In a matter of seconds, Earl returned with two cups of coffee. I took my eyes away from the two outside.

 I mocked him, "Since when do YOU drink coffee?"

 Earl rolled his eyes while pouring some sugar in his cup, "Since we're in a cafe, I thought sure. Why the heck not."

 I grabbed my cup gently and took a sip. Ew. I spit it back in the cup and pushed the cup of hot coffee away from me.

 "I knew you wouldn't like it."

 I replied, "When you're right. You're right."

 Earl looked out the window, "They're still talking? Do you reckon Mr. Getz is some kind of child molester?"

 I shook my head, "No way..there's just something...weird."

 Earl shrugged, "Well whatever it is, has nothing to do with us."

 He has a point about that.

 -------------------------

After forcing myself to finish the rest of the nasty coffee, we left.

 "Where to next?"

 I shrugged, "There's just so many places to see, I don't even know where to start."

 "True that."

I noticed that Victor was silently running away from Bo. Did something happen? Suddenly, Earl pointed out,

 "Hey look at that kid over there. The one with the mask. Think he's in the phantom of the opera?"

 I turned my attention to where Earl was pointing. What meet my eyes was quite an unusual sight. The two kids we saw earlier were standing with three new kids. All quickly rushing over to Bo.

 The boy that Earl commented about, had dark brown hair, wore a long black trench coat with blue jeans. Nice converse. But the mask was the most attention grabbing of all. The bird like mask only covered his eyes. It was pit black. Why wear such a thing in public?

 Next was a african american boy with pearly white teeth and dark curly hair. He had a blue plaid jacket on with brown pants. Finally my eyes landed on the last boy. He had rich slightly messy and curly dark hair. He wore a blue sweatshirt and over that a tan coat.

 In the hand of the boy with a mask, was a basket. Hm. Well that's interesting.

 Earl stated, "Weird bunch of kids eh?"

 I nodded, "Yeah...wonder where they're parents are.."

 The boy with the tan coat grabbed Bo, he must be this Prosper? Prosper seemed angered about something.

 Earl tugged on my wrist, "Come on! I heard there is a huge church around here somewhere.."

 Just as we were to walk away, we both heard Bo's high voice among the crowd of people,

 "Penelope!"

 Uh oh.

 

Author's Note

dun dun dun dun!