Greek Quest - Part 2

Blaire shook her head and smiled. She signed Ross’s t-shirt, while Ross looked at her admiringly. “Wow, thanks.” he said. Blaire laughed and stood up. “Can you scoot a bit? I need to use the lavatory. Please?” Ross

raised his eyebrows and smiled. He stood up to make way for her and Blaire quickly walked to the lavatory room and shut the door.

Whew. Blaire wasn’t ready to talk to anybody after

the mysterious messages in her agenda book. She washed her face and redid her makeup.  Outside, there was a big line waiting to use the lavatory. An old, fat lady in a tight shirt and sweatpants said, “Ya think ya got the whole toilet to yourself? You’re wrong! Bucker up and move your tush! “Blaire made a face and hurried towards her seat. “Ms. Rolands! We’re arriving in Athens in about half-an-hour? You feeling okay? Buon?”

Blaire threw her head back and laughed. “Yeah. I’m feeling okay. And call me Blaire.” she smiled and plopped on her seat.

“We are now arriving in Athens Welcome to Athens!” The air hostess’s voice blared in the speakers. Blaire woke up with a start. “Okay. Ross?” But Ross was nowhere to be found. Blaire got her suitcase and bit her lip from crying out loud. Ross had become a good friend. She wanted him to help her. Then she thought about the mysterious messages. She had to find out what it meant. Blaire exhaled and stuck out her hand.

“Taxi!”

Blaire noticed every staring at her. She shrugged her shoulders and jabbed her finger across the road.

“Hello! Why are you looking at me like that?” Blaire shouted to the crowd gathering to watch her. “You’re standing in the middle of the road. Blaire.” Blaire whipped around to see Ross smiling back at her. Blaire smiled and then shouted to the crowd, “Okay! I’m going home now! The road will be clear soon. Wait-for me to just, you know, cross. Okay. Bye!”

Lots of ladies shook their heads and another grandma shouted in Spanish, “¡Muchacha estúpida! ¡Consiga del camino! ¡Vaya al hospital mental! ¡Sé porciones! ¡Trato de loco americano todo el tiempo!”

Blaire gulped and said, “I don’t even have to ask you what she said. Do I?”

Ross shook his head sadly.

***

“That’s kind of cool! Next door rooms in the wonderful Hotel Lujo. This is pretty Hugo! You pronounce it Huge-O. Hugo! Hotel Lujo Hugo!”

Blaire sung all the way to her room.

“You have tipped the edge, Blaire!”

Blaire threw back her head and laughed. “Lookie here, Ross! I need to concentrate on my article, so you don’t pester me! Oh yeah! Speaking of jobs, what IS your job?”

Ross blushed a bright pink, and whispered,” I’m a poet. You know Guancie-Ross Spring? I’m not that famous. I actually teach Literature to 7thb Grade.”

Blaire thought a moment and replied, “Did you author the book Cheese, Needles, and Me?” Ross laughed and smacked his head.He nodded his head.  There was silence. Suddenly Blaire spoke up, “Hey! Ross! I have something important to do! Meet you for coffee! Howz about 5:00?” Ross smiled and nodded. “My pleasure.”

Blaire hurried towards the Information Counter and smacked her purse down hard on the counter. “Hey you! I need you to translate this for me!” Blaire shouted at the guy working at the counter. Blaire gave her agenda book to the guy. Blaire saw the guy’s name tag and said, “Mr. Habibshishki , I really need this. After looking at the messages, Mr. Habibshishki said, “Messenger of Athens. A simple call. You will discover secrets. Past immortality will conquer. You must consider thoughts left on paper. Pallas will conquer her city. Face-to-face with Pallas. Living among those in Olympus.”

Blaire got a worried look. She slapped a ten-dollar note and hurried away. “Sorry! I don’t have Greek money!” Blaire rushed to her room and slammed the door shut.

***

Back in her room, Blaire took out her travel guide. Her eyes darted from page to page reading every single sentence. At last, after about two hours, Blaire set her book down on her bed. “Athena, huh? I bet. There is no way that can be true? Right?” she said to herself. She remembered the poem and scanned it in her mind. “A simple call? Maybe that’s a clue. I’ll ask Ross.”

Blaire banged on Ross’s door. A surprise Ross opened the door while Blaire stormed in. She showed Ross the poem and said, “It’s definitely a poem. And I think the simple call is a clue. You know anything?”

Ross hesitated and then replied “It could be a telephone poem.”

“Huh?”

“Well you see how many syllables there are in the first line, second, third, and so on, and then add up the syllable and that’s the number. Look here. So the answer would be 647-910-869.”

“Wow, that’s really cool! I’ll try it.”

Blaire punched in the numbers in her cell phone. She waited a moment and then whispered excitedly, “It’s ringing! This is so, I don’t know!” Ross bit his lip and put his finger to his lips. Blaire sighed and then perked up. Blaire looked like she reached someone.

“Hello? Are you the one who wrote in my agenda book? You are a thief! What is all this with Pallas and Greek Mythology…… Oh, I’m the chosen one huh…… What? Don’t hang up, just…ugh! Look, I don’t believe in all this mythology stuff. If you want to tell me something, speak facts…… Oh ho! YOU’RE Athena, the goddess of wisdom? Uh huh. You’re a really good pranker; I mean I owe it all to you…… What do I mean? I mean, you’ve got to be joking……… You want to meet me for coffee, at Starbucks tomorrow? I want a good explanation. Okay? Good. What time……3:45? I got it. I’ll be there.”

Ross made a funny face, but Blaire looked serious.

“I’ve got to meet this person. And why she chose me.”

Blaire got up and left Ross shaking his head.

***

Blaire was waiting at Starbucks for the mysterious “Athena”.

“Waiting for long, Blaire Rolands?” Blaire stared in awe as a beautiful lady suddenly appeared directly in front of her. “How did you-“The lady held up her hand and said, “You did not believe me. I am Athena, Goddess of Wisdom.”