Katie Steed shares an interesting tale of archaeology and body switching in
A midafternoon's tale 6.89
Introduction
Katherine Tara Steed carefully set the dinner table with one, two, three place settings. She
smiled as she hurried to the kitchen to check on the Salisbury steak she was preparing for her
guests. Just a few more minutes, and it would be done. Suddenly, the doorbell rang, and Katie ran
to answer it! "Mum, Dad, how nice to see you again!" she cried as she threw her arms around a
frail yet still beautiful lady with high cheekbones and greying auburn hair. Standing behind her was
a tall stately man in his late seventies who still looked as dapper as ever.
"Katie, my girl, it's been far too long!" he cried as he waited his turn to embrace his only
daughter.
As he received his long-awaited hug, his wife replied, "John, I'm sorry to shatter your pity party
but we just saw her at Christmas." She smiled in that wry amused way that only Mrs. Peel could.
"But of course, how could I forget!" he exclaimed, "you gave me that lovely scarf with the Union
Jack crocheted on it!" He pointed with pride to the said article, which clung protectively to his
neck. "I never leave the house without it." After the couple had decloaked themselves, John Steed
sniffed the air and broke into a wide grin. "Steaks!" he cried in approval.
"Not just any steaks, Dad, i Salisbury steaks, /i" Katie said with pride as she led her parents
into the parlour of the small but cozy flat. "Unfortunately, they won't be finished cooking for a
while yet." She motioned for her mother and father to sit on the wrap-around sofa.
"Oh, dear," said Steed, sinking down on the soft leather seat. "I'm quite extraordinarily hungry
just now." A small frown creased his aged forehead.
"Never mind, John, we'll just have a pleasant chat until then," soothed Emma. "Now then, Katie,
what's been going on in your life lately?"
Katie's eyes sparkled mischievously. "Oh, not much," she stated nonchalantly, "just
archaeological digs, mistaken identities, body-switching . . . the same old same old!"
"What?" demanded her father in disbelief. "I thought I told you that your mother and I were the
adventurers in this family!"
"I guess I can't help it," sighed Katherine in satisfaction. "In the blood, you know."
"Now I know you've been on digs with Professor Jones lately, but what's this about body-
switchings? Have Basil and Lola returned?" her mother wanted to know
Katie laughed merrily. "Oh, no, nothing like that. Professor Jones and his friend Lara had an "out-
of-body" experience recently. At least, they claim they have, I don't recall any such thing."
"Tell us about it, dear, it may keep my mind off the steaks . . . for the present anyway." John
Steed leaned forward in his seat, prompting her to begin.
"Well, all I know is what they told me, and this is it, word for word:"
A midafternoon's tale 6.89
Introduction
Katherine Tara Steed carefully set the dinner table with one, two, three place settings. She
smiled as she hurried to the kitchen to check on the Salisbury steak she was preparing for her
guests. Just a few more minutes, and it would be done. Suddenly, the doorbell rang, and Katie ran
to answer it! "Mum, Dad, how nice to see you again!" she cried as she threw her arms around a
frail yet still beautiful lady with high cheekbones and greying auburn hair. Standing behind her was
a tall stately man in his late seventies who still looked as dapper as ever.
"Katie, my girl, it's been far too long!" he cried as he waited his turn to embrace his only
daughter.
As he received his long-awaited hug, his wife replied, "John, I'm sorry to shatter your pity party
but we just saw her at Christmas." She smiled in that wry amused way that only Mrs. Peel could.
"But of course, how could I forget!" he exclaimed, "you gave me that lovely scarf with the Union
Jack crocheted on it!" He pointed with pride to the said article, which clung protectively to his
neck. "I never leave the house without it." After the couple had decloaked themselves, John Steed
sniffed the air and broke into a wide grin. "Steaks!" he cried in approval.
"Not just any steaks, Dad, i Salisbury steaks, /i" Katie said with pride as she led her parents
into the parlour of the small but cozy flat. "Unfortunately, they won't be finished cooking for a
while yet." She motioned for her mother and father to sit on the wrap-around sofa.
"Oh, dear," said Steed, sinking down on the soft leather seat. "I'm quite extraordinarily hungry
just now." A small frown creased his aged forehead.
"Never mind, John, we'll just have a pleasant chat until then," soothed Emma. "Now then, Katie,
what's been going on in your life lately?"
Katie's eyes sparkled mischievously. "Oh, not much," she stated nonchalantly, "just
archaeological digs, mistaken identities, body-switching . . . the same old same old!"
"What?" demanded her father in disbelief. "I thought I told you that your mother and I were the
adventurers in this family!"
"I guess I can't help it," sighed Katherine in satisfaction. "In the blood, you know."
"Now I know you've been on digs with Professor Jones lately, but what's this about body-
switchings? Have Basil and Lola returned?" her mother wanted to know
Katie laughed merrily. "Oh, no, nothing like that. Professor Jones and his friend Lara had an "out-
of-body" experience recently. At least, they claim they have, I don't recall any such thing."
"Tell us about it, dear, it may keep my mind off the steaks . . . for the present anyway." John
Steed leaned forward in his seat, prompting her to begin.
"Well, all I know is what they told me, and this is it, word for word:"