It was about 7:00PM, on a summer day. It being hot in my apartment, I went to a local park. I sat on a bench that faced a circular fountain. Aside from me, the park was empty.
A raven-haired girl walked by. She slipped her sandals off and got into the fountain. She slowly waded, looking down in the water.
I watched her with bemusement. Finally, I said, "Excuse me."
She looked at me. "Yes?"
"How's the water?"
She smiled. "Cold! Actually, I'm looking for my engagement ring."
"Your engagement ring?"
"You see, I had a little argument with my boyfriend, and I threw it in here, in anger. Now, I regret it, so I'm looking for it."
"I see. Need help looking for it?"
"That's OK. Thanks, though."
She continued looking. Finally, she knelt down and picked up an object, which she put into her purse.
"Got it?"
"Yes."
Suddenly, a shot rang out! It missed her by a few inches.
I got up and ran into the fountain, and the two of us went to the middle section, where the water jets were.
"Are you all right?"
"I think so, yes."
There was another shot. The two of us hid in the water, getting soaked!
"Why is somebody shooting at you," I asked. "That's not your boyfriend, is it?"
:Listen, I might as well tell you: I'm a spy."
"A spy? You mean like. . . James Bond?"
"Yes. I work for an outfit called CONTROL."
"Oh, yes. Cool! So, that wasn't your ring you were looking for, was it?"
"No. I can't say any more than that, though."
There was a third shot. Afterwords, I looked up. I could see a man nearby. And he held what looked to be a gun!"
"There's a man over there."
"I know."
She went into her purse and pulled out a gun.
"I'll create a diversion."
"No, you'll get killed!"
"Better me than you!"
I got out of my spot and began running around the fountain. He shot and missed. But the girl also shot—and hit!
"You got him!"
"Yes. But are there others?"
"Good question."
I went back in the water with her, and we waited. There were no more shots, and we saw no one else around. So was got out of the fountain.
"I'll bet you don't often swim with your clothes on!," I joked. (She had on a short blue dress.)
She laughed. "Nope!" But then she grew serious. "Listen, thanks for being here when I needed you."
"Sure. No problem."
"But I must ask you to leave me now—forever."
This crushed me! "Forever?"
"Spying is a very dangerous game. It's not glamorous, like in the movies. We both could have been killed. Do you understand?"
I nodded. "Yes, I think so. Can I at least know your name?
"You can just call me 99."
"99, my name is Tom Walker."
We hugged, and she kissed me on the cheek.
She put her shoes on, and left. I watched her leave, then I also left.
I saw her again, two years later. She was with a handsome man in a gray suit. As she passed by me, she smiled briefly. I smiled back at her. That was the last time we ever saw each other.
