CHAPTER TWENTY

The ferry made it across the Solent okay and the docking at the ferry terminal at Fishbourne was made without incident. May was glad that she held her cookies in throughout the trip. Ed was constantly by her side soothing her and helping her take her mind off the choppy waters…

As the party was disembarking, Lee asked Edd if he could spare Marie for a few minutes. Nodding, Edd went to join Eddy, who was a few yards ahead.

"Sorry to interrupt, Marie", Lee said to her sister, "but I wanted to have a quiet chat to you a little later on about Double-Dee. If you don't mind some sisterly advice, there might be something you can try".

"Lee", Marie said with a vexed look, "this is really between me and him".

"Marie", Lee replied quietly, "I'm not poking my nose in… well at least not as much as you think I am!", she finished with a giggle.

Marie stared at her older sister, then laughed as well. She knew that Lee was just being there for her, and it was friendly sister-to-sister advice she was offering, after all.

"Okay, when we're on our way to Ventnor, I'll listen. I can't promise you that I'll follow up on your suggestion though", Marie said. Lee nodded.

"Well, to change the subject, I heard some folks talking earlier about who's gonna be on stage tonight. I hope it's true!"

"Who is it?" Marie demanded hopefully. Lee told her.

"Wow!", if that's the case – and Chuck did say that he had backstage passes for us – that's something I don't wanna pass up!", Marie said with glee.

As they headed down the gangway, Marie hurried in order to join back up with Edd – who had been talking with Eddy about the history of the Isle of Wight pertaining to the Second World War".

"So Ventnor was the site of a major radar station during the Battle of Britain?", Eddy asked, "That must have made this island a prime target for the Luftwaffe!"

"Indeed, Eddy", Edd confirmed, "Ventnor was a prime part of what the British called the 'Chain Home' radar network. While parts of the network were bombed and put out of action for a time, the network by and large stayed operational and played a major role in the Royal Air Force's successful defense of Great Britain".

"Boy, Double-Dee", Ed said as he walked up to his friends – May decided to chat with Lee and Ed had heard the last part of the conversation – "I'd never have figured you for knowing all about war!"

Ed's knowledge about World War 2 came from war comics and movies. He knew that Edd didn't care for either and wondered how Ed knew all about such things.

"The Second World War shaped our planet's history for the last seventy years, Ed", Edd replied, "so why wouldn't I have some knowledge about it?"

Before Ed could reply, Marie came up to them.

"There you are, Oven Mitt", Marie said playfully, "are you boring your friends with more historical anecdotes of our current location?"

"Boy Marie", Eddy said with a smile, "Double-Dee's way of talking is really rubbing off on you. Before too long, you'll be talking in very long sentences with multiple syllables!"

"Can it, Eddy", Marie replied half-jokingly, "I'd like to be able to have some quality time with my boyfriend on this trip. Right?" she finished with a glare.

"Sheesh!", Eddy acquiesced with his hands held up in mock-surrender, "I get the point. Come on, Lumpy. We've gotta make sure we don't lose sight of Mr. S. After all, if we don't catch the ride he reserved for us, we'll have to hoof it to Ventnor!"

"Right you are, Eddy!", Ed replied as he accompanied Eddy into the terminal.

"I swear, Dreamboat", Marie said to Edd with a giggle, "You'd be better off being either a history teacher or a tourist guide!"

As Marie and Edd were talking, the others had caught up with Chuck Statorowski, who was gesturing to the teens to follow him outside the terminal building. Given how crowded the terminal was from everyone disembarking – not to mention the people already there awaiting their rides to Newport, he didn't like the idea of any of the party losing their way.

"Boy, this son of a shepherd doesn't like being with so many people", Rolf said rather shakily, "Rolf prefers the open outdoors".

"Don't worry, Rolf", Lindsay soothed, "we'll be out of here real soon. Dad is a great organizer and we'll be out of the crowd soon".

"I wouldn't know about that, Lindsay", Johnny piped up, "because if this festival is as popular as I've heard it to be, this island is going to be choked up with a lot of people. It'll probably be more packed at the venue!"

"You're not helping, Johnny", Nazz whispered into his ear, "Rolf looks pale. He probably has claustrophobia from being in such a packed place. Let Lindsay keep his mind off things, okay?"

"Right-oh, Nazz", Johnny replied contritely.

By this time, everyone was together. Kevin – who had stopped off to us a public bathroom – had joined the party, and both Sarah and Jimmy were there too.

"Okay, People", Mr. Statorowski said, "I've just made the call. Two taxi vans are going to be taking us to Ventnor. We have about a couple of hours to get settled, then after dinner, we head over to Newport".

"How will we get to Newport?" Eddy asked, "looks like we're going to be dealing with bad traffic all that way! If it is going to be slow going to Ventnor, imagine how bad it will be going to Newport from there!"

"Trust me, Eddy", Mr. Statorowski assured him, "But let's walk over to the taxis. They're about three blocks away so they won't have to work their way through to the terminal. The sooner we get to the bed and breakfast, the better".

With that, he led the party out of the terminal and down the sidewalk. It was quite crowded on the sidewalks with people waiting for their rides, and all understood that going further out to meet the taxis was a good idea.

"Ah there they are", Mr. Statorowski said ten minutes later as he pointed to two taxi-vans that were parked outside a pub. Both taxis had signs on them that said 'Statorowski Party".

After showing his passport to the lead cabbie, Mr. Statorowski had the teens get into the vans. The boys got onto the lead van whilst he and the girls got into the rear one. As all of them only had their day bags, there was no trouble getting any luggage stowed. They were very quickly on their way to Ventnor.

As Kevin was sitting in the front seat beside the driver thinking about music, Rolf, Johnny and Jimmy were in the rear seat talking about the Urban Rangers and their hopes to meet up with a British chapter during the vacation. In the seat in front of them – directly behind the driver - the three Ed's were looking out at the people and traffic.

"Boy, look at all of the cars and people", Ed commented to no one in particular as he looked out the window.

"It's normal for this time of year", the driver replied, "the festival always brings in lots 'o folk. About 'alf are Brits, and the rest from overseas, like yourselves". Kevin nodded at the comment.

"Must be a bit of a hassle for the locals", Kevin said as he gestured to the view outside the front window, "not to mention a strain on the buses and taxis".

"We can 'andle it", the driver assured him, "and it 'elps the economy no end! Besides", he confided to the teens, "it makes a nice change from the hoity-toities who go to Cowes for their yachting regattas".

The driver was referring to the famous port that the Royal Yacht Squadron made use of for their regattas from the Isle of Wight. Some of the teens who were looking out at the shiiping while the ferry was on the Solent had noticed a number of very expensive-looking yachts out of the water. Edd – who had noticed that a number of those yachts were flying Britain's naval ensign – realized that they must have been RYS yachts as they were the only British civilian yachts uniquely permitted to fly that flag.

"Gonna be hell getting to Newport from Ventnor though", Eddy grumbled quietly as he looked at a tourist map of the Isle of Wight, "I mean, how is Mr. S. gonna get us through this type of crowd from Ventnor to Newport?"

"Mr. Statorowski has come through for us thus far on this vacation, Eddy", Edd pointed out, "so don't be such a defeatist. He has asked us to trust him, and I have utmost confidence in his ability to deliver on his promises".

At that, the conversation in the boys' taxi quieted as they were driven towards their hotel in Ventnor. Likewise, a similar quiet had settled in on board the girls' taxi which was following the boys. However, there was one conversation – delivered in whispers – that was continuing…

"Lee, that's a neat idea!", Marie said quietly, "but are you sure that the place in Paris will be available? A lot depends on Chuck being out of town".

"Lindsay has assured me that things will be available, but before we get there, you'll need to do your thing", Lee reminded her. She had given Marie an outline of a plan of action to finally break Edd out of his reticence about lovemaking and Marie liked the idea a lot. She really felt close to Lee for what she was doing. Also, she wanted to – if it all worked out of course – to take the time to thank Lindsay for helping. Still, a lot would depend on Edd…

"So short trust-building steps are the key to this", Lee whispered, "Think you can do it?"

Marie nodded. Lee smiled and playfully light-punched Marie in the arm.

"Well, any time you'd like advice about you and Eddy", Marie said playfully, "my door is always open…"

"Ha-Ha, Marie", Lee said with a mock-leer, "ain't no worries there. And May's got no troubles with Big Ed either".

"Well now that they'd remembered not to use super-glue, I'm sure that's true", Marie whispered back. At that both girls giggled loudly. Marie had confided with Lee about that time that Ed and May had come to Edd's house – while Marie was there – with May's hand super-glued to a certain part of Ed's anatomy…

The sound of the two sisters giggling got the attention of the other girls. Nazz – who was seated directly in front of Lee and Marie - turned around.

"What's the joke, you two?" Nazz asked, "It's gotta be funny for you two to giggle like that!"

"Sister-to-Sister, Girlfriend", Marie replied, "So sorry!"

Nazz simply shook her head and got back into her conversation with May. As Nazz had been helping May out with tips on makeup and clothing, they were getting to be good friends, though Marie didn't mind. She and Nazz were BFF's and her younger sister wasn't a rival in that regard.

"Boy, I hope that it'll all be worth it", Sarah said quietly, "if this crowd is anything to go by…"

"It's going to be a bit different from Ballet, this festival", Lindsay said to Sarah, who was sitting beside her and who had heard her comment, "but I think you'll like it. I've been to the festival a couple of years ago, and it was fun!"

Sarah looked up at the towering figure of Lindsay and asked, "Who were playing when you were there, Lindsay?"

"Two reunion gigs: Genesis and Madness", Lindsay replied.

"I've heard about Genesis: Phil Collins, right?", Sarah responded, "but who's Madness?"

"British ska group. More rambunctious than UB40!", Lindsay replied.

Sarah shrugged. She hadn't heard of UB40 either, and she wasn't sure of what kind of music 'ska' was, but given how excited the other teens were about this concert venue, Sarah was sure she'd enjoy it, though she did wonder how Jimmy would handle it…

"Ah, here we are", Mr. Statorowski said suddenly, "Here is where we'll be staying tonight. The Royal Hotel!"

As the taxi-buses pulled up to the front, the teens got their first look at the bed and breakfast. It was indeed more like a hotel, given its size, but Mr. Statorowski had explained to them earlier what British Bed-and-Breakfasts were like, and they would all be staying in separate rooms in this one.

After everyone had exited their taxis and Mr. Statorowski had paid their fares, he then said, "Okay, let's check in, get some food, freshen up, then we'll wait for our ride to the festival".

With that, he led the party into the Royal Hotel…