Chapter 31.

After taking the Underground back to Richmond, the boys dropped off their recently-purchased goodies back at the Petersham Hotel. The head concierge James had smiled and nodded appreciatively at the cricket gear that Ed had bought as he placed them in storage for the outgoing courier, then – after Edd had discretely gone back up into his hotel room and placed the wrapped T-shirt of Ed's with the necklace secreted within its folds - headed back out to the Underground terminal.

"So Sockhead", Eddy said to Ed as they walked back to the entrance to the Underground, "Any thoughts on where to go next now that we've alleviated ourselves of all of that weight?"

"Well, I was thinking about going to Trafalgar Square and getting some tourist shots of some of the buildings and monuments there", Edd replied, "after all, tourists to London tend to do that as a kind of 'rite of passage' in order to prove to others that they have in fact been to this historic city".

"Sounds kind of dull, Double-Dee", Kevin replied with some distaste, "besides, I'd like to get pics there only if they had me and Nazz in them".

"Kevin's got a point, Double-Dee", Ed said, "I'd like to have pics with me and my Little May with me at places like that".

"I understand, but it's just that we might not have the time to do so as we'll be heading out to France the day after tomorrow", Edd pointed out.

"Don't worry Sockhead", Eddy assured him, "I'll ask Chuck to fit that photo-op in before we head over Frog-side".

Both Jimmy and Johnny looked confused at Eddy's last word. Role however got a broad smile on his face".

"Ah, Rolf's people like seeing frogs hopping about", Rolf said, "In the home country, frogs are regarded as good luck. So where around here are these frogs you speak of?"

"Uh, Rolf", Edd said, "He was referring to France. The British call people from France 'Frogs' because of a belief here that French people all enjoy eating cooked Frogs Legs, so 'Frogside' simply means the other side of the English Channel".

"Ugh!", Jimmy and Johnny said in unison. Rolf said with a grimace, "Rolf does not like good luck charms being consumed as food, so I hope that I will not have to witness such eating over there!"

"Don't knock what you haven't tried", Ed said, "after all, Little May said that you should not judge food by its cover".

"I think she meant 'book by its cover', Ed", Edd corrected, "but she's right: Some foods have rather vulgar names but end up tasting very pleasant. For example, the dish back home that consists of chipped creamed beef on toast. It looks unappetizing to the eye but is in fact quite excellent to the palate".

"Oh, you're talking about 'Shit on a Shingle", Eddy said with a smirk, seeing Edd cringe at the term, "well, you do have a point: looks gross but tastes dee-lish!"

"You do know, Eddy, that Standards will have something to say if they catch you saying that too often", Edd warned, "I really detest that term".

"It's in the script, so don't worry, Sockhead, so I can say it as many times as I like: Shit on a Shingle!"

The others laughed at Edd's expression , but then Johnny spoke again.

"Gross-sounding food aside, what are we going to do? We still have a few hours to kill before coming back here for dinner", he pointed out.

"Why don't we go to Trafalgar Square anyway?" Jimmy suggested, "we can scope out places to take pictures with our girlfriends, plus there might be some other places nearby there that we can take a better look at".

"An aimless walkabout?" Kevin said, then shrugged saying," sure, why not? Pity we're too young to go into a pub though. I heard that English beer is not served cold and I'd have liked to check that out".

"You drink beer?" Edd asked with an incredulous look on his face. Edd had never in his life touched any alcoholic beverage and he knew that Kevin – in fact, all of them - was underage.

"That would be telling, Double-Dee", Kevin replied with a smile, "but as I said: I just wanted to see if it was true".

The boys continued to head down into the Underground chatting about British traditions that they had heard about.

While the boys were catching the next Underground train to Trafalgar Square, the girls were busy having their walkabout. There were a number of admiring glances and wolf-whistles at them by male teens as they walked down the street – their makeovers were really very good and eye-catching - but the girls simply smiled and ignored them. Sarah however was getting annoyed at the attention. Marie took notice.

"That type of ogling is a part of life, Sarah", Marie said, "you gotta let it roll of your back. I can't blame them though as you came out of the spa and salon looking pretty hot, Girl", she finished with a smile.

"Marie's right, Sarah", Nazz said, "Your being a tomboy doesn't do justice to your looks and curves. I realized back in Junior High when you were on the cheer-leading squad that you were going to be quite the looker as you got older. Jimmy's a very lucky person to be your boyfriend".

Lee did not join in on the conversation as she was distracted by a display in a shop window. The others noticed and stopped to see what Lee was looking at. When Marie saw what Lee was looking at, she smiled.

"Figures", Marie said, "Those pieces really look elegant. Thinking of getting them?"

Lee was looking in the window of a shop dedicated to chess pieces and boards. The window display showed different versions of chess pieces. There were pieces that looked like ancient Greek warriors, others looking like soldiers, plus traditional Staunton-shaped pieces in crystal, ivory, exotic wood, and glazed ceramic. The boards were likewise of similar construction.

"I'm pretty tempted, Marie", Lee replied, "A set like that in the living room back home would really look classy".

"And tempt Double-Dee into playing you whenever he comes over to see me", Marie said in mock exasperation, "you know, when you defeated Double-Dee in last year's chess tournament, I was torn between pride for your win or sympathy for my boyfriend's loss".

"He was a damn tough opponent", Lee replied, "Poppy would say the same about him. It took playing the third game in order to win the trophy. After losing to him in the first game, I knew that he was not going to be easy meat".

The previous year, Lee and Edd were the finalists for the teen's division of the State Chess Open. Edd had won the teen's competition two years in a row previously and was regarded as a chess master by the organizers. The finals format was two games with a twenty-minute time limit of moves, with a third game to be played if the competitors tied. Edd won the first game, Edd lost on time in the second game – which forced the third game, then Lee won the final game with an unexpected checkmate move. Lee looked more surprised than Edd at the end result, but Edd was a very good sportsman, congratulated Lee on her win, and hoped for a similarly competitive rematch at the next tournament.

Marie had consoled Edd for not winning the trophy for a third time, but Edd smiled at her and said, "It is truly an honor to play chess with a person of that caliber, Marie. Even world champions lose their crowns from time to time".

"Well, far be it for me to put a damper on his chess-playing, Lee", Marie said, "so go in and buy a nice-looking chess set. I think it'd really be a neat addition to the den".

"Yeah, what your sister said", Lindsay said, "you do need to treat yourself from time to time, LeeLee. And one of those chess sets would sook sooo nice in the den of your house".

"Plus me and Marie can play as well, plus I might be able to get my Big Ed to play as well", May said with a smile. Marie rolled her eyes at that as May still forgot from time to time that rooks do not move diagonally in chess...

"Okay, ya talked me into it!", Lee said with a smile, "and don't worry, Marie, I won't leave it out for your man to see too often", she finished with a snicker, "I think that jade Staunton set would be a good one".

Marie and May nodded, the green jade pieces – one set in light green and the other in dark green sitting on a similar-colored ceramic board – really looked alluring, though the price tag did make Lindsay's eyes go a little wide.

"Got the cash for it?" Lindsay asked, "I've got the card if you need it". Lee shook her head and got out her own card.

"I'm okay, Lizzy", Lee said, "that last modelling gig paid pretty good and I've enough to cover it, but later on in Paris perhaps….", she concluded with a wink and sly smile…

Lizzy giggled and playfully slapped Lee's arm. So, while the others waited outside, Lee went and made her purchase. She came out ten minutes later but carrying nothing.

"They're gonna mail it back home for me", Lee said by way of explanation, "It didn't cost much extra for them to do so and they can ship it in a protective case so it doesn't get damaged".

"Well, considering what we've purchased thus far today", Lindsay said with a smile as she held up her tote bag, "that's probably a good thing".

"Too true", Nazz said in agreement, "We've got only about three or four hours before we have to get back to the hotel for dinner, so let's not weigh ourselves down too much before then".

With that, the girls continued their walk down the thoroughfare, more or less what the boys were doing a short distance away in Trafalgar Square...