Chapter 3
Lost & Found
When Kate, Roland, Will, Jocelyn, Watt and Geoffrey came too they found themselves in a department store at the mall in a tiny town of Glenville California thirty miles north of L.A. in the United States of America. Actually they were in the Gap but nobody had actually any idea they were there. They gathered the idea that they were in some store very different from the markets they were used to but then you had to excuse foreigners they didn't know your way yet but they would. Kate examined the woman's clothing and wondering why they hadn't bought any money. Of course people in the store noticed them because they wore clothes from the medieval times. Finally Geoffrey the decided spokesman of the group went to find the "land owner". He walked up to the man behind a strange counter who was accepting odd money from people.
"Can I help you sir?" The man asked. "Yes I'm looking for your owner." "My boss?" The man asked amused. "The one who owns the land or runs the show." Geoffrey explained. "He went out to eat lunch but if you want to wait you're more than welcome too... Is there anything I can help you with?" The man asked. Geoffrey leaned closer over the counter. "Actually yes there is. My companions and I want to know what land we are in and who your King is?" Geoffrey said. "Um well you're in America or the United States and we don't have a King because the President is only a boss appointed by the people. And he lives in Washington D.C. on the other side. And you have to make an appointment to see him if you wish to see the big boss. Are you on drugs or something?" The man asked now slightly amused. "So how far is England from here?" Geoffrey asked. "Um it's on the other side of the world. Are you from England?" The man asked. "Yes in a manner of speaking. What year is it?" "Are you mentally ill sir?" "What year is it. And what manner of market is this?" Geoffrey asked. "Ooh boy your more trouble than I thought. – "The year is 2004 you're in the Gap a market in the huge market we call a mall. Geoff I've been looking for you all over." A lad about sixteen. "Thanks for finding my Uncle. He is from England we had to fly him over to take care of him." The lad said winking. "Who are you?" Geoffrey demanded once they went to get Roland, Kate, Will and Watt. "My name is Collin David and I'm here to help you. You're friend Adhamar is getting on my nerves." Collin added. "Adhamar do you know him?" "Met him twice he's dating my mom and he's a royal pain in the arse." "I think we'll get along just fine. William this is sir Collin a Knight." "A Knight of Glenville high." Collin said shaking their hands.
"Your pain in the arse friend is dating my mom. But I'm supposed to be at my dad's visiting and he won't mind a couple of friends. You're in a new world my friends mom had to train Adhamar to fit in you wouldn't recognize him in merry old England now. So I'm going to make you just as invisible. We have my mom's credit card. Come with me to Abercrombie and Bitch. Might as well do it in style." "New clothing what's wrong?" Watt asked. "You're like a neon sign warning Adhamar he'll know you're here the second he sees you. A neon sign is a really huge sign lit up by light or candles as you guys say." Collin explained leading them to another market store. "Haven't seen you here in awhile Collin." A girl chirped as they walked in. "Cynthia I'd like you to meet some new friends of mine." "Watt." "Geoffrey." "Kate." "Roland." "Will." "Nice to meet you." "We're in search of some outfits. They need styling tips badly and I have my mom's credit card so don't worry about the price." Collin said grinning devilishly. "Collin you devil. I suppose its part of our nature at seventeen eh? Derrick quit looking at yourself I'm going to need some help." Cynthia snapped at another lad even older then Cynthia and Collin. "I can help Kate but you're going to have to outfit the men with Collin good luck."
Kate studied Cynthia and Collin. Cynthia had pale white skin, blue eyes and blue hair. She had something on her eyebrow it was small and metal. Kate wondered what it was. Cynthia was a little bit taller than Collin. Collin had dark brown hair and brown eyes and tan dark brown skin. "This way to the dressing rooms. It's where you try on the clothes so you can see if they fit before you buy them." Cynthia explained unlocking one of the doors. Cynthia left Kate alone for a minute to stare at her reflection in a mirror. "All right here are some tops and jeans you can try on. And if you like two of the outfits we can get both." Cynthia said. Kate was puzzled and confused and wanted to be in the company of the others but they seemed to have disappeared.
"Try on these jeans Will and since they didn't fit you let's try them on Geoff." "What do I do again?" Watt asked. "It fits like this." Derrick said. "Where did you pick up these people?" Derrick whispered as Will came out in a pair of tight fitting jeans and a black stretch shirt and his old shoes. "Ugh we're going to have to buy new shoes aren't we?" Collin sighed. "Good luck they don't know what shoe size is." "I told you my Uncle Geoff comes from a very poor place in England it's not their fault. How was I supposed to know mom would let him bring his friends?" Collin asked. "Looks good. Try on the second outfit and we should be good to go. Watt you to. Don't forget the zipper on the jeans goes up." Derrick said rolling his eyes. Watt would have punched him in the face then but he was too confused.
A half an hour and a quick change in the strange rooms Collin called restrooms Watt, Roland, Kate, Geoffrey and Will sat with Cynthia and Collin around a table at what Sir Collin called a food court. "Well let me know if you need any help. In fact I can teach Kate how to put on make up." Cynthia offered. "Sure." Kate said shrugging. "So where are your living quarters?" Geoffrey asked his new shoes slightly pinching his feet. He was definitely not used to tennis shoes. Kate was lucky she got to wear open toed shoes at Cynthia's demand. "I don't' care how far it is I just want some sleep." Watt grumbled. "Now that's no way to treat our host. Cynthia and Sir Collin have treated us well." Roland said. "It's just a half an hour drive by a horseless carriage we call a car. And guys you might want to nix calling each other by your actual names. Especially if Adhamar knows you're here. He came over by boat from England and he's slowly bringing soldiers of his in secretly and if you're old enemies he's going to keep an eye out for you." Collin said. "He doesn't know we're here." Geoffrey said. "Yet but your names except Will's and Kate are hardly common but we'll discuss it when we get to my house." "House?" Kate asked. "Lodging come on." Collin said. Kate watched fascinated as Collin used their credit card to pay for Sonic the place they had eaten at.
The parking lot was a big shock for the five of them. "What is that?" Will asked touching a cars hood. He was hooked. "Horseless carriage." "You don't need a horse to drive them?" Roland asked confused. "Nope. Just an engine. Sorry guys they didn't make em in your time." "Are we going in one?" Kate asked "Yep but not that one. Cynthia's driving." Cynthia owned a Spider convertible that was blue. The top was off. "It's missing the roof." Watt said puzzled. "Nope the top can be taken off." Cynthia and Collin opened the doors. Watt, Kate, Geoffrey, Roland and Will slid uncomfortably into the back seat. Collin and Cynthia sat up front. "Ready?" Cynthia called back. "Sure." Will said totally freaked out now. So this is what his great grandchildren would live in? He wasn't sure he liked it. "Come one guys we'll find away to get you back to your home but bear with us a bit." Cynthia said as if she guessed Will's thoughts. "We promised to fight Adhamar first before we go back." Roland explained. "We can help you there and we will. For now let's get some rest." Collin said.
Kate, Roland, Will, Geoffrey, and Watt received a shock when Cynthia turned on the radio. They had Shake Yo Tail Feather blaring from the speakers. Eventually Watt, Roland, Kate, Will and Geoffrey got used to the music and even learned some of the song lyrics. "Interesting." Geoffrey muttered. "Sir Collin do you have paper so I can write about what we've learned?" Geoffrey asked after somebody named Nelly sang. "Yes we'll get you a notebook at home. Dad's a writer after he leaves the office so we have ton of paper available." Collin said.
The roads were not dirt but made out of tar as Collin explained to them. They went off on an exit to get to Collin's place in the hill.
Collin's house was a two story eight bedroom house. "My parents were planning on having more kids until they got divorced last year. Come on. Dad'll be writing so I can sneak you in. When he's writing or in the office he's oblivious to whatever else is going on. My younger brother Jeff is staying with us this summer so mom can have alone time with the git." Collin said leading them inside. Kate, Roland, Will, Geoffrey and Watt stared in awe at the living room of Collin's house. They barely noticed Cynthia honking and waving as she drove off.
