I'm here a bit earlier because I still want to write my other stories. That's why I hurried to finish this chapter. It continues with Jenny and the boys on their vacation in Cologne. And there is also a little surprise. But I don't want to give away more. I hope you enjoy reading.

Greetings Petit Erik


26.5.2022

Early at 9 o'clock Jenny's alarm clock rang. She quickly got up, grabbed her wash bag and clothes and ran to the bathroom. There she quickly got ready so that the other two could get in as well. Punctually at 9:30 she went to the cathedral with all the boys. When they got there, they lined up in front of the cathedral on the cathedral square and waited eagerly until 9:40. 10 minutes later, it was finally time. The fat Pitter struck its first note. Spellbound, the boys looked up while Jenny made an audio recording of the ringing. After 10 minutes, the ringing was over and Jenny stopped her recording. She put her smartphone back in her pocket and looked at the boys, who were still looking up, spellbound.

"Men," she said, trying to get the phantoms' eyes back on her, "we can come back later. The cathedral won't run away from us."

In the end, the worthy gentlemen did have to agree, and together they went back to their quarters with Jenny.

When everyone was sitting down to breakfast, they discussed what they wanted to do today. Of course, they were all in favor of the cathedral. They wanted to know which bell played such wonderful tones. Thus it happened for the first time that the opera spirits asserted themselves over Jenny and she had to bend to their will. But she had to admit, she did it gladly. Because even she wanted to see the fat Pitter. So they calmly finished their breakfast, packed necessary things, such as smartphone, masks (the boys groaned when Jenny made them understand that this meant they had to wear 2), vaccination cards and room keys. Then they made their way to the cathedral. Of course, they had to stand in line when they wanted to go in. As usual, there was a huge line of people at the entrance. But finally, after a short wait, they got their turn. They were checked for their vaccination cards and finally they went in. What they saw made their mouths drop open in amazement.

Immediately an atmosphere settled over the group that could not be described. They were all completely amazed and impressed by the architecture and beauty before them. With big eyes, in which a sparkle lay, they followed Jenny. She took photos everywhere and looked around with wide eyes as well. No matter how many times she was here, this place had an attraction to her that she could not describe. She continued to look around in awe, amazed at how something so grand could be built. Sure, it had taken over 600 years, but it was still massive. She continued to look around while the gentlemen still followed her with wide eyes. Every now and then they could be heard talking quietly to each other about the architecture of the cathedral.

They were in the cathedral for about 30 minutes before they went back outside.

Jenny looked at them and said: "So now let's go upstairs."

The boys looked at her skeptically and then looked up at the tower.

"You want to go up there with us?" asked Edenborn.

"Sure. So, follow me," Jenny said, "dragging" the opera spirits along.

They went down a flight of stairs to go in another door. There they went to the ticket office to get tickets to climb the tower. When they got them, they walked down a short hallway, which would eventually take them to the stairs that led up into the tower.


After about 30 minutes, they arrived at the top of the tower. All of them were quite exhausted from the many steps. However, when they saw the view, all exhaustion was forgotten. They looked down at the city below and were amazed and amused at how small everything looked. Jenny, meanwhile, was still taking pictures. Kari suddenly appeared next to her.

"Can you send the pictures to Sierra, too, please?" he asked.

She looked at him.

"Sure, I'd be happy to. If you don't mind, I'd like to take another selfie with you in front of the dome, if you don't mind?"

He seemed to be weighing this question. Jenny could literally see the wheels turning in his head.

"I don't think there's anything wrong with that but I'd like to ask the others first if that's okay with you?"

"Yeah sure, no problem."

He smiled and went back to the boys.

Soon, though, they had had enough of the view and headed back down. The descent was a little slow. Jenny ran at the start and when she saw the sign for the bells, she headed straight in that direction. The boys ran after her in a hurry, eager to finally see the longed-for bell. When they finally arrived at the bells, they almost burst into tears of joy.

There they saw him at last. The fat Pitter. He was truly gigantic. They walked reverently along a small corridor that led around the bell. Jenny took a photo from two perspectives until they all went back down. Their legs were literally shaking as they walked down the countless steps. When they finally stood outside, they first had to sit down on the edge of a fountain to steady their shaky legs.

"Boah," Jenny said.

"Everything good?" asked Jones.

"Yeah, I'm fine," she said, "just a little exhausted."

"Me too," he replied.


While they rested, Jenny sent her pictures to Sierra. When she was done, she waited a few minutes for a message but none came. She was a little surprised at this because she usually never had to wait long. Suddenly, Lewis gasped.

"I think I'm going crazy," he said.

"Why?" asked Jenny, looking at him.

He pointed in the direction of Cathedral Square.

"Either those are our ladies or I've been smoking too much of Kerik's shisha."

"Which you never do," the latter returned, "but I agree. I think they are."

Jenny also noticed that it was really the Sopranos but obviously they didn't see her direction. So she whistled loudly once. This got her a few strange looks, but also caught the attention of those who wanted her. Jack's eyes grew wide and he ran toward his father before Anna could stop him.

"Dad!" he shouted, throwing himself into his father's arms.

Lewis grinned and hugged his son to him. The other two children also ran toward their fathers and fell into their arms. Murphy and Kerik held their sons as well. The ladies also arrived and hugged their phantoms.

"How did you guys get here?" asked Crawford to Sarah.

"We came by train. Last night," she said.

"And where do you live?" asked Marina.

"Down there," Warlow answered her, pointing to the hotel where they were staying.

She gasped.

"That's where we're staying, too," she said.

"What?!" the gentlemen asked.

"Yes, we're staying there too," Liz confirmed Marina's statement.

"Do you live above or below us?" asked Mauer to his wife.

She looked at him.

"Above you," she replied, "but with you it's not noisy."

"Not with you either," he replied.

Jenny, meanwhile, was going over her daily schedule in her mind.

"When are you leaving again?" she asked the ladies, "we leave on Monday."

"So are we," replied Meghan, who was sitting at Murphy's side.

"Do you want to meet up there again on Sunday night? Sort of as a wrap up?"

"Sure," the ladies replied.


After sitting together for some time, they finally said goodbye. The women had other destinations they wanted to go to, but they also wanted to go to the cathedral. Jenny and the boys had decided to go to the Hohenzollern Bridge and look at a few trains and the Rhine. So they went their separate ways. Before that, the kids gave their dads a bear hug, which they also returned. Each phantom got another kiss from his favorite soprano and already the women and children were on their way to the cathedral. They waved at them and the boys waved back. Then they made their way to the Hohenzollern Bridge.

When they got there, they were amazed at how many locks were hanging on the bridge.

"It's almost an attraction in its own right here," Jenny explained to them, "almost as famous and popular as the cathedral."

The boys were amazed. It was only because of castles like this that so many came here? That was really amazing. But Jenny wasn't here for the castles, she was here for the trains. She had been a gifted model railroader since she was a little girl. And at home with her parents, she still had her own layout. But there wasn't enough room to take it with her. But she was happy every time she was with her parents and could use it. She stood at the railing of the bridge and looked into the main station. She saw a few trains standing inside. And often the S-Bahn came too.

Suddenly she saw an ICE train coming in. Immediately her childlike joy was awakened. With wide eyes she waited for it to go on. It would pass right by her and she was already more than jittery about it. When the time finally came, she quickly grabbed her smartphone and started a video recording. She filmed from the moment the train started until it passed her. She stopped recording and looked like a child who just saw a mountain of presents in front of her. The boys didn't quite understand, but didn't wonder too much about it now.

"Tell me, Jenny?" whispered Mackintosh in her ear, "is this train somehow special or am I mistaken?"

Jenny looked in the direction he was pointing. Her heart almost stopped with joy. The Rheingold. She finally saw this famous train. She squealed softly with delight and out of exuberance kissed Mackintosh on the cheek, whereupon he blushed. But she didn't notice. She was too fixated on this train. As with the ICE, she filmed everything from beginning to end. And when at the end still the Thalys drove past them, the day was perfect for her. Surely she would sleep wonderfully tonight. She grinned like a madwoman as they walked back.


"What are we going to do now, anyway?" asked Roxmouth.

Jenny put her finger to her chin and thought.

"Hmm, good question," she said, "maybe take a lunch break and a little nap and we can see again this afternoon. What do you guys think?"

Most of the responses were a euphoric "Yes!". She saw that some people's eyelids were already drooping a little. So they went back to the hotel and to their rooms to rest. Jenny and the two boys padded into their room, took off their shoes and jackets, dropped all the items on a table, and then went to their beds. They flopped down on them and blew out their breath.

"You don't realize how exhausted you are until you're lying down," Stolle said from downstairs.

"That's right," replied Murphy, who was lying on his bed as if dead.

The two phantoms had literally ripped off their masks and wigs, tossed them on their nightstand and dropped into their bed. Jenny was already lying half asleep on hers.

"Guys, I'm going to go to my eternal phantom grounds for a minute. Let's see when I wake up again. See you later," she mumbled, closing her eyes.

"See you later," the boys murmured back and closed their eyes as well.

A little nap like that certainly wouldn't hurt.

Murphy was the first to open his eyes; much to his shock. He just barely managed to keep himself from screaming out loud. He didn't want to wake the other two. Thus, he turned his scream into a gasp.

"What are you doing here?" he whispered to his son.

"I came to see you, Dad," Jake replied.

"And how did you know where I was?"

"I looked outside at the door signs you taped on."

Oh them! That's right, the first night they had each written on a piece of paper who lived where so there wouldn't be any confusion. So his son's answer made sense.

"Okay, you're welcome to stay here but please don't wake the other two."

"I won't, Dad. Oh and before you ask, Mom knows I'm here."

That was all the answer he needed. So his angel didn't have to worry about her son being gone. He smiled at Jake, who smiled back and snuggled up to his father. Together, the two fell back asleep.