Chapter 4:
"You dick England no you jerk…." "Um okay thank you. We'll be in touch. Thanks." Lilli said and marked out the name "Next!" She yelled
"Papa, Mama it's me Sealand!" The man said and shook his hips. Mathias banged his head on the table and Lilli sighed "You have to be kidding me!"
Later that evening Mathias was looking over the list "It's hopeless Lilli game over! We interviewed every boy in Copenhagen and not one can pass as Sealand!" "We just need to keep looking!" Lilli said "He's out there somewhere!" She pulled out a music box "Once Finland and Sweden see this music box they'll think we've brought the real Sealand and before they realize the catch we'll be gone with the eleven-million dollars!"
"Is this girl living in this old place really going to get me to Stockholm?" Peter thought as he walked to a boarded up door. "Hanatamago." Peter said as the small dog went through a hole and Peter grabbed an edge and pulled a section of the board loose. Peter fell backwards with the board.
"Did you hear something?" Lilli asked "Hm?" Mathias shook his head
"Hello!" Peter yelled "Hanatamago? Where are you?" he whispered Peter walked around and said "This place, it's…it's like a memory from a dream."
Dancing bears.
Painted wings.
Things I almost remember.
And a song someone sings.
Once upon a December.
Someone holds me safe and warm.
Horses prance through a silver storm.
Figures dancing gracefully
Across my memory.
The room filled with figures floating down and they started dancing.
Someone holds me safe and warm.
Horses prance through a silver storm.
Figures dancing gracefully.
Across my memory.
Five of them walked up to Peter and they smiled at him and his clothes changed to a sailor outfit.
Far away.
Long ago.
Glowing dim as an ember.
Things my heart used to know.
Things it yearns to remember.
The figures smiled at Peter again.
And a song someone sings.
Once upon a December.
"Hey! What are you doing here?"
Peter got up and his clothes changed back to normal and he ran the other way. He saw a girl in a maroon dress running towards him.
"Hey stop! " she yelled. "Stop, stop, hold on minute!"
"Now how did you get in he-here," She stopped and stared. Peter had stopped at an old portrait of the Nordics with Sealand in it. A man with spikey blonde hair came running besides the girl ""Excuse me boy, but-"
"Mathias do you see what I see?" She asked "Uh no." Mathias said and looked closer "Oh wait! Yes!"
"Are you Lilli Zwingli?" Peter asked
"A dog, cute." Lilli said and picked Hanatamago up and gave it to Mathias.
"My name's Peter. I need travel papers." he leaned in closer. "They say you're the girl to see, even though I can't tell you who said- what, hey!"
Lilli had started to examine him. "Why are you circling me? What were you, a vulture in another life?
"Sorry, Petre it's-"
"Peter!" Peter corrected
"Peter right it's just that you look a lot like...never mind. So, you said something about travel papers?" she asked, a sly smile spreading across her face.
"Yes," Peter said. "I'd like to go to Stockholm."
"You'd like to go to Stockholm?" he repeated. Lilli turned to Mathias. This was just perfect. But Mathias was playing with the dog.
"Aw, who is this little guy, oh look he likes me!"
"Nice dog. So let me ask you," She continued, "Peter, was it? Do you have a last name with that?"
"Well, um, I'm not sure." He said. "I don't know my last name. I was found when I was twelve years old and..,"
"How old are you now?" Lilli asked "Still twelve I haven't ever aged or grown." Peter answered
"Really. And before you were twelve?" She asked.
"Look, I know it's weird, but I don't remember. I have no memories of my past."
Lilli smiled again. "Well that's just," She turned to Mathias. "That's perfect."
"I do have one clue however and that is Stockholm. So, can you two help me or not?" Peter asked.
"Well, oddly enough, we're going to Stockholm too." She tapped Mathias. "Mathias, tickets," he whispered. "We have three tickets here." Mathias handed her three pony ride tickets. "Unfortunately, the third ticket is for him, Sealand."
"Lilli and I are planning to reunite the Micro-nation with his mama and papa Finland and Sweden." Mathias explained. "You look just like him, you know." Lilli said. Mathias nodded in agreement.
"Yeah, the same sky blue eyes."
"That's true," Lilli said.
"His eyebrows." Mathias continued.
"Totally."
"Check it out he even has the same sandy blonde hair color Lilli!" Mathias said
Lilli went on. "He's the same age, the same physical type..."
"Are you trying to tell me that you think that I'm Sealand?" Peter asked with disbelief.
"All I trying to say is that I've seen millions of boys all over the country and not one of them looks as much like him as you. I mean, look at the portrait," Wally said
"Wow. I knew you were crazy from the beginning, but now I think you're both mad," He said.
"But why?" Lilli asked. "You don't remember what happened to you."
"No one knows what happened to him," Mathias added.
"You're looking for family in Stockholm!"
"And the closest thing he has to a family is in Stockholm."
"Have you ever thought about the possibilities," Lilli asked.
"That I could be a micronation?"
They both nodded. "Mmhmm!"
"Well I don't know, it's kind of hard to picture yourself as a nation when you're sleeping on a damp floor. But sure. I guess every lonely kid would hope they were one." Peter said.
"And somewhere," Mathias said, "one kid is. After all, Sealand had a tendency to rise from expectations."
"Yeah," Lilli cut in. "Really wish we could help, but the third ticket is for Sealand." She put her arm around Mathias and they walked away, leaving Peter alone with the portrait.
"Good luck," She called back.
"What are you doing? Why didn't you tell her about our brilliant plan?" Mathias asked her
"All he wants to do is go to Stockholm. Why give away a third of the reward money?" Lilli answered. "Besides, I got it all under control. Wait for it..and..."
"LILLI!" Peter cried.
Mathias grinned. "Right in the palm of our hands."
"Lilli, wait!"
Wally turned around. "Did you call me?"
"Okay, if I don't remember who I am, then who's to say I'm not an micro nation or country or whatever he is right?" he asked.
"Yeah," she said.
"Uh huh, and if I'm not Sealand, then Finland will know right away and it will all just be an honest mistake."
"Sounds reasonable," Lilli said.
"But if you are the micro nation, then you'll finally know who you are and have your family back," Mathias told her.
"You know, he's right. Either way it gets you to Stockholm." Lilli held out her hand.
"Right," Peter said, shaking it.
"Ow!" she cried, pulling her hand back. Strange, Sealand had a grip just like that. What if...Don't be stupid. Shut up, Lilli thought.
She cleared her throat. "Well Sealand, shall we be off?" she asked.
"Hanatamago, we are going to Stockholm!" Peter said happily.
"Uh, the dog stays," Lilli told him
"What are you talking about? The dog goes," he contradicted.
"No, she stays."
"I say she's going."