I haven't updated in a while, but now that I got my wisdom teeth out, I have time! I don't think I can write one continuous story (pain keeps interrupting my thoughts), so I'll do snippets of the day. Prepare for this to stink.

13 Years Old

We were in Cairo, and Dad seemed on edge. He kept looking around and refused to put down his workbag. I didn't bother asking what was going on. I never got an answer out of him. But that didn't keep me from worrying. Something that scares my dad like this is probably not the kind of thing you want to invite to your birthday party. Get it? Cause today's my birthday? Oh, never mind.

Also, ever since about a year ago, Dad had gotten extra nervous every time we were in Cairo. You would think an Egyptologist would be happy to be in Cairo. Just another reason to make me worry even more.

\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/

I was hot and sweaty. Being outside for hours on end in Cairo in the middle of the summer will do that to you. It was lunch time and Dad had said we could go back to the hotel to have lunch. I went to go look for him because now I was hot, sweaty, and hungry. It didn't take long for me to find him, but when I did, I didn't want to interrupt him. He was staring out at the horizon. He was thinking about mom.

\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/

I was picking at my falafel when I blurted out, "Tell me the story of how you and mom met." I didn't look up, just stared at my food like it was very interesting.

"You want to hear the story?"

"Yes." Even though I've heard it so many times, I wanted to hear it again. It seemed to be one of the few things that I knew about my mom.

"Well-" Dad stopped. "Carter, stay here. I'll be right back." Without any further explanation, he got up, grabbed his workbag, and left. He took his workbag. This can't be good.

\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/

I waited for a while, my unease growing the longer Dad was gone. Then I heard something that made my blood go cold. Then I heard it again. Gunshots. Not thinking, I run downstairs to the lobby and see my dad zipping up his workkbag. I look up and see three unconscious men hanging by their feet by the chandelier. Their robes are hanging over their heads and you can see their boxer shorts. One of them is wearing Mario and Luigi boxer shorts. I'm not joking. I probably would have laughed if I hadn't been absolutely terrified at the moment. I was getting ready to ask where the gunshots came from when I saw three guns lying neatly on a table in the lobby.

Dad looks up and says, "Didn't I tell you to stay in the room?" I was too stunned to answer.

\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/

The next day on the news I saw our hotel. The news anchor was saying that three gunmen had stormed our hotel, but were somehow stopped in their tracks by a freak chandelier malfunction. Sure.

I can barely complete a thought at the moment. The pain seems to be getting worse as the day goes on. Anyway, I told you this chapter would suck. I think I might write a story about how Julius and Ruby meet. I'll work on that. Review and I'll give you a virtual pie!