Chapter Nine

Days went by and just when Milo felt he was finally getting over his shyness towards Astrid, fate took an unexpected turn...

One foggy Friday morning, Milo walked down to the train station to collect a package for the museum. It was an artefact that had been discovered in a small country in Asia. Famous archaeologist, Hunter West was said to have found it among temple ruins. All Milo knew was, the institute was making such a big deal out of it, they were even throwing a company ball to celebrate. Milo hated parties. It wasn't that he didn't know how to dance. He had taken dance classes before, particularly with a partner. That was the problem. Milo was always at a loss when it came to having a dance partner. He could dance all night if he had someone to dance with.

But what he really wasn't looking forward to was after the party. Cleaning the institute on a normal day was bad enough, but after a party? It would be a horrendous task that would take all night to accomplish. And being a janitor, guess who was on clean up duty? Just thinking about the task that lay ahead made Milo wince.

"Something wrong, chap?" Milo snapped back to reality and realized he was making a face at the station master. He smiled nervously.

"Uh, I'm supposed to pick up a package for the Smithsonian Institute?"

"Ah, yes; you must be Mr. Thatch. Your package hasn't arrived yet."

"What do you mean it 'hasn't arrived yet'?" Milo asked.

"Don't worry; it should be here any minute now." assured the station master as he glanced at the clock on the wall. As if on cue, a shiny black train with light blue trimming pulled into the station. Its silver whistle blew a long note to announce its arrival. A tall young man hopped off the train and walked into the station office.

"Benny, when are you going to acknowledge my arrival?" he asked the station master, ignoring Milo's existence.

"My apologies; Mr. Thatch, this is Dmitri Petrov. He is the engineer of the train carrying your package." Milo and Dmitri studied each other for a moment or two. Finally the station master chuckled nervously and broke the silence. "While you two get acquainted, I will retrieve your package, Mr. Thatch." And with that he walked off in the direction of the train.

"So, Dmitri, how did you become an engineer at such a young age?" Milo asked.

Instead of a respectful reply, Milo received a scowl and a few choice words in Russian.

"Hey, there's no reason to be rude." he scolded. "I was only trying to make conversation."

"How is it you understand my language?" Dmitri said narrowing his eyes at Milo.

"I am a linguist, that is my job."

"And yet, you are dressed as..." the Russian acknowledged Milo's coveralls.

"I work as a janitor, but my whole life I have studied cartography and linguistics."

"I see."

"We just met and you are already treating me like your rival? Why?"

"Because you are American man. My father was killed by American man."

"My father is dead too. Both he and my mother died when I was just a little kid." The raven-haired Russian went silent for moment.

"Well I must be going. Dasvidoniya! And Dmitri walked off towards the train. The station master arrived just as it chugged off.

"Sorry it took so long. The box was buried at the bottom of the cargo drop- off." The station master paused when he saw Milo's facial expression. "Did I miss something?"

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When Milo got back to the Museum, he noticed how quiet it was. No one was around but the lady at the front desk. He walked up to the desk and got her attention.

"Excuse me but, where is everyone?" he asked her.

"The head director let everyone go home early so the museum could be prepped for tomorrow night's ball. That is, everyone but the custodians and secretaries. I'm sad to say we will be the ones doing the prepping. The head director said to give you this list of tasks he wants done." She handed Milo the list of tedious cleaning duties to complete. "He also said to make sure the boiler is in good working order all night during the ball. Now if you excuse me, I need to call the caterers." She picked up the phone and began dialling the number.

"What do I do with the package?" Milo asked.

"Just set it up in the rainforest exhibit." she replied. Milo walked down the hall to the exhibit but suddenly he stopped. He saw Astrid talking to someone.

'Now is your chance Milo. Ask her to go to the ball with you.' He waited until the other person walked off then made his way to Astrid.

"I need to ask you something." he told her.

"I need to ask you something too." she said.

"You first." said Milo.

"Ok. Well, will you to teach me how to dance?"

"I thought you already knew how to dance."

"No. I wasn't expecting to be asked so I figured I didn't need lessons. But now I'm going to look so stupid in front of Dmitri..."

"Dmitri?" Milo interrupted.

"Yeah. He asked if I would go to the ball with him. Mr. Harcourt invited him to the company ball as a thanks for bringing the artefact back safely." she replied.

"And what did you say?"

"I said yes of course. He's such a dream. Especially with that Russian accent of his. But if I don't learn how to dance, I'll make a total fool of myself!"

Milo stared at the floor. 'How could I be such idiot?' he silently cursed himself.

"So will you help me?" Astrid pleaded.

"Of course I will." Milo replied, trying his best to hide his disappointment.

"Great! Now what was your question?"

"It was nothing important." he said. He felt as though someone had punched him in the stomach.

"Oh, ok. So tomorrow morning?"

"Yeah."

"Alright, see you then." she skipped happily down the hall and out of sight.