Chapter 73

Urges ... and dreams. I wish ... what do I wish? I wish I could find that guy who helped us find the Admittance Office.

Where did that come from?

We said the week before school starts ... so...

“Bud?”

“Yes, Tyche?”

“You flying today?”

“Not yet,” he said.

“Run us down to San Marcos?”

“In the ‘chopper?”

“I’ll buy the fuel.”

“Sure.”

“Start full and fill when you get back?”

“You got it.”

“Sit up front?” asked Alice.

“Sure.”

I heard ... over the intercom... “How does this thing work?”

“Follow along with me.”

“Umh.”

“Very good, Alice. Your aircraft.”

“Holy shit holy shit holy shit,” she said ... me too.

And that’s how I lost my flying buddy.

When I asked if she was flying back with me.

“Wings are sooo boring. I’ll fly back with Bud. Come on, Bud, teach me more.”

She even paid for lessons ... the rat.

If that wasn’t bad enough, Two walked into the Admissions Office, gave her name, “Two.”

“No ... just Two,” she flashed her Black Israeli Passport and Student Visa.

The girl behind the counter tried to open it.

“No,” said, Two. “It opens from the left side.” She demonstrated. “Hebrew.”

The counter girl typed in ‘Two’ You’re here. Two ... strange name.”

“Had it all my life,” Two said.

The counter girl read, “Eighteen ... special student. Classes at will. Goodwill arrangement. What is a Goodwill arrangement?”

“No money involved.”

Then she noticed Two’s hair.

“Oh my God ... where did you find that color?”

“It’s natural.”

“Okay,” that was said in a doubtful tone.

She must have pushed some button under the counter because Mr. Security came out the door to the offices. Mr. Security had a name tag, ‘Mr. Qadeeh. Chief of Campus Security’

“Miss Arbuthnot. What seems to be the problem?”

Ah hah ... Arbuthnot ... she had no name tag or counter wedge. I was wondering.

Miss Arbuthnot passed the passport to Mr. Suit. He looked.

“Opens left to right ... you’re holding it by the back,” Two said.

He turned it over, “Israeli Passport ... Diplomatic.”

“Come with me,” he said.

Two looked him straight in the eye.

“No ... you need to call your State Department. Before this becomes an International Incident.”

“Come with me.”

She was on her phone ... flawless Hebrew.

I didn’t understand a word.

“If you don’t come with me now, you will be refused admittance.”

“You are under arrest.” She produced a Interpol badge.