Lightning Strikes (Hudson 2)

"Good. The best way for you to get around is to take the Underground system. We call it the tube. All the stations are clearly marked with this symbol," he said, drawing, "the circular London Transport symbol, You'd best buy a monthly travel card."

"Oh, I have to change my money into pounds," I said in a small panic.

He looked up at Great-aunt Lenora sharply.

"That hasn't been done yet, Leonora?"

"Of course not, dear. She just arrived

yesterday."

"Well, why didn't you take her directly to our bank and have it done?"

"I just thought settling her in, having Boggs explain her duties was more important. There wasn't time." She shook her head.

"I have to be in charge of every little thing these days," he muttered.

He reached into his inside pocket again, produced a wallet, and extracted a bill.

"This is a tenner," he said holding it up and waving it in front of me, "a ten-pound note. You know the difference between English and American money?"

"Yes," I said.

"Good. This will do you for today, but you'll have to see to your needs immediately. London is divided into a number of zones. A travel card must be valid for all the zones through which you wish to travel. The cost of the ticket depends on the number of zones you want to travel though, understand?"

He was speaking too fast and it didn't make sense to me. "You can't just buy one ticket?"

"Yes, of course, but it will depend on where you want to go?"

"But I don't know that yet," I moaned.

He shook his head.

"This isn't difficult. Children manage it on their own."

"Well, it's not this way in the States," I protested.

"The states' he muttered, "don't have half as good a system of public transport as we do. You'll see that for yourself in short order. When you get to the station today, the clerk will help you. Here;' he said, jotting on his notepad, "is your itinerary.

"After you get to the station, you'll go to Notting Hill Gate and change to the Circle Line which will take you to Sloane Square, where your school is located. It's near the Royal Court Theatre. It shouldn't be very difficult, even for an American, I imagine."

He handed me the slip of paper and the tenpound note. "Thank you," I said.

"You'll go out front, make a right turn and go two streets west to the station."

"Isn't this exciting for you?" Great-aunt Leonora cried clapping her hands together.

"I'll let you know when I come back;' I said. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw my great-uncle's eyes brighten with a smile.

"It's nowhere near as hard as it sounds now," he said, "and unlike people in the states, people here will be friendly and helpful. Still, mind whom you stop to speak with and don't take any side trips for a while," he advised. He folded his paper and rose, gazing down the table at Great-aunt Leonora as if she was at the other side of a long tunnel. "See to this money problem as soon as possible, Leonora."

"I shall, dear," she said.

"Well, have a good day," he added and left.

I told my Great-aunt Leonora about the certified bank check I had and she told me she would take care of it all personally.

"Now that Richard has turned it into a royal crisis," she added.