Ms. Porter was stirring the stew and Tina noticed that Ms. Porter was stirring the meat and potatoes harder and harder as she was glaring at the food. Tina couldn’t help but giggle but she pretended like she was amused at the bird tweeting near her.

            “Well?” asked Ms. Porter.

            “Yes, Ms. Porter?” asked Tina as she busied her face in the cloak.

            “Well!?” said Ms. Porter.

            “Well, what?” asked Tina as she looked up and straight at Ms. Porter emptying her face of all emotion and looked at her as blankly as she possible could.

            Ms. Porter slammed the spoon down and stared at Tina. “WELL! Aren’t you going to ask me what the heavens we are doing here? Why I nearly kidnapped you! Where we are going! What the goddess is going on! Who I am! Who Mr. Haspel is!” Ms. Porter paused for a breathe. “I mean, who just blindly follows two strangers into the woods on some crazy ride. We could murder you in your sleep for all you know!!!!!!!!!!!!”

            She slammed the spoon down and looked at Tina, her face turning purple.

            “Well, Ms. Porter, that’s simple. You asked who I am, and I am….the kind of person who would go on a wild and crazy ride just because two strangers who have barely said three words to me, told me that I was in danger and that I had to leave my family and brothers and sisters. That is who I am.” Tina buried herself in her cloak.

            Ms. Porter looked at her and sat down slowly on a small stump still watching her, “You’re really enjoying this, aren’t you?”

            “Yes. Immensely.” Tina started laughing.

            “You were irritated that we weren’t telling you anything so you decided to give us some of our own medicine and play dumb,” said Ms. Porter as she shook her head.

            Tina finally looked up, “Yes.”

            “Okay, you win, you are special. Very, very special,” said Ms. Porter.

            “That is so cliché,” said Tina.

            “What?” asked Ms. Porter.

            “Let me guess, I’m the chosen one, the one they prophesize about. I’m the one who has the power of the magics, or the sword, or I’m the one who is supposed to save the world. Or I’m the one that the goddess has chosen to rid the land of evil. I mean come on, even I’ve heard more than a couple of adventure stories with heroines and evil sorcerers,” said Tina.

            “You’re really enjoying this aren’t you?” said Ms. Porter.

            “You have no idea,” said Tina grinning.

            “Okay, let’s start at the beginning…..” Ms. Porter started to say.

            “Oh goodie! Some exposition….” Interrupted Tina.

            Ms. Porter glared at her…..

 To be continued….