“Are you the other apprentice,” she eagerly asked, looking up at Jacob as he climbed down from off the wagon.
Jacob stepped to the ground and then bashfully nodded. He had imagined the sentinels as a manly profession and never expected to see a girl as an apprentice. And although she seemed pleasant enough, the thought that he would be apprenticing together with a girl naturally distressed him, adding to his introduction a nervousness that he had always felt around girls.
“I’m Emalynn Yung, and I’ll also be apprenticing with Mr. Pitts. What’s your name?”
“Err-a—Jacob—err-a—Jacob Frost.”
Emalynn stretched out her hand offering him a friendly handshake and Jacob briskly stepped forward to receive it. But in that awkward moment he clumsily stumbled over a twig, his curse once again struck out at him with a vengeance. Instantly his eyes went wide, he fell forward, and his foot slapped down right in front of her, barely catching himself before a breakneck collision.
Emalynn sprang back in surprise screaming, “EEEEEEEK!” Then seeming embarrassed she shyly blurted, “Err—ah, t-that was a nice recovery.”
“Rotten cursed luck!” thought Jacob, as his face turned bright red and his nervous mood changed to humiliated embarrassment. “I—ah—bet I looked like a pig on ice,” he stammered back, hastily reaching out to shake her hand. They clasped hands and he noticed her soft skin against his farm rough callused hands. Their eyes then met and Emalynn fired off a round of useless giggles.
Suddenly a dog nudged its nose against Jacob’s pants, pasting on him a long string of foamy slobber. He glanced down at the saliva and saw the culprit playfully wagging his tail in a guiltless performance. The other dog, a smaller female, stood to his side shivering with excitement as she stared up at Mr. Pitts, while progressively creating a puddle under her hind legs.
“Oh Duchess!” exclaimed Emalynn, releasing Jacob’s hand to grab the urinating dog’s collar and pull her away from Mr. Pitts. “I’m so sorry, she always does that when we have visitors.”
“That’s quite alright Emalynn, you should see the mess my horses make when they get excited,” replied Mr. Pitts with a grin.
Jacob squatted and began rubbing the foamy dog’s ear. The dog naturally reacted by leaning into his hand and dripping slobber onto the road. “What’s his name?” he asked, finding it odd that the dogs were acting so different from his frightened farm animals back home.
“Hercules, but we should’ve named him drool and her dribble. I’m so sorry about your pants,” apologized Emalynn, she shook her head giving a self-conscious grin. “I just don’t know about these two.”
“Oh that’s nothing, I’ve gotten a lot worse on me back home on the farm.”
“Oh you live on a farm, how wonderful. Have you ever driven a tractor?”
“Driven a what?”
“You know a tractor.”
“Uh yeah,” replied Jacob, not understanding her strange question. “You mean a wagon?”
“Oh! You sound just like Mr. Pitts.”
“Yeah, well I guess so,” replied Jacob, confused over their muddled conversation.
“Last night there was a farm on television,” said Emalynn cheerfully. “And they were showing how farmers lived a hundred years in the past. It was really crude, horses and wagons were as common as cars. And worst of all they did everything by hand, like churning butter, washing clothes, and harvesting fields. I’m so glad I wasn’t born back then!”
Jacob wondered how they managed to get along in this dimension without working and what a television was. “Whatever it is,” he thought, “it must be enormous for an entire farm to fit on it.”
The three started walking toward the house with Mr. Pitts leading his horses.
“People back then were so backwards and simple minded,” continued Emalynn. “And can you imagine that right now there are still simple minded people like that living in a dimension of the past!”
“Simple minded! Backwards!” thought Jacob taken aback. He stared at her edging close to firing back at her with an insult. “Who does she think she is? Just cause I’m from the past dimension doesn’t mean she’s any better than me! Wait until training starts, and then she’ll see what it’s like competing with a farm boy!” Angry and wanting immediate payback for her insensitive remark, he decided to start right then and now in giving her a lesson in humiliation.
“With all your modern day smarts,” he hotly challenged, staring at her with a rigid face. “I bet you couldn’t even win me in a simple minded foot race to the front porch. And I’ll even give you a five second head start being that you’re a girl and all.”
“Oh don’t be silly, with that big of lead of course I can beat you,” she replied, as if insulted.
“Okay then, were on,” challenged Jacob. He looked down at his hand and spat in his palm, offering her a solemn handshake to seal up their bet.
Without paying him the slightest notice, and showing her ignorance toward the proper etiquette of bet binding, she immediately took off sprinting towards the house followed close by her dogs.
“SUIT YOURSELF, IT’S STILL A BET EVEN WITHOUT A BET BINDING HANDSHAKE,” he furiously shouted, shaking his head in disbelief. He then started to politely count, “One…two…three… four…”
“You’d better hurry Jacob,” said Mr. Pitts with a smile, “she’s getting mighty close.”
Realizing that Mr. Pitts was right, Jacob began to regret having made such a generous offer, and immediately he bolted to join in the race. Alarmed by her quick progress, he shifted to his fastest gallop and began to close the gap. The black road turned into the brown cobblestone court that circled around the trim green lawn. Emalynn, escorted by her dogs, had hurriedly shot over the curb, veering from off the cobblestone to cut straight across the grass. At that moment Hercules turned his head catching sight of Jacob’s quick approach. The happy go lucky dog with his long tongue dangling out the side of his mouth, whirled about and sprinted back towards his new found pal. The sudden appearance of Hercules startled Jacob, and he knew that he had to stop or else collide with him. But stopping would cost him the footrace, and seeing no other choice, he was forced to plow ahead regardless. At the very last moment before impact, he threw himself into the air hoping to hurdle over the top of Hercules. However Hercules reacted to his jump by bouncing up to greet his newfound buddy, and in one of those rare moments that snare all expectations while simultaneously knocking the wind out of your sail, Jacob’s foot struck Hercules’ side. “YEEELP!” squealed Hercules, as Jacob pitched forward, spinning into an uncontrollable summersault. In a befuddled flash he slapped down onto the grass, landing flat on his buttocks. The force of the blow wrenched his head forward and painfully banged his nose against his knee. Dazed from the impact he sat motionless, trying to recall just where he was and what he was doing on the grass.
“By gum, the foot race!” he suddenly cried, as his memories flooded back into his mind. “I’ve lost!” Overwhelmed by disappointment, his triumphant feelings of reprisal crumbled to dust and his anger began to swell up into a boiling rage. He rubbed his sore nose and then muttered a complaint, “Rotten gummed up luck! Why’d I have to get the family curse anyway?”
Apart from throbbing pains in his rump and nose, he felt uninjured. Suddenly and totally unexpected, Hercules sprung into his lap joyfully licking his cheek. Angry at losing, he pushed the bothersome dog away, as Duchess pounced on him from the other side, cheerfully lapping his other cheek.
“ARE YOU ALRIGHT?” shouted Emalynn, running back towards him.
“Yeah, I’m glad I landed on the grass,” replied Jacob, with slobbery dog drool sticking to his face.
Emalynn grinned and immediately whirled about, finishing her quick dash toward the porch. Upset with how well his revenge had gone, Jacob shoved the dogs off his lap and began wiping his pasted cheeks with his shirtsleeve. Irritably he stood up and brushed off the seat of his pants. With his pride crushed to its lowest, he ambled toward the porch vowing that he wouldn’t be so easy on her next time.
“I beat you fair and square Jacob! That was fun wasn’t it?” squealed Emalynn happily from the porch.
“Yeah, it was the best,” he replied, still rubbing his sore rear.
The sound of clomping hoofs grew louder, and they both turned to see Mr. Pitts’ wagon approaching up the center of the cobblestone road.
“Nice to see such youthful energy,” he said, performing a little shuffle with his feet. “I’m glad I still got it, otherwise it would be a real chore keeping up with you two.”
Emalynn smiled back at Mr. Pitts, beaming with a wide grin. She looked at Jacob and then curiously asked, “So Jacob, where are you from?”
Still upset with losing out to a rude girl, he replied, “From a backwards and simple-minded dimension.”
Emalynn stared back at him puzzled.
“Jacob was raised in dimension four, the Early Period,” explained Mr. Pitts, coming to a stop. “But originally he was born of enchanters in dimension two, the Enchanted Realm just like you.”
“Dimension four!” exclaimed Emalynn, suddenly blushing red. “Oh I thought you came from this dimension like everyone else. I’m really sorry! I hope I didn’t offend you earlier with my comments. I really didn’t mean it; I was only trying to make conversation that’s all. But really everybody I know that has been to dimension four say that it’s a very nice place. I’ve never been there of course, but we did stay in a turn of the century hotel once, with real antique furniture and everything. And it was blast!”
“Her groveling won’t change a thing,” thought Jacob still feeling enraged, “and as soon as I get the chance again I’ll put her right in her place!” Curiously he began to wonder what she had meant by exploding hotels.
“I love going to dimension four,” added Mr. Pitts. “Somehow I seem to fit right in.”
“And Jacob I could tell you were born of enchanters like me,” continued Emalynn, “because my dogs are from that dimension and they only like those from our own realm. I can’t wait until my enchantress powers awaken. Just think, someday when were older and our powers emerge you and I can learn enchantment together.”
Mr. Pitts tied his horse’s reins off to a porch post, and together they followed Emalynn up the steps.
“Come on in,” invited Emalynn, eagerly opening the front door and leading the way inside.
Jacob along with Mr. Pitts and the dogs squeezed through the double doors together, falling into an elegant white tiled foyer.
Emalynn then closed the doors behind them. “Please remove your shoes,” she said. “We don’t wear shoes in our house because of our lovely white carpet.”
To Jacob it seemed like an odd request, but he complied politely anyway. Balancing on one foot he removed a shoe and exposed a big toe poking out from a hole in his dark sock. Upon spotting the rift he reached down with his hand and covered his holy sock, too embarrassed to show it off in such fancy digs. The others stepped into waiting slippers and up onto the carpet. Walking ahead, they quickly left him behind. Hurriedly he removed his other shoe, slid into the slippers, and rushed to catch up.
Ahead in the wide hallway the retrievers were wagging with their tails and joyfully jumping up and down. He followed them into a side doorway where Mr. Pitts and Emalynn were waiting, standing next to two white couches. Set squarely between the sofas was a small dark glossy wood table that held small clusters of white porcelain fairy figurines. Across the walls hung lavish paintings, giving the room the appearance of a fancy museum, and off to the side was a big white grand piano. However out of all the curious sights in the den, the items that held his attention the most were tall blazing lanterns set in each corner of the room. Giving off bright light from their tops, they illuminated the entire area. “By gum,” he puzzled, “how in the world do they get the wicks to burn so bright?”
“Please sit down,” said Emalynn, turning to leave. “I’ll let my parents know you’re here. I think they’re both upstairs, it’ll only be a few minutes.”
Mr. Pitts fell back relaxing on a couch, while Jacob still fascinated with the room continued to stand and gaze about.
“Well Jacob quite a bit different from anything you’ve ever seen,” said Mr. Pitts, sitting on the couch and resting his soiled boots on the beautifully polished quarter-sized table. “But I suppose from here on out you’ll be discovering all kinds of new-fangled things. Just remember to follow my lead and always be polite. And don’t be too hasty at judging new fangled things. As we travel you’ll find all kinds of marvelous and different stuff, and you’ll need to keep an open mind about everything. For example, one would never guess that Emalynn is of royal blood. In her own dimension she would have been considered a princess, as her father was a ruler of his own province. That’s why you see before you such a fancy hodgepodge of wealth; their citizens that immigrated to this dimension insisted that they still live in a residence befitting their status. Now just by looking at this house you’d think they’re filthy rich, but in all actuality their beyond filthy rich.”
Duchess suddenly prostrated herself on her back in front Mr. Pitts, and folding her legs over she began pleading for a tummy rub. Giving in to her beckoning Mr. Pitts lifted his feet from off the table and leaned over, stroking his hand across her stomach. Happily she moved her hind leg back and forth in sync with his tempo.
“Got any questions yet Jacob?” asked Mr. Pitts.
Hesitant, Jacob looked at Mr. Pitts and reluctantly asked, “Nature is calling me. Do you mind if I go pay her a visit? I’ll be right back, I promise.”
“Yes indeedeedo, go right ahead Jacob. When you gotta go, you gotta go. And as I always say if you don’t go when you gotta go then when you do go you may find that you already went.”
Nodding his head in agreement, Jacob started for the doorway when he heard Mr. Pitts call out, “Oh by the way Jacob, they don’t have outhouses here, they’re called bathrooms and it’s further down the hall to the right.”
“Golly thanks,” replied Jacob, marveling at the thought of an indoor outhouse. “I see what you mean, keep an open mind,” he added as he passed through the door with a quick spin, turning to head down the hallway.
It took only a few minutes for Jacob to return back to the living room, and strangely from out of his pockets dangled his socks and slippers.
“Did you find the bathroom all right?” inquired Mr. Pitts, staring at Jacob’s bare feet.
“Nope, but I found a nifty foot washer,” he answered, thoroughly impressed by the luxuries of the dimension of the modern. He looked down at his feet and wiggled his toes, they felt so fresh and clean, and he began to understand just what Mr. Pitts had meant about keeping an open mind. “By golly, I wish we had one of those neat contraptions back home,” he added with a smile. “If you press the handle it fills up again with fresh water to soak the other foot!”
Mr. Pitts arose from the couch with a broad grin. “Jacob follow me, I want to give you a bathroom tour that I think you’ll never forget. Yes indeedee, I think you’re really going to enjoy this!”
At length Jacob closed the bathroom door and headed back down the hall again toward the living room. The humiliation from his blunder was forgotten in his excitement. He could hear the dogs barking loudly and he shouted over their noisy fracas, “THAT WAS REALLY NIFTY MR. PITTS. IT JUST SWOOSHED OUT OF THERE. I’VE GOT TO TELL UNCLE CLAIR ABOUT THESE NEWFANGLED APPARATUSES, BY GOLLY THEY WOULD BE GREAT IN THE WINTER; NO MORE FREEZING JAUNTS OUTSIDE!”
Wiping his wet hands on his pants he entered the living room and looked up surprised to see Emalynn with her parents staring straight at him with sappy grins. Mr. Yung looked to be in his late forties, with a well-developed paunch and patches of gray streaks across the sides of his dark hair, while Mrs. Yung appeared to be much younger and slimmer. She had light blond hair that bore a striking resemblance to Emalynn’s.
They continued to stare at him, politely holding in their laughter, until finally they turned their gaze downward. Mr. Pitts, still unaware that the Yungs were in the room, was kneeling on all fours growling and barking at the high-spirited dogs, while they sang back to him with their howling replies. He barked at Hercules, and then whirled around to yap at Duchess, at last catching sight of the jovial group. Surprised and red in the face, he hurriedly jumped to his feet.
Mr. Yung cleared his throat, attempting to bury over his amusement. He then cordially stepped forward shaking Mr. Pitts’ hand. “It’s so nice to see you again Mr. Pitts. We’re so excited about Emalynn becoming your underling.”
“It’s all we have been talking about for months,” added Mrs. Yung, as she extended her hand in greeting. “And—hee, hee, urrr—aum—we’ve been telling Emalynn all we know about being a sentinel of the realms.”
Mr. Yung then looked at Jacob with a demeaning gaze and asked, “Now who is this young man that will be training with our wonderful Emalynn?”
“Uhhhh—Jacob Frost sir,” replied Jacob nervously.
At once Mr. Yung’s cheerful face waned as his eyes grew wide. He dropped open his jaw and stared at Jacob. “That can’t be?” he finally questioned in a serious tone, stepping back and bumping into Emalynn. “You mean Prince Frost, here in our house?”
Emalynn rubbed her arm. “Ouch Daddy, that hurt!” she complained.
“But—but, you can’t be the prince,” stammered Mr. Yung, now accusingly pointing a finger at Jacob. “The royal family is gone and it’s no joking matter to assume that name! Who are you really boy?”
“Why good old Jacob here is the genuine article,” interrupted Mr. Pitts, reaching out and merrily patting Jacob on the head. “Yes indeedeedoo, he’s true blue a Frost all the way through. Don’t you see his resemblance to his father? And of course he was raised by none other than Clair Frost himself, naturally in covert seclusion to protect him from Lacsar. Now that he’s come of age he’ll be preparing to join in the ranks of the sentinels by coming out of hiding to be trained by none other than the very best, myself.”
“Clair—is alive! Then that means there’s still hope!” exclaimed Mr. Yung, as tears began to pool in his eyes. “Hope that we had all lost so many years ago. We may yet live to see our world again!”
“You mean Jacob is the Prince of the Realm?” asked Emalynn in a hushed voice.
“Me a prince?” questioned Jacob to himself, finding such a declaration to be too incredible to believe. “But if I really am a prince, then that could be real nifty!” He had read about kings and princes in books, but never had he thought he could ever be one. In his mind he instantly began to fantasize living in a fancy palace, wearing courtly robes, and having gobs and gobs of servants waiting on him hand and foot. A maid stood in front of him and asked in a familiar high-pitched voice with her head bowed low, “Your Highness, will you graciously show us your belly buttons once again?” Slowly she raised her head and abruptly the nasty image of Ms. Kipper’s face snapped him back into reality. Immediately he began to realize that his mind was telling him the awful truth; he wasn’t the princely type. “After all,” he pondered, “even if I was a prince of a hidden and dead realm once, it wouldn’t amount to a hill of beans back home; especially when everyone there still considers me a freak. Besides Uncle Clair didn’t even think well enough of it to tell me, so it can’t be that all important anymore.”
Mr. Yung nodded in reply to Emalynn’s question and then stepped forward forcefully grabbing Jacob’s hand and giving him a firm handshake. “It’s such an honor to have you visit our home and how wonderful it is to have you apprentice with our Emalynn. It’s truly an honor, truly an honor!”
At last Mr. Yung released his tight grip and the room fell deafly quiet. The Yungs were now standing motionless, respectfully gaping at Jacob as they showed off their best smiles. For Jacob it felt creepy to see people acting so unnatural, and their stary-eyed staring was the worst part of it. Anxiously he looked up at Mr. Pitts, hoping that he would do something to end this awkwardness.
“Er-um—Emalynn can I help you with your luggage?” said Mr. Pitts, sensing Jacob’s desperate plea. “We had best be going now.”
Mr. Yung looked at his daughter as if snapping back into the realization of her present departure. “Uh—oh yes, yes. Its right over there,” he replied.
He walked across the room and picked up one of two large suitcases, straining as he staggered to the side. “Emalynn, what did you put in these? Rocks?”
Emalynn shook her head. “Oh Dad! Its’ only a few books,” she replied, sounding embarrassed.
“I’ll help you with those,” said Mr. Pitts as he stepped forward and seized the handle of the other suitcase. Slowly they both lifted the luggage and trudged out of the room, grunting and moaning as they made their way outside to the wagon. From behind the merry retrievers ushered the remaining group.
Mrs. Yung walked with her arm around Emalynn’s shoulder. “It’s so hard to believe my baby is leaving home,” she said, pausing to wipe away a tear. “I don’t know what we’re going to do without you; this house will be so quiet and lonely now!”
Immediately Emalynn broke into tears, “Oh Mom stop it, you’re making me cry. I’ll be back to visit soon.” Upon reaching the wagon they both began to sob and hug each other. The dogs sensing their distress, looked up at them with saddened eyes.
Mr. Pitts struggled to load the suitcases into the back of his wagon, while Mr. Yung joined in with the hugs. “Remember to write us often,” he said in a cracking voice. “We’re so proud of you Emalynn and I’m really going to miss you!”
This brought more tears to Emalynn’s eyes, and she began to hug them both all over again. After the short and sad farewells had ended, Mr. Pitts with his new apprentices climbed up onto the wagon. Then with a red face and a quivering lower lip, Mr. Pitts released the brake handle and quietly shook the reins. The wagon moved forward and Emalynn tearfully leaned over the side, waving good-bye to her parents who were wiping their tears and courageously responding back with their best hearty waves. The two sorrowful dogs sat next to their side, tipping their heads downward as they sadly watched the wagon roll away with their beloved Emalynn. Mr. Pitts glanced back at the heart rendering sight and instantly broke into a blubbering bawl, “AHHAAAHAA! YOU POOR, POOR, SOUL!” he boisterously cried.
Down the road the wagon wobbled, as Mr. Pitts continued to bawl up a storm. Emalynn tightly grasping onto the seat leaned toward Jacob and quietly whispered, “Is he all right?”
“He’s just sort of odd that way,” responded Jacob in a quiet reply, understanding her surprise.
After traveling until they were out of sight, Mr. Pitts pulled back on the reins and brought the wagon to a dead stop.
“Righteoo, before we transit—‘sniff, sniff—I wanted to find a secluded spot so I could explain to Emalynn about what will be happening.” He wiped off some of his remaining tears from his cheek and blew his nose in his handkerchief. After placing the hanky back into his pocket he reached behind his seat and pulled out his orb, holding it up high. “This is my transit orb,” he continued, “the symbols on the orb are used to direct us through the dimensions.”
This time with no treacherous ravine to worry about, Jacob gave Mr. Pitts his full attention. Carefully he studied the orb. It was a metallic silver color; about six inches round in diameter, and roughly half of the orb was covered with white buttons inscribed in black lettering. A screen set squarely in the center of the buttons, and underneath the orb had a flat base. On its top a large red hooded button stuck out.
“Is that a miniature television there?” asked Emalynn, pointing at the small screen.
“Well yes, of sorts,” replied Mr. Pitts as he looked at Jacob noticing his confused expression. “For your information Jacob, a television shows moving pictures with sound. Here let me show you.”
Mr. Pitts extended his finger and rapidly poked several buttons. Suddenly the screen lit up, displaying moving images of Mr. Pitts sitting on his wagon. Wide-eyed Jacob stared, marveling at the tiny imagery of the past coming alive.
“Although my orb was stored in the back of this wagon inside my pack, it still recorded this event,” said Mr. Pitts, as they watched the scene unfold on the small screen. “When an orb is switched on, no matter where it’s located, it’s always recording the happenstance of its sentinel.”
Jacob began to chuckle while Emalynn clasp her hand over her mouth muffling a giggle. The scene now displayed Mr. Pitts mining a nostril for gold with his head tilted to the side and his finger rotating up his nose.
“Even if it is rather embarrassing,” said Mr. Pitts, turning red as he swiftly hid the orb under his arm. “That’s why there’s an erase button.” After switching off the screen, he held his orb up again and pointed. “Right down here at the bottom of the screen is another display that shows the orb coordinates for the location you’re viewing. This way the sentinel has a complete record of all the places he visits.”
“What’s the red button for,” asked Emalynn.
“Oh I can tell from your questions Emalynn that you’re very bright. Yes indeedeedo you’ll surely be a first-class apprentice. Why that button is for emergencies. Pressing it would bring a dozen sentinels appearing around us ready to respond to any threat.”
“Mr. Pitts—” began Emalynn again.
Not wanting Emalynn to best him, Jacob rushed to get a question in, cutting her off before she could finish her sentence. “What protects the dimensions if an orb is stolen?” he blurted.
Excellent question Jacob my boy,” replied Mr. Pitts. Emalynn turned her head and rudely glowered at Jacob, acting as if he had just stolen her question. “Yes indeedee, I can tell by your query that you’re also very intelligent. You see only a sentinel can use his own orb to transit with, as each orb is individually tuned to its sentinel’s own aura it will transit for no other person. This protects the dimensions if an orb were ever to fall into the wrong hands.”
“Then where—” began Jacob, asking yet another question.
In turn Emalynn curtly interrupted Jacob back, “Well with all those coordinates how do you keep track of every number?”
“Rude,” thought Jacob, annoyed at losing out to her again. Angrily he glared back at her, and she met his stare with a furious look of her own. War had now been declared between them, and Jacob refused to yield to another defeat. Thoughtfully he preloaded his question, prepared to fire back at the next opportunity.
“Very good Emalynn, very good question indeed!” responded Mr. Pitts. “You see learning coordinate mapping is an important part of the sentinel’s trade. After all, one could easily navigate themselves to anywhere other than where they want to go. But to travel to where one intends to travel is a work of art.”
“So—” began Emalynn once more.
“Wherewillwebegoingnow?” blurted Jacob.
Caught off guard by his speedy slur, Emalynn scornfully starred at Jacob, and triumphantly he smiled back, having finally bested her at something.
“My, you two are very curious,” responded Mr. Pitts, seeming impressed with their eagerness to learn. “Well this is the last answer for now as we need to get going. Our next stop will be dimension one, the Dimension of Charm, where we will find the village of Dallanbach, also known by one and all as ‘Sentinel Village.’ Right about now it should be early afternoon there, but if the time change were the other way around, you’d be experiencing a phenomenon that we sentinels call orb lag.”
Mr. Pitts then closed an eye, stuck the tip of his tongue out the side of his mouth, and began stabbing at orb buttons with his index finger. “Righteoo,” he mumbled with his tongue still sticking half way out the side of his mouth, “hang on and away we go!”