2. Our debt; traffic lights; magical glass doors; and an escalator.

Within half an hour, we reached the big clearing and the two-story hotel without any wheels to pull it away.

Michail parked our truck along a wall, opened his door, and went outside to help me descend...

However, I had already opened my door, and clambered down all on my own!

I jumped the last step, letting my proudly grinning Big Friend catch me in midair.

He lifted me onto his shoulders; and, together, we went to the hotel entrance with its huge double doors.

Fortunately, he put me back onto my feet, before ducking his head to cross the doorpost.

Inside the hotel, we went to the small lobby, and waited...

However, soon, Michail grew tired of waiting, and told me to push a little bell.

Two seconds later, the nice hotel owner descended from upstairs and rushed towards us!

She smiled broadly; while putting her arms around me and complimenting me:

"My, look at your nice clothes! Welcome aboard, my young Prince; and what a nice surprise to see you here again!"

Next, she hugged Michail; and told him the same things, except for the nice clothes.

We went to the huge dining room we had been before, where we sat down around the dark wooden table.

Michail got a nicely smelling cup of coffee; and I got a big glass of lemonade with an ice cube in it, and a pastry.

Sipping their coffee, the hotel owner and Michail started to exchange some news and other small talk.

Meanwhile, I stared out the windows, sipped my lemonade, and nibbled on my pastry...

Suddenly, I saw that Michail opened his purse, and handed the hotel owner a couple of gadjo money flaps!

HUH?

Why did my Big Friend do that?

What did Michail want to PAY the hotel owner for?

Was he paying her for ME?

Still shuddering at the thought, I remembered a nasty gadjo man; who wanted to 'feel me up', after he paid Misha a lot of money...

Was Michail planning to 'feel me up', here in this hotel?

But, Michail was my Big Friend, and I trusted him absolutely!

HE didn't have to pay anything for me!

I would happily let him do anything that he wanted, and for FREE!

I only hoped he would not take me to such a stinking restroom...

I jumped up, nearly overturned my chair, and shouted:

"Please, Michail, don't pay her! You can have anything that you want for free, because you are my Big Friend!"

Michail slowly turned around, and looked at me with a questioning face...

It was as if my Big Friend didn't understand what I was talking about.

For a moment, he pondered what I told him, curiously staring at my heated face...

Then, he shrugged his shoulders, and grumbled:

"You don't know what you are talking about. Nothing in the world is for free! You always have to pay for what you buy, being friends or not...

"When we didn't have enough money to pay for our food and drinks; this nice woman always provided us with everything that we needed.

"Now, we DO have enough money, thanks to our little 'moneymaker'; and I am paying our debts! What is your problem with that?"

Suddenly, I understood why Michail was paying the nice woman such an amount of money...

I colored a deep red, slumped down onto my chair, and tried do disappear under the table, feeling deeply ashamed.

Michail was my Big Friend; and I had betrayed our friendship, by not trusting him to do the right thing...

I shook my head in frustration; while I whispered, barely audibly:

"Nothing... I am sorry..."

Fortunately, Michail didn't ask me any more questions.

He smiled at me, turned back to the table, and drank the rest of his coffee.

In the meantime, the hotel owner put the money away into her own purse.

Looking genuinely happy, she promised Michail and me:

"Thank you, my friends; and, you will always be welcome in my humble hotel!"

After we got another big hug from the friendly woman, Michail and I left the hotel, to resume our trip.

This time, I raced upfront towards our truck, and clambered into it without any help.

Michail went to my side to push me up; but I was already inside, and smilingly closed my own door!

From now on, I didn't need any more help; not even with buckling up, now that I knew how to tame the unwilling holder.

Proudly smiling at my beaming face, my Big Friend climbed into his own seat, and again offered me his keys.

Again, I started the engine, waited until Michail pushed the clutch pedal, and moved the lever into its forward gear.

Michail released the clutch, the engine growled, and we were again on our way to a big gadjo town...

Curiously, I looked at all the wooden poles along the road, carrying several electric wires towards the hotel.

I already knew that some wires connected to a gadjo electric power station, while other wires connected to a telephone company.

My Dad had told me that touching the wires was extremely dangerous; but the many chattering birds, sitting on them, were still in perfect health...

Maybe, electricity was only dangerous for human beings?

I made a mental note, to ask my Dad or Pietro about it, as soon as we were back in our camp...

After I had asked my Dad about using a 'telophone'; he and Michail had a long talk with our technical man, Pietro, about all its pros and cons.

After many deliberations, they hesitantly decided to connect our secluded camp to some gadjo telephone company, probably within a year.

Then, we would finally be able to talk directly to all the other Gypsy camps in the world, without using our much slower carrier pigeons.

I was sure it would be a lot of fun, to be able to talk to somebody else you couldn't see, but who was living in another part of the world...

Pietro had also talked about a 'fax', 'the Internet', and 'sending emails'; but I still had to ask him about these new words I hadn't heard of before.

Within a few minutes, we reached the crossing; where we had to stop, and wait for a gap in the stream of constantly passing traffic.

This time, Michail drove our truck to the left, entering the highway towards the big gadjo town where we were going to shop today.

Soon, we mingled into the stream of all those cars-in-a-hurry who desperately tried to pass each other to be a little bit earlier.

Again, I craned my neck, trying to look everywhere at the same time.

Behind us, our huge mountains slowly became smaller and smaller, until they seemingly disappeared into nowhere...

In front of us, our highway slab seemed to narrow, until it also seemingly disappeared into a far distance...

Once, while teaching me how to orientate, Misha had explained how moving things always seemed to change like this, due to the 'perspective'.

Now, I could see the outcome of his valuable lessons with my own eyes!

Now and then, we passed a wrecked car that was left behind along the road.

A few young people were trying to hitchhike; but Michail didn't want to have them in our truck, and just drove on.

I agreed with my Big Friend; because they didn't look poor or hungry, and probably just wanted to have a free ride.

For a long time, nothing special happened, while our monotonously growling truck drove on and on.

After looking at the same scenery for quite some time, I got a little bit bored.

I sat back in my seat, pulled my knees up, and closed my eyes...

I woke up with the changing sound of our growling engine, and curiously opened my eyes.

Now, I saw that Michail drove our truck into an enormous gadjo town, full of huge multi-story buildings and blinking lights!

Immediately, I sat upright, desperately trying to look everywhere at the same time.

Wow! This big gadjo town looked totally different from anything that I could ever have imagined!

Suddenly, Michail stopped our truck and waited, at seeing three colored lights on top of an iron pole...

Just before he stopped, a bright orange light had switched off, while an ever brighter red light turned on.

Michail waited patiently, until the red light switched off and a green light turned on at the same time.

Now, we accelerated and drove on, again accompanied by many other cars and a few bikers...

What were those colored lights for; and why had Michail stopped in front of them?

I felt very curious, and decided to ask my Big Friend about it:

"Michail, why did you stop and wait for those colored lights to change, before you drove on?"

Again, a whole new world opened up to me, broadening my knowledge of all these clever gadjo inventions!

While we drove towards the next 'traffic light', Michail explained how the colored lights helped the car drivers avoid any collisions.

The green traffic light told us we could drive on safely; while all the crossing traffic had to stop at their red traffic light.

When the traffic light turned yellow, we had to stop if it was possible, because the light would soon turn into red.

And, at seeing a red traffic light, we always had to stop, to allow the other traffic streams to pass through the now empty crossing.

I was very impressed, and mused:

"Wow! That certainly is a clever idea! Maybe, those gadjo's aren't so stupid after all..."

Michail chuckled, while he slowed down again at the next yellow light that soon turned red.

Several waiting cars drove on and crossed through our road, passing it until they had to stop at their own red light.

Then, our red light turned green again, letting us go on, while the others had to wait for their next turn.

Still feeling impressed, I thought that at least some gadjo's HAD to be very clever, to think of such a simple solution to avoid a nasty traffic jam!

After passing or stopping at a lot more traffic lights, Michail finally parked our truck in a huge parking lot.

I left my seat, opened my door, and clambered down without any help from my Big Friend.

Much to my surprise, I suddenly saw that Michail first locked all our truck doors!

Didn't my Big Friend trust any unknown gadjo's?

But, I always thought that those gadjo's called US thieves...

In our own Gypsy camp, nobody ever locked any doors, because we all trusted each other blindly!

Obviously, at least some gadjo people in this town were having a quite different mentality...

I shook my head at the horrible thought of carrying keys all the time, to lock and unlock every single door you used...

Again, I felt proud to be a GYPSY boy, and not some stupid gadjo!

Michail took my hand; and we walked around our truck, where we stopped at the border of a very busy road.

Feeling a bit overwhelmed, I stared at zillions of fast cars-in-a-hurry and many other angrily tooting vehicles, passing by in a seemingly endless row...

How would we ever be able to cross over this crowded road safely, without being run over and ending up in some hospital?

I looked up at my Big Friend; but he only squeezed my hand, while he waited patiently...

Of course, Michail turned out to be right again.

Within two minutes, all the traffic stopped at a red traffic light; and we could cross the road without any problems.

Those gadjo traffic lights turned out to be REALLY handy, even for vulnerable pedestrians like we were now!

Walking together, we winded our way across all the stopped cars, and entered a huge square...

Feeling totally in awe, I stared at an enormous gadjo 'building', provided with several huge shopping windows.

All these windows were displaying all different kinds of beautiful gadjo things I had never seen ever before!

I felt delighted, and pressed my nose against the huge glass panes, trying not to miss a single interesting thing...

This had to be such a 'gadjo store' Misha had told me about; a huge shop where people could buy all sorts of different gadgets...

Michail smiled and waited for me; while I walked from window to window, sucking in everything with bulging eyes.

I never knew that gadjo people could buy so many funny utensils, beautiful ornaments, and useful domestic thingies.

Did they really have that much money, to be able to buy all these attractive and likeable things?

Then, I saw a pair of huge sliding glass doors, magically opening every time when somebody approached them!

Soon after someone passed them, the magical doors closed themselves, to keep the warmth or the cold out.

Next, they seemed to be waiting patiently, for the next customer to open them again...

Some gadjo's really had to be extremely clever, to be able to invent all those useful things!

Of course, I had to try out the sliding doors a couple of times, by walking in and out the store.

I even tried to cheat them, by silently sneaking up to them, but to no avail...

How the heck did those moving doors detect when somebody approached them?

I looked around everywhere, but couldn't find any hidden eyes or built-in tentacles.

Well, this was the next urgent question I wanted to ask our technical man, Pietro!

Michail chuckled at my research, while he waited patiently until my insatiable curiosity would be satisfied.

Finally, I retook his hand, and we stepped into the enormous store through the again magically opening sliding doors...

Now, we were in a gigantic building, carrying at least a million different people, crowding into or out of every thinkable direction!

Near the entrance, I saw a huge pile of colored plastic baskets with a handle, to help us carry our purchases.

Some strange looking staircase went up to the second floor, carrying many people upstairs on its MOVING steps.

In a far distance, another moving staircase carried many people downstairs, from the second floor...

I remembered that Misha once told me about such moving staircases; and I had tried to picture them in my mind...

However, never could I have imagined the real moving staircase that we were seeing now.

People just stepped onto it, and the moving stairs carried them towards the next floor, fast and effortlessly!

Those clever gadjo's again went up a couple more notches in my still growing respect.

I kept staring at the moving stairs for some time, wondering what would happen if they suddenly stopped...

Probably, all the people on them would tumble downstairs, piling up on the floor.

That would be a lot of fun; at least to the unharmed onlookers.

But, I was relatively sure the clever gadjo's also had built in some safety precautions...

Would all the gadjo houses in this big town also have built-in moving staircases like this one?

The gadjo's here seemed to be very rich, because they were able to buy all those exposed things that were laid out in all the different aisles...

Or, would they build these very practical moving stairs only into huge warehouses and other enormous buildings like this one?

I leaned into Michail, and whispered my question towards his ear:

"Michail? Does every gadjo house in this big town have built-in moving staircases like this one?"

"No, these 'escalators' are only built into a couple of really huge buildings, like this one. And, you don't have to whisper! Just use your normal voice.

"Now, let's go to the second floor, where I want to buy a couple of necessary things. Do you want to carry our shopping basket?"

I nodded, while I went to the huge pile of colored plastic baskets and chose a bright yellow one.

Proudly swaying it, I retook Michail's hand, and followed him through the crowd towards the upwards moving 'escalator'.

Suddenly, I felt a bit nervous, remembering the fun I had while thinking about all the people tumbling downstairs...

What, if this moving escalator decided to take revenge on me, for thinking those naughty thoughts?

Then, I saw a little gadjo boy, racing up the escalator steps at lightning speed.

The boy showed a huge smile of bliss on his small freckled face, while he turned around and went downstairs...

Well, whatever such a stupid little gadjo boy could do, I surely could do better!

I handed my basket to Michail, and ran after the tiny freckled legs that again raced up the escalator...

We met each other when I reached the top, and he turned around again to go downstairs.

We grinned at each other, and started to race down together...

Racing the escalator turned out to be FUN!

Upstairs, we shot up at a tremendous speed, nicely accelerated by the moving steps.

But, downstairs, we nearly remained in the same place, unless we were running very fast...

Now and then, we bumped into other people and got a couple of snarls, but who cares?

We were little boys, and little boys were supposed to have fun!

It WAS a lot of fun, until a security officer showed up at the top of the escalator.

He told us to resume our play outside, as this wasn't supposed to be a children's playground!

That calmed us down, and we promised the officer to behave ourselves from now on...

However, we HAD to go downstairs again, because our wardens were waiting for us.

The security officer shrugged his shoulders, and told us to do what we had to do.

Again, we raced downstairs, for the last time, this time trying not to bump into anyone else.

The little gadjo boy went to his chuckling mother, leaned into her, and took her hand.

I went to my chuckling Big Friend, leaned into him, and took his hand.

We waved at each other, and they disappeared into the crowd.

3. Lost in a huge store; gadjo energies; orientating on our sun.

Michail and I went to the moving escalator and stepped onto it, walking upstairs to be a bit faster.

Of course, we tried to behave ourselves, because the security officer was still looking downstairs from the top...

However, we were both chuckling all the time, feeling a bit naughty.

I was sure that Michail would have raced me upstairs, if that officer hadn't been there!

Now, my Big Friend had to pretend he was a responsible grown-up...

When we reached the second floor, the officer turned around, and sauntered towards another part of the store.

Hadn't he trusted us, because we had looked too naughty?

Still chuckling, we went to the first aisle, and started our shopping.

Michail took a piece of paper out of his pocket, and read out the long list of things we had to buy:

A couple of note-pads, a box of pencils, tissues, diapers, bars of soap, razors, and many more practical utensils we needed.

Next, working together, we started to roam the aisles, now and then rechecking our piece of paper.

One by one, we gathered the things we needed, and put them into our rapidly filling shopping basket.

At first, I carried our basket; but, after it became too heavy, Michail took over.

In no time, our yellow shopping basket was almost full!

Michail stopped, looked at the nearly filled basket, at our piece of paper, and at me...

Then, he seemed to reach a decision.

He stepped towards me and tried to ruffle my hair, but I ducked away just in time!

Of course, I didn't want my Big Friend to damage my nice looking spikes I was so proud of...

Michail looked surprised; but, then, he started to laugh, while he teased me:

"Who do you want to impress with your punk hair? Did you happen to see a pretty gadjo girl?

"But first, please, could you fetch another shopping basket from downstairs? I will go on shopping, while waiting for you."

"Well... Okay, to answer all three questions: Nobody; not yet; and yes, I will be right back."

Michail started to chuckle at my triple answer; while I turned around to go get another shopping basket.

I felt proud to be assigned this unexpected mission, here in this enormous gadjo building I had never been before!

And, I also felt proud that Michail trusted me enough to let me go alone, although I was only six years old!

I knew he thought the world of me and of my trapper abilities; and I would try not to disappoint his expectations.

For a split second, I thought about racing down the ascending escalator; but I decided against it.

What if the security officer turned up again, and nailed me?

Would he be angry at me and kick me out of the store, for disobeying his orders?

I decided not to take any unnecessary risk; and went looking for the descending escalator to bring me downstairs...

I had already seen that escalator; in a far distance, descending from the other side of the enormous building.

Now, I only had to find it...

Fortunately, I knew roughly where I had to go.

Feeling very confident, I started walking towards where I supposed the descending escalator would be.

If I got lost, I could always rely on my excellent trapper skills, to bring me back to my waiting Big Friend...

Unfortunately, my six-year-old small body wasn't tall enough to be able to overlook the entire floor.

And, all the crowded aisles were set up in sort of a maze, forcing me to round corner after corner, bumping into several people-in-a-hurry...

Plus, to my dismay, my trapper abilities didn't seem to work in this over-crowded anthill full of strange and disturbing gadjo energies!

The very moment I opened my aura to feel around, I got dizzy and disorientated...

Immediately, I closed myself off tightly, while I took a few deep breaths.

I was stubborn, and decided to complete my mission, even if it would be a bit more difficult than I thought!

Therefore, I just went on, hoping to see something I recognized...

However, after rounding a couple more corners, I felt totally lost, and even didn't know where I had left Michail...

All these whirling gadjo energies around me were severely disturbing my feeling of orientation.

Where was I now, in this enormous labyrinth of all these unexpectedly turning and crossing aisles?

Should I here turn to the left, or to the right?

Trying to rely on my 'instinct', I hesitantly turned to the right...

Much to my relief, this aisle led me straight towards the descending escalator!

Had really my 'instinct' rescued me, or had I found the escalator only by sheer luck?

I decided not to think too much, while I heaved a couple of deep sighs of relief.

I was where I wanted to be, and that was all that counted...

I stepped onto the moving escalator; and, being a little boy from the heart, immediately started racing downstairs!

Honestly, I couldn't help it; although I looked out for any angry security officer that might show up...

Ultimately, I WAS a young boy; and young boys are supposed to play and have fun with such a nice gadjo plaything.

After I reached the ground floor unharmed, I started to walk again.

Confidently, I stepped towards where I was sure the plastic baskets would be.

I only had to find the ascending escalator, next to the entrance and the huge pile of colored baskets.

Michail was waiting for me...

I started to walk along the outstretched maze of turning and crossing aisles.

However, again, they all looked exactly the same; and my sense of orientation still didn't work!

Soon, after rounding the umpteenth corner, I was lost again, not knowing where to go...

Even relying on my 'instinct' didn't work any more.

I tried to look around the entire building; by stretching myself out to the maximum, and even jumping high...

But, I was only a tiny runt, and not tall enough to overlook the floor and all these taller moving people-in-a-hurry...

Now and then, a few of them bumped into each other and into me; but most people didn't even see me!

How would I ever be able to find that pile of shopping baskets, near the escalator that would bring me back to my Big Friend?

Maybe, I could ask one of those many gadjo people-in-a-hurry to help me?

I tried to stop a gadjo man, by pulling at his arm, while I pleaded:

"Please, sir, could you tell me where the shopping baskets are?"

The man looked down at me without stopping, while he grumbled in a strange sounding accent:

"Go back to your mommy, and ask her!"

Muttering something about 'abandoned toddlers', he disappeared into the crowd, without looking back.

For a moment, I felt disappointed...

But, then, I decided to be proud again of whom I was.

I didn't NEED any help, because I was a very independent Gypsy boy, used to always fend for myself!

I only had to find out how to use my trapper skills in this hostile environment...

Of course, I was a Real Trapper, trained in finding my way blindly through the densest of forest.

I also knew that Michail thought the world of my many 'psychic abilities' and 'special gifts'...

That is why he trustingly sent me downstairs all on my own, to fetch another shopping basket.

He was absolutely sure I would be back soon, unharmed and proudly carrying the requested thing!

Only, this gadjo environment with all its disturbing energies was NOT our woods or dense forest!

I had never been in such a whirling pandemonium full of strange vortexes and disorientating energy fields before...

Was it really impossible to use my trapper abilities here, in this turbulent gadjo chaos?

After a moment of hesitation, I decided to try my luck again....

First, I escaped from the constantly moving crowd, by ducking into a small gap in between two displays.

Here, I halted and took a couple of deep breaths; to calm myself down some more, as Misha once taught me.

Next, I opened a small gap in my aura, and tried to concentrate on the huge pile of colored plastic baskets...

Almost immediately, everything became a misty blur, and I started to feel dizzy and got a headache.

My so praised 'extraordinary trapper abilities' were NOT working here!

The too heavy turmoil of forceful gadjo energies around me was disturbing my inner vision too much...

Hastily, I closed my aura and took a couple of deep breaths, before my dizziness and headache aggravated.

What now?

What would happen, if I wouldn't be able to find Michail back, in this enormous store?

I was sure that my Big Friend would blame himself for the remainder of his life, in case something bad happened to me...

And, of course, he couldn't know that my 'abilities' and 'special gifts' didn't work here, in this over-crowded gadjo anthill.

Probably, he would just go on shopping; thinking I had met some 'pretty gadjo girl' and that we were playing...

Again, I walked on and on; rounding corner after corner, running into even more gadjo people-in-a-tremendous-hurry.

All the time, I hoped that my 'instinct' again would bring me to where I wanted to be.

However, feeling surprised, I stopped, because I thought I recognized this specific aisle...

Hadn't I been here before, in this same aisle, some time ago?

Had I been walking around in circles, now losing every last bit of my sense of orientation?

Panicking, and feeling lost, I closed my eyes, and prayed to our Ancestors:

"Please, Ancestors, help me! I am lost in this whirling energy anthill; and I have to find Michail..."

Almost immediately, I heard a warm and caring voice, sounding in my head, telling me:

"Remember what Misha taught you about the energy of the sun!"

What? Did I really hear the voice of my beloved Ancestor Friend, here in this enormous gadjo shop?

Feeling confused, I realized I hadn't expected him to answer me back immediately...

However, I DID remember what Misha taught me:

'Concentrate on the energy of the sun, while discarding all the disturbing energies. Our sun is the most powerful source of energy in our universe; and it easily overrides any earthly radiation.'

Would the energy of the sun also be able to override all the disturbing human radiations, from all those hurrying gadjo people around me?

Suddenly feeling like a little explorer, I decided to try it out.

I took a deep breath, closed my aura tightly, and concentrated solely on the sun over my head...

THERE IT WAS!

I almost started to cheer with the delight, when I recognized the so well-known warmth I always sensed in our woods.

This powerful energy radiation always penetrated even through the densest of heavy foliage!

I only didn't know that the warmth of the sun could be felt everywhere, even at the bottom floor of such a huge four-story gadjo building...

Feeling very grateful, I thanked my Ancestor in my mind:

"Thank you, my Friend, for making me remember Misha's lessons; and I love you very much!"

"Thank yourself, my developing shaman. Soon, you will teach yourself even more important lessons, because you will need them all in your future."

For a moment, His powerful love engulfed me, as some warm and cozy blanket around my aura.

Then, He retreated, leaving me alone with my 'important lessons'.

Suddenly, I popped back into the gadjo store full of disturbing energies, feeling a bit drowsy and dizzy...

I opened my eyes, and needed a moment to realize where I was and what had happened.

Wow! I had been talking to my powerful Ancestor Friend, in my head, just like that!

Now, I had to find that huge pile of baskets, because Michail was waiting for me...

Again, I concentrated on the sun over my head, immediately feeling its warmth.

Now that I knew its direction, and roughly knew the time, I also knew where North was!

Misha had been an excellent teacher, and I was again very thankful for his valuable lessons.

I also discovered that Misha's repetitions in our woods had trained me extremely well.

My unconscious mind had already orientated itself automatically; although my conscious mind didn't know about it until I needed the information...

I remembered clearly where the sun had been, while we approached the store and entered its moving sliding doors!

Now, I only had to picture a map in my mind; showing our truck, the parking lot, the square, and the huge store with its automatic sliding doors.

Knowing from where the sun had been shining while I entered the store, I now knew exactly where I had to go to find the entrance!

Orientating on the warmth of the sun over my head, I started to walk towards the moving sliding doors.

This time, I knew exactly which aisles I had to round to find the entrance!

Twenty seconds later, I saw the ascending escalator, next to the huge pile of colored plastic baskets.

Thank you again, my Ancestors and Misha, for your very valuable lessons!

I trotted towards the pile of baskets, and happily took another yellow one.

Next, I raced up the escalator, on my way bumping into a couple of annoyed looking people.

However, this time, I couldn't care less!

I had conquered my fears, and WON, thanks to my Ancestors and Misha's valuable lessons!

From now on, I would nevermore be afraid of anything that crossed my path.

Michail had been waiting for me, next to the escalator, with a slightly worried face...

However, the moment he saw me racing upstairs, he started to smile again.

He opened his arms towards me; and I jumped straight into them, letting my basket fall onto the floor.

Teasingly, while ruffling my spiked hair out of habit, he asked me:

"Where have you been? Was the gadjo girl that pretty? I was a little bit worried..."

"Nah, I am way too young to fall in love. I only like Biny very much; but, please, don't ever tell it to her..."

"My lips are sealed! But, isn't Biny a bit too old for you? I think she is now twelve, while you are only six..."

"That doesn't say anything! Besides, weren't you at least TEN years older than Felicia was?"

"Okay, you win. I will stop teasing you about it; because I really think Biny IS a nice and pretty girl!"

This time, I started to blush; while I tried to reorganize my thoroughly destroyed spikes...

What would any 'pretty gadjo girl' think of me now?

Next, I told my Big Friend honestly everything about my getting lost and asking our Ancestors for help.

Michail looked a bit surprised after I told him my story, but he confessed:

"I KNEW you would be very special! I immediately saw it in your eyes, the first time your blue orbs stared straight into my soul...

"Now that I know you are always protected, I will nevermore be worried about you; not even the tiniest bit. And that is a promise."

I took my own yellow basket from the floor; and followed my Big Friend.

Walking together, we went back to the aisles, again checking off our piece of paper.

Soon, we had filled both baskets; and carried them down the descending escalator and back to the entrance.

Working together, we put the contents from both baskets onto a slowly moving 'caterpillar' band.

At the end of the band, a young girl swept our purchases across some little screen, and a 'computer' calculated all the prices...

Again, I stared in awe at such an extremely clever gadjo invention!

Michail paid the girl, by counting a couple of money flaps off his huge pile of banknotes.

He put the remaining money back into his leather purse, together with the receipt.

Then, we took two big plastic bags from a huge stock, and put all our purchases into them.

Each carrying one rather heavy plastic bag, we went through the again magically opening sliding doors.

Walking next to each other, we carried both heavy bags across the square, and towards the parking lot.

Michail unlocked the doors of our truck; and I clambered up and inside without any help.

My Big Friend handed me our plastic bags; and I put them onto the backseat, next to my badger fur coat.

Finally, Michail sat down at the steering wheel, while he told me with a broad smile on his face:

"My friend, you are a great help; and thank you for joining me! Now, shall we try to find something to eat?"

Of course, I didn’t say 'no' to Michail's question, while my stomach started to rumble in advance from anticipation!

Besides, did you ever hear of any healthy growing boy saying 'no' to FOOD?

4. Gypsies are not allowed; another camp; spicing roasted lamb.

Michail handed me his keys; and I started the engine, switched its forward gear, and buckled up with a proud face.

Smiling approvingly, my Big Friend adeptly drove our truck through the busy traffic; now and then stopping and waiting for a red traffic light to turn green.

He seemed to know the way, and soon entered another parking space.

Again, he carefully locked the doors, before he took my hand and guided me through the traffic.

Walking together, we crossed the street, on our way looking out for any too fast cars-in-a-hurry.

We entered a nicely looking 'cafeteria', which was halfway filled with eating and drinking people.

We sat down at an empty table, and I sniffed the air approvingly...

That smelled good, and the thought of all that food made my stomach rumble aloud.

I was hungry, after all my adventures in the big store!

Where would our food come from?

I looked around...

A waiter appeared from around a corner and approached our table, looking a bit annoyed.

He pointed to the door, and told Michail and me:

"Gypsies are not allowed in here. Please leave, because you are chasing the other customers away..."

Michail slowly rose from his chair, staring the waiter down.

The man suddenly looked rather pale, at seeing this angry giant towering over him...

He started to tremble, and tried to back away while averting his eyes.

Michail took a pile of banknotes out of his pocket, and showed it to the waiter.

He put a big hand onto the man's shoulder, and snarled:

"Why do you suppose I am a Gypsy nuisance and not a human being? Is it because of my dark complexion, or by my wearing a fur coat?

"We are paying for our food, just like all the other customers! My friend and I want to order our meals NOW."

The waiter started to stutter, looking very pale and staring at his feet:

"Sorry, sir, but you really have to go. The owner is already calling the police..."

I was scared to death at hearing that so loathed word 'police'.

Trembling all over, I jumped up and tried to drag Michail towards the exit.

Please, not again those silly trousers and all those humiliations...

Fortunately, Michail took my hand, and together we went to the door.

Before leaving, he turned around, and promised the waiter:

"Word will go out; and this cursed place will be doomed from now on!"

We went back to our truck, unlocked the doors, and sat down.

I was feeling a bit shivery, and didn't understand what had happened.

Why had that waiter sent us away? We hadn't done anything!

I looked at Michail, who was still muttering and moping, and asked:

"Why didn't the waiter allow us to eat in that place? And what is 'doomed'?"

"I will tell you! It's the same bullshit over and over in all those gadjo towns. All of them are thinking we are only troublemakers and thieves...

"And, I tried to let the waiter have a bad feeling, by threatening him to doom his restaurant by cursing it...

"Of course, in reality, I will do nothing but laugh at him and go on with my life, as usual."

"But, why are they never nice to us, Michail? Why are they always throwing pebbles at us, calling us names, and accusing us of nasty things we didn't do at all?"

"I don't know, my friend. I really don't know. This time, I had expected them to act a bit more friendly, because I had an innocent child with me..."

I started our truck, switched the gear, buckled up, and Michail drove off without saying another word.

He was still frowning, thus I knew he was still mad and moping...

Where were we going now? Were we going to eat somewhere else?

I was still very hungry, and my stomach was rumbling and protesting all the time.

I also had to pee, but didn't want to distract Michail...

We had to stop at a couple of red traffic lights, and turned into a broader street.

Slowly, the dark clouds left Michail's face, and he returned into his joyful self.

I was happy he didn't mope any more, and tried to forget the nasty adventure.

We seemed to cross half the town; and I didn't have the faintest idea where we were going.

Now, we seemed to leave the suburbs, and drove amidst a couple of fields.

I hoped we were parking our truck soon, because I had to pee badly!

I started to fidget and squeeze between my legs...

Michail saw my distressed face, looked at my squeezing hands, and started to chuckle:

"Hold on for another moment, and don't pee your pants. We are almost there..."

He steered our truck into what looked like a small lane, and stopped.

I threw myself at my already opened door, hastily clambered down, and jumped the last step.

On my way towards a nearby tree, I succeeded in pushing my blue jeans down in advance.

I reached the tree and let my pee go, heaving a deep sigh of relief...

That had been a narrow escape from wetting my pants!

I turned around, planning to go back to our truck; and froze, with my mouth agape...

GYPSIES!

We had stopped at what seemed to be the entrance towards a small Gypsy camp!

A couple of caravans were put in a circle around a small campfire.

Several naked Gypsy children were playing and frolicking outside.

They huddled together when they saw us, and stared at our truck...

A tall Gypsy man left his caravan, and approached us with a broad smile on his face.

He slapped Michail's back, while they hugged each other:

"Michail! It's good to see you here! That is a long time ago, since you paid us your last visit..."

The staring kids relaxed a bit, and slowly walked towards us.

Of course, I walked towards them as well, trying to make friends...

One of the boys stopped, and looked me over from top to toe:

"You are not a Gypsy... Are you one of those crazy gadjo's? What are you doing here?"

"I am NOT a gadjo! I am a Gypsy boy, just like you. Only, my mother has blond hair and blue eyes, and I am looking like her..."

"Then, you are a half-breed, or a bastard."

"I am NOT a bastard! My Mom is of royal herit... herit-something, and my Dad is..."

I closed my mouth just in time, biting my tongue.

Our grown-ups always taught us not to brag about who our parents were.

Others should take us for what we are, and not for where we are coming from!

I had almost violated our rules, by trying to convince that boy through bragging...

Now, I was ashamed of myself. What would those kids think of me now?

I blushed, and looked at my feet.

At that moment, the tall man told us to join their small campfire:

"Come on, everybody, let's get something to eat! And, Jaki, leave our guest alone. He IS one of us, and you can trust him."

Jaki grinned sheepishly, and offered me his hand:

"Sorry, and I didn't really mean it. Shall we be friends? I am Jaki..."

"Okay, and I am Harold; but, now and then, my parents are calling me Harry..."

I raced to our truck, and shucked my clothes in a hurry.

Then, I heaved a deep sigh of content. That felt a lot better!

Now, I was one of them, and being naked again felt really nice.

The others huddled around me, all of them telling me their names.

Together, we went to the small campfire, where we sat down and waited.

The men were roasting chunks of dried lamb over the campfire.

Now and then, one of them added a little bit of oil and some salt.

I looked at them with interest, but didn't see any herbs or spices...

Why didn't they use some herbs, to make the meat a bit tastier?

Maybe, they didn't know how to do it?

Could I offer to help them?

Wasn't that too impolite, as I only was their guest?

After a minute, I couldn't restrain myself any more.

I went to the men, and blurted:

"Don't you have any herbs here, to spice your lamb? That will make it a lot tastier!"

"Herbs? Never heard of... What do you mean by 'herbs'?"

"What? You never heard of herbs or spices? Shall I help you?"

Michail laughed at my eager face, and told the doubting men:

"Just let him do! You will be surprised..."

I looked around carefully in a nearby field and the surrounding bushes.

Soon, I detected those small yellow flowers that always tasted good in our meat.

I went to the flowers, and returned carrying their yellow leaves and some other small herb.

I also found some kind of green pod that smelled excellently.

Now, I returned to the campfire, and asked for a sharp kitchen knife...

One of the men told me, looking surprised:

"Oh no, you are way too young to handle a sharp knife! We will never allow you..."

Michail laughed again, and told the protesting man:

"He knows what he is doing. Just hand him a knife and a plate..."

"Are you sure he is not cutting his fingers? He is such a small runt..."

I looked at the distrustful man in disdain, letting my eyes shoot daggers...

Now, all the others started to chuckle, looking at me with a bit more respect.

One of them offered me a huge knife and a flat wooden plate.

I thanked him, and started to slice the herbs adeptly and fast, as I always did.

Next, I squashed them, using the blade of the knife and my fist.

Then, I mixed them with a few drops of oil to make them sticky.

I went to the lamb chunks, and carefully smeared them with my herbs mixture.

Soon, the chunks started to sizzle and brown nicely.

The distrustful man looked at my ministrations with doubtful eyes:

"Are you sure you know what you are doing?"

"Just wait, and I bet you have never tasted roasted lamb like this..."

"Well, I certainly hope so! Otherwise, Michail will have to pay for the wasted chunks..."

Half an hour later, the chunks of lamb were ready, and the man sliced them into pieces.

Soon, all of them were licking their fingers and asking for second helpings:

"This is unbelievable! Who are you? Are you studying to be a cook or such?"

"Well... actually, I am a Chief Cook, and I'm always roasting the animals in our own camp."

"That is impossible. You are still such a small runt... Is he pulling our leg, sir?"

Michail grinned, and pulled me onto his lap.

He ruffled my hair, thoroughly destroying the spikes.

Then, he grinned:

"This small runt IS our official Chief Cookie, and he is preparing our meals every day!"

"Really? Wow... He is very good at it. Can't you leave him here? I want to keep him!"

All of them were looking at me in awe, and suddenly I felt a little bit timid.

Ultimately, I WAS only a six-year-old small cookie...

***

*** Please, beware... This is a VERY OLD version of my manuscript!

*** I am going to rewrite everything below this line...

. What is 'indecent behavior', five huge dogs, and Inner Power.

After some more small talk, Michail and I decided to continue our trip.

We thanked our Gypsy friends abundantly for their warm hospitality and their excellent food.

They thanked us in return, and promised me to spice their meat from now on, using my yellow flowers and green pod.

I also HAD to promise them to pay them another visit soon!

All the Gypsy kids walked me to our truck, and Jaki even hugged me:

"I hope you will be back soon, because I'm sure we will miss you..."

I clambered into our truck, and Michail climbed in from the other side and shut the door.

I asked him for the keys, to start the engine...

He looked at me, shook his head, and started to chuckle:

"You will first have to put on your clothes, because I don't want to be arrested for 'indecent behavior'..."

"Huh? Why can’t I go naked, as long as I'm sitting in our truck?"

"Well, the very moment other gadjo's are seeing you like this, they will immediately call the police to arrest us."

"Why is that? We are born naked, so what's the problem? Besides, I hate clothes, except for when it's too cold..."

"Well, I think most Gadjo's are not very proud of their own bodies, as we are. Their laws are forcing us to hide our genitals, for as long as we are here...

"Going naked is called 'indecent behavior'; and, because I am responsible for you, they will arrest ME for your nudity and put me in jail..."

"That is crazy. Our Supreme Being has created us just like we are, without any trousers or other garments to hide anything. Even our smallest kids will know that!"

"I think you are right; but, unfortunately, most grown-up gadjo's will not agree with you. You HAVE to shame yourself for your own naked body, while you are here."

"Now, I am starting to shame myself for THEM! They are even more stupid than I thought...

"Well, okay, I will put my clothes on again, to rescue you. Anyway, I still think this IS stupid..."

Reluctantly, I gathered my clothes from the backseat.

I started to dress, while Michail started the engine and told me to buckle up as soon as I was ready.

We drove off, and our new friends waved us goodbye until we couldn't see them any more.

Again, we were on our way...

Where were we going now?

After some time, Michail entered a nearly invisible lane across a couple of green fields.

At the end of the lane, an old and shabby farm showed up, and Michail stopped our truck.

Several nasty looking dogs came running from a corner, and jumped up against the truck.

All of them were barking loudly and showing us their mean teeth.

I shuddered, and thought about being thrown to the wolves...

I would NOT leave our truck, until those vile monsters had been caged!

Michail grinned at the raging dogs, opened his door, and climbed out of the truck.

With a loud and harsh voice, he told them to be silent and go away.

To my utmost surprise, all the dogs immediately obeyed him!

They went silent, and disappeared around the corner without even looking back.

Obviously, they had met my Big Friend before and seemed to know him...

Okay, the dogs were gone, and the coast seemed to be clear.

Michail would control them, so that they didn't wolf me...

I opened my door, climbed out of our truck, and joined my Big Friend.

An old and tanned farmer left a rickety barn, approached us, and smiled:

"Welcome, gentlemen. It's good to see you here. What can I do for you?"

"Don't be too polite, Dimitri, otherwise we might start to believe you are."

"You KNOW I am! And who is the little gentleman with the beautiful blue eyes? Is he one of your sons?"

"He's the son of a friend of mine, and he's helping me today."

"I see, and you know what? Any friend of Michail is a friend of mine."

The farmer offered me a weatherworn hand, and I shook it politely.

He seemed to be nice, but he was talking too much...

Michail and the farmer had some small talk; and I started to look around.

I saw an old and run down farmhouse, a rickety barn, and some huge piles of lumber.

Michail followed the farmer towards the barn, and I decided to go the other way.

He would certainly call me the moment he needed my help or wanted to leave again...

I walked towards the corner... and saw a caravan, having an open door!

Of course, I was very curious about who would be living in it!

So, I walked to the caravan, to have a closer look.

Curiosity killed the cat...

I went towards the open door, and peeked inside.

The caravan turned out to be very old and full of cobwebs and dirty lumber...

This certainly wasn't a caravan anybody would be living in!

I felt a bit disappointed, turned around, and froze...

Five pairs of very mean eyes were staring at me...

Five nasty mouths full of huge teeth were ready to devour me...

Five huge dogs had encircled me, and all of them growled at me...

WHAT NOW?

This evening, the farmer would eat chunks of little Harold, nicely roasted over the campfire...

I thought this had to be the end of me, and started to tremble all over.

What should I do now?

I was way too young to die like this...

I wanted to be our little chief cookie for a much longer time!

I closed my eyes, opened them again, and all the nasty dogs were still there...

I pinched myself, but didn't wake up...

This was not a dream!

Would being torn to pieces be very painful?

Wasn't there any way to escape those nasty monsters?

How had Michail done that... sending them away, just like that?

He had been using a very loud and harsh voice, and all the dogs had obeyed him immediately...

Could I try to do the same thing, although my high-pitched voice certainly wouldn't sound harsh...

If it didn't work out, at least I would die proudly...

I took a deep breath, and forced myself to calm down.

I straightened my back, and looked at the growling monsters.

I tried to gather as much inner power as I could muster.

Trying to sound as harshly as I could, I told the dogs:

"SIT DOWN."

To my utmost surprise, all five dogs lowered their tails, and squatted down in unison!

WHAT?

They were really listening to me?

I couldn't believe my eyes, and almost gasped...

Was that ME?

Had I REALLY done that?

WOW!

The dogs were looking at me with expectant eyes...

They were wagging their tails enthusiastically...

Obviously, they were ready to obey my next command!

What should I do now?

Should I test my luck for a second time?

I decided to try something else, and told them harshly:

"COME HERE."

The dogs immediately rose to their feet, wagging their tails even more.

They approached me, and even tried to lick my hands...

Again, they had obeyed me immediately.

Obviously, they had decided I was their Upper Dog...

For the moment, I was the Leader of their flock...

Never before did I feel so mighty!

I almost started to tremble with enthusiasm.

I was able to manage five enormous dogs, which would be able to tear me to pieces without any problems...

In my wildest dreams, I could never have imagined to be able to do such a thing!

Did I HAVE to be so harsh to them?

They were looking really friendly now...

I decided to try it out, and told them, using a softer voice:

"Now, lie down."

All five dogs slumped down immediately.

They were still wagging their tails, and expectantly looking up at me...

Suddenly, I sensed they were sending me sort of pictures and feelings!

They were looking in awe at my aura and my Inner Power.

They also sensed I had a lot of love in my heart and would never harm anybody.

They knew I had to be a Leader, and therefore accepted me as being their boss...

Of course, I had heard about strange people who were able to 'communicate with animals'.

However, so far, I didn't really believe those weird stories...

Now, I seemed to be doing the same thing myself!

I could clearly understand the things they were sending me!

Would I be able to send some feelings and pictures back to them?

I decided to try it out, and tried to send them a picture of standing up...

The dogs seemed to hesitate, while three of them stood up and two others started to fidget.

All of them were returning feelings of being confused...

Obviously, I wasn't used to send any pictures, and I did it a bit clumsy and unclear.

Maybe, I had to train myself first...

One of the dogs sent me a feeling of using a picture and my voice together, just as I had done before...

Now, I started to understand how it could be working.

The very moment I told the dogs to sit down, I had also created a picture in my mind of them sitting down!

Two minutes later, all of us were frolicking around, running around the yard and chasing each other.

I threw wooden sticks away the dogs had to catch, and tried to ride their backs.

The dogs were elated, and seemed to enjoy our games at least as much as I did.

Now and then, one of them offered me a sudden lick, or pushed his wet snout into my stomach.

I had found five huge canine friends that seemed to adore me!

After some time, Michail and the farmer returned from the barn.

The farmer saw me playing with his huge watchdogs, and froze on the spot.

He started to tremble all over, and suddenly looked very pale while he shouted:

"Look out, boy, don't touch those dogs! They are very dangerous, and you can't trust them. Turn around slowly, and come here..."

WHAT?

What was that farmer trying to tell me?

I couldn't trust those dogs?

They were dangerous?

Was he sure about that?

I shook my head, turned around, and told the dogs:

"Come here."

Immediately, the dogs surrounded me, licking my hands and enthusiastically wagging their tails.

I threw my arms around them, and cuddled all five of them together.

All of them continued licking my face and my hands, leaving the farmer totally agape...

"That's impossible! Michail, come here and look at that! That boy has to be a witch! I can't believe my own eyes..."

Michail looked at the frightened farmer, and started to laugh:

"I think your dogs aren't that dangerous after all..."

"Yes, but... they ARE! Why don't they tear that boy to pieces? They are supposed to be watching over my place, instead of playing with little kids..."

It took us a long time to calm the farmer down.

He told us his dogs only obeyed strong men with loud and harsh voices.

They had never been friendly to anyone, including himself.

Nobody could go near the old caravan they were sleeping in. They would tear you apart immediately...

Even trying to pet them would cost you several fingers!

He only kept them to defend his property against nasty burglars and nosy strangers...

I called one of the dogs, and fearlessly put my small hand into its enormous mouth.

The dog started to chew a little bit on it, tenderly and carefully, to show me his friendship.

I jumped onto his back, and he clearly enjoyed everything I did.

The other dogs surrounded me, wagging their tails and trying to lick my hands.

They clearly accepted me as being the absolute leader of their flock.

Michail thought aloud about something that seemed to make a lot of sense:

"I think our little Harold has a lot of inner power, and the dogs are feeling that and reacting to it. I am having a lot of power as well, that's why most animals are a bit afraid of me...

"However, I never saw such a young boy using his powers to command five enormous dogs all on his own! Ultimately, he is only five-and-a-half years old..."

The impressed farmer hesitantly offered me one of his dogs, to have as a pet.

I felt really tempted to accept his offer and take one of my canine friends to our camp...

However, I decided to refuse politely, and leave all the dogs together.

We never had any personal pets in our camp, not even a tamed rat to teach little tricks...

I helped Michail and the farmer, by carrying a couple of bags of corn and wheat into our truck.

All the time, the dogs surrounded me and tried to lick me.

At last, I told them to go to their own caravan, and they obeyed me immediately.

Again, the farmer looked at me open-mouthed:

"I wish they would listen as well to me as to this little imp..."

The little imp laughed, and threw his small arms around the farmer.

The farmer clearly wasn't used to those intimacies, and acted a bit shyly...

However, Michail had to promise to bring me again the next time we needed more corn or wheat!

I went to the old caravan, and cuddled my huge friends for the last time.

They sensed I was leaving them, and seemed to be a bit sad...

We said our farewell to the farmer, and reentered our truck.

I started the engine, switched the gear, and Michail drove off while I buckled up.

We were on our way home...

. My first cup of coffee; and a beautiful view at our mountains.

Slowly, I dozed off from the monotonous sound of our truck engine...

At the same time, Michail competently drove back to the clearing and the hotel.

I woke up at the moment our truck fell silent, and looked around with sleepy eyes.

I stretched out as far as I could, and yawned a couple of times.

Michail grinned at me, pretending to be yawning himself:

"I... yawn... am such... yawn... a sleepy... yawn... head..."

I reached towards him, and playfully tried to tickle his ribs through his fur coat:

"Well, I think you are just as lazy a slacker as my own Dad..."

"Now, hear who is saying such an abominable thing!"

I dived away under the dashboard, just in time to avoid a tickle-torture.

We climbed out of our truck, still grinning, and closed the doors without locking them.

Here were no stupid gadjo's around who would try to steal it during our absence...

Michail lifted me onto his shoulders; and I held on to his head with my legs dangling free.

We tried to enter the hotel together, but I bumped my head and shouted:

"OUCH! Look out, that hurts!"

Immediately, Michail backed off and put me onto my feet.

He looked a bit guilty, while I rubbed the forming lump on my scalp...

Fortunately, the pain subdued after a moment.

I grabbed his hand and smiled, to let him know I wasn't angry.

He couldn't help being such an enormous giant...

He followed me into the hotel, and we went to the reception to get something to drink.

He was still looking at me with concern in his eyes, and was relieved to see I was still smiling...

Did he really think I would be a crybaby for only having a small lump?

Suddenly, he started to ruffle my hair, as usual.

Now, I winced and ducked away.

That felt a bit more painful than I suspected!

Immediately, Michail took me in his enormous arms and comforted me:

"Oh my... Sorry for being so stupid! Is your head very painful?"

"Nah! I will live... But, don't ruffle my hair for the next hour or so. After that, I will love it again."

Michail's relief was clearly visible, while he put me back onto my feet.

Obviously, he was caring a lot about me and my welfare!

I knew where the bell knob was, and pushed it to let the owners know we were waiting.

Ten seconds later, the nice hotel owner rushed in and tried to squash me.

Again, she told me how good-looking I was, although my neat spikes were thoroughly ruffled away...

I just grinned, and let her have her usual hug.

I still felt a little bit drowsy from sleepiness and being tired, and yawned again.

Both she and Michail started to laugh, while we followed her to the dining room.

There, she turned towards me, and asked:

"Maybe, you should have a cup of coffee as well, to help you wake up?"

Did she really mean that?

I had never tasted any coffee before, as I was only five years old.

In our camp, only the grown-ups were drinking coffee...

Well, now I thought about it, once I had nipped my Dad's coffee, when I was real little.

I didn't remember its taste, and decided to try it out again:

"Ah... well... yes, why not? There has to be a first time for everything..."

The nice woman laughed, and tried to ruffle my hair.

Immediately, I ducked away, still wanting to be careful with my lump...

"Sorry, but I'm having a lump on my head. Next time, I will love you to ruffle my hair twice as much..."

She looked a bit concerned, but I smiled at her to let her know I would live...

She smiled back, and went to the bar to rummage with the coffee machine.

Soon, she returned, carrying a cup of black coffee for Michail and a cup of coffee with a lot of milk and sugar for me.

I started to stir my coffee carefully, using a small spoon, until all the sugar was dissolved.

Then, I drank my first cup of grown-up coffee...

Michail bellowed with laughter and nearly fell of his chair at the look of my sour face.

Yuck, that tasted bitter!

How could both Michail and my Dad be able to love such a nasty taste?

I didn’t like it at all, and got little goose bumps all over my arms...

Fortunately, the hotel owner brought me a big glass of lemonade, to wash away the bitterness!

At that moment, I decided that, maybe, I yearned to be a 'big boy', but not yet THAT big.

I would patiently wait for another couple of years!

Maybe, by then, my taste would have been changed...

Michail emptied his own cup of coffee; and I emptied my glass of lemonade.

We had some more small talk, and then decided it was time to go home.

We thanked the nice woman, had another suffocating hug, and went outside.

Michail looked at our mountain tops, glowing in a far distance, and asked me:

"Shall we have a look at our mountains from a different point of view?"

I nodded, being curious about what that 'different point of view' would be.

Would I be able to learn a bit more about the 'perspective' Misha taught me about?

However, Michail took me to a small chink in the surrounding rocks.

He wormed himself through, and I followed him.

Together, we climbed a steep path, and crossed a small stream.

Next, we wormed ourselves through another, even smaller, chink...

Suddenly, we arrived at a platform, looking out over a huge valley.

I fell totally silent, and stared at the beautiful sight in awe...

The platform allowed us a splendid view of our glowing mountains and the already setting sun.

I never knew our country could be so magnificent!

Michail sat down on a flat boulder; and I climbed in between his knees.

He threw his safe arms around my waist, and I leaned into him, heaving a deep sigh.

Together, we looked for a long time at the splendid sight and all the beautiful colors.

Here, I felt very small and vulnerable under this abundant charm of Mother Nature.

I immensely enjoyed the subtle play of light and dark between our nearby and far away mountains.

The vegetation in and around the valley showed all sorts of different colors.

The snow on the mountain tops was glowing and sparkling in the sunlight.

All sorts of small animals were scrabbling around, and several colored birds were playing in the sky.

Now and then, one of them produced a whistling sound, and the others immediately answered.

I felt at home here; and totally in harmony with our surrounding nature.

I knew I belonged here, and I wanted to be here for always.

This was my land!

After a long time, we left our platform and walked back to our truck.

Both of us were silent for a long time, still being very impressed.

Michail competently steered our truck around the trees and along the potholes towards our camp.

I could feel our love radiating between us, and marveled in it.

We were like best friends, who didn't need any words to understand each other...

We reached our camp, and Michail parked our truck in our parking lot.

Immediately, my friends crowded around it, asking questions like:

"How was the gadjo town? Did you get into any trouble? How were those big stores? I am jealous of you..."

Michail and I started to grin at their eager faces, left our truck, and went to our circle.

First thing I did, was shucking my so loathed clothes!

I brought them to my Mom, to be washed and put away where they belonged.

She was happy to see me back, and we cuddled a bit.

I promised to tell her and my Dad about my adventures, as soon as I returned home again.

For now, I wanted to join my friends outside and still my hunger...

I went back to our campfire, where my friends had already prepared a nicely smelling meal.

Obviously, they had been learning quite a lot about using my herbs!

I nodded approvingly, and Jonno started to beam:

"I have looked really good when you gathered those herbs! Now, I am our Cookie the second..."

"That is okay with me, for as long as I am the one and only Chief Cook!"

"Oh yes, you are, and you will always be! Nobody is that good at looking for new variations and mixing new tastes...

"I have decided to be a real cook in my own restaurant, once I am a grown-up!"

"The very moment you have opened your own restaurant, I want to be your first customer. Just send me an invitation."

All of them started to laugh, nibbled on the roasted meat, and asked me about my adventures.

I sat down, and started to tell them everything about my first impressions of that strange but seemingly very clever and technical gadjo world.

When I told them about being lost in the huge store, they looked surprised. How could I ever be lost, being a Real Trapper and having all those abilities...

I told them about being chased away from the cafeteria, and they reacted angry and cursed all those mistrusting gadjo's, like Michail did.

Joc knew where the small Gypsy camp was, because he had an uncle and two nephews living there. He told me to greet Jaki the next time I would be there...

Misha knew about the farm, and told me he had been there last year:

"I didn't dare leave Michail's truck for a long time, until finally those nasty dogs left us and went back to their own caravan..."

I didn't tell him those nasty dogs were obeying me like little puppies, because I didn’t want my best friend to feel inferior:

"Yeah, they were looking really nasty..."

After our meal, Misha and I carried the many bags of corn and wheat off Michail's truck.

Of course, we also divided them among a couple of other helping kids.

All of us got one bag, and proudly carried it towards our hidden caves.

There, Michail took them over, and carefully stowed them away.

Now, they would be cool and dry until we needed them...

In rank, we marched back to our campfire.

A couple of grown-ups showed up naked, carrying a basked of new yellow soap bars.

Of course, we immediately accompanied them, playing and frolicking around in our already darkening woods.

The grown-ups washed us first, and each other next, using the new soap Michail and I had bought.

After being washed and rinsed, we played in the stream until we were too cold and had to leave.

We left our waterfall in a hurry, and raced to our campfire to get warm again.

Within a few weeks, we wouldn't be able to shower like that any more...

Winter was already approaching, and the days were becoming shorter and colder.

From that time on, we would be restricted to using our own small shower stalls in our caravans...

. Finally, I'm in my 'growth spurt'; and a 'smallest runt contest'.

A few weeks later, spring arrived, and the remainders of the muddy snow melted away.

We shucked our clothes for the last time, and gladly stored them away.

That is, until we had to visit those crazy gadjo's; or, until the next winter would force us to wear them again.

Everybody felt happy to be naked during the whole day, and nobody seemed to miss those clammy and sticky things!

Those gadjo's must be really stupid, to force their children to wear them all the time...

The marmots started to breed again, and soon there were plenty of them to fill our always-hungry stomachs.

Again, we crossed our woods, set up our traps, and followed faintly visible animal tracks.

At the end of the day, we went to our waterfall, to frolic around or go for a swim in our lake.

Feeling hungry and tired, we returned to our camp, to roast our caught animals and join our parents.

Every day, I searched our surrounding woods, trying to discover new herbs to spice our food.

Slowly, my tastes refined even more, and I started to be a really excellent Chief Cook.

I loved my improving skills, and all my friends told me they were fond of the results!

Even the grown-ups let me spice their meals now and then, in case they wanted to eat something special.

They always complimented me with the exquisite and refined taste...

Everything was normal again; and my life was as before.

That is, except for one small thing...

Misha had found himself another little friend.

His name was Dimi, and he wasn't even five years old...

Still, he was a bit taller than I was, and I envied him a little bit for that.

I also missed my ex-friend Misha...

The first day Dimi was allowed to enter our woods, he was just as frightened as I had been.

Immediately, Misha went to him, and took his hand to reassure him.

Dimi clamped himself onto Misha; and seemed to adopt him as sort of a Big Brother.

From that time on, they were inseparable, and went together always and everywhere.

Misha always took Dimi into the dense forest, without asking me to join them.

I decided to be generous and NOT jealous, at least not too much…

Thus, I let them be together, and joined the other kids into our woods and towards our waterfall.

Now and then, I had tears in my eyes, but I didn't want to be a crybaby.

Live and let live...

A couple of days later, I woke up in the morning and opened my eyes.

I yawned a few times, sat up, and stretched out as I normally did.

To my utmost surprise, suddenly my fingertips touched the ceiling of my small den!

How was that possible?

That had never happened before!

What had happened to my ceiling?

Had our roof lowered itself overnight?

I stretched out again, and again I was able to touch the ceiling...

Had a heavy tree branch dumped itself onto our caravan roof and dented it?

Or... had I been growing a bit taller overnight?

Or...

DID I FINALLY HAVE MY GROWTH SPURT?

I jumped out of bed, and bolted into my parent's bedroom, shouting:

"YIPPEE! I AM GROWING UP! Mom, Dad, I am having my growth spurt!"

I jumped onto their stomachs, and started to dance around enthusiastically.

My Mom groaned, opened her eyes, squinted at me, and mock-complained:

"What is happening? Why are you bouncing around, this early in the morning?"

My Dad started to laugh at my raptness and my enthusiastic face.

He tried to catch me, but I was too fast and escaped to the other end of the bed.

From there, I dived onto his stomach, still bubbling over with enthusiasm.

He huffed from the sudden impact, but threw his strong arms around my body.

He held me in place, trying to calm me down:

"How do you know you're having your growth spurt? What happened?"

"All of a sudden, I am able to touch the ceiling over my head! Come on, I'll show you..."

I wormed myself from under his arms, and after a little bit of struggling he let me go.

Now, I dragged him out of bed and towards my small den, followed by my curious Mom.

I jumped onto my own bed, and showed both of them how I discovered I had grown taller overnight:

"See? Since this morning, I'm able to touch the ceiling over my head, for the first time!"

My Dad lifted me from my bed, kissed my nose, and held me close again:

"Finally, I'm having a Real Big Son. Congratulations, my big boy; and I think we will have to raise the roof of our caravan!"

Of course, I knew he was teasing me with my over-enthusiasm, but I didn't mind at all.

I WAS having my first growth spurt, finally, and I felt delighted!

From now on, I was no longer a small runt, but a normal six-year-old boy!

Finally, my body had decided to catch up with my age...

What would my friends say about that?

I told my Mom to hurry with breakfast, because I wanted to tell our group outside:

"Wait until they hear I'm having my growth spurt! Please, Mom, hurry up..."

My Mom laughed at my eagerness, but she DID speed up a little bit.

Of course, I helped her, by slicing my herbs and stirring the eggs.

I wolfed my healthy food down, and gulped my milk in one big swig.

Then, I was allowed to leave our table, and hasted outside.

A few kids had already gathered around our campfire, teasing each other and playing silly games.

I waited impatiently, until everybody would have joined our slowly growing group...

Come on, lazy slackers, hurry up, because I want to tell you something important...

I fidgeted around, still bubbling over from enthusiasm and barely able to restrain myself.

Finally, everybody had arrived, and I climbed onto a bench and asked for attention.

I asked them again, until everybody was silent and looked at me...

Now, I announced, smiling from ear to ear and with a proud voice:

"From now on, I'm no longer a small runt; because, since today, I am having my growth spurt!"

Everybody was silent, and all of them looked at me curiously...

They looked me over from top to toe, shaking their heads in disbelief...

Why didn't they believe me?

I HAD been growing overnight!

Suddenly, Misha started to laugh, left Dimi, and went to me.

He threw his so well-known arms around my waist, and chuckled:

"I know. I've seen it happen during the last couple of days. You are definitely a little bit taller, and you have developed some more muscles too."

Now, all my friends started to laugh, and congratulated me with my sudden growth.

They told me I was still a bit on the small side, but maybe not that small any more...

One of the bigger boys had a clever suggestion:

"Maybe, we could have a measuring contest, to see who will be our smallest runt from now on?"

Of course, everybody agreed, and the boy started to line up our smaller kids.

Seven little kids, including me, all of them anxiously waiting to hear who would win the contest...

Who would be our new smallest runt?

Misha hurried to Michail's caravan, and returned carrying an old tape measure.

He started to measure our heights, one by one, calling out the results.

One of the other boys painstakingly wrote them down onto a piece of paper.

After all the small kids had been measured, the boy handed the paper to Misha...

Misha looked at it, compared the results, and announced with a proud voice:

"Today, our smallest runt contest is won by... our new smallest runt, Dimi."

Everybody started to cheer, and Misha lifted his little friend high into the air.

Dimi smiled from ear to ear, clearly enjoying all the attention.

Misha lifted him onto his shoulders, and enthusiastically horsed him around the campfire.

Dimi shrieked with laughter, clamping himself onto Misha's hair.

From now on, Misha's new little friend was the smallest runt in our group.

He had been beating me by less than half an inch.

I thought I didn't mind, and joined the others to congratulate him.

Yet, I was feeling a pang of jealousy...

After the contest, we decided to go into our woods, to look after our traps.

Together, we went to the small clearing, where we stopped, as usual.

Suddenly, Misha whispered into my ear, blushing a bit:

"Do you want to join me and Dimi to our steep ravine, as we used to do?"

"Well... No, I don’t think that will be a good idea. I don't want to compete with Dimi, and I think Dimi doesn’t want to compete with me...

"I'm afraid our special friendship will never be the same as before. I am still cherishing all the valuable things you taught me, and I'm using them all the time, but I think now it's Dimi's turn to be your special pupil. I hope you will love him as much as you loved me, and I'm wishing both of you all the best...

"From now on, I'm going to join the other kids into our woods, as before."

Misha looked a bit sad, but he took Dimi's small hand and turned around without saying another word.

Walking together, they disappeared into the dense forest, leaving me alone.

I felt a bit sad as well, but straightened my back and joined the waiting kids into our woods.

Immediately, Biny approached me and determinedly took my hand.

Would she be able to replace my special friend, Misha?

I wasn't sure, but decided to give her a chance...

For the remainder of the day, we were together, indeed having lots of fun.

From now on, nobody was calling me a 'little runt' any more.

I really started to grow up, maybe slowly, but also steadily.

My body started to catch up with my age, and my limbs were lengthening bit by bit.

Soon, I was looking just like any other normal six-year-old boy.

That was what I had been waiting for, for such a long time...

My parents and my good friends started to call me 'Harry' instead of 'Harold'.

I didn't mind at all, and was used to my new name within a very short time.

Soon, I decided I liked my new name more, because it sounded more like ME.

I also had a strange feeling; as if, from now on, I was entering a new phase in my life.

Don't ask me why...

. Misha's predestination, nightmares, and fulfilling my Karma.

Slowly and almost unnoticed, I started to feel lonely; and I didn't know why.

I had many dear friends, two loving parents, my Big Friend Michail, and a joyful life...

Why did I feel so sad, as if I wasn't allowed to be happy any more?

Did this have to do with Misha and his new little friend?

I wasn't sure...

I decided to go to some secluded place, and try to think it over.

After emptying our traps, I told my friends I wanted to be alone for a while.

They understood, and I promised them to be back before darkness set in.

Next, I felt around in our woods, for some spot having a nice energy.

A small water stream started to pull at me, and I followed its friendly call.

Soon, I found the softly murmuring creek, and sat down at its nice flowering border.

Here, I started to think, being surrounded by a calming and peaceful atmosphere.

First, I thought about Misha and me, and how our friendship blossomed and suddenly died.

From the first moment I saw him, I had been sure I knew him from at least one of my past lives.

We never talked about it, but I was sure he had recognized me as well.

We were always totally at ease with each other, and were almost able to talk without using any words...

I closed my eyes and tried to talk to Misha in my mind, as if we were sitting together...

Suddenly, I KNEW what had happened, and why Misha had attached himself to Dimi.

Misha was one of those very special people Mother Nature had predestined to be caring for little boys!

Our people had told us about them, and how they always had a very high status in our Gypsy community.

They were the loving and supporting teachers, the trustworthy youth instructors, always caring for abandoned or neglected boys.

They were destined to teach our precious youth how to love and how to behave in peace and in respect.

Our people also told us that girls were very different from boys, and that was utterly important to know!

Little girls needed a totally different approach... but I decided not to think about that for now.

I was a boy, Misha was a boy, and Dimi was a boy as well.

Women would never understand our REAL needs; and, every time I needed something important, I went to my Dad or to Michail!

Women always wanted to 'talk about it'; while men didn't talk but immediately came up with a usable solution...

Misha had been my teacher for almost two years.

In those years, he had taught me quite a lot; and I was still very grateful for his valuable lessons!

Now, I was ready, and able to fend for myself.

I was happy with his friendship, but no longer NEEDED him...

Dimi had lost both parents a few years ago, due to a drunken gadjo driver.

Since then, he had been raised by a grumpy aunt and an old uncle who weren't really interested in him...

Now, Misha had taken him under his caring wings, as sort of a big brother!

Dimi certainly needed Misha, probably for a very long time...

Misha had only listened to his heart and to his destination, by taking care of Dimi.

That did NOT mean he suddenly stopped being my friend!

We would always be friends; but, since they met, Dimi needed Misha's SPECIAL friendship...

I started to cry from the understanding and the sudden relief.

I also started to love Misha even more, for being who he was.

He was a beautiful human being, with an enormous heart.

I felt relieved and happy again, and carefully dried my eyes.

Slowly, I rose from my mossy seat, and felt around for my friends.

Three minutes later, I joined them and followed them towards our waterfall.

We started to frolic around and chase each other, as always.

Half an hour later, Misha and Dimi showed up and joined us.

I went to Misha without saying a word, and hugged him with all my force.

He returned my hug, suddenly getting tears in his eyes:

"I thought you would be angry with me, for helping Dimi..."

"Well, I needed some thinking, to understand what was happening. Now, I am glad you are helping Dimi; and I am loving you even more!"

Both of us turned towards Dimi at the same time, and beckoned him to join us.

He did, albeit a bit hesitantly, and we let him join in our cuddle.

I told him I was happy for him to have found such a special friend, and hoped they would be friends for a long time.

Now, Dimi got tears in his eyes, and only managed to nod before he started to sob...

All of us were friends again.

At night, I started to get strange dreams that were disturbing me and waking me up.

Sometimes, I was a grown-up, clad in a long black garment, chasing nasty witches to capture them and burn them on stakes...

Other times, I was a witch myself, trying to help people with my special gifts, but misunderstood and captured to be burnt...

My nightmares always ended with being in a huge fire that started to lick at my body.

Every time I had one of those nightmares, the fire woke me up in horror.

Then, I didn’t know where I was; until, slowly, I recognized our caravan.

Next, I left my bed and wormed myself in between my parents.

There, I felt safe again; and I slept peacefully during the remainder of the night.

My Dad started to tease me a little bit, about still being a baby and wanting to be pampered...

Until, one morning, I told him about my nightmares, and how I woke up in horror.

Now, he felt a bit ashamed, and looked at me for a long time.

Finally, he shook his head, and asked:

"Are you having those same nasty dreams over and over?"

"Yes, Dad, they are always about witches and a huge fire, and then I'm waking up trembling all over."

"I think it's time to take you to our Wise Woman, to ask her advice. Maybe, she will be able to help you get rid of those recurring nightmares."

"Okay, but I hope SHE doesn't think I'm still a baby..."

"I'm sure she will not think such a thing. But, why didn't you tell ME you had those nightmares?"

"I didn't want YOU to think I am a baby..."

The same afternoon, my Dad and I went to our Wise Woman, to ask her advice.

We sat down on a couch in her caravan, and I told her about my strange dreams and my sadness.

She looked at me with her piercing eyes for a long time, and finally nodded:

"I'll ask our Ancestors for help. Just a moment..."

She closed her eyes, and started to hum monotonously.

Soon, she had brought herself into a trance, to be able to contact our Ancestors.

Within two minutes, she opened her eyes, and drank some water to wake up.

Next, she asked me to sit on her lap and lean into her:

"Close your eyes, and let yourself go. Nothing nasty will happen, and you will be absolutely safe. One of our Ancestors wants to talk to you..."

She put one hand in between my eyes, the other at the back of my neck, and started to hum in a different tone.

At first, I only was a bit drowsy, but then, my consciousness slowly left my brain, and I started to fall asleep...

I woke up, opened my eyes, and saw I was in a beautiful and colorful world full of love and peace.

An angelic chorus chanted in the background, and the pure and clean air smelled of spring and flowers.

I felt at home immediately, wondering why I remembered this beautiful place so clearly...

A huge and radiant man approached me, clad in a splendid robe full of gold and colorful gemstones.

He smiled at me, and I saw how his hands joined the hands of our Wise Woman on my forehead and neck.

I felt an enormous flood of energy and pure love filling my body, making me tremble with happiness.

I was sure I knew this man! I had seen and spoken him many times, while I was in 'Heaven' and waited to be born again.

He was sort of the boss of our Ancestors, but didn't use any known name or title. He always told us he didn't need one...

Now, I heard his well-known voice, seemingly coming from within my head:

"Don't be afraid, my dear friend. Your abilities are wakening early, because you will need them during the important task you are going to fulfill on our Earth...

"Your dream is partly a memory from some of your past lives, and it is also a foreboding of something that will happen to you in your future...

"Your difficulties are interwoven with your Karma, and you will need all of them; to finally regain all your Powers, and be able to use them to help others...

"All your spirit friends and I will be with you all the time, and we will protect you wherever we are allowed to help you...

"Now, I will try to show you a small part of your future, to assure you there will be nothing you can't easily cope with...

"Go in Peace, my dear friend, remember my words, and we will meet again!"

Slowly, the pictures faded away, and I started to wake up.

Suddenly, I saw myself, traveling across a couple of foreign countries in an old caravan.

My parents and I were fleeing for something, until we entered a small village.

There, I saw the huge fire that disturbed me in my nightmares, trying to lick at my face and body.

My parents went to Heaven, and I seemed to have a totally different face...

I waited until the earth rounded the sun twice, and met my new Dad from my past life.

He helped me grow up, until I got my own son and started to fulfill my important task.

All of us working together, we changed our Earth and transformed it into a better place!

The Wise Woman stopped her humming, and my consciousness returned into my body.

I needed a few minutes to recover, and wavered towards my Dad's safe lap...

He threw his strong arms around me, and tenderly caressed my stomach.

That helped; and I started to feel a lot better, this time without my sadness!

The Wise Woman looked at me with astonishment in her eyes:

"I didn't know you befriended our King of Ancestors! Wow... Now, I'm starting to understand why your gifts are that strong..."

She rummaged in her bags, and returned carrying a mixture of nasty smelling herbs:

"Brew a strong tea out of this, and drink it before you're going to sleep."

My Dad and I thanked her sincerely for her help and advice.

We left her caravan and went home, to tell my Mom what had happened...

That evening, I brewed my sour tasting tea, and went to bed early.

I couldn't sleep immediately, and started to think...

What could be the 'important task' I had to fulfill after I got my own son?

Was the huge fire in my nightmare a foreboding of what would be coming?

After the fire, I suddenly had a different face and a new Dad...

I felt safe, because my Ancestor and my spirit friends would be with me all the time!

There would be nothing I couldn't easily cope with...

I turned onto my other side; and drifted off into a sound and dreamless sleep.

. Visiting a foreign country.

My Mom was silent; and looked at my Dad for a long time, as if she tried to send him some unspoken message...

I didn't know what was happening, and shrugged it off.

Two things I didn't quite understand... Would I have TWO Dads in my future? And what was Karma?

Would I have the Dad who had been my Dad until now, AND meet my old Dad from my past life?

Maybe I had seen things a bit messed up during my trance visit to those other realities?

Fortunately the tea helped, and within a few days I forgot everything I was worried about and returned into my joyful self.

From that time on my Dad started to look a bit thoughtful.

Sometimes he just stared into space, without saying a word...

Many times he went to our hidden caravan and sat down, as if he was waiting for something to happen.

Now and then I joined him, and we sat together in silence, both waiting...

I had already asked him why we were here, but he didn't answer and just stared.

I decided to let him have his own space, until he wanted to talk about it...

My Mom started to be nervous, and couldn't sit still for a moment.

She had already cleaned our hidden caravan inside and outside, and now she started to turn our own caravan inside out.

My Dad was a bit angry, and told her to stop the cleaning and do something more useful.

Now she was offended, started to mope, and refused to do anything at all...

I didn't understand what was happening, and left our caravan to join my friends.

Fact was that many times I could sense that same strange feeling myself, as if my parents and I were waiting for something to happen...

Only I didn't know what I was waiting for.

Maybe for going to those foreign countries, as my Ancestor friend had shown me?

Or for my Karma, whatever that might be?

A few days later we were in our caravan, having some small talk and planning to go to bed.

I sat on my Dad's lap, cuddling cozily, while a few candles were faintly lighting our living room.

Suddenly a car stopped outside, and we rushed to the windows to have a look.

Who would pay us a visit this late in the evening?

A tall man clad in gadjo clothes left the car, and went to the few sleepy people who were still gathered around our campfire:

"I want to talk to your King, or to one of the parents of the little blond-haired boy with blue eyes."

"We don't know of any King here, and what's with that little blond-haired boy?"

"Please don't play this game, because I've a very important message for your King and his little Prince."

Reluctantly, one of our men pointed to our caravan, where we were still looking outside and wondering who that man could be...

The man approached our caravan, and my Mom went to the door to open it and let him in.

A tall stranger I did recognize vaguely, ducked his head to enter our caravan, and raised his brows when he saw me naked:

"Sorry for invading your privacy like this, but I'm very happy I've found you! I've seen your son before, in our police station where I'm working as a part-time janitor. I even had to provide him with some trousers, and couldn't find any that were small enough to fit him... I can see he has shucked them now...

"I'm here to warn you for a nasty witch hunt, one that I'm sure you do not deserve. This morning a dark-haired man with a mustache tried to rob somebody, and killed him in the resulting fight. Unfortunately the man did escape, and our officers immediately started an investigation and asked around in the town...

"Several people told our officers they had seen the man before, being in the company of a little blond-haired boy with blue eyes. They were describing the man as having a dark complexion, maybe being of Gypsy origin, while they thought he could be related to the little blonde boy...

"You know that our officers did investigate your clan before, and by now they're knowing that your Prince is a little boy with blond hair and blue eyes. To me you don't look like a King at all, but both you and your little blue-eyed son surely do look like the descriptions those people offered our officers today!

"I'm absolutely sure you would never rob and kill anybody, as you were always nice and gentle people. That's why I decided to help you, by trying to warn you in advance. I had to wait until I was free, and immediately went looking for this camp. I think you will have to take your precautions, because they are planning to arrest you tomorrow and accuse you of robbery and murder."

"I don't understand... Why would they do such a thing? Nor I, nor any of my people has ever had anything to do with murder or robbery. We are always very peaceful people..."

"Yes, I know, but word is against you... I'm afraid they will not listen to your arguments. They want to have a perpetrator, and I'm afraid that many people don't trust Gypsies. They were already planning to lynch you! I would strongly advice you to leave your camp, and maybe even our country, for a couple of weeks, or at least until the witch hunt has settled down and everything is back to normal again."

"Well... How do I know I can trust you, and you aren't making this up? Sorry for being a little bit wary..."

"Ask your son. I hope he will recognize me?"

"Yes, Dad, that's the man I've seen when the officers took me to their restroom. He brought me those silly trousers to wear. By the way, I've burnt them in our campfire! He's a good man, and I'm sure you can trust him. I can feel he's sincere and really wants to help us."

"In that case I'm thanking you from the deepest of my heart for warning us in time! From now on you can always count on us. Can we help you in one way or the other?"

"No, thank you. I'm happy that I'm able to help you and your son. Please take good care of him, as he's a wonderful little fellow! Now I'm going home."

The part-time janitor left our caravan and drove home, leaving us bewildered.

What should we do now?

My Mom started to cry, and nearly squashed me in her trembling arms.

My Dad sighed and left our caravan, to call together our council of advice.

This was the first time in many years we had to gather them...

A couple of sleepy looking men showed up, to form our council of advice.

They raked our campfire, and sat down on the surrounding wooden benches.

Of course my Mom and I joined the council, both being very nervous and determined not to miss a single word!

My Dad told them about the warning, and asked them what we should do now...

"I think it's very clear you can't risk being arrested, as they surely would molest you or maybe even worse. And when those witch hunters would get hold of you..."

"I think you will have to flee, and return in a couple of weeks when everything has calmed down, or maybe when the real perpetrator is arrested."

"What luck that we preserved that old caravan, and prepared it to be used for just this sort of occurrences."

"I think your wife and your son will have to flee with you, as the officers might arrest them too to interrogate them, or worse."

"Yes, it's no good to let the officers interrogate an innocent child that has nothing to do with robbery or murder..."

Eventually the council decided that we would leave our camp first thing in the morning.

Thus we would have some sleep, and enough time to prepare ourselves for our voyage.

We would go away for at least a couple of weeks, and keep silent all the time because the police officers would for sure look for any trail to track us down.

I was elated to have this chance to see those foreign countries for the first time!

However, I was clever enough not to say a word about it to the others...

Of course we would be back within a few weeks, when those crazy gadjo's had calmed down, and everything would be normal again...

. Fleeing to foreign countries and outwitting the police.

We returned to our caravan, where we sat down on our couches.

None of us wanted to go to sleep, so my Mom lit a few more candles and raked the fire.

I crawled onto my Dad's lap again, and he looked at me pensive:

"Maybe it will be better to dye your blonde hair and shave my mustache. That way the customs will not recognize us too easily..."

"How about Mom's blonde hair and blue eyes? Don't they recognize her? Has she to dye her hair too?"

"What do you think, Maria? It will certainly diminish the risk of being recognized."

"Well... I'm not so sure... You've always told me you were loving my special hair..."

"I surely do! However it’s only for a few days, until we've left our country and are far enough away."

"Mom, Dad is offering his mustache too! And I think you will always be his special Maria, just like he will always be your special Janov, even without his mustache!"

Both of them looked at me, and suddenly I saw tears forming in their eyes.

My Mom ruffled my hair, while my Dad tried to squash me in his strong arms:

"You will always be our very special Harry! Have I ever told you I love you?"

"Well... now you're mentioning it... I'm trying to remember... I think at least ten times a day? Maybe even more!"

All of us started to laugh, and the tension diminished a little bit.

My Mom went to our small kitchen, to brew a pot of very strong coffee.

My Dad started to gather the things he thought we would need during our trip.

I helped him by neatly packing everything into a couple of suitcases.

We had to wait until the coffee had cooled down sufficiently.

In the meantime I tried to be helpful by blowing onto it.

My Mom put me onto a stool, and draped a towel around my shoulders.

Carefully, she applied the strong coffee to my blonde hair, until it showed a nice dark shade of brown.

I looked at myself in our mirror, and really liked what I was seeing!

Now I was incognito. A new brown-haired little boy, starting a new life...

My Dad helped my Mom dyeing her hair, until she and I had the same hair color.

Again we were looking the same, being mother and son.

Unfortunately we couldn't dye our too blue eyes, so we would have to keep our heads down...

My Dad took a sharp razor, lathered his beautiful mustache, and carefully shaved it off...

We looked at each other, started to laugh at each other, and finally cuddled each other for a long time.

My Mom looked at what we had gathered, and added some more food, clothes, and silverware.

We tried to think of all the useful things we might have added, or would miss during our trip...

Suddenly I veered up: my herbs! We had almost forgotten to add my tasty herbs to our packages!

I packed them carefully into a few plastic bags, and decided to gather some more the next morning.

Michail showed up, ducking his head to enter our caravan:

"We have taken our precautions, and transported the old car and caravan combination to our secluded spot in the woods. We've covered it with moss and leaves, but it's ready to immediately drive away if necessary. The keys are in the car on the dashboard, and the tank is filled to the brim."

He looked at us, raised his eyebrows, winked at me, and started to grin:

"Sorry, I think I'm in the wrong caravan. I'm looking for a little blond boy, a blond woman, and a man with a huge mustache. Do you know where they went?"

"Of course I know, and they told me they were incognito from now on, going to start a new life."

Michail lifted me high into the air, and kissed my nose and my forehead a couple of times:

"I will miss you, and I hope you will be back very soon! All of you!"

I saw he was getting tears in his eyes, while he put me down onto the floor and left our caravan without saying another word.

Well, within a couple of weeks we would be back here, to resume our lives!

Suddenly I had a very strange feeling that really shocked me...

I wouldn't see him back for a couple of years, and by then all of us would have changed quite a lot...

I started to shiver, and got goose bumps all over my body.

What would happen to my parents and me?

Was that my, or maybe our, Karma?

A few men helped us carrying our suitcases and filled bags to the now cleverly hidden car and caravan.

We put them away in the trunk of the car temporarily, to sort them out later.

We thanked the men for their appreciated help, and went back to our caravan shining our flashlights.

This night we went to bed fully dressed, to be prepared for all eventualities.

At the first sign of police cars showing up, we would immediately go to our hidden car and drive off.

I crawled in between my parents, curiously sniffing my Mom's hair...

"Mom, your hair is smelling of coffee!"

My Dad put his nose into my hair, and grinned:

"Your own hair is smelling of coffee too!"

I chuckled, closed my eyes, and started to dream of foreign countries and weird looking people having strange habits.

Early in the morning we woke up, and tried to prepare ourselves to leave our camp in a hurry if necessary.

My Mom and I showered together, putting plastic bags over our dark brown hair to keep it dry and not rinse the coffee out.

We dried each other and donned our oldest clothes, while my Dad started to complain about having an itchy upper lip.

I tried to laugh at him, but he didn’t really appreciate it and showed a sour face...

Finally we went to our campfire for the last time, to say our farewells.

Everybody hugged us, told us to be careful, and wished us all the best.

We cried a bit, and promised them to be back within a couple of weeks.

We would not contact each other from within foreign countries, as that certainly would leave traces that could be tracked down by the police officers.

We would wait until we were back and ready to cross our border, and then we would contact our people to find out whether the coast was clear...

Now we turned around, ready to go to our hidden car and caravan.

All of a sudden at least twenty police cars swarmed around our camp and stopped.

Their doors opened, and load after load of strained looking police officers swarmed around.

They immediately started to search our caravans, looking for the little blond-haired Prince with the blue eyes.

Nobody saw the two sloppy looking people, accompanied by a small dark-haired boy, silently disappearing into the woods...

We slipped away to our hidden caravan, trying to act as if we weren't in a hurry at all.

At the same time our own people successfully tried to distract the officers and block their vision.

Inwardly I had a lot of fun, and bit my tongue trying not to laugh aloud.

Again we had proven to be too clever for those stupid police officers!

Again we had outwitted them, and again they were unable to catch us...

Quickly, we cleaned our hidden car and caravan from the moss and the dry leaves.

We entered the car, and my Dad drove off carefully and as silently as possible.

We were on a nearly invisible small road, very difficult to drive on, full of nasty rocks and enormous potholes.

The old car jumped up and down, while the poor caravan groaned and swung from left to right.

Fortunately my Dad was a very competent driver!

I sat on the backseat on my knees with my face glued to the back pane, looking out through the attached caravan for following police cars.

Nobody was following us, and after a while we tried to relax a bit more.

We seemed to have escaped that stupid arresting team!

We climbed myriads of too steep hills, making the car engine howl and groan.

We descended along deep ravines, where my Dad cleverly avoided the too nasty cracks.

We rounded nearly impossible hairpin curves that showed up all the time.

Sometimes we even had to drive back and forth a couple of times, to get the caravan through.

Finally we left our mountains and entered a lower lying plain.

Far away we saw the highway, showing many cars driving along in a permanent hurry.

From now on the driving was a lot easier, and my Dad started to relax.

He drove our combination along a small stream, and carefully crossed a rickety bridge.

We reached a crossing, turned around a corner, and finally reached the highway!

We had to wait until a gap showed up in between all those cars-in-a-tremendous-hurry...

Now my Dad competently steered our combination onto the paved surface and accelerated.

We had reached our first goal!

My Dad pushed the accelerator, the engine started to hum, and we were on our way to the first foreign country.

Two minutes later we had to stop for a sudden roadblock.

Several police officers halted the cars and let them pass one by one, carefully looking into them.

Obviously they had discovered that their little blond haired prey had escaped!

Step by step we were driven into the inevitable, until we had to pass the block.

Now it was our turn...

The officers turned their heads and craned their necks, to have a better look into our car and attached caravan.

However, all they could see were two dull looking Gypsy parents and their little dark-haired son in the backseat who seemed to be asleep and had his eyes closed.

They were certainly not a King and the blond-haired little Prince they were looking for...

Soon the officers let us go making an annoyed gesture, and went to the next car.

We drove on as nonchalantly as my Dad could muster, accelerating slowly.

This time I laughed out loudly, and slapped my knees.

Again we had outwitted those stupid police officers!

Now we had to pass the next bottleneck to the foreign countries, where the customs were waiting for us...

. Crossing the border, playing with huge girl friends.

We were driving along the highway for quite a while, and the monotonous car sounds made me feel a bit drowsy.

Now and then my Mom and Dad had some small talk, but I didn't really listen.

Suddenly my Dad slowed our combination down, and steered it to the left into a small and nearly invisible track.

The car started to jump up and down, and the attached caravan swayed and groaned.

I was catapulted from left to right, and suddenly I was awake and alert!

My Dad seemed to know the way, and competently drove us along the winding and bumpy track.

I looked through the windows, and saw field after field full of grazing and dull looking cows passing by.

Now and then we passed a run down farm showing a couple of even duller looking farmers.

We drove along a small water stream that tirelessly sought its way around zillions of small boulders.

We crossed a very rickety bridge that hardly earned that name and nearly collapsed under our weight.

We ascended a steep hill, making our engine howl and groan aloud.

We descended the hill on the other side, shaking and now and then standing full on the brakes.

My Dad stopped, and carefully reversed our combination into an impossibly small clearing.

He turned the steering wheel around, and drove us through a stream full of nasty hidden potholes!

The water splattered high into the air, and we had to switch the wipers on.

Our car-caravan combination jumped up and down and swayed from left to right in the splashing water.

Of course I sat glued to the windows, cheering loudly from the excitement.

Finally we left the stream and crossed a couple of thick thorn bushes, trying to avoid too many scratches on the sides...

Suddenly we entered another highway, and had to wait because of a couple of passing cars-in-a-hurry.

We mingled among the other traffic, and drove on as if nothing special had happened.

Where were we now? I didn't have the faintest idea...

My Dad looked at my Mom and me, and announced as if he was talking about the weather:

"Okay, we have crossed the Rumanian border, and now we are in a foreign country. For the moment we are safe."

I was totally in awe, and threw my arms around my Dad's neck trying to suffocate him.

I had never known he could drive that good, and I wanted to be like him!

This time we had outwitted even the customs...

My Dad grinned, and tried to peel my arms off his neck:

"I love you too, but please let me have some air..."

"Sorry, Dad, for being a nuisance. I'll try to behave myself."

"If you really were a nuisance, we would have delivered you to the police officers this morning!"

"I'm sure you would have missed me!"

"Yeah. I surely would! Your Mom and I wouldn't want to miss you for anything in the world."

I choked up, got tears in my eyes, and wasn't able to speak for a couple of minutes...

They were REALLY loving me!

Again we were driving on and on, while I looked out of the windows.

For a long time I tried to see the differences between our own country and this foreign one...

I really did my utmost best, but couldn't find any differences at all!

Now I was a bit disappointed, and muttered:

"This country is exactly the same as where we came from! What is the difference?"

"Don't be so impatient. Soon you will see more differences than you can imagine."

Finally my Dad slowed down, and stopped our combination in a secluded clearing along the road.

My Mom started to cry from the built-up tension, and my Dad tenderly took her into his arms.

Soothingly, he told her that everything would be normal again within a few weeks, after we had returned.

For the time being we had to shun all our contacts, as the police officers would be very angry and surely would try to track us down!

My Mom thankfully blew her nose in the tissue I fished out of my pocket, and asked a bit shivery:

"Why do we have to endure all those nasty things? Why can't those gadjo people leave us alone?"

My Dad didn't have any answers, and neither did I...

This had to be the most important question of all:

'Why don't people leave other people alone?'

After a while we left our car, entered our caravan, and looked around in shock...

One of the cupboards had opened, and its contents had spread out through the kitchen and the small living room!

I thought it was due to the heavy shocks our poor caravan had to endure while crossing that water stream full of hidden potholes...

My parents started to clean up the mess, groaning and muttering.

I helped them by stowing away all the non broken things neatly into the open cupboard, sitting on the small sink.

Soon everything was relatively clean again, and I closed the cupboard carefully, trying the lock out a couple of times.

Every time I was able to open it relatively easily, so I had a closer look at it.

The latch seemed to be out of shape, and my Dad helped me repair it by bending it a little bit.

That helped, and this time the cupboard stayed closed when I tried it out!

Now we could start to prepare some healthy food to still our hunger.

My Mom took a plastic 10-litre jerry can from under our sink, and tenderly ruffled my hair:

"Harry, could you look for a nearby farm, and maybe politely ask a farmer to give us some water?"

"Of course I will do that, Mom. You can count on me!"

I jumped off the sink, took the jerry can, and left our caravan to look for a nearby farm.

Where could I find such a thing? I hadn't seen any along the highway, but I HAD seen a couple of fields...

The clearing was surrounded by thick bushes, and I decided to pass through them, to look for a farm or maybe a house.

I dived into the bushes, and within a few steps arrived at the border of a large meadow full of grazing and dull looking cows.

In a distance, across the meadow, I saw a small and nice looking farm.

Yes, that's where I wanted to go, to ask somebody for water!

The meadow was surrounded by barbed wire, and I couldn't find any path leading towards the farm...

Well, that shouldn't be too big a problem for a real trapper!

I ducked under the barbed wire, which fortunately didn't give me any electrical shocks, and dragged my jerry can along.

I started to walk across the meadow towards the farm, trying to ignore the grazing cows...

A couple of cows looked up, saw me coming, and started to trot towards me.

I looked at them, stopped, and hesitated... would they be dangerous?

They were HUGE, and I was only a small runt... well, maybe a little bit bigger since I finally had my growth spurt...

I started to walk faster, dragging my jerry can along, but now the cows from the other side started to approach me as well!

I dropped my jerry can and tried to run away, but now the cows approached me from everywhere, surrounding me and blocking my way...

What now? This time I was in serious danger!

Would those cows try to pin me onto their pointy horns, for trespassing their territory?

Would this be the tragic end of little Prince Harold?

I didn't know what to do, and was too afraid to try to duck under their enormous bodies.

Wouldn't they easily trample me to pulp with their hoofs?

I looked around desperately, searching for an escape route, but didn't see any...

The cows were surrounding me mercilessly, while now and then one of them mooed sinisterly.

I started to tremble all over, closed my eyes, and wished I had been somewhere else.

Would it be a very painful death? I hoped it would be over soon...

Suddenly I felt something very wet and slimy touching my hands!

Another wet and slimy thing touched my left arm, and now I felt it in my neck...

What were they doing?

Tentatively, I opened my eyes, and couldn't believe what I was seeing.

Those huge and very dangerous animals were... LICKING me!

Yuck, that was slimy! I tried to duck away, and started to giggle.

Obviously those cows LIKED me, and all of them wanted to be my friends!

They sniffed at my face with their big and wet snouts, and tried to lick me there too.

I looked into their shiny eyes, and couldn't detect anything malicious...

A minute later I was frolicking around, playing tag with the cows that followed me everywhere like enormous puppy dogs.

They weren't dangerous at all.

I remembered my task, stopped the playing, and told my huge friends:

"Sorry, but I have to go! My Mom is waiting for me. Maybe I will be back later."

I retrieved my jerry can, closely followed by the cows, and crossed the meadow.

I ducked under the barbed wire, leaving the cows huddling together, mooing and looking sad.

They even tried to follow me along the fence, while I dragged my jerry can towards the farm.

A peasant woman looked at me and laughed, cleaning her hands with her apron.

She asked me something in a strange language I didn't understand...

"I'm sorry, but I don't understand..."

"Ah, you're from Rumania. I was asking you whether you were having fun with a couple of our girl friends. Do you like them?"

I blushed fiercely, and for a moment I didn't know what to answer...

"Sorry, madam. My Mom asked me to fill our jerry can with water. Please can you help us?"

"Of course I can help you, but I think this jerry can is way too heavy for you to carry alone. Where are your parents?"

"They are waiting for me along the highway, probably preparing our dinner."

"Okay, just wait a moment until I'm ready to help you."

The woman disappeared into a nearby barn, and soon returned carrying a basket:

"Here, let me carry your filled jerry can, while you are carrying this basket. Be careful not to jolt it."

Together we went to a water tap outside the house, where the woman filled my jerry can to the brim.

I tried to carry it myself, but she was right: now the thing was way too heavy for me!

I was able to lift it off the ground, but would have to drag it all the way towards our caravan...

The woman laughed and lifted the jerry can with ease, while I took the basket and followed her.

Together we went back to my still waiting and impatiently mooing huge girl friends.

We went to a spot where we could lift the barbed wire off the poles, and went through, closing the wire behind.

We crossed the meadow, of course again closely followed by our curious puppy cows.

I ducked under the barbed wire, and the woman crawled under it while I held the wire up for her.

Together we went through the thick bushes, and there was our caravan!

. From now on I have to wear my clothes all the time.

My Mom was waiting in the doorway of our caravan, obviously looking out for me.

I put the basked down, jumped up, and leaped into her arms:

"Look, Mom, at what I've brought! A filled jerry can, a nice woman, a basket, AND I've made a couple of nice girl friends!"

The peasant woman laughed, and offered my Mom her hand:

"Nice to meet you, and you have a wonderful son! Please empty this basket now, because I can't really miss it and I have to go back to my farm."

My Mom looked a bit surprised, but took the basket to our kitchen and opened it.

I followed her, and looked in awe at a cardboard tray filled with eggs, a few heads of lettuce, and a bunch of enormous potatoes...

Wow, not all those gadjo's are bad!

My Mom got tears in her eyes, and hesitantly handed the basket back to the woman:

"I don't know what to say... I do feel a bit overwhelmed by your kindness. Thank you, thank you very much!"

"I have to thank you. Your little boy brought a moment of joy to my life. It's my pleasure to be able to do something in return."

She took her basket, and turned around without saying another word.

I thought I could see a couple of tears in her eyes...

My Mom had dinner ready, and soon all of us were enjoying a healthy meal, of course nicely spiced with my dried herbs.

In the meantime I told my parents everything about my adventures with my nice girlfriends, the huge puppy cows.

My Mom laughed at my vivid descriptions, and my Dad chuckled:

"First you did catch a badger, and then you were taming five ferocious dogs, and now you've befriended a whole bunch of huge cows... what's next? Opening a private zoo?"

"Yes? Am I allowed? I want a couple of lions, and of course tigers, and elephants, and giraffes..."

"Well, for the time being let's do with only one little tiger, called Harry..."

Grrrr...

After our meal I helped my Mom clean the cutlery, using some fresh water from our jerry can.

Now I wanted to go back to my girlfriends, as I had promised them:

"I'm going back to the meadow, to play with my girlfriends. But first I want to shuck my clothes, because they are starting to stink and they are feeling all clammy and sticky."

I started to unbutton my trousers, but my Dad stopped me:

"Sorry, my boy, but I have to disappoint you. Where we are now, most people are thinking it's a sin to show certain parts of your body. From now on you have to wear at least a pair of trousers all the time. If they're seeing you without them, they could accuse your Mom and me of indecent behavior and put us in jail for a long time."

"That's crazy! Why don't they leave us alone! I think clothes are suitable to warm you when it's cold, or maybe to show off, but not to hide any parts of your body."

"I totally agree with you, but unfortunately from now on we have to reckon with other people imposing their crazy beliefs onto us..."

"Dad, I think this gadjo world isn't only a strange world, but it's also a crazy world!"

Moping a bit, I re-buttoned my trousers, but shucked my t-shirt, shoes, and socks.

That felt a little bit better, and soon I was on the meadow again.

The cows recognized me and immediately trotted towards me, mooing and trying to lick my body.

I laughed, and for the next hour we frolicked around the meadow and had lots of fun.

Finally the nice peasant woman and I worked together, bringing my girlfriends to a barn to be milked.

I helped her starting the milking machine, and spontaneously hugged her goodbye.

Again she got tears in her eyes, and nearly squashed me:

"I will miss you! You are a good boy, and I think you will once make a special woman very happy."

That evening we gathered around our small caravan table, and had a long talk...

"What shall we do, now we seem to have escaped that witch hunt? There are a couple of options, and I want you to think them over carefully. We might stay here for a couple of weeks, hoping nobody in this neighborhood is being too curious or asking too many questions. We might try to go back to our camp and hide ourselves with the help of the others. We might try to find another gypsy camp and visit them for a while. Or we might drive on for a couple of weeks, enjoying the opportunity to sightsee in a couple of foreign countries. What do you think?"

"Well, Dad, I think it's not a good idea to stay too long in one place. As you were saying, people might be getting curious and asking too many questions. The further away we are, the lesser the chance that people will recognize us. Our coffee-dark hair will get blond again within a day or so, and your mustache will start to grow back. I am voting for a long sightseeing vacation."

"Thank you, my son, for your clear and really thought-out answer. What do you think, Maria?"

"I want to go home as soon as possible. I'm already a bit homesick, and I can't stand the living in this too small caravan. However, I think we don't have any choices. Harry is right, there's always a chance that people will recognize us in this too nearby country. Therefore I think it will be best to drive on..."

"Okay, thank you for your clear answer. My vote is to pretend we are on a long sightseeing vacation, until we will be too bored and decide to go back. Does everybody agree?"

Of course we agreed!

Now we were officially on a long vacation to other countries.

I cheered inwardly, and thanked the stupid police officers who unwittingly offered me this splendid chance to see a bit more of that strange gadjo world...

We set up our small caravan bed, and washed each other using our little sink and a bit of my fresh water.

I wormed myself in between my parents, feeling safe and loved.

They threw their arms around me, and now I felt double safe in between their loving sandwich.

Within a minute I was sound asleep, dreaming of visiting lots of strange countries and having many beautiful adventures...

==================

I've told you how my parents and I had to flee because of a nasty witch hunt.

Now we were on our way to several foreign countries, to enjoy a long sightseeing vacation and return within a couple of weeks.

I'm advising you to read book 1 and book 2 first, to be up to date!

I woke up in the morning, safely sandwiched in between my snoring parents.

I yawned and stretched my sore muscles as far as I could; wakening my Dad.

He grunted a bit, turned around, and threw his safe arms around me for a cuddle.

I grinned, crawled over his stomach, and first went to our small toilet to relieve myself.

That woke me up completely, and I opened the door of our caravan to have a look outside.

At the last moment I remembered we were in a foreign country now, and I had to wear at least my trousers all the time!

Otherwise those stupid gadjo's would arrest my parents and put them in jail for 'indecent behavior'...

Stupid gadjo's. They were always imposing their crazy beliefs onto you!

In our secluded camp in the Rumanian mountains we NEVER wore any clothes unless it was really cold.

Now it was high summer, and the sun was already warming the air abundantly.

Reluctantly, I donned my blue jeans, and went outside to have a look at my newly found girlfriends.

They saw me coming, and immediately trotted towards the fence, mooing enthusiastically.

I ducked under the barbed wire, and we frolicked around for a while, chasing each other and having lots of fun again.

My Mom showed up, looking at our ministrations and laughing loudly:

"Come on, little tiger, breakfast is ready and we have to go on. You will have to say goodbye to your girls!"

I tried to hug the enormous cows one by one, by putting my small arms around their necks:

"Thank you for being my friends! I hope I will be back here within a couple of weeks, to renew our friendship."

I took my Mom's hand, and together we went back to our caravan to have breakfast.

All the cows tried to follow me and huddled together at the fence, mooing disappointedly.

Of course my Dad had heard them, and tried to tease me a bit:

"Did you already say goodbye to your girlfriends and offer them a couple of kisses?"

"Of course not, silly! What a stupid idea, to kiss the slimy snout of a cow. Did you ever try that yourself?"

"Well, MY preferences are not exactly like being befriended with COW girls..."

I gave him a dead look, causing him to chuckle.

Of course I wasn't really mad at him, but that was our way to show our close friendship.

We were always trying to tease each other...

We devoured a healthy breakfast with a couple of our fresh eggs and tomatoes, of course appropriately spiced with my dried herbs.

"Harry, wake up. We're going to our caravan to eat and drink something. Are you coming with us?"

I opened my eyes, and squinted at the grinning face of my Dad. I stretched my arms out, and he tried to take me into his arms, but that turned out to be impossible within the limited space of our car. He nearly let me slip, and both of us started to laugh.

"I'm afraid you will have to walk on your own at least until we have left our car."

I left the car, and now he lifted me onto his shoulders. Together we went to our caravan, where he had to put me down to open the door.

I helped my Mom create a healthy meal, and then helped my parents devour it. After the meal I helped with washing the dishes, and now it was time to refill our jerrycan. I took it from under the sink, left our caravan, and looked around...

We seemed to be in a small city, and my Dad had parked our combination along the sidewalk. I crossed the street, and went to a shop that looked promising, with all sorts of books and magazines exposed outside.

I approached a rather fat woman that was sitting outside on a folding chair, and politely asked her:

"Please could you offer me some water? Our jerrycan is empty..."

She looked at me as if I had landed from another planet, and answered me with strange sounding words I didn't understand. At first I wondered what was happening, but then I realized we were in a foreign country, so this had to be such a 'foreign language' my people had told me about.

I held my jerrycan in the air and shook it, hoping she would understand what I wanted. But she shrugged, and closed her eyes in the sunlight.

I was disappointed, and my eyes started to tear up. Immediately I dried them with a sleeve of my shirt, afraid she would think I was a cry-baby.

Suddenly somebody called me from across the street:

"Hello, boy with that jerrycan, do you want some water? Maybe I can help you."

A friendly looking boy of about Micha's age crossed the street and approached me:

"I heard you asking for water, but I think that woman doesn't understand Rumanian. Fortunately for you I was raised there. Follow me."

He went to a nearby house, and I followed him inside. This was the first time I entered a gadjo house, and of course I was curious. Would they have those escalator stairs? I looked around, but the only thing I saw was a small staircase leading to the second floor. Was that all?

The boy took me to the kitchen, and put my jerrycan under the tap in the sink:

"Are you here on a vacation? I saw your caravan..."

"Yes, we're sightseeing in a few foreign countries. In a couple of weeks we are going back home."

"Where are you living? I was raised in a small Rumanian city, until two years ago we moved here."

"I'm living in the mountains, in our camp in the woods."

"Huh? But... then you are a GYPSY. Only you don't look like one. All Gypsies do have dark eyes and black hair..."

"My mother is from a foreign country, and I resemble her. And please, don't call me a bastard!"

The boy started to laugh, and threw an arm around my shoulders:

"Don't be afraid, you are amongst friends. I was only surprised."

He took the filled jerrycan from the sink, and handed it to me:

"Here you are! Do you need something else?"

I tried to lift the jerrycan and succeeded in lifting it a little bit, but it was too heavy for my small arms to carry:

"Please, could you help me by carrying the jerrycan to our caravan?"

"Of course I will help you. I only tried not to impose too much."

The boy took our jerrycan, and together we went to our caravan. I opened the door, and beckoned the boy in.

My Mom was busy tidying the sink, and heartily greeted the boy:

"Come in, and sit down! Thank you for helping my son with the heavy jerrycan."

The boy grinned, and winked at me:

"Now I can see from where you got your blue eyes and blond hair."

We entered our small living room, where my Dad greeted the boy and told him to sit down. Soon we were in a conversation, and the boy told us a couple of things about himself. My Dad told him a few things about where we were living, and then the boy had to go home.

My Mom accompanied him to the door, and returned into the living room:
"That was a nice boy! How did you get to know him?"

I told her about the fat woman who didn't understand our language, and about the boy helping me out. And they had only a small staircase...

My Dad started to laugh, and told me I would soon see more unexpected things:

"You told me there's a bookstore in the street? Let's have a look there."

Together we went to the shop, and my Dad bought me a couple of magazines. Again I was in awe: my Dad seemed to speak the foreign language quite well! At first the woman didn't want to take our foreign money, but after some persuading she yielded.

On the way back to our caravan the nice boy waved at us from behind his window, and of course we waved back. I really hoped to see him again some day! Maybe on our way back, when we finally would go home?

We went to our car, and I nestled myself onto the backseat with the pile of magazines on my lap, while my Dad drove off. I opened the first magazine, and looked fascinated at all those colored pictures, being in awe and open-mouthed. Another world opened up, totally different from the world I knew, a colorful world full of tinsel and mock-joy. What a strange world that was! Did those gadjo's really live like that?

"Dad, do those people really live as they are showing in those pictures? What a strange way of living they have!"

My Dad chuckled, and shook his head:

"You will soon see even stranger things where we are going."

Now I was even more curious! What a strange world we live in... Again I sat glued to the magazine.

For the remainder of the day I was trying to read the stories and studying the pictures, magazine after magazine, until at last I got bored and closed my eyes. I was tired of deciphering those strange words in the foreign language, and dozed off.

I woke up because my Dad steered our combination into a gas station and stopped. Of course I accompanied him to the gas pump, where my Dad showed me how to fill our tank. With a proud face I forced the heavy and recalcitrant hose into the tank opening, using two hands, and heard the fuel find its way into the tank until it was filled. I put the hose back onto the pump, while my Dad sealed the tank opening.

Together we went to the small office, where my Dad paid with his credit card. I didn't know he had one, and asked him loads of questions about it. He patiently explained we kept some money on a gadjo bank, and could use it by showing that little plastic card.

"Why didn't you pay my magazines with our credit card?"

"Well, you have to use that little apparatus over there to be able to pay, and the store owner didn't have one."

"Oh yeah..."

My bowels felt a bit full, so I supposed I had to relieve myself:

"Dad, I think I have to use a toilet. Do they have one here?"

My Dad took me outside, where he pointed to a door carrying a styled shape of a man:

"There's a restroom for men. Do you need any help?"

I looked at him in disdain, and went to the restroom without looking back. Ultimately I was already six years old!

I entered the restroom, and immediately the odor reminded me of my adventure in a gadjo town when a man wanted to feel me up. I shivered, and went into a stinking and stained stall, carefully locking the door. Fortunately there was a roll of toilet paper attached to the wall...

I lowered my pants and squatted down over the hole in the floor, wary not to touch anything dirty with my pants or my hands. I relieved myself, cleaned myself with a few pieces of toilet paper, and rearranged my clothes. That felt better!

I sighed with the relief, and unlocked the stall door. From the entrance of the restroom a nasty looking man stared at me, his eyes reminding me of that other man. He too looked at me as if he saw a prey... I didn’t like that look at all, and tried to pass him.

The man grinned, took a step, and blocked my way, uttering some words in the foreign language. I didn't understand his words, but felt their energy, and they didn't promise anything good! What now? What should I do?

I decided not to act as innocent as the last time, and asked him politely:
"Please, sir, you are in my way, and my father is waiting outside."

He didn't understand me, or he didn't care, and suddenly he grabbed my boyhood and tried to lower my pants. OUCH, that hurt! He nearly tore it off, and my balls started to ache. I yelped, and became very angry. That nasty son of a bitch had to keep his hands off my private parts!

I felt myself boiling with anger, and repeatedly kicked the man in the nuts with all my force. He started to scream and tried to get a better hold of me, but I wrestled myself free and bolted through the door that fortunately was open.

I hyperventilated, and my heart pounded in my chest. For a moment the world turned around and around, until I regained my breath. I tried to orientate myself, still squinting and looking hazily. Where was our car? And did that nasty man come after me?

Finally I calmed down, and looked over my shoulder. I didn't see the nasty man, so I supposed he was still in that stinking restroom, maybe trying to molest another innocent little boy. I had to tell my father or the station owner as soon as possible!

I rushed to the gas pumps, rounded the corned, and froze...

WHERE WAS OUR COMBINATION?

I looked around in despair, but didn't see our car, our caravan, or my parents. Where were they? At the gas pump another car owner was filling his tank, while the next car was patiently waiting for his turn...

Suddenly my emotions overwhelmed me, and I started to cry. I felt abandoned, lonely, and desperate. Where were my parents?

Nobody looked at me. Nobody approached me or asked me what the problem was. Everybody was too busy with his or her own problems...

After a while I pulled myself together, straightened my back, and dried my eyes. That crying didn't help me at all, and I had to find my parents!

I went to the small office, and asked the attendant where my parents were.

Fortunately he understood my language quite well:

"What's the problem, little man? Are you lost?"

"My parents were waiting for me in their car and caravan, but I don't see them any more..."

"Yeah, I saw your combination, and remember you were with your father. Maybe they went to our parking lot, so as not to hinder the others?"

Of course, that's what they had done! I was such a stupid little runt... well, may be a little bit bigger, but not much...

I thanked the nice attendant, and left the office to look for the parking lot, that had to be at the other side of the building. I rounded the restroom keeping as much distance from the entrance as was possible, and bumped into my Dad who was looking for me!

Again I started to cry, and buried my face in his safe and well-known chest, while he tried to crush me with tears in his eyes:

"My precious son, where were you? Couldn't you find us after we had to park our car?"

"There was a nasty man in the restroom, and he grabbed my balls and terribly hurt me. But I kicked his nuts and freed myself."

Never before had I seen my Dad that angry. The veins on his temples bulged, and he put me down and stormed into the restroom.

I heard him kick open all the doors one by one, and then he reappeared, panting:

"Do you know where that man went after he molested you?"

"No, Dad, I don't have the faintest idea. Can we go to our car now, please? I want to forget this as soon as possible."

My Mom started to cry when she saw me with my reddened eyes, and tried to suffocate me. I had to tell her my story about being molested by a nasty gadjo, and then I had to show them my little pecker. Now I saw it was bluish and bruised, and my little sack looked red and swollen. My Mom tenderly put a wet and cold washcloth onto it, and that helped a bit to dull the aching.

I crawled onto her lap, and she comforted me:

"My little boy, what did they do to you..."

"Mom, look at the bright side. It could be worse, and within a few days the swelling will have vanished."

"Wouldn't it be better to visit a doctor? What if you are no longer capable of making little babies?"

"Let's wait for two days, and then have a look again. I don't think something is damaged, it's only a bit swollen."

My parents reluctantly agreed, and I was freed from those clammy and itchy trousers, at least for this evening...

My parents started to prepare dinner, while I nestled myself into a corner of the couch and flipped through my magazines. Now and then my Mom looked after my bruised pecker, and put a fresh washcloth onto it. My balls still felt a bit sore, but my penis started to recuperate.

Dinner tasted good, given I hadn't put some herbs into it myself. My parents decided to stay where we were until the next morning. They missed our water bearer, that's me, and this time my Dad had to take our jerrycan and fill it under the tap in that stinking restroom. Fortunately for him he didn't see that nasty child molester, because he would have murdered him using his bare hands...

Darkness fell, and we decided to go to bed early. My parents set up the small bed, and undressed. I only had to take off my T-shirt; and crawled in between my parents, feeling loved and safe in their arms. The pain in my balls slowly lessened, and at last I fell asleep...

I was in an enormous restroom, crowded with nasty looking men who tried to block my way and grab my balls. I was desperately looking for the exit, but couldn't find it. All the time I felt them grabbing my pecker and trying to tear it off. I started to scream, but now they threw their arms around me and tried to lower my pants. I tried to kick them in their nuts with all my force, but they didn't let me go...

Finally I was dead tired, couldn't fight them any longer, and gave up.

Now they started to caress me tenderly, and told me:

"Easy, my precious boy; just let it go. You had a nightmare, but it's over now and everything is well. Close your eyes, and go to sleep again."

I was too tired to do anything else, and fell into a deep and dreamless sleep for the remainder of the night.

The next morning my Dad had a black eye, and my Mom had several bruises all over her body. Fortunately they didn't hate me!

"It wasn't your fault, and you didn't do anything wrong. It's all the fault of that child molester. I hope he will comprehend sometime what he was doing."
My little penis looked less bruised, and the swelling of my sack had lessened. I asked my parents to allow me to be naked this day, but they told me again that the police would arrest them and put them in jail the very moment they saw me without any clothes.

"Then you will have to live on your own, and probably they will put you into a juvenile home."

Of course I didn't want that, so I dressed reluctantly into my blue jeans and a nice yellow T-shirt, still moping a little bit.

I helped my Mom prepare our breakfast, and after cleaning the cutlery we moved to our car and drove off, to discover more of that strange gadjo world. I resumed my place in the back of our car, and killed the time by looking around and flipping through my magazines. Now and then we stopped to be able to stretch our backs and take a leak.

Slowly the environment started to change. The forests looked different, filled with another variety of trees and bushes. The hills disappeared, and the land became more levelled. It looked like there was more traffic on the road, and more farms and factory plants showed up. Too soon I got used to the new and constantly changing gadjo world we were in now, and again I started to be a bit bored.

We approached the border to the next country, and that made me a bit nervous. Would the customs be looking for us? My hair was blond again, so chance was they would recognize me and deliver us to the customs or police in our own country. Fortunately they didn't even look at me, as they were too busy looking at our passports and asking from where we came and where we went.

"We've inherited a small amount of money, and now we are on a sightsee-trip through a few countries. We will be back within a few weeks."

"Well, everything seems to be in order. Have a good day, and enjoy your trip!"

I sighed with relief, and popped up from in between the seats. Again we had beaten the customs!

My parents had assigned me the job of water bearer. They were a bit wary to approach strangers themselves, as not everybody liked Gypsies. Fortunately most people did like blue-eyed little children with light brownish hair and a captivating smile...

Many times nice people helped me carry our filled-to-the-brim jerrycan, to be severely shocked when they discovered my parents were Gypsies and we lived in a small caravan attached to an old car. Some of them started to stutter and fled as soon as they had put our jerrycan down, others were more curious about where we came from and where we were heading. My parents always abundantly thanked them and told them we were on a sightseeing vacation after we inherited a small sum of money. Why not?

Mostly the language was a barrier, as we were in a foreign country and not everybody spoke our native language. Soon I was very good at pointing out things, or 'talking' with my hands and my eyes. When they really didn't understand me, I took their hands and dragged them to where I needed them. Never in my life did people ruffle my hair so much as during our 'vacation', and I loved it! I still do...

Now and then I could understand them nevertheless. I listened to their words, and felt the energy the words represented. I also seemed to pick up those foreign words very fast, and my Dad proudly told me I had 'a knack for languages'. Of course he had to explain what he meant with that...

Most nights we parked our combination in a secluded spot, or sometimes we drove somewhere into the woods. Now and then we were in a town and parked our caravan in a big parking lot, but nearly always some police officer showed up, preferably in the middle of the night, and chased us away. Sleeping in our caravan was not allowed outside a camping site, so we had to drive on. Funny people, those gadjo's...

. Lost and found, and meeting other Gypsies.

We went into a big town, where my Dad stopped our combination in a huge parking lot. I left our car, and looked in awe at an enormous five-story building, that rose majestically from the opposite side of the square. It was HUGE, and I was very impressed.

I took my Dad's hand and dragged him towards the building, which displayed many enormous windows filled with all sorts of beautiful things. I pushed my nose against a window, and stared at what had to be the biggest collection of gadjo utensils in the world. Another window held all sorts of nice clothing for men and women, while a third window held lots of mountain shoes and ski's, and in a fourth window I even saw bicycles.

I dragged my Dad to the entrance, where a couple of huge glass doors turned around and around, pushed by many people and little children who went in and out in a continual stream.

Here I saw again such a clever gadjo thing, and of course I wanted to try it out:

"Dad, what kind of a building is this? Are we allowed to enter it?"

"This building is called a 'warehouse', and inside they are selling all kinds of things people need, or maybe they think they will need them."

"Can we have a look inside?"

"Ask your Mom..."

My Mom nodded her consent, and we went to the turnaround doors. Of course I had to try them out first, and playfully went in and out a couple of times, speeding them up until a few people started to complain. My parents laughed, and patiently waited until my curiosity was satisfied.

Now we entered the 'warehouse', and it reminded me of the enormous store Michail and I had visited a year ago. I looked around; and yes, there were the escalators! I dragged my parents to them, and carefully looked around for nasty security people. Fortunately I saw none, and off I went, racing up the first escalator at an enormous speed, and near the top trying to descend it fast enough to reach my parents again.

After a couple of times, and many complaining customers, I was finally tired and asked my Dad to put me onto his shoulders. He did, and together we ascended four escalators to the top of the building, where my parents surprised me by buying us a tasty gadjo meal and sorbets afterwards.

I was filled to the brim, and full of renewed energy.

Slowly we descended the escalators one by one, looking around every time. We reached the third floor, and suddenly I saw such a beautiful spectacle... tens of little trains having many wagons attached, driving along fictitious streams, crossing little bridges, disappearing into tunnels across mountains, and reappearing at the other side... my eyes bulged, and I looked at everything open-mouthed and holding my breath.

I tried to follow every particular train, and jumped from left to right to look where they disappeared and reappeared without bumping into each other. I even crawled under the display table, to look at all those wires that electrically steered the signal posts and level crossings. Those gadjo's were REALLY very clever, to be able to build such marvelous technical things!

My parents sat down on a nearby bench, laughing at my insatiable curiosity. They started a conversation with a few other people that sat down and obviously spoke our language, and seemed to enjoy themselves.

I had seen enough of the little trains, and started to look around. Now I was drawn towards an enormous glass case, which held hundreds of old steam engines, open wagons, cattle trucks, and lots of other miniature antiquities from a distant past. I tried to decipher the attached display cards, and now and then could understand a few words. Another small boy joined me, and told me something in the foreign language. I told him in my language I didn't understand him, but that wasn't a problem at all. Soon both of us went to the next aisle, and played with the little fur toys that were for sale and had a small price tag attached. I was a lion and he was a grizzly bear, until we went on to the next aisle.

We strolled around for a long time, bumping shoulders, until his mother showed up. She laughed at me, ruffled my hair, and took his hand. They waved at me, went to one of the escalators, and disappeared into nowhere.

I looked around to see where my parents were. Where had I left them, sitting on that bench and talking to other people? I tiptoed and craned my neck, but was way too small to be able to look across all those tall displays. I was only a small boy, and this was an enormous store...

I had to find my parents, so I straightened my back and started to walk. I passed aisle after aisle, looking for a point of recognition, but suddenly everything I passed looked the same. I walked on stubbornly, hoping that at last I would see at least something I recognized...

There were the escalators! Now I would find my parents, and tell them about my new friend... but which way did we go? I tried to remember how we left the escalator, and entered this floor. We walked somewhere, and then I saw those little trains... but where did we walk?

I decided to ask somebody where the little trains were, and went to a man that looked around, leaning against a colored pillar. I approached him, but suddenly I saw something in his eyes I recognized from that man that bruised my balls. I even felt the pain returning, and involuntarily my hands went there. Now the man's eyes started to gleam, and he left the pillar and walked towards me, trying to smile.

I panicked. I looked around in a flash, and jumped towards the escalator, entering it and jumping three steps at a time, forcing myself past the other customers who started to scold. I couldn't care less, and left the escalator ducking my head and bolting towards the next aisle. I rounded a few corners, and stopped out of breath. I looked around anxiously: did that man follow me?

Fortunately I didn't see him any more, and slowly relaxed while I regained my breath and my heart stopped jumping up and down.

Now I had lost every orientation. I hadn't the slightest idea where I was. This was totally different from our woods, where I could tune myself into something, and then felt myself drawn towards it. Here were too many different energies that disturbed my abilities and made me dizzy.

I started to walk again, hoping to find the escalators. Again I passed aisle after aisle, until at last I saw them, slowly moving up and down. But where would that man be that looked at me with those greedy eyes? I was too afraid to go back to the third floor and meet him again...

Suddenly I felt totally lost, and started to sob. Would my parents miss me already? Would they be in a panic now, looking around for me everywhere? Where were they? Would I ever see them again? I stepped onto the escalator, blinded by my tears...

I nearly stumbled at the unexpected end of the escalator, and somebody took my arm. At first I panicked: was it that greedy man? I looked up, and to my relief I saw a uniform. This man could help me! He had to be one of the security officers.

The man asked me something I didn't understand, but I felt at ease with him and dried my tears with a sleeve of my shirt. He would protect me against that greedy man, and help me find my parents. I felt I could trust him.

I hoped he would understand my language, and told him:

"I've lost my parents near those little trains. Please could you help me find them?"

The officer laughed at me, and offered me his hand. Gratefully, I took it, and together we walked towards the moving-trains display. There was the bench I had been looking for, but where were my parents? Did they leave me alone? Or did they miss me and were they looking for me now?

The security officer kneeled down to get on level with me and told me, looking for the right words, that he wanted to take me to the office, where they would 'call' my parents. Now I snickered inwardly... how would he do that? Going around shouting for them on every floor? I had no idea...

Together we descended the escalators until we reached the ground floor. The officer took me through a door, and we entered a cozy room that held a nice couch and a bunch of plants and flowers. A lady approached us, and the officer spoke to her in his own language.

She turned to me and ruffled my hair, asking me in my own language:

"I think you have lost your parents, and were looking for them?"

I told her everything about the little trains, my new friend, getting lost in between all those aisles that suddenly all looked the same, the greedy man I didn't trust, my panicking and fleeing down the escalator where I got lost again, and finally the security officer that found me.

She took my hand, and guided me to a panel with lots of little knobs and blinking lights on it:

"Do you want to call your parents yourself? Wait until I've pushed this little switch, and then tell them you are in the office on the ground floor. Do you think you can do that?"

Of course I could do that, and I nodded. She offered me the microphone, and pushed the switch.

I pushed the microphone to my lips, and started:

"Mom, Dad,..."

I nearly let the microphone fall out of my hands at hearing my own voice reverberating through the entire warehouse LOUDLY.

The lady started to laugh, and told me not to shout and speak at a short distance from the microphone.

I blushed, and tried it again:

"Mom, Dad, here's Harry. I got lost and couldn't find you, and a nice security officer brought me here, in the office on the ground floor. Can you come and get me?"

The lady took over, and told the microphone:

"Parents of little Harry, please go to the ground floor, and look for the sign that tells 'office' near the east entrance. It's easy to find. Your boy is in good hands here, and he's waiting for you. Thank you."

The lady offered me a glass of hot chocolate milk with two helpings of chocolate, and now we were waiting for my parents. Where would they be? Would they be angry at me, or maybe disappointed in me? Of course it was my own fault, because I didn't look where I was going, or warned them I was following my new friend. I hoped they would come and get me soon!

I waited, and waited, and waited... but my parents didn't show up. After half an hour the lady took the microphone again, and again asked the parents of little Harry to go to the office on the ground floor. Again we waited, and I started to sob. Apparently my parents didn't want me any longer because I was such a nuisance and had severely disappointed them by leaving them for my newly found little friend...

At last the lady kneeled down next to the couch, and asked me:
"Where do you live? And do you have any idea where your parents could be now?"

Suddenly something entered my mind: OF COURSE THEY WERE WAITING FOR ME NEAR OUR CARAVAN.

That was it! They trusted me. They knew I was very bright, and could fend for myself, that's why they went to the place they knew I would show up eventually, because they couldn't warn the police for fear of being sent back to Rumania... Why didn't I think of that before?

I jumped up, and threw my arms around the lady's neck:
"I know where they are! I had to think of that before! They're waiting for me near our caravan in the parking lot. Thank you for helping me!"

"Okay, but I'm not letting you go like this. I'm going with you, to look on that everything is all right."

I took her hand, and together we went to the exit and left the warehouse.

We immediately bumped into my Dad, who looked pale and worried. He started to cry, took me into his safe arms, and nearly crushed me. My Mom saw us coming from outside our caravan, and came running towards us, looking very pale and crying too.

We cried for a long time, and even the lady got tears in her eyes. At last she left us, after being thanked abundantly by my parents and me.

We went to our caravan, while I walked in between my parents and started to tell them everything about my adventures in the warehouse. Now and then I cried a bit, safely in between my parents on the couch in our caravan, while they both hugged me and comforted me. Finally I had told them everything, and now they told me how worried they were when I didn't show up after a while. They looked around for a long time, until they decided to wait for me near our caravan, convinced I would show up there sooner or later. They hadn't heard any of the calls.

We dried our eyes, washed our faces in the little sink, and I helped my Mom prepare dinner, nicely spiced with the remainder of my herbs.

That night I crawled in between my parents, and my Dad grinned and poked me in the ribs:
"What do you think, Harry, do we have to wear armor tonight?"

I blushed, and felt a bit guilty. My Dad's black eye was still clearly visible, and my Mom still showed the remainders of the bruises on her arms.

"Sorry, Dad, I couldn't help it. The next time I have a nightmare, please throw me out of bed instead of trying to hold me."

"I think I will do that. However, maybe two black eyes might enhance my beauty."

"Well, if you insist, I am willing to give you the second one now."

"No, thanks, maybe another time... My son is only six years old, and he's already trying to molest me."

"Ah, poor Dad, I think you're becoming OLD."

My Dad tickled me until I nearly wet the bed and begged for mercy. I loved my old Dad with all my heart, and with REAL love!

In the middle of the night somebody pounded on the door of our caravan. My Dad stumbled out of bed, sleep-charged, and went to the door. A harsh voice told him in the foreign language to leave immediately, as we were not allowed to pass the night here. My Dad tried to argue with the police officer, but he insisted on our leaving the parking lot now, else he would arrest us and we would spend the night in a police cell.

Grumbling and muttering, my Dad left our caravan and went to our attached car, while I crawled into the safe arms of my Mom. Every time when this happened I was a bit wary those police officers would arrest us and send us back. Now I felt our caravan starting to move, and fell asleep.

I woke up at feeling a very cold Dad crawl under our blankets, still grumbling and shivering from the cold. He told us we were in some bushes now, but he could not clearly see where we were. We hoped nobody would disturb us from now on, and again fell asleep.

The morning sun woke us up, but we didn't want to leave our warm bed. We cuddled for a while, until I had to empty my bladder and went into the living room to have a look outside. Suddenly my heart jumped up with joy: GYPSIES! We had landed at the border of a small Gypsy camp...

I ran back to the bed, and jumped onto my Dad's stomach:
"Dad, there are lots of Gypsy caravans outside. We have found another Gypsy camp! Come on, let's have a look!"

Two minutes later we left our caravan, and looked at a bunch of naked children staring at us, giggling and pushing each other. Immediately I returned to our caravan and shucked my clothes. Finally I could run around naked again! Wow, that felt better...

I ducked under the barbed wire, and joined the other children smiling broadly. I had MISSED those contacts!

One of the children looked me over, and sneered, speaking in a strange sounding dialect:
"What are you doing here? You are only a stupid gadjo!"

"I am NOT a gadjo! I resemble my mother, that's why I am blond with blue eyes. I'm living in Rumania, in our mountains."

He looked at my Mom and my Dad, and returned to me:

"Then you are a bastard, as your Mom definitely is NOT a Gypsy. And you are speaking weird."

"Our Wise Woman has checked my Mom, and she was a Gypsy in her past life. She was even of royal herit...something!"

"You have a Wise Woman in your camp? Wow! I've heard of them, but never saw one myself..."

I seemed to rise in their respect, and two minutes later we were chasing each other and frolicking around the small campfire.

My Dad approached me, accompanied by another man and my Mom.

He beckoned me over, and put his arm around my shoulders:

"This is my six-year-old son, Harry, who's accompanying us during our holiday trip. Harry, this is the leader of this group, just like I am the leader of our own group in the mountains. We are invited to stay here for a few days. What do you think?"

Now I knew what my Dad had told the other man, and what I was allowed to tell my new friends; and of course I wanted to stay:

"Yes, Dad, please. I like it here, and I've already made a couple of friends."

"I thought so, but I wanted to hear your own decision. Okay, and don't forget to have breakfast once our caravan is in its place."

He ruffled my hair, and I returned to my friends to resume our game of tag.

I saw my Dad drive our caravan to the circle, where a few men uncoupled our car and pushed the caravan into an empty spot. My Dad parked the car outside the camp, and called me to have breakfast. I jumped onto his back, and together we entered our caravan.

I helped my Mom prepare breakfast, but missed some of my herbs we had already spent. From now on we had to do without them, until I could find other tasteful herbs to replace them. Maybe my new friends knew where I could find some?

Fortunately the meal didn't taste too bad, and soon we had filled our stomachs.

After breakfast I went outside, to do my job as our water bearer. Soon a boy of around my age accompanied me, and together we filled the jerrycan, dragged it back to our caravan, and put it under the sink. My Mom thanked the boy for his help, and he beamed.

"Mom, this is Dominic, and he is seven years old and my friend. Can he have dinner with us this afternoon?"

"Of course he may eat with us, but only if his parents agree."

I made us hot chocolate milk, adding two helpings of chocolate each, and we sipped our milk sitting on the bench near the small campfire. The other children looked at us curiously, but left us alone.

I thought of our herbs, and asked Dominic:

"Do you know where we can find some nice herbs?"

"What are 'herbs'?"

"Huh? You don't know what herbs are? Those tasty small leaves, to spice your food with."

"Never heard of. Do they look like grass, or stinging nettles?"

"Some of them, yes. But others look totally different, like red pods or little needles."

"Let's go and look for them!"

"Okay."

We jumped off the bench, and Dominic went to his caravan and entered it.

I didn't understand why he suddenly went inside:

"Where are you going?"

"Putting on my clothes of course, or do you want to be arrested for indecent behavior outside our camp?"

There they were again: those strange gadjo beliefs, imposed onto us by the stupid majority...

I waited until Dominic dressed into a t-shirt and blue jeans, and together we went to my caravan, where I dressed into nearly the same clothes. Now we looked like brothers, one dark-haired and one blonde-haired boy.

My mother looked at me with wonder, and chuckled:
"That's the first time you are dressing without any protest!"

"That's because I don't want to be arrested for indecent behavior outside the camp."

She grinned, and offered both of us an apple to munch on.

Together we left our caravan and crossed the camp. Dominic seemed to know the way, and guided us across a street to a small lane that finally ended up at a large meadow full of cows. I grinned, thinking of my huge girl friends that liked me so much.

Dominic looked at me with a questioning face:

"What are you laughing at?"

I told him everything about my adventures with the curious cows, and now he laughed too:

"They are trying to follow us all the time when we are looking for rabbits."

"What are 'rabbits'?"

"You don't know what rabbits are? Small animals with long ears, and they are living in rabbit holes under the ground."

"Are you talking about hares?"

"I know what a hare is, but never saw one. Yes, they are looking like hares, but their ears are a bit shorter."

"In our mountains we are always looking for marmots and porcupines, to roast over our campfire."

"What are 'marmots' and 'porcupines'?"

We sat down next to each other, and started to tell each other everything about our different styles of living.

"I wish I could accompany you to your woods, to catch a real badger myself."

"Maybe I could help you to set up a trap to catch some rabbits."

"That's a good idea. Do you know how to fold a snare?"

I looked at him in disdain, causing him to snicker. A second later we were rolling around on the grass, trying to pin each other's arms. He won.

We brushed each other's clothes, and entered the meadow, looking for herbs. The cows looked at us with bored eyes, and resumed their eating. They were obviously used to little boys frolicking around in their meadow, and didn't care any more.

Soon I found some chervil, and showed it to Dominic:

"That's one of the herbs I like to use in our foods."

Dominic looked around, and went to another part of the meadow. He returned, triumphantly swaying with what looked like bigger chervil.

I took it in my hands, and carefully sniffed it:

"This herb doesn't feel right. I think it's poisonous. Take it in your hands, and feel what it's doing to you."

"But it looks the same as your herb, only it's a lot bigger."

Dominic took the herb into his hands, and then took mine...

"I can feel the difference. Your chervil is feeling good, and mine is making my stomach throwing up. How come?"

"I think this is a poisonous kind of chervil. Let's look for other herbs."

Dominic seemed to get the knack of it, and could soon feel whether a herb was useful, or not, just like I always did. After a while we had gathered enough useful and tasty herbs, and went to our caravan to wash them and put them away.

My Mom started to prepare our meal, and I helped her. I got a sharp kitchen knife out of a drawer, and started to fritter some herbs.

Dominic looked at us with bulging eyes:

"Does your mother allow you to use a sharp knife? Mine would get a heart-attack..."

"In our mountains I'm the chief cook, and I'm using my own knife all the time."

"You do have a knife of your own? A really sharp one? Wow..."

We let Dominic help us with the meal, but he didn't dare touch one of the knives, now and then looking furtively at my skills.

We sat around the small table in the living room, and enjoyed the healthy and tasty meal. We all liked the new taste, which was rather different from our mountain herbs. Dominic nearly swallowed his fingers, and studiously scraped the last helping out of our pan.

He burped, and looked around with beaming eyes:
"That was the most delicious food I ever tasted! Harry, you are a wonderful cook."

Now it was my turn to look around with beaming eyes...

After the meal we joined the other children, who had dressed into their clothes by now. Together we left the camp, and strolled through the town looking for something usable or eatable. Now and then somebody chased us away, but most townsmen only looked a bit wary.

Suddenly we met a group of gadjo children, who started to call us names and throw pebbles at us. Now I had my chance...

I took a pebble from the ground, aimed, and threw it to the boy who was nearest and had the biggest mouth. The boy screamed, grabbed his head, and fell down. Immediately all the other gadjo's fled away, leaving their wounded friend at our mercy...

That was the last thing I had expected. Were all those gadjo's such chickens? What worthless pieces of shit!

I went to the wounded boy, and looked at his bruised temple. Nah, he had only a small lump, without any bleeding. Why did he scream?

I beckoned a few others to help me, and together we pulled the boy upright. He looked at us with frightened eyes...

I kneeled down to be on level, and offered him my hand:
"Want to be friends? That's much better than throwing pebbles at each other."

Dominic translated my words to the boy, and he reacted rather shocked:

"But... but you are GYPSIES..."

"Yes, we are, and you are a GADJO. So what?"

"A 'gadjo'? Never heard of. But why are you so nice to me? They always told me those Gypsies are mean and unreliable..."

"Well, look at me and at my friends. Do we look mean, or unreliable?"

Dominic translated my words, and the boy colored a deep red and seemed to shame himself for believing that slander.

I saw the other gadjo children furtively peeking around a corner of the street, and beckoned them over. Hesitantly they neared us, looking at their wounded friend who suddenly seemed to be our friend too. They obviously didn't comprehend what had happened...

We sat down on a few nearby benches, shuffling our feet and furtively looking at each other. Were we still enemies? What should we do now? How should we go on from here?

Suddenly I felt a fire burning in my heart, and I started to talk. I told them about our living in our secluded camp in the mountains, being hungry in the winter and forced by the circumstances to beg for food, or even steal it to be able to stay alive. I told them about the witch-hunts, where our innocent people were interrogated by the police, and sent away to walk back to our camp having cramped muscles and sore feet. I told them about all the name-calling and mistrusting, which wasn't our fault as we didn't do anything to be ashamed of. Finally I told them about my parents and me, accused solely because I resembled another blonde-haired little boy, and forced to leave our mountains for a couple of weeks, hoping everything would calm down before we went back...

All the time Dominic sat next to me and translated my words, seemingly feeling that same fire and putting it into his translations.

They listened open-mouthed, and a few of them even had tears in their eyes. Suddenly I felt like waking up from a strange dream. Was that ME who had told them all that, having such a strong fire burning in my heart that made them really listen to my story? Wow!

All at once I was a bit shy, and started to blush. Ultimately I WAS only a small runt...

Slowly the fire in my heart disappeared, and just before it went away I heard a warm and friendly voice in my head:

"Thank you, my little friend. Today you have started your task on earth, being an apostle of peace."

I looked around, but nobody had told me anything... did I make up that voice in my head myself? I wasn't sure...

Both groups of children looked at each other, and suddenly one of them offered his hand to the others:

"I think the little blond boy is right. You Gypsies don't seem to be that bad at all. Maybe we could even be friends?"

Dominic whispered the translation to me, but I could also feel the energy of the words the boy spoke.

Ten minutes later we strolled through the town together, draping our arms around each other's shoulders, making lots of grown-ups look at us with bulging eyes... A bunch of town children and camp Gypsies, all together and friends with each other? Can pigs fly?

At last we parted and went back to our camp, promising to meet each other the next day and be friends again.

Dominic looked at me with awe in his eyes:

"Wow, you looked like a real Prince when you told us all that stuff! I forgot everything around, and was totally caught up in your story."

The others confirmed Dominic's feelings, and started to call me 'Little Prince'.

Now I was in a dilemma. I knew my Dad didn’t want them to know he was their King and I was their Prince. How would he react when he heard the children call me 'Little Prince' all of a sudden? Wouldn't he think I betrayed his trust? Would he be very mad at me?

Should I tell the children to stop calling me nicknames? But for what reason? I couldn't explain anything without telling them too much...

I decided to let them do for the moment, and talk it over with my Dad and my Mom first, hoping they would understand...

I walked Dominic home. He threw his arms around my neck, and thanked me for being his friend. Now I went to our caravan, feeling very unsure.

My parents looked at me, and obviously felt something:
"How was your evening? Did you enjoy the company of your newly found friends?"

"Mom, Dad, I want to tell you something. We met a couple of town children who started to call us names and throw pebbles at us. I don't know why I did it, but I took a pebble from the ground and threw it back, hitting the biggest loudmouth. He screamed and fell down, while all the others fled and left him at our mercy, the cowards! He wasn't wounded, but thought that all Gypsies were mean and unreliable. His friends returned, and suddenly I started to tell them everything about our life in the mountains and why we had to flee. Now we are friends, and promised to meet again tomorrow. But now my friends are calling me 'Little Prince' all of a sudden, and I didn't tell them anything about you being the King or me being a Prince. I didn't betray your trust, I really didn't. Are you mad at me now?"

I started to sob, and my Dad took me onto his lap and held me close. He waited patiently until my sobs diminished, and dried my eyes with a tissue my Mom provided. Now I saw both of them had tears in their eyes too, and looked at me with more love than I could bear.

"My precious son, today you have proven to be a REAL Prince. Only a person of Royal Blood could be afraid of betraying my trust in this way... Be proud of your nickname, you have earned it. From now on you are a real Little Prince, only they don't have to know it's more than a nickname."

I felt very relieved, and decided to tell him the rest too:

"There was something else I want to tell you. While I told them my story, I felt like there was a burning fire in my heart all the time, that's why they really listened to me. When the fire disappeared, I heard a voice in my head telling me I was an 'apostle of peace'. Did I make up that voice myself?"

My Dad looked at me for a long time, and finally nodded:

"Do you remember what the Wise Woman told you once? I will repeat her words to you:

'Our ancestors are with you and guiding you, because you have an important task to fulfil in your life. Always listen to the inspirations they are giving you, and you will be protected.'

"What do you think, were our ancestors helping you today?"

"I think so... but it felt very strange."

"I think it will not be wrong to thank them in your mind."

I did, and it felt good.

The next day my parents decided to continue our vacation trip. I knew it was a wise thing to do, but another part of me felt sad.

Dominic started to cry when he heard the news, and threw his arms around my neck:

"Can't your parents leave you here, and return here later on to collect you?"

"Well, part of me wants to stay here with you and with my other friends, but another part of me wants to go on with the sightseeing. I want to discover many other strange countries, and this is the chance of my life to visit them. Can't you go with me?"

"That's a good idea! I'll ask my parents..."

Dominic rushed to his caravan, and soon returned looking disappointed:

"They won't let me go. I will have to wait until I'm old enough to visit those countries by myself."

At last my parents and I decided to return to this camp after our vacation, and stay here for another few days. Dominic started to dance around and dried his tears, looking forward to our renewed meeting within a few weeks.
Suddenly I had a strange feeling: I wouldn't see him again until after many years... I shook my head, and pushed the feeling away.

A few grown-ups helped my Dad connect the caravan to our car, and we all hugged each other, promising to see each other again within a few weeks. My Dad started the engine, and we drove off, cheered at by everybody and waving until we rounded the corner and couldn't see them any longer. Again we were on our way to see more of those strange gadjo countries...

. Smoked trout, and meeting my soul mates.

We left the town and drove on for a couple of hours, until my Dad parked our combination in a small clearing to stretch our legs. I scouted the surroundings, and soon saw a stream where several huge and shiny fishes were jumping out of the water.

I looked at them in awe, and ran back to our caravan:

"Dad, do we have something to fish with? There are lots of huge fishes in that stream over there."

Together we went back to the stream, and my Dad told me:

"Those fishes are called 'trout', and they do taste heavenly. Let's get some fishing equipment."

We returned to our caravan, where my Dad rummaged in a drawer to find a spool of line and a few small fishhooks. He attached two hooks to two pieces of strand, and offered me one.

Next we had to find some bait. I proposed to use little bits of toast, but my father grinned and told me the trout wouldn't appreciate that. They were used to eating a living prey, so we had to find small insects or river crabs or such.

We walked along the stream, until we saw a couple of minnows in a puddle. My Dad handed me a little fishing net, and I scooped a few small fishes out of the water. We attached them to the hooks, and started to fish by throwing them into the water.

Suddenly my line slipped through my fingers, until I got a better hold of it. Ouch, that was painful! I bit my lip, but didn't let go of the line. Now a huge fish started to pull at it, and jumped up and down to get rid of the hook in its mouth. I was elated, and carefully brought in the beautiful fish, that struggled and shone in the sunlight. I had caught my first fish, and it was a huge one!

My Dad took over, and showed me how to kill it by biting its head. Yuck, that didn't look very tasty, but it was really effective. We put my fish aside, and I put the next small baitfish onto my hook.

Ten seconds later I caught my second fish, causing my Dad to mutter:
"They seem to like you. Why don't they bite MY bait?"

A second later he caught his first trout. After that we caught fish after fish, until we had to go back to our caravan to get a basket to transport the small wagon load. My Dad showed me how to clean them by opening their stomachs and get everything yucky out.

We made a small campfire to smoke them, thus conserving them for future use. I went back to the stream, and returned carrying some greenish moss and a few small leaves that smelled and tasted good. I spiced our fished with them, and we put all the fishes onto stakes over the fire.

That evening Dad, Mom, and I ate smoked trout until our mouths dribbled with fat and we were filled to the brim.

The next morning we left the clearing and turned onto the road. Suddenly I started to grin, and pointed to an enormous billboard showing: 'Trout nursery; fishing strictly prohibited' in several different languages...

We started to bellow with laughter, and my Dad nearly steered off the road having tears in his eyes. We had found the best fishing ground mankind had ever invented. We stopped, and hid our smoked trout in a bag under our couch, as a precaution. One could never know...

The landscape started to change, and again we had to stop at the border of the next country. Again the customs didn't even look at me, and soon they beckoned us to drive on. Slowly I got used to the fact that the customs officers didn't look for a little blond-haired Gypsy boy at all, and popped up from in between the seats, this time feeling a bit ridiculous.

My Dad looked over his shoulder, and grinned:

"Still afraid those customs officers will put their nice looking gadjo trousers onto you?"

I started to punch him, until my Mom warned me not to distract him from the ongoing traffic. I promised her to be well-behaved until we would stop at the next clearing or gas station. Then I would GET him!

We drove on for a long time, looking at the leveled landscape where now and then a lonely farm or a small village showed up.

Suddenly our car started to hiccup, and the engine nearly stopped. My Dad competently steered our combination towards a nice looking village, and parked it in a small clearing along the road. We left our car, and my Dad dived under the hot hood to have a look at the engine.

Of course I was glued to his side, and looked at the greasy thing:

"I think it's a clogged nozzle, Dad. Pietro's snow scooter produced that same hiccup noise, until we cleaned its carburetor."

"Do you think so? Maybe you could even show me where those nozzles are?"

I looked carefully at that strange looking thing that held the throttle, and finally thought:

"I think we have to remove the air filter first."

We went to our caravan to get some tools, while from across the road a few gadjo children looked at our ministrations.

We removed the air filter, and now I saw where the nozzles were. I unscrewed them, and tried to look through the small holes in the bottom. This one seemed to be okay, but the other one held a small piece of dirt. I had found the problem!

I blew the piece of dirt away, and carefully reassembled everything. My Dad went inside our car, and started the engine. Immediately it produced the friendly noise we were so used to. We had repaired our car all by ourselves, and I started to cheer and dance around.

We went into our caravan to wash our hands, and then my Mom insisted on cleaning my face that showed some smears. Women...

We sat down around our small caravan table, and had smoked trout for dinner. Again we had to wash our hands and faces...

My Dad was silent for a long time, and finally asked us:

"What do you think, shall we go home? This is only an old car, and I'm afraid from now on we can't really trust it. We are nearly out of money, our clothes are becoming filthy and worn, and I'm getting a bit homesick. I think it's time to go home..."

Suddenly I felt sad, but didn't understand why. I had a feeling as if my Dad was talking about leaving for always...

My eyes started to tear, and I crawled onto my Dad's lap:

"Yeah, I think it's time to go home."

I could see my Mom was a bit sad too. She agreed, and we decided to depart early in the morning, all three of us sighing and having teary eyes.

Our jerrycan was nearly empty, so I took it from under the sink and went outside to ask somebody to help me fill it with water, as was my task as our water bearer. I squinted in the sudden sunlight, and waited until my eyes were used to it.

I looked around, and saw across the street the same gadjo children I had seen before, looking at me curiously and talking to each other. They seemed to be nice and even smiled at me, so I decided to ask them for help.

I crossed the street, and pointed to my empty jerrycan:

"Please, can you help me to get some water?"

They answered me in a strange language I had never heard before, but somehow it sounded familiar. I didn’t understand the words, but it was very easy to feel their energy, and thus I knew what they were saying. I also had a feeling that I could learn to speak and understand this particular language very fast. Maybe I had spoken it myself during one of my past lives?

I could feel they understood my need for water, and one of the boys asked me to follow them. I smiled at them, and nodded. One of them took my jerrycan, while one of the girls took my hand and guided me around the block to another street. We crossed the street, and went to a gadjo man who was washing his car using a brush, and a water hose. Yes, that was what I needed!

I left the girl, took my jerrycan, and went to the man, showing him it was empty:

"Please, can I have some water to fill my jerrycan?"

The man smiled at me, ruffled my hear, and at that moment my world turned upside down. I started to pant, and my heart jumped in my chest.

I KNEW this man, I was absolutely sure! I had never seen him before, but he immediately felt as a dear friend, a kindred soul, a soul mate...

The man looked at me for a long time, as if he tried to remember me. Inwardly I started to shout: 'Yes, I am the one you are waiting for!', but I didn't know the words in the foreign language, and I didn't understand myself either. What strange things was I thinking now?

Finally the man took my jerrycan and carefully rinsed it out. He took the hose and filled the jerrycan to the brim, looking at me all the time. Every time our eyes met, we grinned at each other without words. Now I was sure he recognized me too...

The man told the children something in the foreign language, but I knew what he was saying:

"Shall we accompany the little blond boy, and help him carry his too heavy jerrycan?"

The children agreed, and the man took my jerrycan and beckoned me to show him the way. I wormed my small hand into his bigger hand, and that felt totally natural to do so. He pinched my hand tenderly, and together we went to my caravan, closely followed by the children.

My Mom saw us coming and opened the door. I went in first, followed by the man carrying our jerrycan. I showed him where he could put it under the sink, while the other children hesitantly entered our caravan one by one and curiously looked around. We went to the living room, where my Dad rose from the couch and greeted the man and the children. They all sat down on the couch and the opposite bench, crowding our room.

My Mom went to the kitchen, and returned carrying a tray with glasses and lemonade. She looked at the children with a questioning face, and they all understood the unspoken question and nodded. Mom started to fill the glasses and deal them round.

I looked at the children curiously, and soon my eyes returned to the oldest boy. He seemed to be a very nice boy, around ten or eleven years old, having short dark brown hair and deep brown eyes that looked back at me showing warmth and tenderness. He resembled the gadjo man, and I thought they could be father and son. He smiled at me, and I smiled back. Something unspoken happened between us, and suddenly I wanted to be his friend. In a way he reminded me of Micha, but I was sure this boy would never exchange me for another boy...

We couldn't keep our eyes off each other, and smiled at each other all the time. He was the friendliest boy I had ever seen. Now and then it felt as if we had a conversation without words. He could have been my brother, or at least my very best friend!

The other children sipped their lemonade, and started to talk to each other and to the man. My parents didn't understand a word of what they were talking about, but I could feel the energy of their words, and picked up things as 'poor', 'out of money', 'helping out', and 'offer some food'.

I heard the oldest boy call the gadjo man 'Jack', and he called the boy 'John'. The other boys were called 'Thomas' and 'Mark', and the girls were called 'Marrie' and 'Chrissy'. I liked them all, and they seemed to know each other very well. Maybe they were a family?

The nice man turned towards my Mom and asked her a question, a bit hesitantly.

She didn't understand him, but I did, so I tried to translate his words:

"Mom, the man's name is Jack, and he's asking us whether we want some help and food."

My Mom was already used to my strange abilities, and gratefully accepted my translation:

"Can you tell him we are nearly out of money, and we will be very thankful for any kind of help?"

I tried to use the words I had picked up from the conversation:

"Jack... err... help want yes, food want yes, money out."

Jack seemed to understand me and broadly smiled, warming my heart. I didn't know why, but I already LOVED him. And I loved his son John, who resembled him and again smiled at me showing those same deep brown eyes and funny dimples. They HAD to be father and son.

Jack rose from his seat, and beckoned us to follow him. We left the caravan, and again I put my small hand into Jack's bigger hand. Jack smiled at me, and told me something I didn't understand but that felt like: "You are a very nice boy", making me blush.

Suddenly John took my other hand, and grinned at me. Now I nearly started to skip from the joyful feelings in my heart. I was befriended with the two most lovable and nicest people in the whole world, being Jack and his son John!

Together we went to Jack's house, where his wet car patiently waited for him in his driveway. The other children followed us closely. Jack rummaged in his pockets until he found his keys, and invitingly opened the front door. We all followed him into his house, crowding the hallway.

Jack asked John to get some plastic bags from the kitchen, and asked me to follow him upstairs. There he went to a hallway closet, and started to rummage in a huge pile of clothes. He collected a whole bunch of them, and we put them into the plastic bags John brought upstairs. Finally he had gathered enough, and went downstairs followed by us carrying the filled bags.

We entered the kitchen, where the other children were waiting for us. Jack went to the refrigerator and raided it, filling a few cardboard boxes with its contents. He opened the cupboards one by one, and took several things out of them, putting them into other boxes. Finally he closed the boxes, and asked the children to carry them to my caravan.

In procession we went back to our caravan, carrying and dragging all the filled boxes and bags.

My parents were elated, and abundantly thanked Jack and the children. My Dad proudly handed them the bag with the remainder of our smoked trout, making a deep bow. Jack bowed back, and told him it was his pleasure to be able to help us, while I translated his words to my parents. Jack sniffed the bag, looked into it, and made a sound that resembled "Yummy!"

Jack ruffled my hair, John and I hugged each other, and the other children lined up for their personal hug. They left us a bit reluctantly, and suddenly our caravan was dead silent and very empty...

I felt sad to see them go, knowing we would return to our own country early in the morning and probably never see them again.

We started to sort out all the nice and colorful clothes that turned out to be very useful. My Dad dressed into nice looking white trousers and a dark blue shirt, and my Mom found a beautiful mohair sweater and warm socks. My Mom tried to persuade me to dress into blue jeans that were at least two sizes too big, but I declined. Maybe they would fit me within a couple of years? However I found a beautiful colored T-shirt which I thought it could have belonged to John, and put it on. It was way too big for my small body, but it wanted to wear it anyway.

We opened the cardboard boxes and stowed the contents into our cupboards, looking at all sorts of foreign foods. We opened a few of them, and munched on the tasty crackers and nicely smelling tablets of colored chocolate, feeling very grateful. My Mom opened a loaf of real gadjo bread, buttered the slices, and put some cheese and tomatoes onto them. They tasted excellent, and soon filled our stomachs to the brim.

After the meal somebody knocked on the door of our caravan, so I opened it and looked outside. A beaming John broadly smiled at me, accompanied by the other children who looked at me expectantly. John asked me to join them outside, and I asked my Mom and Dad for their consent. They both agreed, and wished me a pleasurable evening.

Outside our caravan John immediately threw his arms around my shoulders, and told me they all had enjoyed the exquisite taste of the trout very much. I could understand him quite well, but didn't know the words to tell him I had gathered those spicy herbs all by myself...

I threw my arms around his waist, and we cuddled for a moment, both of us smiling from ear to ear. That felt good!

My new friends wanted to play a game of hide and seek, and of course I joined them! I knew that game, and had played it many times before in our woods, where I used to be very good at it. Mark closed his eyes and started to count, while we swarmed out and tried to hide somewhere.

I nestled myself into a small but very dense bush along a garden, from where I could nicely see everything without being seen myself. In this game I had definitely the advantage of being a small runt!

John hid himself behind our caravan, Thomas crawled into a small gap between two adjacent trees, Marrie hid behind an old wheelbarrow abundantly filled with plants and flowers, and Chrissy obviously couldn't decide where to hide and ran around blindly. At last she hid behind a too small tree, and I expected her to be discovered first.

Mark reached the end of the counting, and started to look around. Two seconds later he saw Chrissy, who carelessly tried to peek at him.

Chrissy stepped from behind the tree, and giggled:

"I know where John is hiding himself!"

"I'm warning you: don't say a word!"

"I'm only telling you I KNOW where he is hiding. I'm NOT saying he's hiding behind a caravan!"

John stepped from behind the caravan, and tried to look angry:

"Chrissy, I've told you many times to think first before you are telling us something stupid."

"I'm NOT stupid, and I didn't tell Mark where you were hiding this time... or did I? I'm sorry..."

I bit the tip of my tongue to avoid laughing out loudly.

Now we were three to three. Mark, John, and Chrissy were looking for Thomas, Marrie, and me. They walked around, and I saw John grinning at Marrie but he didn't say a word. He walked on until he saw Thomas and winked at him, and now he started to look for me.

Chrissy followed John like a faithful puppy dog, but fortunately she didn't look at anybody else.

Mark walked around in circles until he finally saw Marrie. Ten seconds later he discovered Thomas who tried to stretch his painful muscles.

Now we were five to one. They were all looking for me...

At first they looked around everywhere in silence, but after a while Mark hesitantly asked:

"Did any of you see where that little Harry hid himself?"

"No, I didn't see him after we went away to hide. Where can he be?"

"I hope he didn't leave us and go home early."

"I was hiding behind their caravan, and could see their door all the time. He didn't enter it."

"Well, I think he's laughing at us this very moment. Come on, let's go find him!"

They resumed their quest, and even looked into our caravan. My parents turned up at our windows, both smiling and looking around, but of course they didn't see me either. They winked at the children, and John winked back at them.

Finally my friends started to painstakingly search all the bushes around the gardens. One time Thomas nearly stepped onto me, but I ducked my head and held my breath, and he didn’t see me. I nearly gave away my hiding place by chuckling, but he didn't even hear me and went on...

Now they became a bit more anxious, and huddled together:

"I hope nothing has happened to that little Gypsy boy... Shall we give up and call him?"

"Nah, we've looked everywhere. Where can he be? Is he really that good at hiding?"

"I suppose so... Okay, let's give up and call him."

John stepped forward, and brought his hands to his mouth to amplify the sound:

"Harry, where are you? Please come out of your hiding place, we're giving up. You won!"

I left my small bush, being barely ten feet away, and smiled from ear to ear...

"THERE you are... how come we didn't find you? I'm sure we've looked into that bush several times!"

"I... good hiding, hiding good. Thomas look bush, no find little Gypsy, me."

They started to laugh, and told me I had to be the very best hider in town. I so wanted to tell them about my sneaking through our woods every day, but couldn't find the proper foreign words. I felt a bit frustrated, but also happy to be with my new friends.

John took me onto his shoulders in triumph, and together we rounded the block and went to Jack's house.

Jack seemed to be happy to see us. He invited us in, and immediately took me aside. He told me they had really feasted on the trout. They had set up a table in the garden, and invited all the parents to join them. Everybody went home licking their fingers.

We went into the cozy living room, where the children slumped down onto the leather couch and into a few armchairs. Obviously they had been here many times before. Every available place was occupied, but where would I sit down? I looked around...

Suddenly I grinned, and crawled onto Jack's lap. Jack looked a bit surprised, but folded his arms around my body and held me close. That felt good! I slumped backwards and let myself melt into my Big Friend. I felt him kiss the top of my head tenderly, and that felt very good! I marveled in the feeling of being loved, and slowly closed my eyes.

The children started to tell Jack everything about our game of hide and seek, while I enjoyed the closeness to my big friend and slowly fell asleep in his arms. I started to dream of my newly found friends, and teaching them how to properly play hide and seek.

I woke up when Jack carefully lifted me off his lap and rose from his chair. For a moment I didn't know where I was, but then I remembered everything and started to smile. I saw it was nearly dark outside, and my friends had to go home.

Jack lifted me onto his shoulders, and the children accompanied us to my caravan. My parents invited them in, but the children politely excused themselves because they had to be home before total darkness.

John spontaneously threw his arms around me, and sniffled:

"I wish you could live with us. I will miss you terribly!"

Jack kissed my forehead, and got tears in his own eyes too:

"I will miss you too, my little friend! Take good care of yourself, and I hope we will once meet again."

I understood their words, got tears in my eyes, and really hoped we would see each other again some time!

That evening my parents and I sat in the small living room of our caravan, and talked. We talked about how the togetherness of the trip had made us more close to each other than we ever were before. We talked about the different gadjo's we had met, and about Jack and the children who were really nice to us. We talked about how good it felt to go home, but how it also felt sad to leave our newly found friends behind.

At last my Dad took me onto his lap, and tenderly kissed my head:

"My precious son; please promise us that, if ever something would happen to us, you will look for another Dad to live with. Don't be sad, because we will continue to look after you from heaven."

I didn’t understand why he told me that, and asked him:
"Why are you telling me this? You are not planning to die, are you?"

"You know we will always be honest with you. Your Mom and I have been talking a lot lately, and we both have the same feeling something is going to happen to us soon. We don't know what will happen, that's why we are telling you this as a precaution."

I knew I had felt that same feeling myself a couple of times, as if something was going to happen that would change my life forever...

"I promise you, Mom and Dad. I will not be sad, and look for another Dad once you are in heaven. But I hope that will not be necessary..."

My Mom sat down next to us, and together we cuddled for a long time, until we started to yawn and prepared to go to bed.

I don't know why I did it, but that night I wanted to sleep alone:

"I want to give you the space to breed a duffer before we're going home."

"Maybe we will do that, thank you for being so considerate."

My Dad laughed and started to tickle me, until I shrieked with laughter and begged him to stop.

He helped me set up a small bed in the back of our caravan, next to the front door. I undressed, told my parents goodnight, and crawled under the blankets after drinking a glass of water.

Two minutes later I felt myself drift away into a deep sleep.

. Caravan on fire, a hospital, and surgeries.

I felt like a grown-up, all the time wearing a tall black gown that even covered my feet. My Mom and Dad wore the same black gown.

I was born in a big town in this same country, and of course spoke the language fluently. Every Sunday I went to my church, climbed the pulpit, and told my congregation about Hell and Damnation. I believed strongly in a Supreme Being called 'God' that wanted us to be totally obedient and submissive. Two-thousand years ago He had written a book called 'Bible' that told us how to behave, and since then we had to live after His Word.

People that didn't believe in Him were damned, and would burn in Hell for all eternity. People that pleased him would go to Heaven, where they could eat from golden platters, play on their harps, and sing psalms in front of His Countenance for all eternity...

I served His organization, called 'Holy Church', assisted by my two helpers who were both clad into the same black gown. Together we tried to convince all the others of our Belief, hoping to earn a more prominent place in Heaven. Our God was very displeased by everybody that was not a Believer; and had chosen us, His Elected People, to convince them of their Sins. We had to use all available means to convince them, even when that meant we had to offer their bodies, believing we could thus save their Souls from burning in Hell.

Our God was especially displeased by people that thought they were more important than He was, and could cross His Intentions by healing people other than by Praying. Those people were devoted to Satan, Gods ultimate enemy, looking like a goat and being very fond of black cats. Those men were called 'Heathens', and they were tortured and hung on gallows, while those women were called 'Witches' and burnt to death.

All three of us were fanatic zealots, and especially trained in catching and burning Witches. We recognized them by their characteristics such as having a malformed goat nose, piercing eyes, huge pimples in their faces, or caring for black cats.

When we had caught a couple of Witches, we raised a huge pile of wood in front of our church. We tied the Witches down onto stakes on top of the pile, and my two helpers lighted the pile of wood using burning torches, while I prayed for the Salvation of the deviated Witches until their Souls left their bodies and thus were saved from burning in all eternity.

The Witches started to scream, while the fire started to crackle, and I could clearly smell the smoke. The screaming intensified and turned into screeching, while the hot smoke suddenly entered my lungs and I started to cough...

I woke up in a caravan rapidly filling with smoke, while my Mom and Dad screeched and desperately yelled to wake me up:

"Harry, wake up and flee! Open the door and GO! NOW!"

In shock I looked at the blazing fire in the front of our caravan. What was happening? The heat was nearly unbearable, and little flames started to lick at my blankets. I heard my parents stumble to get out of bed, and then their yelling changed into coughing and finally ceased...

Suddenly I realized: our caravan was on fire, and I had to flee, and fast!

I tried to throw the blankets from my naked body, but burning and melting parts of them stuck to my skin and started to hurt. I screamed in horror and jumped out of my bed, desperately trying to get rid of those burning pieces.

Stumbling and tripping over my own feet in the quickly darkening smoke, I tried to reach the door. Finally I felt it, lifted the handle, and tumbled out of the caravan, straight into the blazing fire that surrounded it. The blazes licked at my body, while I slipped on the burning liquid they had poured around our caravan. I fell, scrambled upright, and fled from the caravan, now burning like a torch.

I tried to scream again, but my sore throat refused to produce any sound, and I started to cough and throw up.

I heard a man swear loudly, and felt two hands drag me to a grass plot where they rolled me around and around to extinguish the flames.

Now the man held me in his arms, telling me to be brave and fight to survive, and that he would help me and be with me all the time. He spoke in the foreign language, but I could clearly understand him. My body still felt on fire, and I could hardly breathe from the searing pain, but I trusted him and started to fight to get more air into my lungs. The pain was unlike anything I had ever felt before, worse than ten thousand needles sticking everywhere into my body from top to toe. All the time the man told me to be brave and not give up.

A howling siren approached us, and two paramedics rushed towards me. They tried to take over from the man, but I clamped myself onto my saviour with all my force and didn't let him go. I clearly felt he could keep me alive, and without him I was lost.

The paramedics started to argue, but the man told them to go to hell and that they could help me while he was with me.

At last they gave up, and the man carried me to the ambulance, where he sat down on a small chair with me still clamped onto his chest. Again the paramedics told him to leave the ambulance now, but again he told them to go to hell and that he would accompany me to the hospital.

They gave in, and put two needles into my arms while they smeared my body with a soothing paste. All the time the man kept telling me to be brave, that I would survive, and that he would be there to help me.

Finally the needles in my arms started to work, and the pain slowly decreased.

I started to doze away, tried to squint at my rescuer, suddenly recognized him, and mumbled:

"Jack..."

"Yes, Harry, it's Jack. Now be brave, let yourself go, and know I will be with you all the time."

I closed my eyes, and felt myself fade away into a welcoming and comforting darkness...

I woke up in a white room, hearing beeping and whistling sounds from everywhere, and feeling completely numb. I couldn't move my body, but my eyes could scan part of the room I was in, and wherever I looked I saw colored wires and plastic tubes disappearing into nasty looking machines. I couldn't remember anything of what had happened to me, and felt at a loss...

Where was I? And why was I tied down and connected to all those wildly beeping and whistling machines?

I moaned, and within two seconds the face of a nice man appeared, tenderly smiling at me:

"Hi, my little friend, you finally woke up. Please take it easy, and everything will be all right now."

Who was that man? I didn't recognize him, but he looked friendly and seemed to know me... and he spoke strange words I didn't understand. Fortunately I could feel the energy radiating from his words, and thus understood the essence of what he told me.

I tried to ask him why I was here, but a searing pain threw me into a welcoming black hole, and I disappeared into nowhere.

I woke up again in the same white room, looking at the face of a nurse who did things to my body that caused a dull and wrecking pain. At the other side the same man from yesterday helped her by holding a couple of white bandages.

I started to moan, and the man smiled reassuringly:

"Shush, my little friend, don't try to move. You are burnt all over your body, and the nurse is renewing your bandages. Is it very painful?"

Again I felt the energy of the words and understood the essence of their meaning, but what was 'burnt'? I looked at the friendly man, and thought I recognized him, but wasn't sure. From where did I know him?

A name entered my mind, and I whispered:

"Jack..."

"Yes, Harry, it's Jack. Now don't move, and try to bear the pain until we are done. It's necessary to help your body recover."

'Harry'? Was that my name? I didn't recognize it... I couldn't understand a word of what that man was telling me, but I knew with certainty what he had told me... how strange.

Suddenly the dull pain changed into a searing pain, and I started to thrash around gritting my teeth and getting tears in my eyes. The nurse took a syringe and injected something into a tube that led to my arm, and after a few seconds I welcomed the comforting darkness.

The room was dark, except for the moving displays and blinking colored lights on the machines that seemed to be attached to my body by several colored wires and tubes. My body felt completely numb, and a dull pain nagging in the background made me feel dead tired. I tried to move, but stopped immediately feeling the now well-known searing pain. I gritted my teeth until it slowly vanished into the dulled background.

Why was I here, being attached to a couple of beeping and whistling machines and in so much pain? Where were my Mom and Dad? I tried to call them, but the only thing my throat produced was a raspy moaning sound. Obviously there was something very wrong...

I tried to remember what had happened, but every time I thought of the past everything was a blur of screeching and blazing flames. One face popped up every time, the tenderly smiling face of the nice man who called himself 'Jack'. But even Jack wasn't here now. I was all on my own...

I felt myself starting to panic, but forced my mind to stop the thinking, and drifted off into a restless sleep.

I heard somebody opening the door, and felt the nice man's energy entering the room. I saw more light around, and supposed it would be early in the morning. I tried to greet the nice man, 'Jack', but produced only sort of a raspy sound. Where was my voice?

Jack approached my bed, and looked at me with tears in his eyes while he tried to smile:

"Good morning, my little friend. It's good to see you are awake."

Again I didn't understand his words, but could feel their energy and thus knew what he was saying. I tried to nod, but that immediately caused a lot of pain. I gritted my teeth, and waited until the pain slowly faded away.

Jack got more tears in his eyes, and tenderly took my hand:
"Don't try to move. You are burnt very badly, and had a major surgery. Do you understand what I'm telling you?"

I didn't dare to nod again, but blinked my eyes a couple of times to let him know I understood at least the essence of what he told me. But what was 'burnt' and what was 'major surgery'? I didn’t have the faintest idea...

Jack's face brightened a bit, while he wiped the tears from his eyes:

"That might be a good idea for the time being... You are a clever boy! Maybe you can tell me something by using your eyes. Let's say blinking your eyes once means 'yes', and blinking them twice means 'no'. What do you think, shall we try it out?"

I blinked my eyes once, hoping I would be able to ask him a few questions this way.

"That's a good boy! I think this will work. Shall I ask you a couple of questions now?"

Again I blinked once, feeling more enthusiastic. Maybe Jack could tell me what had happened!

Jack took a chair and sat down next to me, again taking my hand:

"Do you remember what happened to you before they brought you here?"

I blinked twice.

"Do you remember me, and the five neighborhood children you were playing with?"

I blinked twice.

"Do you remember anything from your past, or where you used to live?"

I blinked twice.

"I thought so. I saw it in your eyes when you woke up for the first time, that's now three weeks ago. You obviously didn’t remember me. I've asked the doctor; and he thought the severe pain, followed by the medications, could have wiped out your memories, at least temporarily."

'THREE WEEKS AGO'? Did I understand him correctly? What had happened in those three weeks? Where was I?

I looked at Jack with bulging eyes, jumped up, and was immediately knocked down by a searing pain that raged through my body. I screamed, and tumbled into a black hole...

Huge flames licked at my body, and tried to take me away. I had to fight them with all my force, or else they would kill me. In the distance I heard my Mom screeching, and the desperate voice of my Dad telling me: "Harry, wake up and flee!"

I jumped into the blazing fire, and heard the soothing voice of Jack, my savior: "Be brave, my little friend, and don't give up."

Suddenly I knew what the foreign word 'burnt' meant, and that it was exactly what had happened to me...

My consciousness returned into the room, and I felt very sleepy. Two doctors clad into green coats looked at me, and smiled. A nurse was busy with putting something into the plastic tube that led to my arm, while Jack watched over me. Suddenly I felt my heart jump in my chest: now I remembered him! He was the man that extinguished the fire and saved my life. He was my hero!

One of the doctors looked into my eyes using a little flashlight, and asked me:

"Do you feel better now?"

I blinked my eyes once. The doctor didn't understand, and repeated his question. Now Jack took over and told the doctor I didn't understand the language, but always seemed to know the essence of what he told me. Again I blinked my eyes, urgently, and this time they all saw it.

The doctor smiled at me, and told me:
"That's good. Now you can communicate with us until we have repaired your vocal cords."

So THAT was what was wrong with my throat... the hot smoke had scorched my vocal cords...

Both doctors and the nurse left the room, and Jack took a chair and sat down next to me.

Suddenly I looked around: where were those beeping and whistling machines, and where were the colored wires? I saw only one thin tube, going from my arm to a little bag hanging over my bed. I nearly missed those festal festoons...

Jack took my hand, and I pinched his big hand in return. He smiled at me, and I saw a lot of love in his eyes. I felt I loved this man with all my heart, and sent him my love, feeling his own love coming back immediately.

We were silent for a long time, and I felt I had found my Big Friend. I closed my eyes, marveling in the beautiful feeling of loving and being loved. Slowly I drifted into a deep and healing sleep.

I woke up in a dark room, faintly lighted by a small greenish thing hanging over the door. My body felt dull, but the pain was gone. That is, until I tried to move, what caused a nagging pain that fortunately slowly faded away. I had to be very careful not to move!

I started to think. What was happening to me? I tried to remember who I was, but only found a vague picture of many caravans around a campfire and having to flee. Several countries passed by, until finally our caravan burnt down and Jack rescued me. Where were my parents? Where they burnt too, and were they surrounded by nasty beeping machines too? I wanted to see them...

A thought popped up into my mind: I would never see them again... but I suppressed that thought immediately. I wanted to see them now!

Maybe Jack could help me find them, and bring me to them? Would they miss me? I certainly missed them!

Suddenly I remembered the last talk my parents and I had, and now I understood... they were gone forever, and they knew it would happen. I had promised them to find a new Dad to live with... Maybe Jack could be my new Dad?

I thought I felt my Mom and Dad being around me and comforting me, and drifted into a dreamless sleep.

The next morning I woke up, and waited for Jack. A doctor appeared in the room, and told me I would have surgery the same afternoon, to mend my vocal cords and make some other corrections to my body. Did I understand him?

I winked at him once, making him laugh:

"That's the first time a little boy is flirting with me."

I started to laugh, but my throat felt sore and produced only a raspy sound.

"Please try not to laugh aloud. After surgery you have to be silent for at least three days, to let your throat heal. Do you understand me?"

I blinked once, and the doctor winked back, causing both of us to grin.

The doctor left the room, and I heard him talk to Jack outside the door. After a minute my Big Friend showed up, and suddenly the sun started to shine. I LOVED that man, and wanted him to be my new Dad.

Jack sat down, and tenderly took my hand:

"This afternoon the doctors are going to repair your vocal cords, and remove a lot of wild flesh. After the operation you have to be absolutely silent for at least three days. Do you think you can do that?"

I winked at him once, making him chuckle and winking back:

"I knew you would be a brave boy. There's something else: I think I can see you're remembering a bit more now. Am I right?"

I blinked once enthusiastically.

"Do you remember me?"

I blinked once, and even nodded a bit.

"Do you remember who you are?"

I hesitated, but blinked twice.

"That's no problem. I think your memories will return within a few days. Do you remember what happened to you?"

I blinked once, then twice.

"Yes and no? More or less? I've spoken with a psychiatrist, and he thought it would help you to know everything that has happened to you. Do you want me to tell you everything I know about it?"

I blinked once and nodded, now very enthusiastically. Finally I would know why I was here...

Suddenly I discovered that I could understand some of the foreign words. I was learning the foreign language by merely listening to it! I didn't know the meaning of 'operation' or 'surgery', but felt it had something to do with healing my throat. I knew what 'flesh' was, but what was 'wild flesh'? Flesh dancing around? I grinned inwardly, looking at the picture in my head of wildly dancing pieces of meat around our campfire...

Jack looked at my grinning face curiously:

"What's the fun? Why are you grinning?"

Now I wished I could tell him what I was thinking! But I would have to wait for at least three other days...

I decided to train myself in speaking the foreign language inside my head as often as I could muster, starting from now on, using my ability to feel the energies of the foreign words. Fortunately I was quite clever, and able to combine things very fast...

Jack told me how he saw a blond-haired and blue-eyed perky small runt entering his driveway, toting a huge jerrycan and asking him something in a language he didn't understand. The little boy lifted his jerrycan high into the air and pointed to the water hose, thus clearly showing what he wanted. Jack liked the boy from the very moment he saw him, and decided to help him. The boy, that was ME.

Jack ruffled my hair, and at that same moment his world turned upside down. He was absolutely sure he knew me, and had a strong feeling of being reunited after a long separation. He felt as if he had been waiting for me all his life...

I was stunned, and looked at him with bulging eyes. I remembered that moment, and knew I had felt exactly the same feelings! I started to blink my eyes until they became sore, telling him: 'Yes, Jack, I remember, and I had the same feelings! I still have...'

Jack seemed to understand me, bent over towards me, and tenderly kissed a small piece of my forehead that wasn't bandaged. Now I wished I could move my arms, but unfortunately they were both packed into heavy bandages. I hoped he could see the love radiating from my eyes...

Jack took a handkerchief from his pocket, and dried his eyes. He looked at me, and carefully dried my teary eyes before putting it back.

After a while he went on, telling me how sad he was when he saw that we were very poor. He wasn't rich himself, but decided to help us and give us as many clothes and foods as he could afford. He was very moved when he got all those smoked trout in return.

The moment I crawled onto his lap and trusted him, he felt richer than he had ever felt in his whole life. And when I fell asleep in his arms, his heart felt all mushy and he nearly started to cry. At that moment he knew he loved me deeply.

He brought me back to my caravan, and thought he would never see me again. After walking the other children home he immediately went to bed, feeling desperately lonely and crying his heart out until he finally fell asleep.

In the middle of the night he woke up, and felt restless. He couldn't sleep any more, dressed, and went outside to try to calm down. Unintentionally he walked towards our caravan, where to his horror he saw huge flames blazing into the sky. He raced towards the fire, and saw a burning torch leaving the caravan, stumbling and slipping, desperately trying to get away from the flames...

Slowly my memories returned. I remembered waking up coughing, while my Mom screeched and my Dad yelled at me to wake up and flee. Again I saw those little flames licking at my blankets, melting them into my naked body. Again I stumbled into the darkening smoke, desperately trying to open the caravan door. Again I slipped on the liquid outside and fell into it, causing me to burn like a torch...

I grabbed Jack's hand and squeezed it, while I regained my memories of what had happened, feeling shivery and panting.

Suddenly an enormous power enveloped me and embraced me. I saw a huge man, clad in a beautiful robe, smiling warmly.

A gigantic flood of love and pure energy radiated towards me, while the man touched my head:
"Don't be afraid, little one. The last time we met, I told you of something that would happen soon, and you would need it to regain your powers. Now it has happened, and it will help you to fulfil your task on earth. Soon you will meet your new Dad, and your Big Friend will guide you towards him. We, your ancestors and spirit guides, will always be with you and protect you. God bless you."

The vision faded away; and I started to cry uncontrollably, for the first time since the fire took away my memories. Jack comforted me, also crying, until at last my sobs lessened and I fell into a deep sleep from all the exhaustion.

I woke up when a nurse entered the room and removed the plastic tube in my arm, while Jack watched over me. She removed the blankets, and now I saw that I was packed from top to toe in heavy bandages. Only the point of my little pecker stuck out, having a small plastic tube attached. Why was that? Why was my pecker attached to something I couldn't see?

She took my small penis into one hand, the plastic tube into her other hand, and told me:

"Please inhale as deeply as you can, and now exhale..."

I winced while she skillfully removed the plastic tube out of the sensitive slit. Ouch, that was painful! Now I saw the tube was attached to a plastic bag filled with yellowish water. Of course, that had to be my urine... I had never thought of that before!

All the time Jack held my hand to encourage me, while two other men showed up and lifted me onto a stretcher. Together we went to an elevator, which stopped at another floor. The men pushed the stretcher into a huge room filled with all sorts of blinking machines.

Jack looked at me with love in his eyes, and tenderly pinched my hand:

"Be brave, my friend. After this operation you will be a new boy."

A nurse put a small cap around my mouth and nose, and told me to blow into it. Suddenly everything turned around, and I shifted away into a quiet and peaceful world full of blinking stars and beautiful sounds...

My throat felt sore, my body was on fire, my muscles ached, and my arms and legs cramped. Fortunately I could feel Jack's energy around, and that comforted me. I tried to open my eyes, and squinted in the sudden light. I seemed to be back in my 'own' room.

A friendly nurse smiled at me, and showed me a little box with a white knob sticking out:

"This box carries a sedative. Each time you push the knob, a little bit of sedative enters your body and kills the pain. You can decide for yourself how much sedative you want to use, because it's making you feel very numb and drowsy. Please don't use it more than is absolutely necessary. Do you want to try it out now?"

I nodded, and she put the box next to my hand. I put my finger onto the knob, and pushed it... ten seconds later a warm feeling flushed my body, and I felt the pain dulling away. That felt a whole lot better, and I tried to smile.

"Please don't use it more than once an hour, unless you really need it. And try not to make any sounds for at least three days, because your vocal cords have to heal properly first. Do you understand everything I told you?"

I nodded again, while I started to feel a bit drowsy and numb. However, that felt much better than the aching pain I had before!

The nurse left the room, and Jack took a chair to sit next to me:

"The surgeons have repaired your throat and removed a lot of wild flesh from your body. Until now you got a sedative during the whole day, but the doctors thought you were mature enough to administer it all by yourself, and I agree with them. Please don't overuse it."

I nodded, and suddenly I discovered something: I COULD NOD. Until now every movement had caused me a lot of pain, but now I could move my arms and my legs without feeling anything! I nearly started to cry with relief, while I moved my arm and touched Jack's face.

Now I saw that my bandages were gone. The skin on my arms looked strange, as if somebody had painted it in a lot of ugly colors and small scars. Was this the result of the burning? Did my legs look the same as my arms? And the rest of my body, was it colored like this too? How was my face? Where could I see my face? I started to tremble...

Jack saw my nervousness, and tried to calm me down:

"Take it easy, everything will turn out for the best. You are severely burnt all over your body, and the doctors did a wonderful job in removing the burnt skin and replacing it with skin from other parts of your body. Everything has to heal now, so please be patient."

I was NOT patient, and wanted to know how the rest of my body looked NOW. My arms felt heavy, as if they were dead tired, but I managed to shift down my blankets and looked down...

I stared in horror at my poor body; that looked terribly. Several ugly stripes showed on my chest in all colors of the rainbow, while a couple of ribs showed through the too tight and scarred skin. My right hip looked like a raw piece of meat from a wild animal, and my poor little pecker looked distorted and wrinkled...

I started to cry, while Jack tried to put his arms around me. My body was a MESS...

I wanted to crawl out of bed and sit on Jack's lap, but my muscles refused to serve me. I was numb and dizzy, and felt all the strength leave my body. I was dead tired, and slowly shifted into a welcoming darkness.

I woke up sometime during the night, and felt stiff all over. My body ached and my muscles felt sore, so I grabbled around until I found the little box with the white knob. I pushed it, and felt the warm flush dulling the pain away. That felt better!

Now I had to pee... I felt around with my hand, but couldn't find a plastic tube in my penis. What now? I couldn't call a nurse, because my throat had to heal first. I thought about leaving the bed and looking for a restroom, but I felt too weak and didn't know where it was...

I leaned onto my elbows, careful not to touch one of my scars, and looked around. On the wall next to my bed I saw a huge push knob that glowed invitingly. Was that a knob to call for a nurse? Should I push it, and see what happened?

I shifted towards the glowing knob, reached out, and pushed it.

The knob started to blink, and half a minute later a smiling nurse entered my room:

"You have called, sir? Maybe I can help you. What's the problem?"

I had to pee badly, but how could I make that clear to her? I pushed the blankets away, and pointed to my wrinkled pecker...

"Ah, I see what you want. Well, that's no problem. Just a moment."

She dived under the bed, and returned carrying sort of a bottle with a wide opening. She smiled, took my penis, and pointed it to the bottle. With a deep sigh I relieved myself. That felt better, only now it started to ache inside. Maybe the plastic tube had irritated it?

The nurse took a wet towel, and carefully cleaned my pecker. She powdered it, and put a little bit of a greasy paste onto its top.

She shook up my pillow, straightened my blankets, and wished me good night:

"That will feel better. Was that all, sir? You are a brave boy! Sleep well."

A minute later I was soundly asleep again.

Jack was early, and helped the nurse to wash me. That was a bit painful, because my scars started to itch and became sore. However I knew it was necessary, so I bit my tongue and let them do it.

They dried me, and Jack helped to smear my body with a shiny paste to keep the scarred skin flexible. He put me onto a potty, and carefully cleaned my rear end. The nurse applied a new band-aid to the needle in my arm that was attached to the little box.

Jack laid me down onto the bed with love in his deep brown eyes:

"Now you look like a newborn boy. Do you want to wear pajamas, or maybe underpants?"

I shook my head, and crawled under the clean blankets with a sigh of contentment. I was dead tired again, but felt good.

Jack took a chair and sat next to me. Soon I wormed my hand into his, and he pinched it tenderly. He felt like my second Dad...

Jack started to tell me the story of his life, and I used his words to repeat them in my mind trying to learn the foreign language.

He told me he was an only child, and lost his parents after a few years. The authorities put him into an orphanage, where he had to fend for himself until he was old enough to be on his own. He visited a training college, and became a teacher. He had inherited a small sum of money from his parents, and bought the house he was living in since then. Now and then he tutored a few children to have some income.

He was befriended by John's mother, and had seen John, Mark, and Marrie growing up, now and then babysitting them in his or their house. He had a few girlfriends, but never married them and didn't regret it. He was forty-eight years old, and felt happy and healthy.

A few years ago Thomas and Chrissy showed up in the neighborhood, and since that time the five children were nearly always together.

I felt a little bit less tired, and wanted to sit on Jack's lap; so I threw the blankets aside and tried to get out of bed. That was difficult, because I felt very weak and started to tremble all over from the effort.

Jack saw what I wanted, and lifted me out of bed and onto his lap, draping a blanket around both of us to keep me warm. With a deep sigh I melted into him and closed my eyes. That felt wonderful!

The door opened and one of the doctors entered the room, freezing when he saw me on Jack's lap:

"That child has to recover from his surgery! He belongs in his bed, and certainly not on your lap. Put him back immediately!"

"I'm sorry, sir, but that child has a name! Little Harry WANTS to sit on my lap, and I'm a competent tutor and know what I'm doing. I'm sure he needs the warmth, the safety, and the coziness more than his pillow. I will put him to bed the moment he is too tired, or wants it himself."

The doctor turned around and left the room without looking back. After that we didn't see him for a long time...

Jack held me a bit closer, and kissed the top of my head:

"Don't be afraid, he's only one of the doctors here. He has nothing to say about you and me. Do you want to go back to your bed?"

I shook my head vigorously, still marveling in the feeling of being safe and loved. I wanted to tell Jack how much I loved him and even needed him, but I had to wait for another two days before I was allowed to use my vocal cords...

We cuddled for a long time, until at last I felt too tired and Jack tenderly put me to bed. The nurse brought me a platter of food, and Jack helped me by slicing it into pieces and now and then putting a piece into my mouth. I loved his help!

The next two days Jack loyally visited me every day. He helped the nurse to wash me, put me onto the potty, helped me when I had to pee, cleaned me up, and felt like a father and a mother all in one. And he felt like my Very Best Big Friend.

Many times I sat on his lap, feeling safe and loved, until I was too tired and had to rest. Then he put me to bed and kissed my forehead.

All the time he told me more things about his life, about my five friends who had asked for me a couple of times, about the neighborhood where he lived, and that he wished I could live with him when eventually I had left the hospital...

I threw my arms around his neck, and nearly suffocated him until my arms started to ache too much. I loved him with all my heart, and I longed for the moment I could TELL him what I felt. I was training for it in my head all the time, and couldn't wait to show him my new skill!

. Learning the language, and the authorities.

I woke up early in the morning, and immediately remembered: today was the first day I was allowed to use my voice after my throat operation! Should I wait until Jack showed up, or should I try to say something now? I decided to try out my voice now, to surprise Jack later on.

I coughed a few times, and felt that my throat was still a bit sore, but I had already pushed the white knob once. Okay, let's go on with it.

I swallowed, and tried to say my own name:

"Harry..."

I was shocked, and closed my mouth; because my voice sounded totally different from what I was used to hearing. It sounded lower, a bit raspy, and very strange, at least to my own ears...

Again I tried to say something to an invisible person:

"Jack, you Big Friend..."

I started to stutter and stopped, hearing somebody else saying my words. This was too difficult! I would need a lot of practice to speak naturally, without being disturbed by those strange sounds that left my mouth...

During the next hour I trained myself in speaking, until a nurse showed up to wash me and look after the needle in my arm.

Finally Jack showed up, being in a hurry and still panting:

"Sorry I am late! My car didn't start, and I had to get a new battery first."

"That... no problem. I glad you here."

Jack looked at me open-mouthed, and slowly got a smile on his face from ear to ear:

"You can speak our language? How come you didn't speak it before?"

"You speak, I listen word. Speak word in head. Now speak langwitj."

"You are marvelous. You are a miracle boy! You are MY miracle boy!"

"What... mirrekol?"

Jack lifted me out of my bed, took the little box with the attached tube, and together we danced around the room, both laughing and trying to suffocate each other.

After a while he sat down and took me onto his lap:
"I'm so happy that I can speak with you now. Did you really understand everything I told you?"

"Everything no. Some word understand no. Other word feel, know in head, yes."

"You're a wonder boy. Learning a foreign language within a few weeks, just by listening... it’s a miracle!"

"What mirrekol?"

"A miracle is... well, something totally unexpected, that happens nevertheless."

"Never less?"

"The word 'nevertheless' is very difficult to explain. It's more like kind of an expression of amazement..."

"A maze meant?"

Jack started to laugh, and kissed my forehead:

"Sorry... I'll try to teach you my language, but please give me some more time. Okay?"

"Okay. You Big Friend!"

We cuddled for a long time, and now and then I asked him a question or just marveled in the nice feeling of being together. It felt good to be able to talk to him and say the things I wanted to say.

Now and then I had to look for the right words, but all the time Jack helped me and patiently explained the too difficult words. Every time when I spoke the foreign language it felt a bit easier to do and sounded a bit better.

I tried to gather the courage to ask him my burning question, but dreaded the inevitable answer...

Finally I couldn't hold it any longer, and looked down at my feet:

"Mom, Dad, where?"

The room was dead silent. Even the birds outside seemed to deaden their twitters. I felt myself tremble, and heard Jack sigh a few times.

Suddenly I felt Jack's tears dripping on my head, and I knew what had happened. I would never be able to see my parents again. They were burnt to death in our caravan... From now on I was an orphan Gypsy. My Dad and my Mom were gone forever.

I buried my head into Jack's stomach, and cried my heart out.

Jack held me close for a long time, and tenderly encouraged me to let myself go:

"Just let it go, don't bottle it up. In a few minutes you will feel better..."

It lasted longer than a few minutes, but finally I DID feel better. My sobs diminished, and I regained my breath. Jack took his handkerchief out of his pocket, and I dried my eyes and blew my nose in it. Jack put the handkerchief back into his pocket without looking at it.

Suddenly I started to grin: now he had a pocket full of snot...

Jack lifted me off his lap and sat me down onto the bed. He went to the small washstand, and returned carrying a wet towel. Carefully he wiped my face with it, and then he rinsed the towel and wiped his own puffy face.

I had felt something strange while blowing my nose. Now I felt my face with my hands, and felt again, and panicked...

WHERE WAS MY NOSE?

"JACK... Where..." --what was the foreign word for 'nose'-- "where thing in face?"

Jack turned around slowly, and looked at me with so much compassion... Again his eyes started to tear up.

What had happened to me? Where was my nose? Why did Jack look at me like this, with those teary eyes?

I started to be angry at my inability to speak the foreign language properly. What was the foreign word for 'mirror'? I wanted to see my face!

"Jack, I... look face. This..."

Feeling frustrated, I tried to picture a mirror using my hands. Fortunately Jack seemed to understand me.

He sat down onto the bed, and lifted me onto his lap:

"Sorry, my little friend, you are burnt all over your body. Even your face is burnt. I think it's not a good idea to look at it now..."

"I WANT look! I want look NOW!"

It was MY face, and he hadn't the right to decide for me. I wanted to look at my own face NOW. I wanted to know where my nose was...

Jack looked into my eyes, and saw my determination. He sighed, and went to the duffel bag he always carried. Slowly he took a mirror out of one of the compartments, and handed it to me without saying a word.

I took the mirror into my hands, and hesitated. Did I really want to know how I looked without a nose, and maybe without whatever else I could be missing?

My hands trembled, while I slowly lifted the mirror to my face, and looked...

I was too shocked to feel anything. My mind shut down, and I felt like being in a bad horror film. This couldn't be true...

My nose was halfway gone, and I looked at two black holes where my nostrils ought to be. My lips were wrinkled and askew. One of my ears was shriveled and stuck to my head. My face was distorted by many scars and stripes, and stained in at least three different colors...

I handed the mirror back to Jack without saying a word, staring into space and feeling totally numb. This wasn't what I had expected...

After a few seconds my mind shut down all the way, I fell to the floor, and everything went black.

I landed in a bright white light, shining everywhere. The same huge man I had seen before, clad in a beautiful robe, approached me and tenderly laid his enormous hand on my head. I felt his enormous power streaming through my body and taking my feelings of horror away.

The man lifted me off the ground, and looked into my eyes:

"Life will not be easy for you, but you will come through and it will make you strong. Bear the pain with joy, my little friend, it's a small price to pay. Soon you will meet your new Dad, and he will help you. Together you will assist us in making this world into a better place. Later on you will raise your own son, and finally you will be known all over the world. That's the task you have to fulfil in this life."

"Please, may I ask you a question? Where are my Mom and Dad?"

"They are both in another spiritual reality, and you can't meet them now. You may say that they are in 'heaven', but know that there are many heavens where we are. However, soon they will be around you, and help you to fulfil your task on Earth, together with a lot of others in the spirit realm. You will never be alone; we will always be around you and guide you. You are important to us, you know..."

"How long is 'soon'? How long will I have to wait?"

"In our reality we don't know such a thing as 'time', because time is restricted to the material plane. Here we see the future and the past, brought together into the eternal 'Now'. You will meet your new Dad after the Earth has rounded the Sun two times."

The bright light disappeared; and I found myself in the arms of Jack, who had lifted me off the ground and took me onto his lap. He looked into my eyes, and I thought I saw the powerful eyes of my huge spirit friend shining through Jack's deep brown eyes...

"Is everything alright with you, my little friend? You fell off the bed..."

"Yes, every thing all right. Thank help look face!"

I threw my arms around his neck, and felt wonderful.

Parts of what my ancestor told me, popped up in my mind: 'Bear the pain with joy, it's a small price to pay'; 'later on you will raise your own son'; 'soon your parents will be around you'; 'you will never be alone'; 'you are important to us'; and finally 'you will meet your new Dad after the Earth has rounded the Sun two times'...

How long was that? I remembered what Micha told me once, that the sun rounded the earth every day, causing day and night. But when rounded the earth the sun? I didn't have the slightest idea, and decided to ask Jack about it once I could speak the language a bit better.

All the time Jack looked at me curiously, as if he couldn't understand why I looked so happy after I had seen my devastated face. I laughed at him, and he shook his head in frustration.

The door opened, and a nurse entered the room carrying a platter of food:

"It's mealtime. How are you doing this morning? Did you already try to speak?"

I looked at her with a beaming face:

"Yes, I ready speak! Thank for eat. It nice."

She nearly let the platter fall out of her hands:

"I thought you were a Gypsy boy. How come you can speak our language all of a sudden?"

"Jack speak, I listen, I speak in head, now I learn languisj."

"Wait until the doctor hears about this! It's a miracle..."

She put the platter down and hasted away, maybe to tell all the others about my 'miracle'.

The remainder of the day I had a lot of visitors. Obviously everybody wanted to listen to my strange raspy voice and my funny usage of the language. I didn't complain, and marveled in all the extra attention I suddenly got...

Jack waited until my room was a bit less crowded, and asked:
"I want to bring my car to a garage for a check-up, because I don't really trust it after the breakdown this morning. Do you mind?"

"I not mind. You back morning?"

"I will be back tomorrow, but maybe I will be a bit late because I have to collect the car first."

"Okay. See you morrow."

Jack laughed, and kissed my forehead. I threw my arms around his neck, and kissed him back. He blushed a bit, and waved in the door opening before he left. I loved that man with all my heart, and with REAL love!

The casual visits lasted until I was dead tired and wanted to sleep. A nurse helped me, and turned the little light on that told the others not to disturb me until the next morning. Fortunately I slept soundly and peaceful.

I woke up when a nurse entered the room to wash me and remove the needle in my arm. I didn’t need it any longer, as I hadn't used the white knob for quite a while. It felt strange, as if I missed my attachment to that helpful little box...

Now a doctor entered the room, and told me:
"A few people want to see you and ask you a couple of questions. What do you think, are you able to answer them?"

I felt a bit scared, and looked into his eyes. Did I do something wrong?

"Why questions? I did... no good?"

"No, you didn't do anything wrong. I think they want to know who you are, and what you remember about yourself."

"Okay, I answer questions."

The doctor smiled, ruffled my hair, and went away.

Ten minutes later a man and a woman entered my room, and both took a chair. They sat down on both sides of my bed.

The woman looked a bit shocked, but soon regained her composure. She smiled at me, looking pitifully at the same time.

She offered me a weak hand:

"Hello, my name is Margaret. And what is your name?"

I sat upright, took her hand, and shook it:

"My name Harry."

She looked at me expectantly, and a bit as if she didn't trust me:

"Is Harry your only name, or do you have more names?"

I did have more names, I was sure of that, but I couldn't remember them...

Since the burning everything from my past was misty and unsure. I vaguely remembered the faces of my Mom and my Dad, but couldn't think of anybody else I knew. The only things I remembered where our mountains...

Suddenly another name popped up, and I knew that had to be our last name:

"Yes, I Harry Romani."

"Thank you, that's marvelous. You are a very big boy!"

Did she pull my leg? Did she think I was a baby? I looked at her in disdain, and the man at the other side of the bed started to chuckle.

Margaret wrote down something onto a notepad, and resumed:

"We are from Child Protective Services, that's CPS for short, and the authorities sent us to look after you. To be able to properly do that, we would like to know a bit more about you. Do you know where you were living before you ended up here?"

A sudden shiver went down my spine. I felt the energy of that difficult name that ended with CPS, and that felt no good at all...

What were they planning to do, by 'looking after me'? Of course Jack would look after me, so I didn't need them! I also felt that same energy the police officers and the customs were radiating, something unassailable and almighty. I had to be very careful...

On the other hand, I had promised to answer their questions:

"I live... huge mountains."

"That's great, but do you know where those huge mountains are?"

I shook my head, trying to remember more of my mountains and getting tears in my eyes. I really didn't have the slightest idea where my beloved mountains were, or where we were living before we went on a vacation and our caravan burnt down...

The man offered me a tissue, and I wiped my eyes.

Again Margaret wrote down something, and resumed her questioning:
"How come you are no longer in your mountains, but here in this country?"

"We... vacation, caravan. Mom, Dad, me."

"So you were on a vacation, traveling in your caravan. Do you know what happened to you?"

I nodded, clearly remembering the sudden fire, the licking flames, my screeching parents, my saver Jack... I shuddered:

"Caravan fire, flames, now here..."

"That's wonderful, thank you. You are a big boy. Now tell me, do you have any idea who was putting your caravan on fire?"

WHAT?... Did I hear that right?...

Did Margaret really mean: 'putting our caravan on fire'?

Wasn't that fire an ACCIDENT? Did somebody do that ON PURPOSE?...

Did somebody MURDER my parents?

I was shocked to my core, jumped up, and started to cry and scream:

"NOOOooooo..."

Margaret tried to calm me down, but I pushed her hand away violently, crying loudly in my own language:

"Go away! Leave me alone..."

I tried to digest the information that somebody had murdered my parents, and nearly me; while we hadn't done ANYTHING wrong...

Margaret and the man both persisted in trying to comfort me and offer me their tissues. Why didn't they go away and let me think this over? Shut up! Piss off! Keep your hands off me! I don't need your so-called help...

At last Margaret pushed the glowing button, and twenty seconds later a nurse rushed into the room.

"Did you call? What can I do for you?"

"Could you give this boy a sedation to calm him down? He's crying and shouting all the time, and we can't do our work while he is like this."

"Just a moment, I'll ask the doctor."

The nurse disappeared; and I fell down onto the bed, totally exhausted. Slowly the light disappeared, and I welcomed the darkness that enfolded me and took me to another realm full of love and peacefulness.

I woke up knowing I had a dream full of love and tenderness, but couldn't remember it. Slowly I opened my eyes, and looked at the worried face of a doctor who tried to look into my eyes using a small flashlight. I smiled at him, and he looked relieved.

He put the flashlight away, and sat down onto one of the chairs:

"You had us worried for a moment. What happened to you?"

At first I didn't know what he meant, but then I remembered Margaret and the man from CPS. Again I felt that same shiver going down my spine. Where were they? I sat upright with a shock and looked around, but fortunately they seemed to be gone.

I didn't want to tell the doctor what they had told me, about my parents being burnt on purpose. I wanted to talk to Jack first, so I just shrugged. Fortunately the doctor didn't persist, and left the room after telling me to take it easy for a while.

Jack entered the room, and took the same chair the doctor had used. He looked a bit worried, and I wormed my hand into his.

Now he smiled at me, and tried to read my eyes...

"What happened to you? The nurse told me to wait outside, because the doctor had to look you over first."

"Jack, why caravan fire? Was purpose? Some body murder Dad and Mom?"

Jack looked very pale all of a sudden, and nodded slowly:

"Has somebody told you that? Yes, my little friend, somebody burnt down your caravan on purpose. Fortunately you escaped..."

"Why, Jack?"

"I don't know... I think not everybody loves Gypsies."

"But why? Dad and Mom did no wrong, were good some body."

"I know, my friend. I know..."

I crawled onto Jack's lap, and we held each other close until our tears dried and we wiped each other's eyes with the same tissue.

Now I wanted to tell him why the doctor visited me, and desperately looked for the right words:

"Woman and man here, woman Margaret. Ask question, I answer. Told from... See Pee Es?"

"CPS? Oh God, no... What did you tell them?"

"Name Harry Romani, live huge mountains. Mom, Dad, me vacation. Caravan fire, flames, now here... Margaret ask who put caravan fire. I... Bang! Think murder Dad and Mom, cry. Tell go away, fight. Call nurse, doctor sedation calm down. Then dark..."

I hoped Jack would understand what I tried to tell him, and fortunately he did:

"Those almighty 'helpers' are always trying to take over. Even when I rescued you outside your caravan and you clamped yourself onto me, the paramedics tried to take over and chase me away. I told them to go to hell and that I would accompany you to the hospital. I did, and I think they were not too happy with me. They tried to refuse to let me visit you because I wasn't your family, but I told them I was the ONLY family you had, and that refusing to let me be with you could cause your death, and I would sue them into hell if necessary...

"Now they do allow me to visit you, but nobody ever speaks to me or tells me anything. They just do as if I don't exist."

Jack was right. I had never seen any doctor speaking to Jack directly. They only spoke to me and always did as if Jack wasn't there. Why?

The doctor entered the room; and looked at me, sitting naked on Jack's lap, as if he didn't like to see that.

He took the other chair, and sat down at the other side of the empty bed:

"What do you think, are you ready to leave our hospital tomorrow?"

I looked at the doctor, and at first his question didn't come through... Then I started to cheer:
"YES!!! I want leave hospital. I go live Jack house! Jack Big Friend."

The windows started to rumble, and the sound of my cheering lifted the roof...

I hopped off Jack's lap, and hugged the doctor who looked a bit ashamed and soon left the room.

Now Jack and I danced around the room. Tomorrow I was going to live with my Big Friend! I threw my arms around his neck, and kissed him wherever I could reach him, while our tears of joy mixed together.

After a while we calmed down a bit, and Jack asked me:

"Can I leave you alone for a while? When I'm back I will have a present for you."

"Yes, I like present! You back soon?"

"I'll try to be back within an hour. Is that okay with you?"

"Is okay. Now hurry..."

Jack smiled, kissed my forehead, and left the room.

I waited in anticipation until Jack would be back. What would he bring for me as a present? I could hardly wait...

Tomorrow I was going to live with my Big Friend, who would lead me to my new Dad when the earth had rounded the sun two times. What could that mean? The sun rounded the earth in one day... The moon rounded the earth every day, but went full and new in one month. The next recurring period was a year... Of course, that had to be the solution! The earth rounded the sun in one YEAR!

I was very proud of myself to have discovered this difficult riddle. I had to wait for another two years until I would finally meet my new Dad...

Jack entered the room, and I raced towards him and jumped high into the air so that he could catch me, as my Dad always did. He caught me a bit clumsy and nearly let me fall, but that would change once I was living with him. I was already planning to train him properly...

Jack carried a big brown bag, and put it onto my bed:
"That's for you. Open it and have a look..."

I opened the bag, and looked in awe at a brilliantly colored polo-shirt showing all the colors of the rainbow, snoopy underpants, and nice looking blue jeans. Beneath them I found a pair of dark blue socks, and a pair of beautiful white sneakers.

I threw my arms around Jack's neck and nearly suffocated him:

"I... clothes on now, try?"

"Of course you may try them on now. I can't take you with me tomorrow looking like a naked wild savage, or can I?"

"What 'savage'?"

He told me, and I grinned, thinking I fitted that description quite well in our woods.

Jack helped me to put on my new clothes, and they fitted perfectly. He took the mirror out of his duffel bag, and I looked at my beautiful new gadjo outfit, proudly showing off. Many gadjo boys would be jealous of me!

"I nice, Jack! I gadjo boy now."

Finally I looked at my face, for the second time since the fire, and again I was shocked to see such a caricature of a face staring back at me...

Suddenly I understood why Margaret had looked at me so pitifully when she saw me for the first time. And why the nurse did so as if everything was 'normal' every time. And why the first doctor never looked at me, but always averted his eyes when he entered the room...

Only Jack had never looked at my so damaged face other than with pure love in his eyes. Jack looked at the inside of me!

I undressed, and carefully folded my beautiful outfit in clear sight onto the nightstand, so that I could look at it first thing in the morning. Being clad into those brand new clothes I would accompany Jack tomorrow to my new home and my new own room!

I crawled onto Jack's lap, and we started to make plans for tomorrow when I was going to live with him. I had seen his house once, while he sorted out those second hand clothes, and vaguely remembered how it looked. Jack helped me remember the details, and slowly the picture of my new home built up in my mind.

"I remember, Jack, sleep room up stair door left!"

Jack grinned, and ruffled my hair.

After a while I could walk around in my mind in our home, and find the living room, the kitchen, the bathroom, and the staircase that led upstairs to Jack's bedroom, two spare rooms, and a room holding a big shower enclosure.

Jack tenderly kissed my head, and asked me:
"Would you like to have your own room in our house?"

Yes, of course I wanted to have my own room!

"Yippee, I own room in new home!"

Together we decided to furnish the second room to the left upstairs as being my own room. We would go to the town to look for a nice bed, some furniture, and a small desk. I would choose my own wallpaper, and together we would cover the walls and hang new curtains.

We hatched many more plans, until I was too tired and started to yawn. It had been a long day!

Jack put me to bed and tenderly kissed my forehead:

"Tomorrow is the big day, my precious little friend. Tomorrow you will go home, to your own room in our own house."

We cuddled until I fell asleep. I didn't hear Jack leaving the room, as I was already dreaming of my new own room in our house...

. The orphanage, runaway, and a madhouse.

In my dream I was clad into my beautiful new clothes, and Jack and I went to the town looking for a nice wooden desk to have in my own room. I felt wonderful and loved, and very much enjoyed the company of my Big Friend. Finally we were together, and I really hoped he would be my Big Friend forever, even when eventually I would meet my new Dad!

I put my arm around his waist, he put his arm around my shoulders, and together we strolled through the town.

I must have dreamt away, because somebody tried to wake me up:
"Come on, we don't have all day. Wake up; you're going to live with us. Get up and dress."

This wasn't the voice of Jack... slowly my dream left me, and I woke up.

I opened my eyes, squinted at the bright light of the fluorescent lamp over my bed, and looked at the face of a very impatient looking Margaret who had removed my blankets and tried to pull me out of bed...

What was happening? Where was Jack? Was I going to live with Jack now?

"You take me home Jack? Where Jack? Why Jack not here?"

Margaret dragged me onto my feet, and grumbled:

"Jack? Who is Jack? I don't know anybody who's called 'Jack'."

"But... Jack promise! He take me home. I go live home Jack..."

Margaret turned around, to where a doctor was waiting for us:
"What's he talking about? Who is that 'Jack'?"

"I think Jack is that strange pedophile who was visiting him here every day for four months. We didn't really trust him, because he was always cuddling with the boy, and tried to have the naked child onto his lap every time he got a chance. He thought he had rescued the boy, and even threatened us with a lawsuit. Unfortunately we weren't able to prove he did anything improper, but we decided to keep a close eye on him. One can never know, and those predators are everywhere..."

I listened to his words, and nearly choked up with anger. Was that doctor talking about JACK?

Margaret returned to me, snatched my beautiful new clothes from the nightstand, and spread them out onto the bed:

"Now be a big boy, and get dressed. I want to be back before coffee-break."

I balled my fists in frustration. That unfriendly woman-in-a-hurry had to keep her nasty hands off Jack's new clothes! What did she do here? I was NOT going to dress into my new clothes, but planned to wait until my Big Friend showed up. He would help me...

"NO, I NOT dress. I wait Jack. He help me. I go live home Jack!"

Margaret didn't even listen to me, but took Jack's beautiful new snoopy pants and tried to force my legs into them.

That's when I realized: I was NOT going to live with Jack, but with that nasty woman Margaret... probably I wouldn't see Jack ever again.

I panicked, and started to fight her and scream at the tops of my lungs:

"I go live home Jack! He promise! He take me home! JACK! JAAAAAAAAAAAAAACK......."

Margaret kneeled down and straddled my arms, while the doctor prepared an injection and I tried to kick her and wrestled to get away. Margaret held my arm up, the doctor pricked into it with a needle, and within a few minutes I started to feel dozy and didn't care any more...

Margaret smiled triumphantly, and invitingly held up my new snoopy pants. Without any protest I stepped into them. She took my beautiful colored polo-shirt, and I let her put my arms through the sleeves, feeling strangely carefree. She took my new blue jeans, and I stepped into them. She closed the zipper and fastened the brand new leather belt, while I dreamed away. She sat me onto the bed and put on the new dark blue socks and the beautiful white sneakers Jack had bought for me, and I let her do without even looking.

Finally she lifted me off the bed and put me onto my feet. She took my hand, and I wavered alongside her through the door, across the corridor, down the staircase, until we stopped at the reception. She signed a couple of papers, while the nurses greeted me pitifully and told me how beautiful I looked now, clad into my new clothes. All the time I looked into space, and didn't even hear them saying farewell.

Margaret dragged me towards her car, and told me to enter it. I didn't pay her much attention, and stared at the hospital entrance...

Suddenly something inside me jumped up: I saw Jack, smilingly bouncing up the steps to the hospital and carrying two huge bags! He didn't see me, and I felt too drowsy to call him. Would Jack join us? He disappeared into the building...

Margaret opened the car door, and pushed me onto the backseat. I fell down onto the seat, and immediately drifted off.

I woke up while Margaret tried to drag me out of her car:
"Come on, wake up! We have to go inside, and I need my coffee..."

I let her pull me onto my feet; and wavered alongside her, passing a huge wooden door and entering an imposing building.

Still feeling drowsy and unconcerned in a strange way, I heard a surprised male voice exclaiming:
"Jeez... what are you bringing now? Are you sure this creature is in the right place here?"

Margaret grinned, and sat me down onto a wooden bench:

"He's a little present from CPS, with our compliments; and our office will call you one of these days. Is the coffee ready?"

Margaret and the surprised man both disappeared into somewhere, and I started to drift off again.

I woke up by the sound of a muffled cry, and a woman stared at me in horror:
"Is THIS the new boy from CPS? My goodness... Sorry, I didn't mean that. I have to bring you upstairs..."

She hesitated for a moment, but took my hand; and I followed her into the building along several echoing corridors and huge stairways.

Finally we entered an office room, where a couple of people stared at me with bulging eyes:

"What are you bringing us now? They can't possible inflict us with such a creature! Look at that face... The other children will totally wreck him in no time! Isn’t there a place for him in a madhouse or such? We can't have him here..."

"I'm afraid that for the moment we can't get rid of him. Let's try to prepare the other children first, before they are seeing him."

The woman brought me to another room, where she sat me down onto a chair. I didn't care; and sat there for a long time, feeling drowsy and staring into empty space... until slowly the effect of the drug faded away, and I started to feel a bit uneasy and restlessly.

Finally a man brought me a sandwich and a cup of tea. I started to wake up a bit, and wolfed the sandwich down.

The man laughed, sat down next to me, and ruffled my hair:

"I can see you were hungry, after being drugged for such a long time. What happened to your face?"

"Burnt, caravan on fire, did on purpose..."

"They did it on purpose? That's bad! Do you know who did it?"

I shook my head, still being a bit drowsy, while memories of the fire lingered in my consciousness.

"You don't speak our language very well... Can you understand everything I'm telling you?"

I nodded, feeling safe with the man who seemed to be a nice person. Actually he was the first nice person I had met since I left the hospital.

"By the way, I'm a psychiatrist, and I am looking after you as long as you are here."

I decided to trust him, and asked:

"Where Jack? Jack promise, I go live Jack. Now I here, why?"

The man looked at me a bit pitifully, and shook his head:

"I'm afraid you are going to live with us for a long time. Do you know where you are?"

Again I shook my head. I hadn't the faintest idea where I was, except from maybe 'see pee es'...

"This is an orphanage, a home for children who have lost their parents. I've seen your files, telling me your parents both perished in a caravan fire, and only you survived. You have been in hospital for nearly four months, and none of your relatives showed up. The authorities don't know who you are, or where you lived, other than 'in huge mountains' in another country. You are a Gypsy boy, but with blonde hair and blue eyes, so I suppose your father or your mother will be of another origin. Your name seems to be 'Harry Romani'. Am I correct so far?"

"You correct."

"Thank you. Now I will bring you to the dormitory, where you may sleep for a while until the drug has left your body and you don't feel drowsy any more. In the afternoon we will bring you into contact with the other children, to see how they react. Do you understand me?"

"What 'dormitory'?"

"Dormitory is the sleeping room, holding many beds for all the orphan boys to sleep in. One of those beds will be your bed from now on."

The psychiatrist took my hand, and together we went to another part of the building that seemed to be enormous. We climbed antique stairways, went from corridor to hallway, crossed huge halls, until I thought I heard children's voices coming from one of the open doors.

Suddenly a whole bunch of children appeared, frolicking and pushing each other through the open door. They saw me, and froze on the spot...

They lined up and stared at me silently and open-mouthed, until one of them started to laugh:

"Look at that! The aliens have landed. Hey creep, you are on the wrong planet!"

At first I had no idea what he was talking about. Was something wrong with me? Why did that boy laugh at me?

Then I realized what was wrong with me, and I cringed and felt terrible. Of course he laughed at my devastated face...

I started to tremble all over. Never before had anybody been so mean to me! My throat choked up, and I got tears in my eyes.

The other children started to laugh and make fun of me too, and now I couldn't bear it any longer and started to cry heartbreakingly.

I tore myself loose from the psychiatrist and fled into the opposite direction, running blindly from hallway to corridor to stairway, jumping three steps at once, crossing a hall, now and then bumping into a wall, until I didn't hear those hateful waves of laughter any more.

My heart nearly burst out of my chest and I had a searing headache, maybe from the drug and the sleepiness. I was out of breath, my left side ached, and I felt dizzy. I didn't want to be found, so I entered a stray door and carefully closed it behind.

I needed a few minutes to regain myself. Then I looked around, and saw what looked like a kitchen, having many glass cupboards filled with all sorts of bottles and small boxes. The smell reminded me of the hospital when the nurse cleaned my skin to put a needle into my arm. Maybe this was sort of a laboratory or medicine stockroom?

I went to a small sink and gulped down a lot of water, using my hands as I was used to doing under our waterfall. That felt better! The headache diminished slowly, and I could think a bit more clearly.

I had to pee, so I took a chair, lowered my pants, and peed into the sink, flushing the yellow fluid away carefully. That felt much better!

In the corner of the room I saw a stretcher, and climbed onto it because I felt still dizzy and drowsy. I closed my eyes...

I woke up in the faint light coming from the only window in the room. Obviously the evening or night had set in. I seemed to have slept for many hours, and felt refreshed and healthy. But where was I? And what should I do now?

I started to think. What had happened since this morning? I remembered the impatient face of that CPS lady Margaret hovering over me and trying to wake me up. She dragged me out of bed, and tried to force me to put on the nice clothes Jack had bought especially for me. I refused, and started to yell and kick her. She straddled my arms, and a doctor pricked my arm. From that moment on everything was a blur.

I remembered a couple of children making fun of me and calling me names, while their waves of laughter chased me through the building.

Now I was lost somewhere in a huge orphanage, felt extremely hungry, and didn't know what to do...

One thought popped up, and immediately filled all my thoughts: I had to find Jack! Jack would know what to do. Jack would fight Margaret, and take me with him to his safe house, where I would get my own room, upstairs, second door to the left. I was going to live with Jack!

But where could I find him? What was Jack's address? I didn't even know the town he lived in...

Another thought popped up: did Jack know where I was? He had promised to collect me in the hospital. I had even a vague feeling of seeing him climb the steps to the hospital, having a broad smile on his face, carrying two bags, ready to take me home...

I started to cry, feeling totally at a loss and not knowing what to do. Ultimately I was only a small six-year-old little runt...

After a while I dried my eyes using a slip of my beautiful polo-shirt, and told myself:
"Come on, Harry, you have to find Jack! Don't be such a cry-baby all the time."

How could I find Jack? Could I try to use the abilities Micha once taught me, to feel where something was? Would it work on Jack?

I tuned in onto Jack, and immediately felt a HUGE wave of sadness and despair entering my consciousness. I fainted nearly, and had to hold onto the stretcher not to fall down. My heart skipped several beats, and I started to tremble all over. Obviously I was able to feel Jack, and his panic nearly overwhelmed me. Jack was a very desperate man, and I felt something else too: Jack thought of committing suicide...

I tried to reach him using all my mental powers, and screamed in my mind:

"NO, Jack, DON'T DO THAT! You will ruin everything you have built up in your life. We will find each other, and we will be together. Don't give up!"

I didn't know why I told him that, but it felt the right thing to do, and it worked! I could feel Jack calming down and gaining more trust.

I turned around slowly, concentrating on Jack's energy, until I clearly felt the direction where Jack was. There I had to go to find him. It worked on Jack! I only had to walk into that direction, feeling Jack's energy from time to time, to be able to find him, just like in my mountains I always could find our camp or waterfall. Ultimately I WAS a real trapper, and I could even find the Wise Woman's pouch hidden in the bushes!

I tiptoed to the door, and listened. Nobody seemed to be around, so I opened the door and sneaked out, closing it behind.

I looked around: where should I go? Where was the exit? Would this building be guarded? I started to walk, carefully not to make any sounds.

Soon I reached a staircase, and tiptoed downwards because of course the exit had to be on the ground floor. I heard a couple of voices talking in the distance, so I hid myself in a small niche until the voices faded away and I was alone again...

I was on the ground floor, and now I had to find the exit! Where was it? My guardian angels had to be with me, because I saw a little box showing an arrow and the faintly glowing greenish letters 'EXIT' on it...

The orphanage had been so nice as to show me the way! I grinned, but muffled my sound.

I walked into the direction of the arrow, and soon saw a counter desk... and a sleeping security woman, snoring faintly. Thank you, my angels!

I sneaked to the huge wooden door, and succeeded in opening it a little bit using all my force. A cold draught blew inside, but the security woman didn't wake up. I wormed myself through the crack, leaving the too heavy door open. I was on my way to Jack!

The night outside was cold and a bit misty, and suddenly I missed my warm badger fur coat. I started to shiver, and got goose bumps all over my body. I looked around the square in front of the building, and fortunately it seemed to be empty. Everybody else was asleep...

I turned around slowly, concentrating on Jack's energy, and walked towards where I felt him, crossing the square and entering a small street.

Soon I started to walk faster to warm myself from the inside, and that helped a bit. At the end of the street I stopped for a moment, to feel Jack and decide which street I had to choose now. I entered the next street, bringing me closer to Jack...

Every street looked desolate, and I seemed to be all on my own while I entered street after street or crossed a small square. Now and then a police car appeared in a street, and then I hid myself in a garden until it passed by without seeing me. I was very good at hiding!

I walked on and on for a long time, and slowly started to feel tired. My legs started to tremble, and my feet felt sore, but I walked on stubbornly.

Now I thought I saw a little bit more light appearing in the sky, which had to be the ascending sun. Within a few hours the sun would start shining abundantly and warming my benumbed body, and that would help me...

At last I was dead tired, saw a wooden bench, and slumped down onto it to rest for a short moment. I closed my eyes...

"THERE you are! Boy, everybody is looking for you! You have been on local television, and all the police stations have been informed."

I opened my eyes, and squinted at the bright light of the upcoming sun. Two police officers looked at me pitifully, and one of them offered me his uniform jacket. I shivered, and gratefully accepted his offer. The jacket was nicely warmed inside, and felt good on my ice-cold body.

Slowly I warmed up a bit, and the shivering subsided. I stood up from the bench, but my legs felt very sore and stiff and started to tremble again.

I tried to walk on my own, but my poor legs refused to move. One of the officers took me into his arms, and carried me to their police car.

Of course I was very worried where they would take me:

"Where go? I NOT back orphanage. I live Jack! Please take me Jack home."

"I don't know who 'Jack' is, but we have orders to take you back to the orphanage, and I have to obey them."

I slumped down onto the backseat, and slowly took off the uniform jacket. Even those police officers didn't want to help me...

The police car stopped in front of the orphanage, and the officers delivered me to my psychiatrist, who looked very tired and pale.

He took me into his arms, and nearly started to cry:
"Boy, you had us worried! Please promise me to NEVER do that again! Very bad things could have happened to you, and you are fortunate that those police officers found you, and not somebody else who could have less proper intentions..."

"I not want live here. I want live Jack! Here bad, children laugh, think I alien..."

"I have asked CPS about Jack, to try to help you. They think Jack has a bad influence on you, and wants to get you into his house to do improper things to you. Even if this may not be true, you will never be allowed to live with Jack. Jack has never been married, and he is living on his own. The authorities will never grant him custody, or allow him to take you into his house. I'm very sorry, but you have to put Jack out of your mind..."

I slumped down, and cried my heart out. They would never ever let me see Jack again...

The psychiatrist comforted me until my sobs subdued, and took me to a canteen where we sat down on a wooden bench along a table. He ordered something to eat, and after a moment a waiter brought us two enormous pizzas. I wolfed my pizza down without even trying to taste it, until I felt my hunger subside. All the time the psychiatrist looked at me with a smile on his face, clearly enjoying my enthusiasm, while he nibbled on his own pizza and now and then sipped his coffee.

I drank a huge glass of cola, and now I was stuffed to the brim and even burped a few times, feeling better.

The psychiatrist stood up, and tenderly ruffled my hair:

"Now both of us are going to sleep, and tomorrow I want you to tell me everything that's on your mind. Okay?"

"Okay, and thank for eat. Eat good, I better now."

A woman approached me, and took me to a room accommodating a single bed, a nightstand, and a small shower enclosure:

"Be a good boy, and take a shower before going to sleep. I will wake you up in the afternoon."

I was dead tired, but forced myself to undress and take a nice and hot shower. Fortunately that helped, and now I felt good. I dried myself using the towel that hung aside the enclosure, crawled under the blankets, and was gone even before I could properly close my eyes.

I slept halfway through the day, and woke up hearing a couple of sounds outside my room. The sounds disappeared, but my sleep was gone so I took another shower and dressed into my beautiful clothes. What would this day bring me?

I tried to open the door, but it appeared to be locked. Why had they locked me in? Were they afraid I would run away again? Didn't they trust me now? I sat down onto the bed, and waited...

Somebody unlocked the door, and my psychiatrist walked in:

"Good morning, my little refugee. You don't need help with dressing, I can see. Did you sleep well?"

"Why lock me? You no trust me?"

The psychiatrist looked at me with sad eyes, and I saw the doubt in them:

"Well... you DID run away, you know. And we didn't want to go through that misery a second time."

Suddenly I saw something: this wasn't only MY misery... what I did was touching the lives of others as well! I still had to learn quite a lot...

The psychiatrist sat down onto the bed next to me, still looking a bit sad:

"I promised you to talk to you today, but CPS decided this morning to take you somewhere else. They were very shocked by your running away, and I told them the reason, that the other children didn't react very well upon seeing your burnt face. They clearly hadn't expected this, and now they want to put you into a closed institute, to protect you from being harassed again. I don't agree with them, but they are the boss..."

The psychiatrist stood up, and offered me his hand:

"I wish you all the best, my little friend."

I shook his hand, and he went away with teary eyes. I felt as if I had lost a friend, and started to sob...

What would that 'closed institute' be? Sort of an orphanage with all the doors closed, so that the other children couldn't laugh at me?

An hour later the door was unlocked again, and Margaret-in-a-hurry walked in:

"Come on, let's go. I have my orders to bring you to the madhouse."

She took my hand, and dragged me out of the room towards the exit.

The MADHOUSE?... Did I hear that right? Wasn't that an institute for CRAZY people? Was THAT the 'closed institute' that would protect me?

I thought about kicking Margaret's legs until she fell, and trying to run away again, but I knew that would bring me only even more misery. They would never let me alone, and maybe even punish me for not following their rules... so I followed Margaret outside and to her car patiently.

She let my hand go to unlock the doors, and now I could have fled easily, but I stepped into her car all by myself, deciding to be PROUD of myself. Even in that so-called madhouse they could have only my body, but never my soul!

We stopped at the entrance of a huge hospital, that exhaled and inhaled many people-in-a-hurry. Soon we mingled amongst them, and I followed the ever-hurrying Margaret who didn't even bother to take my hand. Did she hope I would escape? I didn't let her have the fun.

I followed Margaret to a small office, stared at by many people who had never seen a burnt face before. This time I put my half-nose high into the air, and stared back at them until they blushed and lowered their eyes. That felt good, and made me feel even more proud of myself.

Margaret signed a few papers, and left me without even looking back. Maybe she had to be in time for her next cup of coffee?

A nurse grabbed my hand without saying a word, and took me to the elevators. Where were we going? I didn't say a word either...

We went up a couple of floors, left the elevator, and entered a hallway showing a small sign. I spelled the words, and read "Children's Psychiatric Section". There was another 'CPS'... Suddenly I grinned, and decided to rename it to 'CCM': 'Children's Crazy Madhouse'.

The nurse looked at me with a questioning face, but still didn't say a word. She took a key out of her pocket, and opened a painted steel door. We entered the door, and she immediately closed it behind, causing a dull bang. Was she afraid I would try to escape?

We went through a corridor, until she took another key out of her pocket and opened another door. We went in, but this time she didn't close it immediately. She turned around and left the room, carefully closing the door from the outside.

Suddenly I was all alone, not knowing what the future would bring me...

I looked around at a small bed, a nightstand, two wooden chairs, and a small washing stand. Was this my room from now on? Was I going to live here in this 'closed madhouse institute' for the remainder of my life?

I went to the door and tried to open it, but of course it was locked as I had expected. Were they afraid I would try to escape, or maybe get really mad and demolish something? I, being a six-year-old little runt? Who were the crazy people here?

I put my ear against the door, and tried to listen to the world outside. Now and then I thought I heard some talking coming from a far distance, and sometimes I heard a muffled bang from a far door being opened or shut, but that was all...

I sat down onto one of the chairs, and waited. What would happen next? I waited and waited, and waited, and waited... until I decided they were trying to MAKE me crazy. Why had I to wait for so long? What was I waiting for?

I left the chair, and laid down onto the small bed, not even bothering to remove my shoes. Why should I? Nobody bothered about me...

I started to reflect on my life. Who was I? I tried to remember my youth, but only vague parts showed up. With a bit of difficulty I could remember huge mountains, having their tops glowing in the bright sunlight. A secluded place, showing many caravans put into a circle. A campfire, glowing faintly. A huge man wearing a fur coat, but I couldn't remember his name. Two little boys, both wearing diapers. Another boy who seemed to be my friend. What was his name? Something with 'Mi...' I couldn't remember the name...

Vague pictures showed up: a badger growling at me. A screeching pig, caught in a snare. A sharp kitchen knife. Yelling police officers. A madhouse called 'warehouse'. A stream full of jumping trout fishes. Five children, curiously looking at me from across the street...

Suddenly I started to cry. I remembered my five friends, who brought me to Jack's house. How would Jack be? Would he miss me?

I thought of John, being the nicest boy I ever saw. He felt as if we had known each other for ages, as if we were blood brothers or such. Would I ever see him again? Would John think of me now and then? I felt a deep longing to be with him and tell him everything that was on my mind...

I tried to tune in to John, and was shocked to feel a lot of sadness. Was John so sad because of me? Or did I make up that feeling myself?

I tuned in to Jack, and felt that same sadness, only stronger, and mixed with despair and a deep longing. I was sure Jack wasn't forgetting me!

I tried to speak to him in my mind, but couldn't reach him. He had to be too sad to pick up my thoughts...

I left the bed, walked around to stretch my muscles a bit, and sat down onto the chair again, waiting...

I thought of the fire in our caravan, which was lit on purpose. Why would anybody do such a thing? Were some gadjo people really THAT mean?

I remembered my Mom screeching, and my Dad yelling at me to leave our caravan. His last thoughts were about me, before he died!

Fortunately Jack rescued me, by rolling me around in the grass until the flames were extinguished. He saved my life, and I would be grateful for the rest of my life; supposed I would have any, being captured in this stupid madhouse for how long?

I remembered Jack telling me to be brave and not give up, and he would be with me and help me. Then I tumbled into a black hole.

Had I really been in that hospital for four months? I could hardly imagine that... The first time I woke up had been after three weeks, and I was shocked to discover I couldn't use my voice due to having scorched vocal cords. I trained myself in listening to Jack's words, and tried to learn the language by repeating them in my mind. Fortunately that worked!

Jack told me I had three major surgeries in total. The first one was a day after the burning, and after it I was three weeks in a coma. The second one was to mend my vocal cords and remove a lot of wild flesh. The third one was to loosen up my too tight skin. After the third one I was able to move and walk around again, until the doctor told me I would leave the hospital the next day...

Now I was NOT living with Jack, but in this stupid madhouse where I was boring myself to death. The psychiatrist told me that was to protect me because maybe Jack would have 'improper intentions'... but why did nobody ask ME, what I wanted? Supposed I WANTED to get those 'improper intentions' from Jack? Why had everybody to decide for me? I felt myself getting mad, and kicked my chair a few times.

Now I started to laugh at myself: maybe I really belonged in this madhouse? I, a mad little runt...

Finally the door opened, and a nurse entered the room carrying a platter. I jumped up: did she bring me something to EAT?

With a sour face I looked at something that resembled scrambled brownish cow dung, and smelled accordingly. Did I really have to eat that?

The nurse took a small pill from a little white box, and offered it to me:
"You have to take this pill, using a bit of water."

"Why pill? I not ill."

"Why are you talking so funny? Are you trying to pull my leg?"

What? Had I been trying to pull at her leg? What a stupid idea... Who was the crazy person here?

"Why 'pull leg'? I not understand..."

She looked at me angrily, turned around, and left the room stamping away. Again I was alone...

I took the pill, let it fall into the washstand, and rinsed it away, using a bit of water as she had told me.

I looked at the cow dung, and pricked into what looked like lots of small brown beans. I had never seen them before, and I WAS hungry. I decided to taste a few of them, and to my surprise they didn't taste that bad at all. Soon I had emptied my plate of brown beans, and longed for more. Nah, that gadjo food wasn't that bad once you got used to it. I rinsed it away with the cup of milk that accompanied the food.

Again I sat down onto my chair, waiting for the things to come. Again I waited and waited, and waited...

Finally another nurse entered the room, and smiled at me:
"You did take your pill?"

"Take, using bit of water."

"You are a big boy. Let's put you to bed."

"I not sleepy. I bored."

"Yes, I know. Tomorrow I will bring you a few things to play with. Did you have a quarrel with the other nurse?"

"I not understand 'pull leg'. I not do pull..."

"THAT is what she tried to tell me... Now I understand. 'Pulling your leg' means kidding with you."

"Kidding? I little kid..."

"Oh, this is difficult. It's an expression, words people use to tell each other something. Nah, sorry, just let it go."

"Okay, let it go."

She helped me undress and put me under the shower, washing me all over. She dried me, and put me to bed.

"Sleep sound, and tomorrow I will you bring you a few things to play with."

"Thank."

I slept well, and the next morning the nurse brought me breakfast and a few 'things to play with'. But what could I, being very bright and too intelligent for my own good, do with a color book, a few colored pencils, a wooden puzzle, and a small box of plastic blocks?

I thanked her politely, and asked her to bring me a notebook and a ballpoint.

"What do you want to do with a notebook? You can't read and write, or can you?"

I looked at her in disdain... but saw the disbelief in her eyes.

"I NOT crazy. My Dad give book, I read four year old. My Mom give pen, I write four year old. I now six year old."

"Okay, sorry I didn't believe you. I will bring you a ballpoint and a notebook."

She did, and I decided to maintain sort of a diary. From that day on I wrote down the things I experienced during my most difficult time in my life.

Of course I wrote them down using my own language, because the foreign language was too difficult for me to write properly. It also had the extra advantage that nobody else was able to read my sometimes too personal effusions...

I wrote a lot in my new diary, neatly colored all the pictures in my book using the pencils, tried to make the wooden puzzle more difficult by breaking the pieces into many smaller parts, and made sort of a stupid puzzle of the plastic blocs by putting letters onto them.

A few times a nurse came around to look at me or bring me something to eat or drink. In the evening she brought me another calming pill, and again I took it to the washstand and used a bit of water, grinning inwardly. I was NOT disobedient!

The nurse undressed me, showered me, and took my clothes to wash them. She muttered a bit, because I refused to put on any pajamas in bed.

She put me to bed telling me I was a good boy. Thank you, madam, I'm trying...

The next morning I woke up feeling something would happen today. I waited impatiently until the nurse showed up, carrying a platter of breakfast and my washed and neatly ironed beautiful clothes. I wolfed my food down, and gulped the glass of milk in one long swallow.

The nurse laughed, washed my face, helped me with dressing, and told me:

"Within an hour a nurse will bring you downstairs, where somebody wants to meet you."

Oh no, please not again that Margaret from see pee es... Why doesn't she leave me alone? I don't WANT to meet her...

CPS... that should be Cranky Pitiful Suckers!

After an hour another nurse collected me, putting my notebook and ballpoint into a plastic bag:

"Do you have anything else you want to take with you?"

"I go else? Where? I NOT go see pee es!"

"I don't know. They just told me to bring you downstairs, where somebody is waiting for you."

I followed her, feeling nervous and dragging myself along the corridor. Again I had to move on... where would they bring me now?

The elevator took us to the ground floor, where we went to a small office. The nurse ruffled my hair, told me to wait, and left me alone.

I sat down on a chair, and waited...

. Rescued by John's mother; my five friends.

I looked around at the small office, showing a couple of chairs and a wooden desk. How long would I have to wait until Margaret-in-a-hurry showed up here to bring me somewhere else where I wouldn't be welcome either?

Should I run away again? This time I wouldn't be so stupid as to let myself be caught... but I didn't know where to go. Maybe Jack was living far away from here, and then I had to walk for days... I simply was too small to be able to do that on my own.

Should I put an end to everything? Take the elevator to the roof, and jump down from there? Maybe that was the best solution, and Margaret would be in time to drink her next cup of coffee...

Or I could go outside and throw myself in front of a car-in-a-hurry. Maybe I could jump in front of Margaret's car? That would be the ultimate joke... I played with the idea, and started to grin.

Suddenly I veered up, and looked at the open door with bulging eyes. Did I hear the voice of JOHN? Nah, that was impossible. John couldn't be here in this madhouse. Probably he hadn't the faintest idea where I was... I slumped back onto the chair, and my flaring hope disappeared.

Again I heard the same voice, now being a little bit louder. THAT WAS JOHN'S VOICE! Was I infected by madness, and starting to hear voices? I shook my head to get rid of the stupid idea that John could be here. I was making things up in my mind!

A woman I had never met before, entered the office, and looked at me in shock. She opened her mouth... and closed it again.

Behind the woman a boy entered the office, froze, and looked at me with bulging eyes...

THERE WAS JOHN!

Slowly John's mouth opened. He stared at me, and I saw his eyes changing from anticipation into horror. He tried to say something, but choked up. He took a step forward, and stopped. He stared at me for a long time, and slowly his eyes changed from horror into dismay.

He shivered, while slowly his eyes changed from dismay into sympathy. He started to cry, while his eyes changed from sympathy into compassion, and finally into acceptance. He walked towards me, and silently took me into his arms...

I couldn't help it, but I started to cry too, and clamped myself onto his chest desperately.

After a moment I felt John's tears mixing with mine, while he sobbed:
"My little brother, what have they DONE to you..."

We cried for quite a while, until the woman offered us a couple of tissues and John carefully dried his and my eyes. All the time I clamped myself onto him, determined never to let him go. I didn't want to be sent back to that boring room upstairs without my newly found Friend...

Finally the woman sank onto one knee, to get on level with me, and looked at me with tears in her eyes:

"Hi, Harry, it's nice to meet you. I'm John's mother, and I want you to come with us; that is, if you're willing."

Did I hear that right? John's mother asked me to come with her and John? I didn't have to go back upstairs to that madhouse?

I started to cry again, and nodded a bit hesitantly. Did John go with us, or had I to leave him here? I clamped myself onto John with even more force, in case somebody would try to put us apart...

John grinned, carefully loosened my death-grip, and took my hand:

"Come on, little brother, let's go home!"

Home? Home where Jack lived? Or another home, where again people wouldn't accept me? I still wasn't sure, but too scared to ask...

I clamped myself onto John's hand, and John's mother took my other hand. Together we left the building, where I squinted at the sudden sunlight. Again a lot of people stared at my devastated face, but I didn't care any more. I had found my Friend! Or actually he had found me...

I didn't even bother to stare back, until we reached a waiting taxi. The taxi driver opened the doors, looked at me, and froze. His face turned pale, and he swallowed a few times. For a moment I thought he would refuse to let me enter his taxi, but then John pushed me onto the backseat and sat next to me. John's mother took the front seat, and now the taxi driver couldn't do anything else but drive us home.

John protectively threw his arms around me, and for the first time in three days I dared to feel a tiny bit safer...

John's mother looked at me from the front seat, and smiled:
"You had us in a lot of commotion during the past days! Fortunately everything turned out for the best, and from now on you are going to live with us. CPS has granted us custody over you, and now you are my son and John's little brother."

"What 'commotion', and what 'custody'?"

"Commotion means that we had a lot of talking to do, and we had to pay many visits to the authorities because of you. Custody means that from now on you belong to our family, and we are responsible for you until you are eighteen years old."

Did I really understand her words correctly? Was I really going to live with her and with John? For the first time since Margaret kidnapped me out of the hospital, I started to smile. Was really everything turning out for the best? Would Margaret never take me away from now on? I hoped so...

The sun started to shine brighter, the birds outside sang their songs more beautifully, and my heartbeat slowed down. I let myself melt into John's safe arms, and dared to feel a little bit happier. I was going to live with John until I was eighteen years old...

Something was nagging at me, and I couldn't get rid of it. In our clan in the mountains all the children, even the littlest diapers, were taught to always keep their promises. That was the foundation of our community, and thus we could absolutely trust everybody else. In case somebody couldn't do what he promised, he had to make his excuses and give an acceptable explanation. Everybody always did.

Jack had promised me to take me to his house, and he didn't keep his promise without explaining why he let Margaret take me away or making his excuses for not showing up in time. In our community that was unforgivable...

Why didn't Jack take me to his house? Didn't he want me any longer? Was he tired of me, or maybe I had disappointed him? Maybe he was mad at me, because I fell asleep the last evening without properly saying goodbye... Or maybe he had discovered how other people reacted upon seeing my weird face, and he didn't want to have such a strange curiosity in his house? Couldn't I REALLY trust Jack?

Had Jack told Margaret to take me to that orphanage? Was it Jack's fault they finally put me into a madhouse? Why was I going to live with John now, and NOT with Jack? Where was Jack when I needed him? I choked up, and started to sob.

John tried to comfort me, but he didn't know what bothered me, and I didn't tell him. How could I tell him I enjoyed his friendship and was very happy to be his little brother, but I wanted to LIVE with Jack, and Jack had betrayed my trust by not keeping his promise?

I decided to keep a huge distance towards Jack in case he might show up, until I was absolutely sure he REALLY wanted me... I didn't want to be a burden to him. I didn't want to be a burden to anybody, not even to John who was still trying to talk to me...

I forced myself to stop the crying, and wiped my eyes with the tissue John's mother offered me. I forced myself to smile, and from now on nobody would see my pain any more. From now on I would be a model child, even when Margaret or see pee es would take me away again.

John looked relieved, and tenderly kissed my forehead. I kissed him back, and felt like a traitor...

The taxi stopped, and I wormed myself free from John's arms and looked outside. I recognized the surroundings: this was the street where Jack lived. I looked at the houses one by one, until I found Jack's house. There was where I once thought I was going to live, three days ago...

I stared at the house for a long time, while fortunately John and his mother both let me have my personal space in silence.

The front door opened, and a tall man appeared in the door opening. At first I didn't recognize him, because he looked so pale and held his head down as if he carried an enormous burden. Finally he looked up, showing reddish and puffy eyes, and I froze...

JACK!

I threw myself against the taxi door in my hurry to open it, let myself fall out of the car, tripped over my own feet, stumbled across the street, jumped the three steps to the porch, and clamped myself against Jack's broad chest, laughing and crying at the same time. I was HOME.

I didn't see John's mother paying the taxi driver. I didn't see John crossing the street and joining us, throwing his arms around Jack and me. I didn't see John's mother taking her handkerchief out of her handbag, and carefully drying her eyes. I saw only one other person: Jack.

Jack cried. He cried his heart out, bawling and sniveling. And I cried with him, bawling and snivelling too. I clamped myself onto Jack's chest, planning to nevermore let him go in my whole life. Jack had both arms around my body, planning to nevermore let me go neither.

I don't know how long we stood there, on the porch halfway through the door opening. Time didn't exist any more. We were together, and that was all that counted. We were oblivious to the rest of the world. Our world consisted of solely the two of us, for a long time.

Finally our death grips lessened a bit. We looked into each other's eyes, and started to cry again. I kissed Jack on the lips, eagerly. Jack kissed me back, eagerly. It felt as if we sealed our companionship. We were reunited again, and would never let the other go as long as we lived.

Jack started to tremble from tiredness, and had to put me down. I took his hand, and together we entered his house. Oops, sorry, OUR house.

We went to the living room, while John's mother and John followed us. Jack slumped down onto the leather couch, and I crawled onto his lap. This was where I belonged. This was my place, being safely in Jack's strong arms. I was finally home.

John's mother and John both returned from the kitchen, carrying a tray with coffee and lemonade. Jack and John's mother both took the coffee, while John took the lemonade and handed me the second glass. How did he know I liked that?

I gulped my lemonade down, causing John to chuckle:

"You certainly are thirsty! Want another glass?"

He didn't have to ask twice! John's mother laughed, and went back to the kitchen to fetch a second glass for John, while I emptied his first one.

Jack grinned, sipped his coffee, and told John's mother:
"Thank you, Trudy. I might hire you as my personal servant."

"In your dreams! I think I'm enough servant to my three children, or even four since today."

Her words struck me, and I looked at her in shock: wasn't I going to live with Jack? Had I to leave my newly found Big Friend, to live with John and his mother? Why else would she talk about FOUR children since today?

My eyes started to tear up again, and I sobbed:
"I want live with Jack... Jack Big Friend. Jack second Dad..."

I clamped myself onto Jack in desperation, panicking and feeling betrayed. Would they take me away from Jack again?

Trudy looked as if I had slapped her. The smile left her face; and she looked from Jack to John, and back to me.

Her eyes started to tear up, and she took her handkerchief to wipe them:

"Why do you think I would NOT let you live with Jack? I know you two belong to each other, and I would never get in the way of your friendship!"

"But... You speak FOUR children..."

"Oh... that's why you thought... now I understand... sorry that I wasn't clear enough. Officially you are going to live with me, my husband, John, Mark, and my daughter Marrie. That was the only way to let you live with Jack in reality. That is, if you really want to live with Jack?"

"YES! I really want live with Jack! I... I LOVE Big Friend."

Jack choked up, and tried to crush me. I didn’t care, he could do everything he wanted. I trusted him absolutely, and severely regretted I didn't trust him half an hour ago in the taxi. My only excuse was that I hadn't seen his puffy eyes then...

Jack tried to lift me off his lap, but I didn't want to loosen my grip, still a bit afraid they finally would take me away from my savior.

At last Jack grinned, and turned to John:

"John, could you try to peel little Harry off my chest? Or maybe he wants to accompany me to the bathroom..."

John grinned, and tenderly loosened my tight grip:

"Don't be afraid, little brother. You are safe now. They will nevermore take you away from Jack, or from me. From now on you are in our custody and you are officially my little brother. I would defend you with my life! Now be a big boy, let go of Jack, and sit down on the couch."

I trusted John. Don't ask me why, but I felt an absolute trust in this eleven-year-old boy with his warm brown eyes and his beautiful aura. He was my best friend, and felt as if he and I had already known each other for ages. I let Jack go, and crawled onto John's lap.

Jack returned from the bathroom and the kitchen where he had washed his face, and I crawled back onto his lap.

He grinned, threw his safe arms around my body, and kissed my head:

"Boy, I have missed you! Please, don't do that ever again. I went to the hospital early in the morning to collect you, but entered an empty room. Even your new clothes were gone, and nobody could or wanted to tell me where you were. I had only a faint idea where you could be, as CPS had been visiting you the day before. I'm afraid I made quite a tantrum, and finally two security guards threw me out of the hospital.

"I went home empty-handed, and broke down the moment I left my car in the driveway without you. Fortunately John and the other children saw me crying; and they took me to John's parents, where Trudy succeeded in reanimating me a little bit. She listened patiently until I had told her my story, and phoned CPS to ask whether they were willing to grant me custody over you. CPS answered that was absolutely impossible, as I am an unmarried single male and living on my own. They would never allow me to raise any six-year-old little boy, befriended or not...

"Trudy made an appointment to have another talk with them, and the next day we went to their office to ask them to be allowed to visit you. They told us you ran away, and the whole town had been looking for you until the police found you in the morning. They brought you to the psychiatric section of a children's hospital, to be looked over thoroughly for a couple of days. We were not allowed to visit you there.

"Now Trudy did something I am still very grateful for: She told CPS that she wanted to take you into her house, and raise you. They seemed to be very relieved, and promised us to speed up the necessary bureaucratic things wherever they could. Fortunately I do have a degree in tutoring, so they immediately appointed me as your official tutor, and they are even willing to pay me for it!

"The same afternoon we went back to the office, where we signed all the necessary papers. Now you were officially in our custody, but we had to wait until the next morning, when the hospital would release you from psychiatry and transfer you to us. I didn't want to accompany Trudy, as I was afraid to break down again upon seeing you back. That's why John accompanied his mother to fetch you. You already know the rest..."

The room was dead silent, while I tried to digest the new information. Jack had NOT betrayed my trust! Jack WAS there to collect me from the hospital! I could REALLY trust Jack! And now he was officially my tutor...

I started to cry again, but this time from pure happiness. We were officially together, and nobody could ever separate us from now on.

I kissed Jack full on his mouth, hopped off his lap, and went to the bathroom and subsequently to the kitchen to wash my face. I found a comb, and combed my hair while looking in a mirror. I rearranged my clothes, and went back to the room, where Trudy and Jack had some small talk.

John smiled at me when I entered the room, and patted the couch next to him:
"Would you like to eat with us this time? Mom asked Jack, but he told us the decision is yours..."

I looked at Jack for approval, and he nodded.

"Yes, I like eat with you this time."

I sat next to John and leaned into him, while Jack and Trudy talked everything over. Nobody should know I lived with Jack, as officially he was only my tutor for a couple of hours each day. Trudy would put a second bed into John's room, in case CPS would pay her an unexpected visit. Trudy's husband, Eric, wasn't too happy with the decision Trudy had forced him to make, but he could live with the final arrangements. John was allowed to visit me every day, and now and then have a sleepover. I was always welcome in John's house and could ask Trudy everything I wanted.

Trudy asked me whether I had any questions, and I thought for a moment:

"I need clothes. Who pay?"

"Wow, you are a clever boy, to be thinking of that! Well, CPS is paying us some money to have you in our custody, and I think it's only fair to give that amount of money to Jack. Do you agree?"

"I agree. I REALLY live with Jack now? Still bit afraid of Margaret..."

"From now on Margaret has NOTHING to do with you any more. The only persons who are making any decisions about you, are my husband and I. And Jack of course, and we will always first ask you for your approval. Do you understand?"

"I understand, I happy."

I threw my arms around Trudy's neck to thank her, and she kissed my head tenderly. I felt she was a good woman, and decided to trust her.

We went to Trudy's house, and I took Jack's hand and felt really happy for the first time in three days.

John looked at his mother with puppy dog eyes, and asked her:

"Mom, can Thomas and Chrissy eat with us today? They didn't see my new brother for a long time..."

"Of course Thomas and Chrissy MAY eat with us. That is, only when Harry agrees..."

Of course I agreed, by nodding my head. I liked my new friends, and hadn't seen them for a couple of months because I was in the hospital.

I remembered how we had played hide and seek that last evening; and how they had wished me all the best, having tears in their eyes because I would leave the country the next morning to go home. I thought about Chrissy betraying John's hiding place unwittingly, and grinned again. It felt good to see them back...

I counted four houses, and here John entered the driveway and rang the bell to ask Thomas and Chrissy to join us. We went to the fifth house, where Trudy opened the front door. We entered the house; that lightly smelled of incense, making me feel welcomed.

Jack and Trudy took me to the living room, and Trudy invitingly opened the door:

"Go inside for a moment, and join Mark and Marrie. Jack and I are going to my den, to phone the clinic and ask them for some information about your pending operations. Within a few minutes we will be back to prepare dinner."

I entered the living room, and looked around. Mark and Marrie were sitting on the floor, playing a game of cards and mock bickering a bit. They looked up, saw me, and stared at me open-mouthed as if they saw a monster...

Mark jumped up and placed himself in front of his sister, as if he wanted to protect her. He balled his fists...

Marrie brought her hand to her mouth and stifled a cry. She rose to her feet, and pushed Mark out of the way...

She was the first one who regained herself, and looked me over from top to toe:

"Are YOU Harry? Goodness, what happened to your face?"

Mark looked at his sister, now a bit unsure:

"Is THAT Harry? Are you sure?"

The door opened and John entered the room, followed by Thomas and Chrissy.

John smiled at me, and looked at Mark's balled fists with a questioning face.

Thomas looked at me, and his eyes grew big. His face went pale, and he leaned into John as if looking for some strength.

Chrissy saw me, and started to giggle. She tried to suppress it, but finally burst out:

"Are you a freak?"

The room went dead silent. Obviously nobody knew what to do or what to say. They all looked at each other, and nobody dared to look at me...

Finally John stopped the fumbling with his clothes, and asked the room with an unsure voice:
"Shall we go to the kitchen? I'm hungry..."

They all sighed with relief, and followed John through the door silently without looking back.

I slumped down onto a chair, and started to cry. This wasn't what I had expected. I knew by now that I had a freaky face, but never thought that my friends wouldn't even recognize me! What should I do now? Had I really lost all my friends? Was it time to throw myself off a roof, of maybe jump in front of Margaret's car? My life was over...

Suddenly two small arms folded around my shoulders, and when I looked up I saw Marrie, having tears in her eyes:

"You are my brother now, and I won't let them handle you like this! Come on, dry your tears, and let's join the others."

She dragged me out of my chair, and determinedly pushed me into the kitchen:

"Have a good look at him, and look at what you are doing to my little brother! From now on I want you to behave NORMAL."

Thomas looked at me, coloring a deep red. He extended his hand and mumbled "Sorry..."

Mark looked me over again, and asked a bit hesitantly:

"Are you REALLY Harry? Then you are my little brother too. I'm sorry..."

Chrissy started to giggle again, and looked curiously at my scars and my half nose.

Marrie motherly dried my eyes with a sleeve of her dress.

John took me into his arms, and told me with regret in his voice:

"Sorry, I didn't know what to do... but I am very happy that you are my little brother. Are you hungry?"

I nodded and rubbed my stomach, and they all started to laugh.

I had my five friends back. At first they were a bit timid, and didn't know how to react, but five minutes later they started to ask me questions.

"What happened to your face?"

"Caravan on fire, Mom and Dad dead. I hospital, three surgery, Jack help. Now I live here, Jack tutor."

"Is the rest of your body burnt too?"

I lifted my beautiful polo shirt, and let them look at my ugly scars and wild flesh. Again they were silent for a long time...

"Is it painful?"

"Was painful. Now itchy, need more surgery."

"Are your legs burnt too?"

"Yes. Everything burnt."

"Sorry that I didn't know what to do when I saw your burnt face for the first time..."

"Is okay. You good friend now."

"You are speaking our language much better! Did Jack teach you?"

"Yes, and I listen words, repeat in head, learn languisj."

"Wow!"

Trudy and Jack returned from the den and joined us. Soon they were answering a couple of questions as well, mostly about my operations and needed surgery in the future. I had to revisit the hospital many, many times; to loosen the skin and remove the growing wild flesh.

"I think Harry will need all of you as his friends, to support him and safeguard him from the teasing of the other children in town."

They all promised me solemnly to defend me with their own lives if necessary, even Chrissy. And I started to believe in a better future.

Trudy started to rummage in the refrigerator, and returned carrying a couple of eggs and a few tomatoes.

Immediately I jumped off my chair, and offered her my help:

"I help. You green... green things, to eat? Green things in eggs?"

"Green things to eat? You mean 'vegetables'?"

"Fetch the tubles?"

Everybody started to laugh, and I felt frustrated by not knowing the right words.

Fortunately Jack seemed to understand me:

"They are called 'vegetables', as there is lettuce and other food with green leaves."

"Vedgetables, okay. Want little vedgetables leaves, to do tasty eggs."

I used my hands to picture the small leaves of some of my herbs.

"Ahh... I think you want to use some 'herbs'! I'll show you..."

Trudy went to the refrigerator, and I followed her curiously.

She opened the refrigerator, and I dived in it and rummaged around.

I returned triumphantly; carrying a leek, an onion, a clove of garlic, and some celery:

"This 'herbs'. I want in eggs. You give knife for pieces?"

"Well... I think you're still a bit too young to use a sharp kitchen knife!"

I straightened my back and looked at her in disdain:

"I cook in mountains! I big cook. No, I boss cook... I head cook?"

"You mean you're a 'chief cook'?"

"Yes, I chief cook. Always cook food in mountains, use herbs tasty."

I could see in Trudy's eyes that she didn't exactly believe me. She hesitated, but finally offered me a small knife.

I asked for a plate, and adeptly sliced the onion and part of the leek. I took the celery, and skillfully chopped it into small pieces. I squashed the clove of garlic with the side of my knife, and scraped the result together using its back.

Trudy looked more and more stunned. Obviously she didn't expect a six-year-old little boy to handle a sharp kitchen knife with such a skill.

I knew I showed off a little bit, but told myself that she had certainly asked for it...

I climbed onto the sideboard to have a look in the cupboards. I returned with salt, pepper, paprika powder, and something else I didn't recognize but it smelled excellent. I put a few drops of it onto my hand, and tasted it. Mmm, yummy!

I mixed everything with the sliced tomatoes, added the spices, and put a chair near the gas burner to be at level with it:
"You give pan and thing to stir?"

Trudy offered me a saucepan and a spatula. Looking dubiously she lit the burner, while I took the eggs one by one and carefully broke them. I mixed them with everything else, and stirred the hot mixture until it was ready. A nice scent filled the kitchen and caressed our nostrils.

"You butter toast now? Eat ready."

Everybody devoured the meal showing beaming faces, licking their fingers, and scraping the pan for more. I had done some good work!

Jack looked at me with a new respect in his eyes:
"Wow, my little friend! That tasted excellent. Where did you learn to cook like this?"

"In mountains. Always small beast; stir in campfire, add herbs, then eat."

"Maybe you can teach me to cook like this too? I like to cook myself, but what you created had a really exquisite taste!"

Now I was proud of myself! Jack complimented me, and even wanted me to be his cooking tutor...

John beamed all over, clearly elated with his little brother. Thomas licked his fingers, and searched the empty pan for another morsel. Mark looked a bit jealous, while Marrie looked at me in awe. Chrissy yawned and secretly put her finger in her nose.

Trudy brewed fresh coffee for Jack and herself, while John went to the refrigerator and returned with the milk. He poured a glass full for each of us, and together we went to the living room where we sipped the coffee and gulped the milk, burping loudly and feeling naughty.

After being naughty for a while, the other children wanted to play outside, and asked me to accompany them.

I looked first at Jack and then at Trudy, and they both smiled at me:

"It's good for you to get some fresh air. Have fun, and don't go too far away."

I grinned, hugged first Jack and then Trudy, and joined my five friends outside to get some fresh air and have fun.

Of course we wanted to play our favorite game: hide and seek. We decided in unison that my five friends would hide this time, and I would look for them. I went to a big tree, closed my eyes, and counted the seconds. After twenty seconds I opened my eyes, and looked around.

Immediately I saw Chrissy, peeking from behind a nearby car. I decided to give her some credit, and looked on.

A boy of around fourteen or fifteen years old passed by, looked at me, froze, and stepped back:
"Well, well, the body-snatchers have landed. What are you doing here? We don't need creeps in our neighborhood!"

I looked at him, and was shocked by the pain and hatred that radiated from his greenish eyes. This boy was certainly not my friend!

The boy took a few steps in my direction; and I stepped back, ready to flee...

Two seconds later John and Thomas were at my side, while Marrie took a branch from the ground and swayed it. Mark climbed out of the tree where he had been hiding, and Chrissy started to giggle and looked at the spectacle from a safer distance.

John stepped in front of me, and balled his fists:

"Jason, piss off! He is my little brother, and you are NOT going to harass him. You can be sure I will tell your father everything!"

Thomas stepped next to John, now accompanied by Mark and a very angry looking Marrie who pointed her branch at the boy.

The boy looked at my four bodyguards, stepped back cautiously, and started to threaten them:

"Next time you will not be there to pamper him, and then I will GET the creep!"

"Look at yourself, homo! Now leave us alone, and remember what I've told you."

The boy backed off and resumed his way, now and then looking back and giving us the finger.

I was shocked to my core; and went inside slowly, while my eyes started to tear up. Why did that Jason hate me so much? I didn't even KNOW him! Were all the other neighborhood children like him? I shivered, and sauntered to the living room.

Marrie followed me, and tenderly put her arms around my waist:
"Don't be worried; John and I will protect you."

John hugged me from the other side, still looking angry:

"That bastard is always picking on the smaller ones, since his friend disappeared two months ago. Now he's a real bully, but Thomas and I are NOT afraid of him. Even his little brother hates him, and I know that his father calls him a 'fag' and a 'homo'. Next time if he's calling you names again, I will bring a baseball bat with me, to make his big mouth a bit smaller."

The children told Jack and Trudy what had happened, while I dried my tears with a little help of a motherly looking Marrie. She took me to the kitchen to wash my face and clean me up. We returned to the living room, and now I felt a bit better.

I crawled onto Jack's safe lap, and started to laugh when I remembered how my four bodyguards had threatened that big boy and chased him away. They were really good friends, and now I knew I could always count on them.

We got a glass of lemonade, and then Jack decided to go home to show me my new room in our house. John wanted to accompany us, but Trudy told him he had to do some chores first. He looked a bit disappointed, but did as she told him.

Trudy hugged me, and told me I was a brave boy. She promised Jack and me to help us with everything concerning foods and clothes, and we could always count on her and her children. She kissed my forehead, and I kissed her back. She felt a bit like my second Mom...

The other children said their goodbyes; and promised me to defend me always and everywhere, if necessary.

Jack lifted me onto his shoulders, and together we went to his house. Oops, we went to OUR house.