Chapter 14 - Easter Vacation

XL was curious about what information Florence Rose had received from her son, so he decided to visit her at the next opportunity. Anna was also interested, but she was mostly interested in planning for Easter vacation, which was just one week away.

So, a couple of days after XL's birthday, he and Anna took Saucer 1 to Florence's home. They left home in the early evening and after a short ride they parked the airship over Florence's front yard. The spring air was chilly, so they wore jackets, but this time there was no snow in her yard. XL and Anna went down the elevator as usual, walked to Florence's door, and rang the bell.

Florence was happy to meet them. She welcomed them into her home, and offered them some chocolate brownies that she had made earlier that day. As they sat eating their brownies, Anna asked Florence if Fred has sent her any pictures of his family.

"No," she replied. "He didn't. It's a very short letter. Would you like to see it?"

"Sure," answered Anna.

Florence picked the letter off a bookstand beside her chair and handed it to Anna. XL looked over Anna's shoulder so he could see it too. It had a return address that was a box number for "Marine Enterprises Inc." XL assumed that must be Fred's company. Here is what was in the letter:

"Dear Mother,"

"Thank you for sending the photos. It was fortunate that you have friends who were able to help you to find me, after so many years."

"I am happily married with two children. My wife's name is Sheila and we have two children, Corrine, who is five and a half years old, and Jack, who is four years old."

"I am very busy with my business right now, so I don't know when I will have an opportunity to see you. Sometimes I travel for business and if a situation arises that puts me near your home, I'll give you a call."

"Yours sincerely, Fred."

Anna handed the letter back to Florence, "Well, it's a start." she said.

"Maybe," replied Florence. "But it seems that Fred isn't the kind of person who likes writing letters."

After finishing their brownies, XL and Anna said good-bye and returned home in Saucer 1. "We still don't know Fred's home address," said XL, "because he used his business box number as his return address."

"Probably he doesn't want her to visit him," said Anna. "After so many years, he isn't ready for that. Also, we still have no idea where his sister Susan lives."

Soon they arrived home. Their parents Max and Larissa were sitting on a sofa in the living room, reading magazines. "I know what we should do for Easter vacation," said Anna. "Let's travel to Edmonton."

"That would be fun," said Max, "but we won't be taking Saucer 1. I don't like leaving it parked over a big city for a whole week with no place to tie it down in case of a storm. Also, my company has scheduled some search-and-rescue tests with it here next week. We believe it would be more effective for that purpose than a helicopter."

"That's O.K., we can go by car," said XL, "if you and mom will drive us."

"It will take all day to get there," answered Max.

"But I agree it would be fun," said Larissa.

So, when the weekend arrived, all four of them were on their way to Edmonton in their family van. XL and Anna were hoping too that they would get some more clues about Fred when they arrived. Because he works in Edmonton with sea lions and submarines, they knew where to find him!

To pass the time as they drove, Anna and XL spent some time watching movies and some time looking at the scenery. XL wished that his friend Beeba could come too, but he knew already that Beeba was going on a trip with his own family.

When XL and Anna were tired of the movies and the scenery, they pulled out their sketch books. They both loved to draw cartoons--especially superhero cartoons.

"I'll draw a super villain who can't be beat," said XL.

"Oh yeah," replied Anna, "we'll see about that. Wait 'till you see my super hero!"

XL drew a man in a cape, with a very large head. The villain was in a large room with a huge computer at one end, and a jet plane at the other. "This is super-brain," said XL. "He is super-intelligent. No matter what powers other heroes have, he can figure out a way to defeat them. Plus, he is so smart that he can win any argument."

Meanwhile, Anna had been drawing a woman. She didn't wear a cape, but instead she was wearing a fashionable dress. She was standing at a podium, in front of a large audience.

"What kind of hero is that!" exclaimed XL.

"This is know-it-all," said Anna, "her super power is that she is always right."

"That's ridiculous," said XL, "nobody can be right all the time."

"No cartoon hero has real powers," answered Anna, "so I can make up anything I want!"

XL wondered if he should concede that her super hero is better, or if he should continue to debate the matter. He decided that it would be childish to argue about it. Anyway, he thought, it's hard to top being "always right."

Soon after that they arrived at Edmonton. Their Dad turned on the GPS receiver and the machine voice guided them through the freeways and streets to their destination hotel.

"You're so old-fashioned, Dad," said Anna. "Everyone else has a self-driving car."

"Oh, come on, Anna," said XL, "then we wouldn't hear Glenda's sweet sexy voice."

Anna hesitated. "Who is Glenda? Oh, I know... that's your name for the GPS."

After a while they arrived at the hotel, but it was too late in the evening to do anything more than to have a late supper and go to bed. Tomorrow is going to be a lot of fun, thought XL and he pulled the bed covers over him.

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