rounded by windows Round tables with crisp white tablecloths set for a meal without a fork or knife out of place indicated it was the dining room Sparkling chandeliers hung from the ceiling Wow Every table has a view This will be a fab place to eat Amanda looked around I hope we can all eat together Mum has already made sure of that We got here early so we got to pick which table we wanted for the entire trip Leah pointed to a table at the very front of the boat Ours is that table for six the one with the best view Amanda noticed an undone shoelace on her run ner and bent down to tie it Her purse slipped off her shoulder and fell to the floor As she picked it up she spotted small red dots sprinkled on the beige and blue carpet What s this Do you think spilled someone ketchup Leah bent down to look closer Yes it could be tomato sauce More red spots appeared further along Some thing must have dripped from a plate when they were clearing the tables remarked Leah I think it might be blood Amanda followed the spots to a set of stairs Leah shook her head There goes your overactive imagination again I think we should follow the spots I have a
funny feeling about them Amanda proceeded down the short flight of stairs Leah followed her The faint red dots led them to a closed door with STORAGE written on it reached for the handle Amanda Wait a minute Amanda I don think we are meant to go in there Leah said What if someone's in there and hurt Amanda turned the handle The door opened to a small dark room She could make out shelves packed with items like toilet paper tissues paper towels soaps and shampoos She was about to close the door when the sound of a groan stopped her Finding a light switch she noticed a shoe sticking out from under a shelf There's someone in What are you girls doing That room is only for staff If you need any supplies just ask any one of us A young man appeared behind them S Sorry We're just finding our way around Amanda stammered She closed the door Is this your first time on a river cruise asked the young man with a kind smile Yes said Amanda We should get back to our parents Enjoy the cruise and remember if you need any thing just ask'm Michael the cruise director When they returned to the cabins the girls were happy to find out that they shared a room adjoining Leah's parents
OMG We have our own entrance and our own C keys Amanda looked around The comfortable room with a large side window overlooked the peaceful canal and emerald green banks And look at that great view This is going to be an amazing trip We'll get to see all kinds of things for the first time I'm so glad your parents agreed to it Leah grabbed Amanda around the waist and did a little dance I'm super excited too Amanda said when she caught her breath I just wonder who’s hiding in the storage room Do you think he's
hat evening after a delicious meal of wiener schnitzel roasted potatoes and a dessert of plum cake called pflaum kuchen everyone moved to the lounge for the entertainment Young men in lederho sen leather shorts with decorated suspenders and young women in dirndls colourful dresses with poofy sleeves and aprons finished off with a pretty bow performed a vigorous dance called the Schuhplattler Amanda enjoyed the lively music and the dancers who slapped their knees thighs and soles of their feet while hopping around in a circle Next a man in a tuxedo with a violin tucked under his chin appeared Amanda closed her eyes while he played a calm peaceful tune She imagined a deep blue slow moving river as it passed by green pastures and quiet villages She looked beside her and noticed tears in her mother's eyes as she held her father's hand Amanda sighed It made her happy to see her parents relaxed and content together instead of rushing off to work or meetings Michael the young man they met earlier stood in
