Amanda wanted to ask about the London Eye but she was too tired and too excited as they drove through London towards the suburb of Guildford where the Andersons lived All the books she read about England flipped through her mind Like her visits to the United Arab Emirates and Spain she felt like she was living inside a novel This was going to be the best spring break
Chapter 2 Will we be going on the London Eye today asked Amanda after a good sleep We will have to wait until you get back from the Isle of Wight replied Mrs Anderson Leah's dad needs to check on the boat and take it out for a trial run before the sailing races in two weeks A boat A sailboat I've always wanted a ride on a sailboat Amanda's eyes lit up My husband will be happy to take you out for a ride if you wish Leah isn't usually very keen Mrs Anderson put some cheese bread and ham slices in a wicker basket I don't know if I want a landlubber on board my boat said Mr Anderson as he poured himself a cof fee You can come along if you promise not to get in the way or fall overboard Tll stay out of the way I promise Amanda wasn't sure if he was serious or not Amanda Leah and Mr Anderson drove to a large city called Southampton and boarded a ferry which took them to the Isle of Wight The murky grey blue water looked very different from the waters of the Persian Gulf or the Mediterranean Sea Amanda spot ted snowy white cliffs in the distance Is that where we re going Yep that's the Isle of Wight replied Leah Makes sense thought Amanda even though white was spelled different Some teenagers walked past them Hi ya Amanda from Canada said a girl Oh hi said Amanda as they carried on How do you know them asked Leah with a puz zled
I met them at the airport when I was collecting my luggage She thought my bag was hers until I showed her the tag You can't trust that sort said Leah as she sur veyed the back of the teenage girl sporting a short leather skirt tattooed ankle and pink Mohawk They're just a bunch of wasters They're OK She's certainly friendly and even remembered my name Well you never know Leah shook her head You are a bit too trusting if I recall When they arrived on the island later that after noon Leah's dad treated them to a delicious fish and chip dinner Amanda laughed as she read out the menu Mushy peas yuk Toad in the hole Spotted dick That can't be real I think I ll stick with fish and chips thank you After dinner they walked down the cobblestone streets of Cowes passing a shop with interesting used books in the window Can we please stop and have a look in here asked Amanda It's only books Leah kept walking But I love books and these look way cool Why don't you girls stop in here while I visit the shop next door to purchase some fittings for the boat Amanda was in her element The dusty old store had books piled up right to the ceiling The shelves looked like they would topple over from the weight of the volumes The many stacks on the floor leaned to the left and to the right The place smelled like stale well worn novels Amanda loved books so much and had a nice collec tion If there was ever a fire in her house she would throw her books out first before she jumped out of the window Fortunately her bedroom was on the
ground floor Leah browsed in the romance section Amanda drifted to a vintage section where her eyes lighted upon a copy of Vicky and Alice Her great aunt Amelia had a series of these delightful books about two Vic torian sisters She would let Amanda read them when she visited But she hadn't seen this one before Vicky and Alice at the Seashore Amanda laughed at the picture of the girls in bathing suits that cov ered most of their bodies The price written in pencil was three pounds I found a book I want to buy It's a real gem Leah wasn't as excited about it but smiled politely She had a fashion magazine in her hand I think I'll get this They gave their money to a man reading at a desk in the middle of the room He was as dishevelled as the rest of the store with unkempt grey hair and round glasses that sat at the end of his nose A large snor ing tabby cat took over the only part of the desk not piled high with books and papers Don't mind Rupert said the gentleman He iust likes to be around books He'll do you no harm A good purchase he said as he rang in the Vicky and Alice book These are hard to come by these days He almost smiled at
