show all we have.
The man takes it with dirty hands. What is your name?
My name? My name is Her Royal Highness, Princess Talia Aurora Augusta Ludwiga Wilhelmina
Agnes Marie Rose of Euphrasia.
Its Talia . . . Jack interrupts. Talia . . . um . . . I grasp his meaning. Brooke. Talia
Brooke. Is that your final decision? the man growls. Of course, I say. It is my name. The
other name was in jest. I laugh. Ha, ha! Stand here. He pushes me toward a paper board hang-
ing from the wall. When I stand before it, he takes out a small, square object, rather
resembling Jacks telephone.
What is . . . ?
A bright light flashes. Good! Wait here. He disappears into another room.
I stand quite still, attempting to touch nothing in the dark, cramped, dirty room.
Ludwiga? Jack asks.
Father was sad at not having a male heir, so he attempted to name me after several great
Euphrasian kingsAugustus, Ludwig, and Wilhem, alphabetically so no one would be offended.
The other namesAgnes, Marie, and Rose were Euphrasian queens.
How about Aurora? She was my grandmother on my mothers side, and she was named for the goddess of the dawn. I glance around, spying a millipede making its way
across the wall, danger- ously close to nesting in my hair. I move closer to Jack. Why are
we here?
Getting a passport. At my blank look, he adds, Travel documents. So you can get around,
travel. I got this guys name from a girl I met through a guy I met at the Gap.
Travel! The idea is wonderful and terrible at the same time, to be aboard a boat to a
strange new place with this strange, messy-haired young man I met only yesterday. I shiver
slightly.
So I will go with you? I ask Jack.
With me? Look, Im helping you out, getting you set up. But after that, youre on your own.
On my own? But how can I . . . what will I do? Sell some more jewels. I dont know. I
cannot do that. How will I know where to go, how to sell them? How will I obtain food or even know what to wear? Even in Euphrasia, I
handled no money. I do not even know how Jack paid for the bus. And if I am on my own, I
can never make Jack fall in love with me.
Will you help me a bit, just with getting money and a ticket for the ship and such? After
he helps me with that, I will talk him into the next thing. And then the next. Surely,
when he sees how much I need him, he will let me stay with him. Mother always said that
men like to feel needed. I gaze up into his eyes, letting my lower lip quiver just a bit.
It is not difficult. He sighs. I guess I can help you a little.
Now that I have achieved my goal, I clap my hands to show that I am keeping my chin up.
Thank you! It is my fondest wish to travel!
A Kiss in Time
Chapter 7
A
s soon as we get the passport and are out the door, my cell phone rings. Its my mother.
Jack, where are you? They said you ran away from the tour.
Who is this? I say. You know very well who this is. Talias still with me. I feel bad about
just ditching her, but what else can I do? Right now, shes staring at the photograph on the passport.
Every few steps, she touches her own face, like shes trying to see if its really still
there.
Well, I say, it sounds like my mother, but my mother never calls.
Very funny. Dont change the subject. Where are you? Amber says she called earlier and some girl answered the phone.
Amber? She didnt call me. We broke up. She broke up with me. I see Talias hand fly to her
mouth. Hold on a second, Mom. To Talia, I say, Something you need to tell me?
She purses her lips in thought before saying, I am dreadfully sorry . . . in the
excitement, I forgot. A person named Amber called. She sounded angry.
Amber? In my hand, my mothers voice keeps buzz- ing. Jack? Jack? Where are you? Jack, did
you hang up on me?
I let her wait. Amber called? What did you say? I told her we ran away together, Talia
says. You told her what? In my hand, Moms voice says, This girl told Amber
The man takes it with dirty hands. What is your name?
My name? My name is Her Royal Highness, Princess Talia Aurora Augusta Ludwiga Wilhelmina
Agnes Marie Rose of Euphrasia.
Its Talia . . . Jack interrupts. Talia . . . um . . . I grasp his meaning. Brooke. Talia
Brooke. Is that your final decision? the man growls. Of course, I say. It is my name. The
other name was in jest. I laugh. Ha, ha! Stand here. He pushes me toward a paper board hang-
ing from the wall. When I stand before it, he takes out a small, square object, rather
resembling Jacks telephone.
What is . . . ?
A bright light flashes. Good! Wait here. He disappears into another room.
I stand quite still, attempting to touch nothing in the dark, cramped, dirty room.
Ludwiga? Jack asks.
Father was sad at not having a male heir, so he attempted to name me after several great
Euphrasian kingsAugustus, Ludwig, and Wilhem, alphabetically so no one would be offended.
The other namesAgnes, Marie, and Rose were Euphrasian queens.
How about Aurora? She was my grandmother on my mothers side, and she was named for the goddess of the dawn. I glance around, spying a millipede making its way
across the wall, danger- ously close to nesting in my hair. I move closer to Jack. Why are
we here?
Getting a passport. At my blank look, he adds, Travel documents. So you can get around,
travel. I got this guys name from a girl I met through a guy I met at the Gap.
Travel! The idea is wonderful and terrible at the same time, to be aboard a boat to a
strange new place with this strange, messy-haired young man I met only yesterday. I shiver
slightly.
So I will go with you? I ask Jack.
With me? Look, Im helping you out, getting you set up. But after that, youre on your own.
On my own? But how can I . . . what will I do? Sell some more jewels. I dont know. I
cannot do that. How will I know where to go, how to sell them? How will I obtain food or even know what to wear? Even in Euphrasia, I
handled no money. I do not even know how Jack paid for the bus. And if I am on my own, I
can never make Jack fall in love with me.
Will you help me a bit, just with getting money and a ticket for the ship and such? After
he helps me with that, I will talk him into the next thing. And then the next. Surely,
when he sees how much I need him, he will let me stay with him. Mother always said that
men like to feel needed. I gaze up into his eyes, letting my lower lip quiver just a bit.
It is not difficult. He sighs. I guess I can help you a little.
Now that I have achieved my goal, I clap my hands to show that I am keeping my chin up.
Thank you! It is my fondest wish to travel!
A Kiss in Time
Chapter 7
A
s soon as we get the passport and are out the door, my cell phone rings. Its my mother.
Jack, where are you? They said you ran away from the tour.
Who is this? I say. You know very well who this is. Talias still with me. I feel bad about
just ditching her, but what else can I do? Right now, shes staring at the photograph on the passport.
Every few steps, she touches her own face, like shes trying to see if its really still
there.
Well, I say, it sounds like my mother, but my mother never calls.
Very funny. Dont change the subject. Where are you? Amber says she called earlier and some girl answered the phone.
Amber? She didnt call me. We broke up. She broke up with me. I see Talias hand fly to her
mouth. Hold on a second, Mom. To Talia, I say, Something you need to tell me?
She purses her lips in thought before saying, I am dreadfully sorry . . . in the
excitement, I forgot. A person named Amber called. She sounded angry.
Amber? In my hand, my mothers voice keeps buzz- ing. Jack? Jack? Where are you? Jack, did
you hang up on me?
I let her wait. Amber called? What did you say? I told her we ran away together, Talia
says. You told her what? In my hand, Moms voice says, This girl told Amber
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