Silently Following You Forever, 6-8, p. 1
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	My dad has always been an adventurer. I think it is the best job a father could have. He gets paid for helping scientists understand a tornado or explore an ancient cave to understand the dusty paintings inside. The only problem is that he leaves us, Rosy and me.	
	Even though my dad has an exciting job, I hate it. Not the part where he brings us back a souvenir, that's the only good part. I hate the waiting. Because we all know my dad could pass away from his adventures. Also Dad leaves us with great aunt Hazel, who is a woman full of complaining and whining. She reminds me of a cat, Rachel and I call her Aunt Catty. 
	Every time my dad leaves I am nervous, but this time I am especially nervous. 
	"Well I am going on another trip!" Dad announced.
	"Awwww." Rosy and I said, spontaneously
	"Where?" I couldn't help asking.
	"Well I am going to look for remains of the Titanic!"
	I guess he was expecting us to have a big reaction. 
	"Well?" 
	"How long will you be gone?" Rosy could at least look like she was thrilled
	"That's it?" my dad asked.
	I know this Titanic trip will last a long time. A longer time, anyways. But I have to help him pack. I guess being the oldest forces me to be the role model, even though I know Rosy won't follow my lead on this one.
To be honest, this is the worst part, the packing. Because it's just like sending him off. But that's not the worst of this trip; he 'surprised' us by telling us he is leaving tomorrow.
	"Why does he always have to leave?" Rosy asked me, like I was going to have an answer to that.
	"I don't know, but I can tell it will be the longest trip yet." I tried to make it 
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sound like I knew something.	
	"How?" Rosy pestered. 
	"Did you see how packed his bag was? Did you see the shadows under his eyes or the worry lines? Did you see how much attention he has been giving us?"
	"That happens every time he leaves." Rosy replied with a, I know everything even though I am seven kind of look.
	"Yes, but it is way more than normal." She is a tough crowd, I thought.
	"I guess so." She was thinking, I could tell, thinking, planning, I could almost see the gears whirring and spinning in that little 7-year-old head of hers.
	"Hey, maybe we could follow him without him knowing." Rosy said, so carefully, she looked like she might have thought it was a bad idea.
	"Wait that might work..." I said, getting excited.
	"Well what do we do first?" she said, springing off her bed
	I am smart for a second grader, that's what everybody tells me. I like to believe it. I can tell out of all people, Rachel believes it the most, and especially after my amazingly wonderful plan. 
	At first I thought that Rachel just thought it was a good idea, but now I think Rachel is actually considering putting it into action. I hope she does.
We had packed as lightly as possible. Clothes and a stuffed dog Rosy takes with her everywhere, but we had to fit it all into one bag, which was the challenge of a life time.

	I wanted to pretend to be a boy. That's what all the people in the books and the movies do, so we brought a hat that we think dad has never seen. Rachel insisted that she would make a better girl, so she borrowed clothes from a friend.  Then she took a wig that looked super itchy, so I will definitely stay a boy. 
	The only problem was that in Rachel's plan, she forgot one thing, Aunt Catty. So we had to do something. I stole (I prefer to say borrowed without permission) my dad's cell phone. I searched Catty on his phone, no results. 
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Oops, her name is Hazel, I haven't called her that in years. Rachel was good at impressions, but I wasn't sure if she could pull off dad's voice. Rachel had suggested texting, but I reminded her that Catty's phone was probably way too old to text. 
	"Shh, Rosy." Why did she have to watch this? The phone rang, I held my breath. 
	"Hello?" she (Aunt Catty) asked in that raspy voice.
	"Yes, this is Bob." I couldn't help thinking, it’s working!
 	(Thumbs up from Rosy.)
	"Well," (wow I am really good) "I just wanted to tell you, I don't need you to watch the girls."
	"Who?" that slimy voice asked.
	"Well, my daughters, Rachel and Rosy. You always watch them when I go on one of my business trips."
	"Oh," she said in a disgusted voice "Them. Wait, what about them?"
	 (A little annoyed) I repeated "I don't want you to watch the girls."
	"Okay!" (She answered a little perked up, actually a lot perked up. Was it possible for a cat to perk up?)
	"Don't call them, don't call me and especially don't call my company. Just do what you normally do."
	"Okay." She replied, I could tell she wasn't being honest.
	"Just- you know I will call when I need you."
	"Okay I will." She replied
	(Phone hangs up)
	"Has she ever been that enthusiastic?" I asked out loud.
	"I am only seven, but no, I think." Typical of Rosy to say, I am only seven. Although I know she is as smart as me.
	"C'mon Rosy, just clip the doggy on your belt and let's go." Rachel reminds me.
4	
	I watch my dad sneak in the car.
	Rachel and I sneak after him, which is actually very hard.
It turns out we didn't have to make it past security. Dad has his own plane, so we just snuck on. The worst part was waiting though. Waiting is hard, being seven does not exactly make that easy, waiting with a big sister who has no hobbies, stories or activities in common for twenty hours about is a huge trouble.
	When we got there we snuck right onto dad's ship and pretended to be two other kids. Johnny and Lisa were who we replaced. Apparently there was nobody to watch them at home so they were going to ta along. But there was a little problem.
	"Do I know you Lisa?"
	 (Uh-oh) "Um  No." I answered, stuttering
	"Hmm you do look familiar. Do I know you John?"
	"I, sorry my sister and I come from uh... Denver. Are you from Denver?" Rosy commented, quickly, she wasn't exactly selling the John character very well
	"No, but I do rec-" Dad kept pushing.
	"Hey look, there is the captain." I interrupted.
	"Oh I have to go talk to him about the exact location, you know that it is only a day away from this station?" That's just dad I guess.
	"Ooo, exciting-" Which is, typical Rosy, which is, going to get us caught.
	"Sorry about her- sorry, him, he just love geography but we have to go, help out in, um, over there." I pointed then ran, pulling Rosy along.
	"Oh well-" Started my father, although the rest I didn't hear.
	"Close, that was too close." I said.
	"Rosy, be less like yourself, play pretend okay?"
	"Okay fine, FYI its called acting." I smiled.
	"Did he recognize us?" She questioned.
	"I don't think so..." I replied
	As I am looking at the spot we anchor, this cool, calm morning. It seems a 
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bit, mysterious. I am worried, is my father really going down into those waters? Rachel pulls me aside.
	I take Rosy to the highest point of the ship, where we are alone. I tell her, do not do anything to make dad not get in those waters. The thing is that I almost want to tell him not to, it looks really dangerous. Rosy hesitates then promises. I say "good Rosy."
I want to convince dad not to, but if I want to have other adventures like this, I should just observe.
	We watch, as my dad jumps in the cool, deep waters. Our eyes are stained with tears. This might be the last time we see him. We are instructed to wait with the captain. 
	It has been about four hours.
	I can't help thinking, the captain is as scary as a bear. I can see him raising his eyebrows, probably seeing my fear. I bow my head, shielding my face. My cap falls off, my hair falls out all around it.
	I gasp, then Rachel gasps, then the captain gasps, and then to my worst luck, my dad walks in the room, sopping wet and (of course) gasps.
	"I can explain-" Rachel starts.
	Then my dad pulls us out of the room.
	"Are we in trouble?" I ask.
	"Let me tell you a secret, I am so glad to see you." My dad reveals. 
	I smile. Rachel smiles. Dad smiles.
	That is how our first adventure ends for now. Dad, Rachel and I walking into the mist of ocean spray, together.