“This is absolutely gorgeous,” declared Fi, standing on the balcony of the Armonia Hotel in downtown Vouliagmeni in Athens.

“Isn’t it?” asked Molly, coming up behind Fi. “I heard it was right on the beach, close to the city, so I figured it was a perfect place for us to stay.”

“It is, Mom…” said Fi, “But won’t Jack, Clu and Carey be kind of cramped in a double?”

Just then Carey burst into the room. “A triple!!!!!!” he cried, “Thank God, I never thought I’d see the day!!!!! Thank you so much Molly!!!!!”

He picked Molly up and spun her around the room while Fi laughed.

“Thanks, Carey…I think…” said Molly, in a daze as he put her down.

“Mom,” said Fi, “Can I go check out the rest of the hotel?”

“Sure, baby,” said Molly, smoothing down her hair.

“Come on you guys!” called Fi, “Let’s check this place out!”

“All right!!” cried the boys as they followed Fi with Annie walking slowly after them muttering to herself.

“But, Conrad, I like my singing…What? What’s ska? You think I should try it…?”

Molly turned around, preparing to go back to her room, but she stopped when she noticed Carey still standing there.

“Carey?” she asked, “Why don’t you go off with the rest of them?”

“Well,” said Carey, “I guess I’m just getting used to the splendor of this country. The sheer magnitude of culture behind Greece is astounding.”

He walked out onto the balcony and sat in a deck chair, looking out at the ocean. Molly followed him and sat in the chair next to Carey.

“So…” began Carey, “Do you remember what it was like here as a child?”

“Of course I do,” said Molly, “I’m not THAT old, Carey.”

“I know…”

“Let’s see,” began Molly, “I was probably 15 or so at the time, and I had just been allowed to separate from my parents and sightsee on my own. It was on the island of Lesvos that I met Saul Theotokis. He was around my age, and offered to show me the sights. We saw medieval castles and ancient ruins. Later that evening we went to a Turkish Bazaar. It was then that he told me his family was only in town a short while; and he would be leaving soon. I spent all my free time with him from then on. The night before he was to leave, we spent the evening on the beach. I still remember that evening…”

Molly appeared to be in a daze until Carey cleared his throat.

“Hmmmm?” Molly said. “Oh, Carey! I almost forgot you were there for a minute.”

“Wow, Molly, it sounds…beautiful,” said Carey, his eyes misty. “What happened?”

“I don’t really know,” said Molly, “I never saw him again. Actually, he looked a little like you, fairly tall, with wavy hair…”

“Really?” asked Carey, “Must have been extremely handsome then, huh?”

“He was…” said Molly.

Just then Fi burst into the room.

“Mom!!” she cried, pausing when she saw Molly and Carey out on the balcony. “Is now a bad time?”

“Of course not,” said Molly.

“Well, there’s this big party tonight out on the beach, and I was wondering if it would be all right if we went to it. Please?” asked Fi, batting her eyelashes.

“Sure, baby,” said Molly.

“Great!!!” cried Fi as she left the room.

“Are you going to go, Molly?” asked Carey.

“No, I don’t think so,” said Molly, “I think it’s just for the kids.”

“Come on,” said Carey, flashing a brilliant smile, “You’re not old, you said so yourself.”

“I don’t think so,” said Molly.

“Please?” asked Carey, batting his eyelashes in a poor imitation of Fi. “You can be my date if you go!”

“Well, if you put it THAT way,” laughed Molly, “Sure I’ll go, why not?”