Early in the morning, Brian made his way downstairs to the front door of the house. Someone’s excessive pushing of the doorbell was even testing Brian’s patience. For a terrible moment as Brian neared the door, he wondered if it had anything to do with Jezebel’s sleepwalking. Brian pulled open the door to find a woman standing in front of a man with a large TV camera over his shoulder. She held a microphone and placed it right up into Brian’s face.

  “Mr York!” she beamed.

  “Yes,” smiled Brian, looking amused. “Is that on? I haven’t brushed my hair yet.”

  “Clair Tomlinson, Tower Bridge News.”

  “Right. Good morning, Clair. I’ve seen you on the TV. Charmed,” said Brian, noticing that a second news vehicle was coming to a stop beside Tower Bridge’s brand?new white Mercedes van.

  “Is the famous girl home?” asked Clair Tomlinson.

  “Sorry? You must have the wrong Mr York,” smiled Brian.

  Brian’s smile slipped down as a third then a fourth news vehicle pulled into his driveway.

  “Jezebel. That’s your daughter. Correct?” asked Clair.

  “Yes, that’s correct. What’s all this about?” asked Brian.

  “Surely you’re aware that her letter to the United Nations has made world headlines?”

  Brian began to laugh.

  “Oh right… now I understand. This is one of those gotcha bad?boys pranks, right? It’s a bit excessive. Anyway… you can have a cup of tea if you like?”

  “This is no joke, Mr York. We’re filming you live right now. Here, look at this,” said Clair, shaking her head in dismay. Clair pulled out her phone and showed Brian, not photos of rabbits, but a clip of several members from the United Nations doing a press conference. They were inviting Jezebel York to address the United Nations tomorrow. A picture of Jezebel popped up on the screen behind them.

  Brian’s mouth fell open. He had to pinch himself to make sure he wasn’t dreaming.

  “Crikey!” gasped Brian.

  Jezebel sat on her bed talking to Tibbar and Astar.

  “So, you’re telling me that Elvin and Karen will pick me up soon. They will take me to Japan. I will give this speech”—Jezebel waved the lengthy and extremely complicated script in the air— “and that all will be well for Fariddion and the living earth. Are you serious?” frowned Jezebel. “I can’t do that,” said Jezebel, walking back to the window to see a seventh news vehicle arrive in the yard.

  Tibbar looked at Astar. They nodded. Astar walked up to Jezebel and entered her body. Jezebel turned about.

  “Where did Astar go?” asked Jezebel.

  “I am with you now,” said Astar. “I will guide you to success.”

  “Yes,” agreed Tibbar. “We will take care of you through this journey. Astar will help you explain and understand things exceptionally well. Are you ready to begin?”

  “But what about Mum and Dad? School? Everything?” panicked Jezebel. A shift came over Jezebel as everything settled and became calm and uncomplicated.

  “Yes… I’m ready. It should be fun,” smiled Jezebel, with a totally new demeanour. She giggled.

  “I will keep you calm, Jezebel,” whispered Astar. “I will help you talk. Do you understand?”

  “Yes. It’s better that way. I would make a huge mess of things. There is so much importance in what must be done. It is the right thing to do,” smiled Jezebel. “Here comes Daddy!”

  An overzealous rapping of her unlocked door was followed by her parents entering the room before Jezebel could answer.

  “Jezebel!” they said together.

  “You’ve been invited to speak at the United Nations!” announced Pamela.

  “I’ve read a page of your letter,” said Brian. “And you’ve convinced me with your sincerity. I didn’t realise you had such a mastery of English. Your mother and I had no idea you felt this way. Why didn’t you tell us last night?”

  “The United Nations! Jezebel! This is huge!” gasped Pamela.

  Jezebel remained silent and composed as James came into the room with Aunt Cathy.

  “I just saw you on the news, Sis!” gasped James.

  “Me too!” blurted out Cathy, her mouth open.

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  They waited for Jezebel to say something. After a moment, Jezebel took a handful of slow steps while in careful thought.

  “I just wrote it from the heart. I emailed it in and this is the result. I certainly didn’t expect them to make a huge fuss about it. They won’t change my mind. I have accepted their request to attend, and they are sending a car to pick me up soon. I’m really looking forward to it. I hope you will support me with this, Mother… Father…”

  They all stared at Jezebel in disbelief.

  “Ah… you’re not overwhelmed?” asked Pamela.

  “No,” replied Jezebel gently.

  “Well, you’ll have to go with one of us. But I can’t go. All my customers are relying on my weekly delivery today,” explained Brian, rubbing his neck.

  “I was hoping Mother or Aunt Cathy,” suggested Jezebel.

  “I can’t go either,” complained Pamela. “I’ve made a booking with the dentist. My teeth are hurting. It was so bad last night,” frowned Pamela. “Dr Chan is seeing me later today. You go, Cathy,” suggested Pamela, wincing in pain.

  “Oh, maybe,” said Cathy, wide?eyed.

  “Sorry about your teeth, Mum. I’m sure it will settle down soon. That’s settled then,” said Jezebel calmly. “Cathy will escort me.”

  CHAPTER 11B — The Famous Girl (Part B)

  (Same corrections: spelling, punctuation, grammar, tags. No rewrites.)

  James felt slightly offended that Jezebel hadn’t asked him but accepted her wishes.

  “Well, I need to use the bathroom,” smiled Jezebel. “Can you ask them to wait for me a while? I’d like to get dressed first. Pack an overnight bag.”

  Jezebel saw that no one was leaving her room.

  “Is that alright?” said Jezebel, waiting for them to leave her room. Brian and Pamela could sense a slight change in their daughter but under the circumstances her composure was some sort of relief to them.

  “Right, come on everyone,” said Pamela. “We better let the star get dressed,” said Pamela, her attempt at a smile way off.

  Jezebel beamed confidently at Pamela like a different person.

  “Certainly, Jezebel. We’ll see you downstairs,” nodded Brian, feeling slightly proud at Jezebel’s coolness towards the waiting media.

  James had a little laugh and left first.

  “Good luck, Sis,” grinned James, thoroughly impressed, but important studies to continue with were his main goal now.

  By the time Brian made it downstairs it was too late. The media had invaded the house.

  “Yes, I know,” agreed Brian to Pamela. “It’s out of control now.”

  As they reached the entrance, Brian’s patience was fully tested on finding reporters and cameramen popping out of toilets, bathrooms, storage rooms, the lounge and kitchen. Even his office. He was about to call the neighbours for help when they turned up offering their help anyway.

  “She’ll be down in five,” stated Cathy from the top of the stairs.

  Pamela waited at the bottom, making sure nobody headed upstairs. James’s studies were out the window as he stood watch around the garden, making sure nothing was taken.

  “Put that back!” shouted James, as two cameramen brought Jezebel’s bike out from the unlocked garage.

  “Just a quick snap?” asked one of the men, as dozens of people descended on the bike, cameras flashing and snapping like the King had arrived. Suddenly they scurried away as the call went out that Jezebel York was about to appear. Live crews filled the yard preparing for their respective live broadcasts. An eerie silence settled over the Yorks’ residence as the media waited for the sound of Jezebel’s movements to start proceedings.

  Suddenly cameras flashed and reporters went live around the world as Jezebel York came walking elegantly down the stairs. She smiled like a figure of historic importance as she stopped beside her parents and accepted a kiss on the cheek from each. James was pushed forward by different journalists and support staff to enter the blazing camera flashes.

  “Are you looking forward to meeting the heads of world affairs, Jezebel?” asked a reporter.

  “Very much so,” nodded Jezebel, beginning the procession towards the door. Pamela and Brian looked on in amazed confusion at the spectacle taking place in their home. Power cables ran like spaghetti underfoot as Jezebel reached the door.

  A Japanese reporter approached Jezebel. In terrible English, she attempted to ask Jezebel about herself. It was all very confusing. You could hear a pin drop as Jezebel began to speak fluent Tokyo dialect. The reporter nearly fainted and continually laughed and squeaked with surprise and happiness towards Jezebel as she chatted live around the world. This wasn’t going unnoticed by countless staff affiliated with countries around the world either, who were frantically calling their bosses to tell them about Jezebel York’s intelligence.

  “I didn’t know Jezebel could speak Japanese,” said James.

  “Neither did I,” answered Pamela, looking blank.

  “I think she likes Arashi,” said Brian.

  “Oh, what’s that?” asked Pamela.

  “A Japanese boy band,” replied Brian.

  “Okay,” said Pamela blankly.

  “Come on,” insisted a perturbed Brian York, heading for the door to catch up with Jezebel and Aunt Cathy.

  “You’re a very educated young lady,” said the reporter. “But you still hold onto a part of your childhood with your toy rabbit?”

  “Yes. I still take Tibbar most places I go,” smiled Jezebel.

  “What about climate change?” shouted a reporter.

  “What about nuclear war?” yelled another.

  “Are you for the war in the east?” called another.

  “Which world leader are you most looking forward to meeting in Japan?” demanded another.

  “Do you have a favourite food?” asked another.

  Suddenly the sound of a sports car revving its engine was heard easily over the scrum of reporters as it entered the driveway. It quickly parked just behind the assembled mass of reporters.

  “All of these topics are very important to me,” smiled Jezebel. “And I will answer all of them and many more tomorrow in Japan.”

  “Excuse me. Pardon me. Excuse me, ma’am,” said Elvin, moving the reporters to the side as Karen walked through and took Jezebel’s hand.

  “Hey ya, Jez. Your ride awaits,” smiled Karen, bending playfully and unfolding her arm to show Jezebel the path to the sleek sports car.

  “Who the heck are they?” asked Brian, bending down to speak into Cathy’s ear.

  “That’s Elvin and Karen,” replied Cathy, surprised herself.

  “You know them?” demanded Pamela.

  “I… met them yesterday,” stuttered Cathy, watching Elvin open the door for Jezebel.

  “Why didn’t you tell us about all this last night, Cathy?” frowned Pamela.

  “I knew nothing about it myself,” admitted Cathy.

  A large man with the Canadian national broadcaster decided to create a scene and took several fast steps forward in an attempt to bowl Elvin over. Unfortunately for the reporter, he bounced off Elvin like a pinball off a bumper and fell heavily onto his backside. And no one cared at all. Elvin and Karen smiled as Jezebel made her way into the back seat carrying Tibbar. Then Cathy quickly ran forward and climbed in next to Jezebel. Karen threw their bags into the boot, climbed in and Elvin drove off.

  “Bye, Jezebel!” waved Pamela, who proceeded to pass out in Brian’s arms. The cameras soon descended on a passed?out Pamela and a dumbfounded Brian York, muttering words about sleepwalking.