Chapter 3

David

I was in the middle of one of our YBYS conferences. Luckily, I had a way, way higher level than Jo, so I could actually see the place. I wasn’t like all pink and sparkly, like I always imagined the YGYS building to be. It was tall and steel, and looked almost normal from the outside. But, I was smart enough to know otherwise. The three arches that led up to the door, was all it took to remind me of a university, or a secret spy building.    

Rubbing my hands together, blocking out the voice of CJ Martinez, head of the YBYS, I drifted off, day-dreaming about the future, and more importantly, about future missions. I dreamed that I was off on a top secret mission (possibly something to do with the fate of the world). I was in Eastern Russia, trying to recover stolen microfilm from the American government, and in front of me stood a tall vault made of seemingly super-solid steel. My italian sidekick, Luciana, stood before me in an all black jumpsuit, furiously messing with the lock until…click. It popped loose and with her help I swung open the door, and I reached out toward the small gray case that held a country’s worth of information. My fingertips were inches away from victory…inches away from saving america…inches away from a super promotion in the CIA…

But there wasn’t time for a victory dance. There wasn’t even time for a shout of joy. My italian sidekick pulled out a silver gun, and shot me through the head, claiming the microfilm for herself.

Shock burned through my body. I didn’t know what was more stunning. That I had dreamed such a horrible thing, or that I had believed it to come true.

         The clock ticked by, every second seeming longer than the one before, and my head was resting roughly on my palms, like two men struggling to hold up a falling bridge. Soon my hands gave way, and I was fast asleep at the long oak table, spy conference and all. When everything went black, and my breathing became steady and even, I had a dream…and it wasn’t at all like my daydream. It was blissful, and colorful. I was happy; I had an appointment with another anonymos spy.

This morning, I received an anonymous phone call. As, soon as I looked down and saw the familiar zeros scrolling across the screen, I knew what was going on.  A prank-calling app. I had received a phone call from a wannabe-secret-agent. Sounds like fun. I figured I would just relax, and simply outsmart the prank-caller. I never even guessed that there was a real spy talking to me, through a stretch of invisible wires to a cell phone that contained a (seriously stupid) prank-calling app. Jade Morgan; level 3.5, YGYS favorite.

I answered swiftly with a ring in my voice, and a grin crossing my lips.

“Hello, David Fi‒”

“Shut up and listen!” The voice came raging through the line. “I’m only going to say this once, no repeats and more repeats, like all you other secret phone calls.”

“Exus‒” I began, but she didn’t give me any time.

“I need you to meet me on the bridge at ten p.m. sharp. You understand?”

“I don’t kn‒”

“That wasn’t a question!”, the female voice snapped.

What? “Why”, I managed to squeak before her distinct voice cut in.

“Ohh. Well, that’s classified.” She said, all classy and elegant and…

         …spy-like.

I heard the phone snap shut as her last words reached my ears.

“Don’t be late, or your loss will be unmeasurable.”

My loss would be unmeasurable?

My mouth went dry as I pressed the little red button on my phone that meant “hang up”, and I realized that I had been talking to a spy; a YGYS girl; a spy that could outsmart me. She knew I was a spy. How much else could she know about me? I dared not wonder. Instead, I planned the excuse in my head for going out at ten o’clock. To the Brooklyn Bridge. To see a girl.

But, no matter much I held back, two thoughts erupted in to my head, like to prisoners running free around a jail after they had finally been set free. The first was…

What will she tell me?

The second was…

What will I have to give her in return?

Chapter 4

Josiphina

It was Saturday, my favorite day of the week. I had decided yesterday that I would go and see the small elementary school perform their second musical of the year; Alice in Wonderland. I had babysat, Ellie, they girl who accepted a lead role as The Queen of Hearts, so I could not miss her cute red hair up in two buns, and the dazzling red dress stuffed to the brim with hearts.

         Skipping down the sidewalk, humming two the tune of “Pop Goes The Weasel” that my dad would sing to me before bed at night, I was the happiest girl in all of New York. I used to always spring up when my dad shouted “pop!” in his deep, spirited voice. My mother would chuckle, and then I would fall to the the floor laughing. The domino effect would continue until even my mischievous twin brothers would be rolling on the floor, roaring with laughter, and my older sister, Gloria would be caught in an inescapable giggling fit.

         I laughed silently at the memory and pulled myself back to the present. And, the events of tonight. And David. No matter how hard I tried to keep my mind clear, he kept raging in, as powerful as a storm. One half of me wanted to see him tonight, and the other didn’t want to see him for a long time. Why do missions always have to interfere with my love-life?

         I opened the door into Berkly Carroll and stared, for the first time in years, at the brightly colored walls, and the border that would always delight me back in 2nd grade. It was lined with big yellow daisies, and purple sunflowers. Under the flowers, in vast, curly letters, it read : Be The Best You Can Be!. Memories of elementary school flooded back to me. I remember especially when I received a solo in our musical, The Sound of Music. It was a classic.

         I dropped a five-dollar bill into the suggested donations box, and grabbed myself a seat, just close enough to see Ellie’s enchanting red flats, I helped her pick out. Scarlet curtains covered the stage, but, looking down at my watch, I realized I would only have to wait…30 seconds. I had just enough time to look around at the newly decorated theatre and see…

         Huh? Gary Clark.  He was dressed in casual clothes, jeans and a Go Brooklyn Dodgers! shirt. I never saw him out of a blue, or black suit. And, more importantly, who was that sitting next to him; talking to him; laughing with him? My question was soon answered.

         “CJ you’re a genius,” so that’s his name, “a pure genius!” Gary’s laughter was the loudest I’d ever heard. Strangely enough, he was the quietest person I know (besides myself anyways).

         CJ. I had heard that name before. I just couldn’t remember where.

         “Mr. Martinez, I assure you.”

         CJ Martinez. Now I knew! David had once mentioned that name, and when I asked, he said it was his mexican uncle. Now, I was super confused.

 Why would Gary Clark be talking to David’s uncle?

         I pushed the thoughts aside as the lights dimmed and Alice in Wonderland began. The curtains opened to reveal a small tree, an oversized cat, and a girl. Music started and the girl was soon falling down a hole. I knew the story well enough to know that she would eat and drink some stuff, and go through a tiny door to garden of the Queen of Hearts. Pulling out my camera, getting ready to take a picture of Ellie, I noticed, through the reflection of the camera, CJ and Gary whispering closely together. My curiosity took the better of me. I couldn’t help it.

         Before I knew it, I was sliding into the seat behind an unlikely couple. I bent forward pretending to tie my shoe. Eavesdropping was my favorite skill. My best was following, but I’d only done that once before a long, long time ago.

         “Just remember,” CJ was saying, “you can’t tell Josiphina.  No matter what.” Can’t tell me what?

         “And, you need to make sure the boys don’t even hint to David.” Mr. Clark leaned back in his seat as Ellie’s song started. I think the song was called “Off With Her Head” or something.

         I leaned back too. In fact, I almost fainted. I had a million questions, and only a fraction of an answer. There was definitely more to my mission than Gary would say.