“Good morning, Miss Bidim. Great to meet you. I’ll be giving you a tour of the headquarters while our fathers discuss the ownership deal of your homeland Flipisyi. It’s nice to have another young lady here even if you are a few years older than me. I wish to know all about your schooling and the rest of your lovely culture.”

Hm. I believe she does not speak Aoenis. It seems like one of her advisors or security wants to say something. I’m guessing a 7ft woman would probably be security where they are from. Shouldn’t they have a translator? Like seven staff and no translator? Now they are speaking in their language. Is there an issue? They look confused. 

I have no idea. Nevertheless, I will accommodate.

“Let us start.”

“So these are the gardens. The fountains were installed around two years ago. Everyone comes here to sit and relax and just enjoy the view.

She’s understandably just giving me a blank stare. This may be difficult. 

“Nice water. You know?”

I’ll show her the art. Art, the universal language. So if I walk to the rear entrance, we will be at the gallery. I presume.

Do I go left or right?

“Good morning, Miss Wyxxitiez. How are you and your guest?”

“Good morning, Oes. We are fine, thank you.”

“Trying to find something?”

“ Nothing, in particular. Just giving a tour so I’m showing off everything.”

“Well, if you need anything just let me know even if it’s just a snack. I got some sweets from- Sorry just remembered, correct me if I’m mistaken, but was there another leader visiting your father.”

“Yes. He’s with dad right now.”

“Didn’t he have a daughter?”

“Yes, around the same age as me.”

“Not giving her a tour?”

“I don’t think so. Was I meant to? Maybe I was. I do usually give a tour to any daughters of visitors to Dad. I was just told about Bidim. Was a mistake made? I’ll check with the coordinator.”

“Sorry Bidim-Miss Bidim, for the brisk pace. It’s just that I could be missing someone.”

She can’t understand you, remember? But I can still be polite. The coordinator office should be here. This is their office, no? I wonder if the coordinator will be the same woman as last time or be once again someone different.

“Hello Miss Wyxxitiez. How can I help you?”

“Good morning. As you can see I’m giving a tour to Bidim, I mean Miss Bidim. But I heard that the other chief’s daughter is here. Am I meant to give her a tour as well?”

“Oh. I-Oh. Erm. I don’t know. So sorry. I just started last week”

“That’s fine. I’ll just continue my tour. Please, be on the lookout for a seventeen-year-old lady with lots of hair. Thank you.”

“So this is a painting of the family. It was made by our in-house artist. He’s currently painting the ceiling in the auditorium. He was going to do some sculptures instead but then my Mum told Dad that she and I are made of marble and it would just be weird. Like if you had a flesh statue. So… Yeah.”

“Toilet?”

She said something. Wow. Cool. What did she say? Toilet! 

“Yes, it’s just there up the corridor, to the left. I’ll show-”

“I can find it, thanks.”

“Oh, no problem.”

Wait.

She should be done by now.

What’s taking her so long?

Bored.

What’s going on? She took all her staff with her. They might be playing games or something. Perhaps I was so boring they started playing card games.

Bored.

Can I do a cart-wheel in this dress?

Yes.

Let me check. She can’t be spending this long. How- What? This is bad. There’s no bathroom here. Just a long corridor. And loads of doors. She’s lost. What have I done?

She’s nowhere to be found. I’ve lost a head of state’s daughter. Well actually, I’ve lost two. This is bad. Stay calm. Remember what you learnt in Haeysic with the Interpretists. Breathe in and out. 

I need one of Dad’s snacks he hides in his office.

Up the stairs. Second right. Here.

“...was wondering because your mother has feathers. She must have heritage from here. What is her maiden name?”

Dad and T’Wyndum talking again. Hopefully, they won’t notice me taking some sweets.

“En Kare”

“No, what was her name before?”

“En Kare. In Maevink, the women keep the name”

“But your family name-”

“Yes, the family takes the name of the women. It’s a historical thing.”

“Wow. Can you believe that Ainles?”

“Yes, wow. Where do you keep the snacks please?”

“What snacks?”

“We both know. Come on. Let’s have it.”

“It should be in my desk drawer here. Had to move it since you found the last spot. But I cannot seem to find it. Where could it be? I wonder, do you know T’Wyndum?”

“It’s gone. Your blood pressure is high, isn’t it? I’m doing you a favour.”

“My blood pressure is quite fine.”

“Is it though?”

I can’t believe Dad lets him talk to him like this. Must really like him. I guess he’s popular everywhere. I don’t get it.

“How’s the tour going?”

“It’s going well, Wynnie, didn’t know you cared. How was the meeting? Were you involved? Giving autographs again? Wait. The meeting’s over? The meeting’s over. Oh no.”

“Mr.Wyxxitiez, time to take care of this.”

“What’s the matter, darling?”

“I’ve lost the daughters.”

“Gasp! Sorry, I won’t do it again. You two continue.”

He’s such an idiot.

“It’s fine. Wynnie can sniff them out.”

“No. I can do it.”

“You sure?”

“Yes.”

T’Wyndum can’t be saving everyone around here. I’ll just work hard and fix this.

“By the way, why is everyone calling me Wynnie? I’m an adult. I can’t have cute nicknames. My reputation as well. I’m the Mighty Man from Mae. Not Wynnie.”

“Settle down, Wynnie. You’re going to help me make some calls to get new snacks. I want one of those chocolates with the gooey stuff inside. Caramel, or something.”

“Yeah, caramel.”

“Caramel.”

I’ll have to find them before their parents’ staff find them. Time to get serious. I’ll have to retrace my steps. Ask questions. Create a timeline. Oh, there she is.

“Hi Bidim. I see you found some of my friends here. Nice to see you fitting in and smoking. Aeha, why is she smoking? Why are you smoking!? Where did you get that? Where did you get her?”

“A lot of questions. But I understand, totally. You’re freaking out. She got lost and we found her. Did you know she is super funny? Anyway, the cigarettes. Wynnie was selling them really cheap. It was a great deal.”

“Ok. Don’t know what to say to… All of that. Have you seen the daughter of the other Head of State visiting?”

“What’s her name?”

“Don’t know.”

“What does she look like?”

“I think hairy.”

“Ainles, you’re my best friend. Maybe second. Wynnie En Kare does give me some great deals now. Last week, he had some- I’ll stop right there. You are in no mood for jokes. We’ll find the other daughter.”

I need to find her. She has to be somewhere. We’ve been searching for so long.

“Hello, Miss Wyxxitiez.”

“Hi Oes. Good news?”

“Well…”

“I’m guessing no.”

“Nothing bad. Interesting though. The daughter you’re looking for is on her way home.”

“Oh. At least I found Bidim”

“Chief Bidim. Are you ready to leave?”

Who’s that? Who’s Oes talking about? Why is Bidim walking? Why is she saying yes?

“Thank you Miss Wyxxitiez for the tour. Sorry, I didn’t say much. I have been very confused today. I realise now you thought I was my daughter. I am one of the two heads of state visiting. Don’t worry, though. My daughter is only one years old so she was with the nanny.”

“Did you at least have your meeting?”

“Yes, that’s where I went after asking for the lavatory. I got lost looking for it and had to run for the meeting but I did ask your coordinator to tell you so you wouldn’t be waiting for me.”

That coordinator’s not lasting another week it seems sadly. At least she’ll get a nice leaving gift. The Wyxxitiez are known for that.

It’s a shame. A disaster quite honestly. And there’s Wynnie to make it worse.

“Do you want to know where she was?”

“Who?”

“Chief Bidim.”

“Sure.”

“The fountain. Everyone goes to the fountain. Right?”