David and Pop-Pop's Europe Trip
Before We Leave

Mom daydreams about visiting London. She has wanted to for a long time, but never had a chance. She and Bubba will join Pop-Pop and me in London at the end of our trip.

She is lying in a bean bag chair in my room at her house. How clean my backpack is before the trip! My camera case is on the floor, and the laundry bag that reads "toxic waste" that Bubba got me when I started high school.

On the wall is a dried flower from Kami, a Tolkien poster, and a copy of some text from the Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster:

"That's why," said Azaz, "there was one very important thing about your quest that we couldn't discuss until you returned."

"I remember," said Milo eagerly, "Tell me now."

"It was impossible," said the king, looking at the Mathemagician.

"Completely impossible," said the Mathemagician, looking at the king.

"Do you mean..." stammered the bug, who suddenly fet a bit faint.

"Yes indeed," they repeated together. "But if we had told you, then you might not have gone, and as you've discovered so many things are possible just as long as you don't know they're impossible."