We finally left Flagstaff and headed on to Gallup, still in Arizona. That would be the second to last stop before my end of the trip, before I was homebound once more. I wanted to keep going, all the way to Chicago, but I knew I had responsibilities towards everyone, and I could not just leave them on other people’s shoulders.

I woke up before daybreak, thinking about the upcoming show. Right now the tour was, for me, on the back burner. This Tempelhofer Feld show might not bring revenue, but it would bring enormous exposure and I knew I would feel the heat of it, in the upcoming days. Peter and Alastair were in permanent contact with anyone who was someone in the city of Berlin and they all shared the same view of it all: it would be a flash flood of people. I, on the other hand, was not as positive (but I never was, in the first place) and just expected a nice crowd.

We had a couple of external teams working with us, managing emergency corridors and services in the venue, creating a detailed map to cover every possible scenario, managing water supplies and food stalls, and working on safety all around. None of us wanted to have a slip of any kind. Especially, not a slip that could, potentially, harm someone.

I got out, to catch some air, and to try not to think about anything. At least, not for another day or two, and I spotted Adam, leaning below the open bonnet, fiddling with the engine.

- Good morning – I greeted him, as I looked at the engine of his Firebird – Are we good?

- ‘morning sunshine – he smiled, taking a strand of hair away from his eyes with the back of his hand – just some maintenance. You know anything about cars?

I crossed my arms, knowingly – Well, I can actively identify a car when I see one. And I’m pretty positive that’s an engine right there.

- I see every penny they spent on your education was well worth it – he laughed – This over here’s the radiator – he said, tapping something that I leaned in to see – We don’t want that failing us ever, especially when we’re cruising through the desert. We also want to make sure we have enough oil before heading out on the road.

He kept going, explaining to me what every part of that engine did and how it worked, as he went on and checked all he could. Adam also went on about how classic cars needed a good extra dose of love and care and taught me the differences between them and modern ones.

- How do you know so much about cars?

- My grandpa used to have an auto shop – he closed the bonnet with a muffled sound – and I used to spend a lot of time there, after school, before my mom could come pick me up, after work. I’d be a mechanic, if I wasn’t an actor.

He picked up a rag and wiped his hands.

- You can be a mechanic as a hobby, in your spare time – I said – You’re only seventeen. The world’s your oyster.

- And I get paid enough to buy some nice, classic cars. Win-win – he took a quick look at his fingernails and grimaced – I’m just gonna wash my hands real quick and we can go get ourselves some breakfast before we go, OK?

- Where are we heading, today? - I asked.

- What – he grinned – the surprise factor is wearing down on you? It’s the last one, I promise. And you’re gonna love it.

To say I loved the open-air theme park that was the town of Roswell, would be an understatement. Every single corner was alien-themed, even the menus at the mandatory tourist-trap restaurants.

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- Do you believe any of this shit? - he asked me, as we both stared at a model of what could have been an alien autopsy, tilting our heads, Ferris Bueller style.

- I mean… Something happened that night, right? Otherwise, this is just some blown-out-of-proportion mass hysteria, isn’t it?

- Don’t you think the government could have done it? As a cover-up for something, I mean?

- Well, if they did, it did backfire on them – I just made a vague gesture, pointing at all the alien craze around us and all the people that came in tow – Don’t you believe in extraterrestrial life?

- I might… Just not little anaemic, naked grey dudes with bulging eyes. - he pointed at the model and made a disgusted face.

- He is quite naked, yes… Maybe we’re the only dimwits in the Universe who bother wearing clothes.

- Could it just be that these dudes, in particular, were nudists, and we’re assuming they all like to fly around buck naked?

- Like that theory that says that if there’s a collapse of civilization and all records are lost, and in the very far off future, archaeologists happen to find Disneyland, they would assume we worshipped giant mice and ducks.

- There’s a good one – he nodded, approvingly – Not that we don’t do that now.

- Shh – I urged, lifting a finger – You might want to work for the big Mouse one day. And the walls have ears.

- I love Mickey Mouse – he said a bit louder, enunciating every syllable – I love everything Disney. I wish I was a Disney princess myself.

I pursed my lips, lowering my head, shying away from the eyes of curious tourists around us.

- Think that might do the trick? - he lowered his voice.

- I think you’re safe, yes.

- Oh, hey boss! - Bear leaned over the passenger side window, as Adam parked his car, by the airport entrance – I see you managed to get yourself a little tan.

- She’d better – Adam said, greeting Bear – If she was still as pale as she was before, after hiking in the desert, I would be worried. How are the Cubs?

- Meh… Maybe next year, who knows?

Bear opened the door and I got out, while Adam fetched my things from the boot. They kept on talking about baseball and I let them. Bear did not have many opportunities of doing so, on the other side of the Atlantic.

- How was your family? - I asked, when he rejoined me, with my big backpack in tow.

- Great. How was the trip?

- It was great. Your country’s lovely.

- How’d you like Cathedral Rock and Sedona? Awesome, isn’t it?

I arched an eyebrow – How do you know I’ve been to Cathedral Rock?

- What do you mean, boss? - Bear took a folded paper from his pocket and handed it to me. It had all the stops we had been to, along with ETA’s and phone numbers for the places we would stay at – Adam gave that to me before you took off from LAX.

I lifted my eyes from that very detailed list and looked back, at Adam, who was suddenly very interested in an ad from an insurance company, but I could see a little shy smile blooming on his lips. He had wanted to make sure Bear would know my whereabouts at all times. Considering my history and my anxiety, if that wasn’t thoughtful, I had no idea what could be.

I took the paper in my hand and walked over to him – How long have you been planning all of this?

- Will I need a lawyer to do the talking for me? I know my rights, missy. - he gave me a tentative smile, looking adorably like a misbehaving kid.

- I’m not cross. I’m actually impressed.

- Oh – he pretended to let out a breath of relief and wipe his forehead – I thought I might be in deep trouble.

- Why would you? It was very considerate. Thank you…

He just shrugged and averted eye contact – It was nothing, really.

Bear looked at me and tapped his watch, saying we should be going.

- May I give you a hug, kind sir? - I asked. Last time, the roles had been reversed. This time, I was bold enough to ask him myself.

- But of course, milady! - he gave it his best shot at a posh accent.

Adam wrapped his arms around me and gave me a tight hug, just like the one he had, some months ago.

- That accent was worse than Dick van Dyke’s – I muttered and it made him laugh. I felt the positivity of that laugh echoing back to my chest.

- Back to the Python drawing board again, I guess.

- Thank you so much – I pulled away from him – For everything.

- Even for desecrating a grave site?

- I’m still on the fence about that one – I grinned, but I was now a proud owner of Poe’s grave dirt. That was the ugly truth – But yeah, thank you for that as well.

- Have a nice flight home, Ellie. I’ll try and hop over to Germany, if I can.

- I’d like that very much – it would mean a lot to have a great friend like him there – Please be careful on the road.

Once more, he lifted three fingers, at face height – Scout’s honour.

We both waved goodbye, as we passed the boarding gates. I would miss him, I just knew it. It had felt like freedom, the whole week. And I had forgotten what freedom had felt like.