Hi folks,
We are back in Nova Scotia near Halifax. And just imagine, when we were hanging out on the beach today while Ursula went for a walk in the woods, who do you think was suddenly standing in front of us?
Antonio! If you remember, that was the smuggler who freed us from the overhead cupboard in Hamburg before we crossed the Atlantic. And who believed that I was the Great Rosalia and that Leopold was Leopoldo, the man for the rough stuff.
I think it’s time I told you the whole truth. The real whole truth. I should have done that from the start. Leopold was right about that.
So: There we were at the meeting of the bosses of all the gangs in the Bronx. Me as the Great Rosalia, before whom they almost fell to their knees, and Leopold as my bodyguard. I sat on the table at the long end, Leopold stood behind me and Leona sat next to me as my confidante. Or like this. Nobody dared to ask who she was anyway. They were all completely frozen with respect and a little bit of fear. Because at the beginning, someone thought he had to play a little casually and Leopoldo roared.
Guys, I’m telling you, that wasn’t just a roar. That was a ROAR. I was afraid for a moment that it would blow me away! I had to pretend that I was used to it, but in reality it could have backfired. In the truest sense of the word.
Once it was clear that nobody needed to play casually, everything went well.
They made peace and promised each other to stop fighting gang wars and to stop extorting protection money.
Before we left again, it happened to Leopold that he slipped out of Antonio’s hand. Because he’s just so heavy. So no wonder. Antonio put us in the stretch limousine and went back to the house because Leopold was a bit dirty and he wanted to brush him.
As soon as he left, the cleaning lady who had been working inside the house turned up. A small woman, slightly stooped, old and wrinkled.
She looked at me and said: “So, the Great Rosalia! That’s fantastic.”
I was a little unsettled because she didn’t have the submissive demeanor that the gang bosses displayed. So I said in as stern a voice as I could: “What do you mean?”
“What I mean is that it’s fantastic that you want to play the Great Rosalia!”
That was a bit confusing. Why should the cleaning lady suspect that I’m just playing the Great Rosalia when I’m … oops, when I’m Sally the Sloth?
“What are you insinuating! Where did you get the idea that I’m not Rosalia?” I sincerely hoped that didn’t sound too anxious.
The cleaning lady straightened up, and suddenly she was no longer a small, stooped woman, but a fearsome creature, and not a little old and wrinkled. “Because I am the Great Rosalia. And I’m very pleased that they think you are now, because as far as I know my friends, one of them will soon have enough of the peace you’ve made today and then it will be up to the Great Rosalia. That means you.”
With a mischievous laugh, she turned back into the wrinkled, stooped cleaning lady and returned to the house.
Oops! Afterwards, Leopoldo was brushed clean by Antonio and we flew to Halifax.
We felt very safe on our trip through Canada and the USA. How were they supposed to know where we were when often not even Ursula herself knew where we were? Or where we were going.
Until today. When suddenly Antonio stood there and said: “Don’t go by ship under any circumstances! They want to kidnap you! The cleaning lady heard them talking about it. They want to get rid of the Great Rosalia because you’re demanding too much of her earnings.”
So the Great Rosalia is rich … and I can’t even get into the top cupboard!
Speaking of wall units. Under no circumstances can I go into the top cupboard! Otherwise they’ll get me. And Leopold. And they’ll probably take Leona and Hilde with them so that it can be done in one go.
What do I do now? I mean, it’s really not our fault, Leopold and me. We are only the victims! And now they want to kill us.
The suitcase!
We have to go in the suitcase! Ursula has to take us on the plane this time. Otherwise it’s all over!
I thanked Antonio for the warning and assured him that I would not forget it.
As soon as Antonio had disappeared, Ursula returned from her walk. “You look a little shaky,” she said. “Are you cold?”
We nodded. But no, we were actually hot. The trembling had a completely different reason.
If we can’t change Ursula’s mind, the wall unit will be our fate.
I could tell you that we now have 33 pairs of socks and four single ones. And that Ursula didn’t take us to the hotel when Annie Way was in the workshop because she thought Annie Way needed us more urgently. And that Ursula, when she wanted to make tea today, was horrified to discover that it had been eaten. Some animal must have gotten into the base cabinet at some point. It wasn’t the sloth. Perhaps she should have kept the tea in the wall cupboard. The box and several tea bags were torn open. But nothing else was damaged. Not even the chocolate cookies, which were still in their original packaging. Fortunately. It was also impossible to determine which animal it was because it left nothing behind. Also fortunately.
The never-ending story of the Canadian campsite showers, which Ursula once talked about in the podcast, has been enriched by another facet. When Ursula came back from the shower the other day, she said: “Sally, it’s lucky that I like the eight-legged creatures among us, otherwise I would have had a problem.” Leona was delighted. She likes spiders too.
Speaking of Leona. She doesn’t talk quite so much anymore. That makes our lives a little more pleasant again. Maybe she really just needed to catch up after not saying anything for so long.
We are at a campsite by the sea, only about 50 km from Halifax, from where the Atlantic Star and Annie Way will be leaving next Wednesday. If all goes well, without us. Then I’ll get back to you in November, because that’s when we finally have to arrange dates for the band. As already mentioned, the Lionfields are brilliant! When Leona, Hilde and Leopold sing, I tell you, it gives you goose bumps! Don’t miss out on this for your birthday party, a company anniversary or a family celebration!
If we travel with Annie Way on the Atlantic Star, there is still the possibility that we will pay for our release with the gold that Ursula found in Alaska and keeps in the overhead locker.
Leopold is shaking his head right now. He says he saw that Ursula wrote to her cousin in a WhatsApp message that there was nothing in the wall unit. After all, her cousin said that Ursula should surprise us and take us on the plane.
I want to meet this cousin! She might save our lives! Please, dear cousin, tell Ursula again that we absolutely have to get on the plane! Whether suitcases or hand luggage, we are no longer allowed in Annie Way’s overhead locker! Please! Our lives depend on it!
Ursula should really start getting Annie Way ready for the trip. Which means clearing out and cleaning. She puts it off from one day to the next. Once because it’s raining, and you can’t clean when it’s raining. Other times because the weather is nice, and you have to make the most of the nice weather. After all, I was listening to her on the phone today with a truck wash. She was advised to do this by two people from Switzerland, who also had their van washed there before shipping. Annie Way still has a lot of dead mosquitoes on the front. And if she is not completely clean, she is not allowed on the ship.
That would be the solution! If Ursula won’t let us fly, we’ll just get Annie Way dirty.
Leopold the Annoying shakes his head again. If we’re locked in the top cupboard, we won’t be able to get her dirty. He says. I’m afraid he’s right. Again. Why does he always have to be right?
Folks, cross your fingers for us! And if you want to save our lives, then make it clear to Ursula that we are no longer allowed in the top cupboard under any circumstances. We have to fly! Otherwise we’ll be in trouble!
You’ll hear from us in November. Hopefully. Really.
Yours, Sally
