Rome

 On July 9th, we toured Rome.  I was feeling better after the health scare the day before and was ready to take on this new city.  The guide said that Rome was the city of love, because "Roma" spelled backwards was "Amor".  I took French and know it is spelled "Amour", but I guess it was the thought that counted.  We saw the Coliseum, the Forum, Circus Maximus, Paul's jail, what may have been the chains that held Paul, and Vatican City.  We toured St. Peter's and the Sistine Chapel.  We were told not to take pictures inside the chapel, but one of our group did anyway, and we were almost kicked out of there.  It took all of our tour guide to talk the people into letting us stay.  We also went to Trevi Fountain and tossed coins in there.  We just had a very nice day.
 In keeping with the younger ones on the tour and their pact, we went to a restaurant by ourselves to eat pasta and drink wine.  Mr. Vivian was a Baptist preacher and didn't approve of alcohol in any form.  We found we had wine on our breath, so everyone ate a whole bunch of breath mints and tried not to get too close to him the rest of the day.  I think he knew, but he didn't chastise us. 
 That afternoon, we continued our tour of Rome and saw a bunch more things, and then we had some time off.  The girls and I went back to the Spanish Steps to soak up the flavor of Rome.  They also had more contact with the Roman boys trying to pinch them. 
  After supper, we all went to our rooms to get some rest.  We were flying out tomorrow for Tel Aviv, and it was going to be a long flight.  As I was getting ready for bed, the phone rang and it was Sandra.  She sounded frightened, and said I needed to come to her room, as she was afraid she was going to die.  I had known Sandra almost two years, and we were very close friends.  She never liked to talk about death, and I knew this was serious.  I told Mr. Vivian that the girls needed me, but I didn't say why.  I threw on some clothes and went down the hall to their room.
  I knocked on the door, and a frightened voice asked who was it.  When I said it was me, they opened the door.  Both Sandra and Talula were trembling.  Sandra told me that she was taking a shower and needed more towels.  There were some buttons on the bedside table.  One was for the bellhop and the other was for the maid.  She thought she had pressed the button for the maid, but it was for the bellhop.  When a knock came on the door, she opened it wearing nothing.  The bellhop smiled; she screamed; and shut the door in his face.  They were afraid he would come back to get more of what he had seen.  They asked me what they should do, and I suggested they call him back, and find me in the room.  So, the plan went from there.  It was decided that they would call for the guy to come back.  I would be hiding in the bathroom.  When he would show up, I was to come out of the bathroom while zipping up my pants, and invite him in for a foursome.  So, we implemented the plan.  They rang for the bellhop.  He knocked on the door within seconds.  He must have run up the stairs.  They invited him in.  I came around the corner and said hello.  We all laughed.  He got embarrassed and left.  We had a good laugh over it, and I went back to my room.  Mr. Vivian asked what they wanted, and I just said they wanted to talk about the day.  I didn't think it concerned him.  Boy, was I wrong.