***

Karen stood in the bedroom doorway watching Bobby furiously pack his entire wardrobe into the single duffle bag he owned. She smiled as he groaned, trying to push more and more into the straining canvas. "You can use one of my suitcases." Karen thought about the argument she pretty much had with herself while Izzy was on the phone in London ordering the huge luggage set, and how it would actually come in handy now.

She would have to get it back from him. She had been adamant in her insistence that he take it home with him since she was surely not going to have an opportunity to use all that. "Bobby, we're not leaving for two weeks." Karen walked over to him as he stopped, momentarily. She watched as he looked at the bag, and then sat on the bed. "Are you okay with this?" She was hoping his answer would mirror the enthusiasm of his packing. "It's gonna be great!" His eyes danced with excitement. Well, happy day, at least one of them is happy. She left him to his frenzied packing, laughing as she walked down the hall. Angry daughter aside, life was good.

***

Karen stood wearily shifting her weight from one foot to the other, holding a suitcase in one hand, and a garment bag slung over her shoulder in the other. Another large suitcase rested on casters at her feet, waiting to be pushed, when she started moving again, towards the big, black bus with the gold streak splashed across its side, cutting through the black like an arrow. The name "Izzy High' was emblazoned in black letters inside the gold streak. A large, beefy hand took the bags from her as she approached the bus. The crewmembers ahead of her had already deposited their bags and climbed inside. The roadie that packed the luggage compartment under the bus was so large it was frightening, until he smiled. He had the warmest smile Karen had ever seen inside a long, frizzled beard and a mustache that covered his entire upper lip. When he had taken her last piece, the suitcase on rollers, and shoved it into the cavernous opening, he nodded and pointed for her to board the bus. The kids were already on board and Izzy was nowhere to be seen. The three of them arrived at the terminal at 9 am, as instructed. She had been upset that Izzy hadn't come with them, wondering why he sent the telegram rather than walk across the yard, and tell her himself, what the plans were. She hadn't seen him in nearly four days; all she had seen was the coming and going of the long, white car.