Emily seized the phone halfway through the first ring.

"McArthurs', this is Emily!"

"Em!"

"Ash! Are you there?"

"Yeah, we're in the airport in Bremen." A buzz of voices and bustle around Ash confirmed it.

"Ash?" Doc Upton's voice was faintly audible over the airport buzz. "You aren't going to spend our entire trip on the phone, are you? We're in Germany, you know!"

Ash's voice got a little fainter as she spoke away from the phone. "I know, Dad, but we're just killing time at baggage claim and I thought this would be a good time to check in with people, 'cause you know, this is just the airport. Don't worry, I'll be all touristy when we're in cathedrals and stuff."

"Teenage girls and their phones..." sighed Ash's father.

"Forget it, Ash - he didn't mean anything!" Em called hastily into the phone. "It's just an excuse to say the same thing he'd say if you were a guy!"

Ash's voice was directed back into the phone. "Yeah... I get that. I'm OK. Thanks, though." Then, "Dad? I'm going to go over there - I think the reception will be better."

"So how was the flight?"

"Long! Boring. I tried to get started on my make-up homework for the trip, which didn't help with the 'boring' part. Glad it's over. Turns out there's an advantage to being shorter as a girl, though. Extra leg room compared to the last time I was on a plane."

"And did you ogle the stewardesses?"

"Bad luck. One was middle-aged and the other was a guy."

"Well, was he cute?"

"EM! Don't think that just because I'm halfway around the world I won't come smack you."

Em grinned. She'd been dreading this time - ten days without Ash - so it was nice to think they could keep the teasing going long-distance.

"Hey, did I just hear English over the loudspeaker?" she asked Ash.

"Yeah... everything's in German and English and, um, French I think. It's kind of disappointing seeing so much English, actually. Makes it seem not very exotic or mysterious."

"Well, maybe that'll change once you get away from the airport. So what are you doing first?"

"We're staying the night here in Bremen, then taking a train to Berlin tomorrow and sightseeing there and in Hamburg for the next couple days. Then Dad's conference starts, so we come back here to Bremen and I get to kick around on my own the rest of the trip."

"I'll warn Interpol." Em sighed. "I'm so jealous. I want to go to Europe."

"I asked my Dad if we could get another companion ticket, but it would have been full price."

"I think people would think it was weird if I went to Europe with you."

"Why? Everybody knows we're best friends."

"Yeah... well, maybe someday."

"So how are the feathered freaks?"

"Don't know. I'll keep an eye on them at school today."

"Ha, it's like getting you to dog-sit."

"Dogs are more responsible."

"No doubt. Uh, it looks like our bags are here, I'd better go. Call you from the train tomorrow?"

"I'll be here."

"'Kay, bye!"

Gently, reluctantly, Emily set down the phone. Ten days. No big deal, right?

~ x ~ x ~

"Hey Em! It's Ash!"

Behind Ash's voice came a rhythmic ka-lack, ka-lack, ka-lack. "Sounds like you're on the train, huh?"

"Yeah, in the cafeteria car."

"So how is it?"

"Well, the scenery from the train is really pretty. Even though it's winter and it's not snowy, the fields and farmhouses and stuff still look really cool. Lots of old stone walls and stuff."

"You're going to send me lots of pictures, right?"

"Uh, yeah, but they really don't look that good when I take them through the train windows. I'll get you some postcards with better pictures."

"But I want you in the pictures."

"OK, well, I'll take some, then. Anyway, I came down to the cafeteria to talk away from my Dad because... I kind of wanted to talk about him. He's being all father-daughter with me. It's kind of creepy."

"Why, what's he doing?"

"Oh, I don't know. He just wants to be talking to me all the time, and asking me stuff."

"That's not necessarily father-daughter, you know. Maybe it's just parent-child."

"He never used to be like this."

"Well, this is your big trip together, you know. Probably the last before you graduate. He's probably wanting to make some memories before you go out on your own."

"Hmm." Ash didn't sound convinced.

"Look, Ash... you keep on looking at everything like, 'Does this mean I'm a girl?' It's kind of your obsession and it gets in the way of stuff. Like, this trip really IS a big deal. You probably WILL remember it forever. I sure would. So do you really want to remember mostly feeling suspicious of your Dad? Wouldn't you rather have it be a great time? You'll never have another chance to do this, even if you do get refiled right."

"But he..."

"And anyway, let's say he really IS trying harder because you're a girl now. Why does that make it bad? Why can't you just enjoy the good things in your life without worrying about, this is a girl thing, this is a guy thing? Why can't it just be, this is a good thing?"

"Why can't you just enjoy me without worrying about whether I'm a girl?"

Em's voice went flat and a little angry. "You are changing the subject."

"Ah... geez... I'm sorry, Em. Pretend I never said that."

"Okay."

"I was just hoping to talk to somebody who would understand..."

"Well, I'm all you've got to talk to, unless you want to tell somebody else about the Misfile. And I think I do understand. I understand that you hate being a girl. But don't make your life all about how you hate being a girl."

A few ka-lacks went by. "It's hard for me to forget about, Em."

"Yeah, well, I believe you. So, does that mean Ash Upton only does things that are easy?"

"Ooh, zing! So what are you saying I should do?"

"Try to pretend it's normal, and if you end up enjoying yourself, don't stop yourself."

"That work for you?"

Em thought about that for a minute. "I did start out constantly thinking, 'if I were still a senior...'. But then you distracted me into doing things instead of pitying myself. And then, when I thought, 'if I were still a senior', I'd think 'I wouldn't be having this much fun'."

"So, you think I'm going to start liking life as a girl better?"

"No! Just, just try to like your life and drop the 'as a girl' part. There's no 'as a', it's just your life. Why shouldn't you like it? You deserve to."

"Hmm. This is a hell of a pep talk when I really just wanted to bitch, Em."

"Yeah, well, it's what I think. I want you happy. Still friends?"

"Still friends."

"Call me from Berlin?"

"OK, but I'm not sure when because Dad might want to do things all evening and stuff. It might not be until we're back on the train toward Hamburg."

"OK. I'll be waiting."

"Tschuess, Frauelein."

Wow, thought Em, setting down the receiver. I can't believe I finally told her all that. I hope she thinks about it.