“I am the GOAT! I am the GOAT!” Lynn Stallworth screamed that statement in joy over and over again after his fallen foe left the game server. The GOAT is Greatest Of All Time and this bold assertion was not coming from the victor’s hubris or an overblown ego. With how this gamer just crushed his faceless opponent to advance in the Madden ‘20 tournament the statement was not far off from the truth.

The past is the past was one of the worst platitudes ever uttered by a fool trying to sound like a sage. Even if this overused cliche was not worn out, the advice in it was useless. People would use this saying to try to push an issue under the rug. Not treating the past with respect was just ignoring your life to move on. In fact, following those so-called words of wisdom had a high probability of damaging someone. An insightful person would know the best way to follow the path of Confucius was to study the past if they wanted to divine the future.

Julia and Gina were disappointed when they woke-up the next day. Their father had left without letting them know. Their grandmother wouldn’t tell them where he went or when he would be back. All she would tell them was that he had some important business that needed to be handle and he should be back by the end of the week. The girls still would had like to have seen him off. Also, they couldn’t find Chaos anywhere, which was unusual. Chaos normally came to the house to eat and sleep.

On Tuesday, they get a phone call from their father. Selina had answer the phone.

Max thought for a moment and said, "Can you arrange transport to take both of them to the Norwegian Consulate in Newcastle and they will take over their care then. If anybody queries these instructions say they came directly from Queen Olga of Norway who is concerned for her brother in law and great niece." Max then telephoned the consulate who promised they would get them to safety.

“Mum was not telling tall stories then when she said she was a dragon maid.”

Chapter 4

Robb had drained about $1200 from the bank card that bore his name. He
bought a backpack at a thrift store. He broke the card in half and