Adventures in Hong Kong: the Final Chapter

When I last left you, I indicated that upon return to our hotel I noticed that we were missing something very important. I was unpacking the backpack from the day's travels and re-packing it for our adventure back to Okinawa that was to begin in the morning when I noticed the front pocket was EMPTY.

The pocket where FLAT STANLEY had made his home, our faithful companion while traveling the far East.

I sort of freaked out.

Umm.... WHERE IS FLAT STANLEY?!?!

Crud.

All I could picture in my head was the devastation of Reagan, the little girl who had sent us Flat Stanley.

We had taken Flat Stanley out of the pocket on the first half of the Ferry ride to try to entertain the kids, who were bored out of their minds.  But I DISTINCTLY remembered putting Flat Stanley back in the pocket, thinking, "It's our last day here...we don't need to lose him now!"

I also remember getting off of the ferry and seeing Tommy in front of me with the backpack on and the zipper compartment open a few inches at the top and thinking, "I need to tell him to close the backpack all the way."  But in my Sea-drunken, "I want to throw up" sea-sick stupor, I couldn't speak and it was all I could do to get off that ferry without hurling up the Almond cookies I had eaten in the fishing village.

Then we got on the subway...the very crowded subway... and walked to our hotel.  And now Flat Stanley was gone.

I think he was Stanley-napped.

Actually, I think we were probably "pick-pocketed," since the pocket was open a couple inches, but all the guy got was a very special Stanley.

ARGH!

I was more than a little upset.  I just kept thinking, "How did this happen!?!?"  I felt awful.  I mean really, really awful.  I should have listened to my gut, because I really wanted to mail him back before we left for Hong Kong because I was so worried about losing him, but Wyatt wanted to take him with us. 

GRR.

I guess Flat Stanley just wanted to see more of the world.  Tommy thinks he wanted to change his name to "Stan Lee" (get it?) and live in China.

When we got home I had to call Monica and tell her we lost Flat Stanley. :(  I had Wyatt make a new one, which he was super excited about, and even decorated with glitter, saying, "I think Reagan will really like this!"  We told Ms. Hile's 1st grade class that Flat Stanley wanted to travel Asia some more, but that his cousin, Stan Lee, was traveling there to see the United States.  And then I tried to make a really awesome package for the 1st graders to make up for it.

 Oh, Stanley.  Where for art thou, Stanley?!??