Hello, and welcome to bedtime stories with me rara. Okay. So last time on the podcast, Loretta had just agreed to go to the cockroach races ball with Joe. So pick up the story there today. We are reading chapter 21, the ball, here we go. Do you think these disguises will work asked fin skitish. It was Friday night and he and April were walking the last couple of blocks to the town hall where the cockroach races ball was being held. Fin was dressed as a unicorn and April was dressed as Rudolph the red nose reindeer. They didn't wanna know why their father had these costumes in a trunk in the attic, but he did. And the costumes completely covered their bodies and faces. So they were wearing them. Of course they works said April aggressively, no one can recognizes can they, but we are pretty conspicuous said, Finn, we're gonna really stand out. Rubbish said, April people wear all sorts of weird things to parties. No one will even notice us. They could hear music playing as April jogged up the front steps to the venue. Finn hurried after her not wanting to be, be left behind the Carlong town hall was a surprisingly grand art deco building with fake plastic copies of gr and statues and heavy brass fittings. Finn in April crossed the lobby and pushed open the heavy double doors that led into the party. Oh, dear said, Finn, we may have made a terrible or mistake. Everyone else at the party was dressed in black tie. The boys and men, all war tuxedos and the girls and women all wore beautiful. If somewhat old fashioned ball gowns, what is this? Asked April and discussed. It's like we've stepped into a crowd scene from a Fred movie. Let's go home said, fin, panic him. April grabbed him tightly by the wrist. You are not going anywhere. She said, no, one's gonna give us a second glance. They'll all be too busy. Worrying how silly they look themselves dressed up in monkey suits and dresses that look like Marans April dragged, fin, further into the room. They weaved their way through the dancers. April showing uncharacteristic restraint. She only shoved two couples demanded that they get out of her way. As she progressed across the floor. Where are we going? Asked fin looks at April pointing to the far side of the room. Fin stood up on tippy toes. I can't see anything. Oh, I forgot your sure. At April, the cockroaches are over there at the ball. Exclaimed fin that cannot be sanitary. They broke through the crowd and now fin could see for himself. A long T Trel table had been set up and down. Its length stretched a line of cockroaches in small aquariums, large jam jars and various size boxes. A plaque for each contestant was neatly inscribed with the trainer's names. There must have been at least 60 cockroaches in all April step forward to get a closer look, but a burly security guard intercepted her. Stay behind the rope, instructed the guard, sternly a red velvet rope hung in front of the table, co it off. So no one could get within a meter of the cockroaches. Security is pretty tight set. Fin. If you call a velvet rope and a middle aged man with a heart condition, security set April, Hey, I don't have a heart condition. The security guard really said April with fame concern. Then you should really check with your doctor because it's not natural to have skin that gray and you are sweating a lot. What's at the security guard. He doesn't look good. Does. He said April nudging, Finn and giving him a meaningful look. Have you had any shortness of breath or chest pains recently asked fin catching on and following April's lead. Oh, no. More than usual. Set the guard. What about itchy feet and excessive Duff asked April, are they symptoms of heart disease too? Asked the guard. Oh yes. At April Soly towards the end over you. I drive straight to emergency right now said Finn, but I've gotta look after the cockroaches. The guard replied starting to get distressed. Do you, do you really ask April don't you have a family? Shouldn't you be looking after yourself for their sake? Isn't that more important? Oh, my wife would be angry if I had a hard at tack worried the guard. She's always telling me I ate too much cheese. Get to the hospital. Urged fin. We'll keep an eye on the cockroaches for you. You will. Oh, thanks at the security guard. Before hurrying away finally said April. Now we can do whatever we like with these cockroaches. What is it we want to do. Ask fin check for dead bodies for a starts at April opening. The first box, suddenly the music cut out April flinched and jumped back thinking she'd been caught. But then there was a wine of feedback from a microphone and a Knuffle up on stage. Everyone looked over to see what was happening. But April and Finn were the most horrified. It was their dad. He was wrestling the microphone out of the DJ's hands. Give it to me. Demanded dad. I've got something I wanna say with one good, hard yank. He twisted the microphone out of the DJ's grip, pulling him off balance. So he toppled over his own turntable. Dad didn't care. He turned to address the crowd. Can you hear me? He asked tapping the top of the mic microphone. So small bangs echo, definitely around the room. Yes. Called several people from the crowd. I'm looking for. My children said, dad, April Finn, are you here? Finn started to move forward. But April grabbed him. Don't she whispered we're not meant to be here. Remember we can't reveal our identities. I need you. Dad. Pleaded. Joe has been kidnapped. Fin broke away from April and forced his way through the crowd to the stage. Dad was still looking out scanning the sea of faces. He wasn't expecting his children to as fin tapped him on the foot. Dad, Flint. When he looked down at the human sized unicorn, are you one of them? He yelped. Are you with a collective? No, dad. It's me. Finn said Finn. He pulled open the mouth of his unicorn suit. So dad could get a glimpse of his face. Oh, what relief said, dad, I want a good idea to come disguise. If only Joe had thought to do the same, tears started to well up in his eyes. What happened? Asked April. She'd come over to join them. Can we trust the reindeer? Asst dad it's April said fin. So probably not. I was in my repairing some chainsaw damage to the wall. When I heard them coming said, dad heard her coming asked fin the collective said dad, they came in a helicopter. My first thought was to go down to the cellar and lock myself in until they went away. But then I heard footsteps on the deck. And when I looked at the window, Joe was being dragged into the helicopter and it flew off. But why would anyone wanna kidnap? Joe asked April to get to your mother said, dad, they can use him as leverage. I don't. I said April, I'm not convinced she liked him that much. I don't think it would work by now how the music and dancing had resumed. But there was an increasingly loud pulsating beat that didn't appear to have anything to do with the song that was playing. What is that asked fin? What asked April? That sound? I can't hear anything said April. Maybe you are having a stroke. It sounds like a helicopter said fin. It's the collective they've come back. Explained dad, quick run. He grabbed April and F with surprising strength for a timid horticulturalist and started frog. Marching them to the entrance. Dad. We can't leave protested April. We're investigating a crime. We'll be the crime under investigation. If we don't get out of here where old dad practically pushing them down the front steps ahead of him. But they were too late. The helicopter was definitely loud. It was hovering low. As it came into land, its floodlights lit up the ground blind in April and Finn. They couldn't run away now because they wouldn't be able to see where they were going. They could just as easily run right into the blades. If the helicopter, oh, we doomed grown dad, the fight went out of him. He still held tight to April and Finn, but now more for comfort. Everyone else at the cockroach traces ball was flooding out of the hall to see what was going on. up. Dad yelled Finn over the sound of the helicopter. They can't kidnap us. Not with so many witnesses. The only reason you say that is because you can't remember all the times, your memory has been altered. Shouted. Dad, the helicopter touched down on the Bitman of the car park. The next second, the door slid open and a man in a tuxedo stepped out. I didn't know. Spies really wore tuxedos. Like James Bond said April. That's not a spy. Exclaimed fin it's Joe. Joe was almost unrecognizable in a suit and neatly combed hair. He turned back to the helicopter, reached in and helped out a beautiful supermodel. Except of course it wasn't a real supermodel. That's Loretta exclaimed, April Nore, Finn. It was amazing. Finn could speak at all. He felt like his heart was being crushed. Now when tectonic plates spend millennia pushing into each other with unimaginable force, the pressure is so great that the carbon in the rock is compressed into diamonds. And that is how crushed Finn's heart felt in his chest. At that exact moment, like it was being crushed so hard. It could form a diamond Loretta and Joe swept towards them. Joe holding her tightly as if worried that this terrifyingly beautiful girl would be. He blown away by the down thrust of the helicopter, the crowd parted, except for Finn, April had to ya him out of the way. Then the crowd flowed back into the hall, like the tide returning everyone, chattering excitedly with a new buzz of exhilaration in the air. What just happened? Asked dad beginning to wonder if his old and least articulate child really was a spy. The tuxedo did seem like a uniform for those people. It wouldn't be the first time a spy had snuck past him and infiltrated his family. That was what his wife had done. Dad turned and looked at the helicopter. Is that my helicopter? And was that the girl from next door flying it. Dad reached in, turned the engine off and took out the keys. Loretta had to make a dramatic entrance. Sniped, April. She does everything dramatically. This really was the pot calling in the kettle black because April had quite the flare for dramatic herself. Ah, Mr. Pesky, I presume said Mr. Lang walking down the front steps of the town hall towards dad, we meet it last are you collective ask dad an alarm closed said April he's the school guidance counselor. Is that your helicopter asked Mr. Lang not in at the keys in dad's hand. I'm not breaking any government regulations said dad defensively. Okay. Said Mr. Lang. But the reason I ask is because at this year's cockroach races, there's going to be a display on aviation through the ages. What's that got to do with cockroaches near April cockroaches have wings said, Mr. Lang, they fly. Come with me, Mr. Pesky, I want to discuss the logistics of putting your helicopter on display. Mr. Lang took dad by the arm in the experienced manner of a teacher used to grab in hold of a child so they can't get away. He led dad back inside the hall. I, I wanna go home said fin Horsely. What about our investigation explained April we've barely begun. I don't care anymore. Said fin. He turned away and started trudging towards their house. He would've looked like a dramatic figure himself if he hadn't been dressed as a unicorn. And that is the end of the chapter. So we li leave it there for now until next time. Goodbye.