“So, when are the Bundersmiths getting here?” asked Astrid.

“Unless I miss my bet,” said her father, “Martin will arrive when the first goodies come out of the kitchen.”

Astrid’s father was right.  Toby, his father, and his Great-Aunt Gerta arrived at 2:00 o’clock on the dot, just as Chef Llywelya Pierce was setting out brie and bacon palmiers and roasted pumpkin seeds.  Five minutes later, Penelope Maxxim rang the doorbell, before letting herself in.  Astrid and her parents, who, in the meantime, had donned casual dress clothes, led everyone into the sitting room.  Just in front of the dining room and right of the formal living room, the sitting room had plenty of space, comfortable seating, and multimedia.

“Guess what, Astrid,” said Toby, after giving her a quick hug.  “I’m going to Africa.”

“What?  When?”

“Congresswoman Abdullahi is leaving on a fact-finding mission to see what the U.S. can do to help the people in the Horn of Africa.  The leadership program arranged to have two students go along as interns and Cameron Martin and I were picked.  We’ll be leaving on Saturday, and we’ll be back the following Saturday.”

“That’s great, Toby!” said Penelope.  “I’m going too.”

“Why are you going?” wondered Astrid.

“There’s a terrible water crisis in Africa, and several organizations are working to help.  Matt Damon was going to go, but he’s filming a movie this week, so I said I’d go.”

“You know Matt Damon?” asked Astrid’s father.

“No, not really,” said Penelope.  “We’ve only met a couple of times.”

“On a totally non-Matt Damon related topic,” said Astrid.  “Don’t you think it’s too dangerous to go there?  I mean, you are talking about Somalia, right?  We all saw Black Hawk Down and Captain Phillips.”

“The country is much more stable since the new national government was put into place,” said Toby.  “Besides, we’ll be traveling with a member of the United States Congress.”

“Are you okay with this?” Astrid asked Mr. Bundersmith.

“I trust Toby.”

“Well, if you’re going to be all reasonable about it, then I guess I can’t get upset,” said Astrid.