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continued from previous page |
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The young man in the grey uniform called them forward, and he took their IDs and began to ask Stumpers a series of questions. He asked her the same questions the woman in the box outside had asked, only with a few more details. Stumpers felt calm and peaceful during this interview. She answered all the questions honestly, and even remembered to smile once in awhile so as to not look too serious. |
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The man in the grey uniform then turned to Nightems and asked her the exact same questions. Stumpers thought Nightems was doing a fine job, until he asked her, "Have you ever been convicted of a misdemeanor or a felony?"
Nightems' response: "What do you consider a felony?" |
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It could have been an awkward moment, but she quickly clarified what she meant by adding something about traffic violations. Unfortunately, Stumpers had to return to her Happy Place at that time and has no recollection of what the rest of the conversation was like.
He told them to have a seat and he would call them back up shortly. They sat. It felt like they were sitting in the principal's office awaiting detention. It was a long 20 minutes.
Finally, the man in the grey uniform called them back up, handed them their IDs and the yellow slip of paper, and told them to take it back to the first woman they'd talked to at the other end of the room. At this point, Nightems was bold enough to say to him, "Can I have one of those little Canadian flags over there?" The man laughed and said, "Sure!" Then Stumpers found her voice again and said, "Cool! Can I have one, too?" It was a small token of joy in the midst of such a dark part of their journey. |
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They left shortly thereafter, and Nightems said, very calmly as they drove back onto the Interstate, "What the hell are you doing? Don't squeal your tires!!!!"
It was very traumatic for Stumpers and Nightems. They smoked a lot and commented on how scary and dark the Manitoba landscape was. The speed limit signs said "Maximum 100," and Stumpers wished that meant "miles per hour," but knew it did not.
Five minutes after crossing the border into Canada, Nightems lamented quite loudly... "I miss my homeland!" |
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This picture was taken two days after they received the Canadian flags.
It is only a re-enactment of their joy and exultation. |
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Right around midnight, after stopping at the wrong Holiday Inn, Stumpers and Nightems arrived at the correct hotel, where they had made reservations two weeks earlier. The man behind the counter informed them that they had to pay for all three nights right then and there, which caused much distress amongst our travelers, for they were paying in cash, and counting on Princess Ren's third to compensate. Nightems queried the desk clerk as to the nearest ATM and they were told, "Right next door."
This was not the case. There was nothing right next door that was open, and so they drove back the way they had come and stopped at a true Haven amongst havens for the weary traveler: 7 Eleven. The convenience store for all nations. The beacon in the night. |
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Returning to the Holiday Inn, they paid for their hotel room... barely scraping together enough cash, since there was also a 50-dollar damage deposit fee for paying in cash. The clerk had a bit of trouble converting their hodge-podge of American and Canadian money into the correct amount, but in the end, it worked out right.
Room 804 beckoned. Now, to call Princess Ren and let her know they had finally arrived! |
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