Driving from Maine to Virginia to visit grandparents, the Randall family decided to sightsee along the way. New York City was the first planned stop. Right from the start, the day hadn’t gone the way they expected.

They left Portland late because Becca couldn’t find the potholders she’d made for Grandma in Scouts.

Tyler insisted on a bathroom break ten minutes into the drive.

That’s when Dad discovered he’d left his cell phone behind and they had to turn back to get it.

Traffic was delayed on the Massachusetts Turnpike because of construction.

Mom called the highway into Hartford a “parking lot.” Cars were bumper to bumper as far as Tyler and Becca could see.

They reached New York City in late afternoon, after being in the car for most of the day. Dad inched the car through city traffic. Taxis honked and zoomed past.

“When I get the car parked, I’m not driving again until it’s time to leave!”

Becca scrunched down in the seat, looking at the skyscrapers.  “I can’t see the top!”

Once settled into their hotel, Mom suggested taking a walk. “We’ve been sitting all day. Let’s explore the neighborhood.”

Mom led the way. “Did you really go to college here?”  Becca asked. “I’d get lost!”

“No, you wouldn’t,” said Mom. “Look at the signs. The streets are numbered.”

Still, the city was nothing like Portland. Buildings so tall, they reached into the clouds. People, crowds of them, rushing about. Traffic lights on every corner, flashing lights in store windows. Noise! Sirens, truck rumbles, honking horns. The children marched along, taking in the sights.

“What are we doing tomorrow?” Tyler asked.

“Statue of Liberty in the morning. You’ll like that, there’s a boat ride out to the island,” Dad said. “Then, the Natural History Museum in the afternoon. Mummies!”

“Real ones?”

“Uh huh.”

“This is Broadway, kids,” Mom announced. “Where I once had a very small part in a show that only lasted a month, before I met your father.”

Marquees lit with the names of shows lined the street. Becca recognized a few. “It would be cool to see a show.”

Dad knew which show Becca meant.

“Frozen?”

“Yeah!” Becca and Tyler liked the movie and seeing the show would be a treat.

“Maybe someday,” Dad said,  “but not this trip. Too expensive.”

“Look what I found.”  Tyler held up a man’s wallet. “It was on the sidewalk.”

“Oh dear,” Mom said. “We need to get it back to whoever lost it.”

Dad pointed to a small restaurant across the street. “We can see if there’s a name inside the wallet and call from there. Besides, I’m hungry. Let’s have some pizza.”

Sure enough, a business card inside the wallet identified the owner. “I can’t believe you found it and called me!” a man’s voice cried. “I’m across the street and will be right over to pick it up.”

A few minutes later, a man dressed in a blue costume with heavy theatre make-up on appeared.  “I must have dropped it going into the theatre.”

“You’re an actor?” Becca asked.

“Yes.  You’ve saved me hours of trouble finding my wallet. Just replacing my driver’s license would have taken a day. I can’t thank you enough.”

“I found it,” announced Tyler.

“And I am so grateful that you did,” the man said. He looked at the family. “Do you have plans for tonight? Would you like to see the show? Come backstage and meet the cast?”

“Yes!” shouted Becca and Tyler, which is how they got posters signed by the entire cast of Frozen to hang in their rooms.

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