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was a tall man walking toward the hotel. A strange feeling told Benjamin that he recognized this man. His mind raced, trying to remember where he had seen him before.
Once again, it was Charlie's voice that interrupted his thoughts, "You coming?" he called impatiently from the car.

"Uh yeah" Benjamin replied as he shrugged his shoulders and forgot all about what he had just seen.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Each day seemed to drag on for an eternity. For Charlie, they were his chance to share all his ideas and schemes with someone for the first time. For Benjamin, they felt like school, as he learned the ways of city life, including some new words. He learned, for example, that "all wet" meant someone didn't know what they were talking about, and that "baloney" meant nonsensetwo words that came in handy as he listened to Charlie's endless chatter.

Not to say that Benjamin didn't enjoy the funny stories that his cousin made up, just that they were always a little too far-fetched. When it got to be too much, Benjamin would sit by himself and read a book, hoping Charlie would be too polite to interrupt him. Sometimes it worked, but often it didn't.

It was during one of those rare quiet times that Benjamin suddenly heard his aunt's rather impatient voice coming from the front door in the next room.

"No sir. We do not want to buy, nor do we wish to sell any at this time. Good day to you!" she said, before quickly shutting the door. "Treasures" she mumbled to herself as she walked away, "I don't need any more of those, or another salesman at my door."

Benjamin wondered who the man was, and what Aunt Amelia meant by "any more," but only for a moment. Charlie had just walked in the room.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"C'mon, almost there," coaxed Charlie, nearly dragging his reluctant cousin into a quiet, deserted alley. "This is my favourite place in this whole city."

Benjamin shivered and pulled his jacket a little tighter. Looking around, he noticed a dirty pathway, some garbage, and a stray cat sniffing at something in the corner. He didn't see anything at all special about this particular alley, but before he could say so, Charlie spoke up.

"I like to come here and imagine all the interesting things I could find if I were an explorer or a famous detective."

Benjamin looked at him thoughtfully. He realized that Charlie must often get lonely without many friends or any brothers and sisters. Looking around again, he began to understand. "What are we waiting for then?" he asked. "What mystery will these

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