This all started out normally, you know. A regular day in Lille, France. Barista shops full of people, tourists taking photos of EVERYTHING, and the locals buying home-baked goods and such.

    As I was walking down the street, my friend Miles waved at me from a local coffee shop where we both worked. I wanted to stop and chat, maybe serve a few customers, but knew I couldn't. I was on the way to a big convention where another friend, Julia, was revealing her new books. She is a very well known author around these parts.

    The streets got more and more crowded as I got nearer and nearer to the convention hall. Suddenly, out of the crowd burst a form, tripping over her long skirt because she was in such a hurry. As the person approached, quite rapidly, I realized a bit too late that I was in the way. I tried to run, but I was carrying several posters. We collided.

    "Sage?"

    "Julia!"

    I picked myself off the ground carefully, making sure that I didn't step on Julia's now muddy skirt.

    "For heavens' sake, Sage! Watch where you're going!" Julia reprimanded as she scrambled up.

    "Me?" I asked aghast, "You were the one who was barreling towards me! What's the deal with that?"

    "I can't tell you now," Julia whispered dramatically, her tone changing from annoyance to an air of mystery. "Who knows who's listening?!"

    It was true. Everyone had stopped chattering and were now staring at the clumsy young women who so carelessly collided in the street.

    "Come on, we'll talk at my house." Julia said.

    "But the convention! Your books," I protested, "people want to see them!"

    "Forget the convention! If I don't fix this there's no point!" Julia cried, jogging off down the street.