Hook, Line, and Sinker (Michael[3]Phelps)

Four days have passed since I met Michael Phelps...and lost my camera. Usually, everyday, I take at least one picture to preserve the moment, but seeing as how I was so stupid to have forgotten to pick it up, I didn't get to preserve the memories I made the past four days. It was so unnerving living the past four days without taking a single picture. I really hope I find any of the Phelps family and at least ask them if they saw my camera. It contains all my pictures from Budapest--the ones I haven't printed out yet.

Of course the chances that I would meet them again are slim to none. The gold ceremony four days ago was the only good seat I had. So I was stuck far from the podium...far from where Mrs. Phelps might be sitting. I'm so far that the winners all look like ants and I had to use binoculars to make out a figure!

...Okay, maybe not that far but still pretty far in my opinion.

I played with my long curly hair nervously. My hair isn't usually curly but I braided them this morning...only to unbraid them later. People seem to mistake me for a child with my two long braids. But I didn't mind unbraiding them though; I like how my hair curls after taking out the braids.

Anyway, I was really getting nervous. Chances are I will never get my camera back. Today is my last chance. Today is the day Michael Phelps is awarded his eight gold. After this, I might never see him again. Well, chances are he doesn't even have my camera but chances are he knows someone that does. I mean, he's so popular. I doubt there's a swimmer out there that doesn't know the name "Michael Phelps".

I faced the flags as they raised them up and the "Star-Spangled Banner" played in the background. After that, Michael Phelps was awarded with a special recognition for winning eight gold medals, breaking Mark Spitz's record along the way. After getting the recognition he so rightfully deserved (in my opinion anyway) the teams followed the gorgeous lady once again. I wasn't too sure if it was the same one. I mean, they all look the same to me--all pretty, all skinny, all model materials. What's the difference?

But as Michael broke away from the line and went to the crowd. He maneuvered his way until he reached someone. I immediately grabbed my binoculars and watched him hug his...mom. Bloody hell, I am so lucky! Thanks to Michael Phelps, I now knew where to find his mom.

I never took my eyes off Mrs. Phelps. Even though everyone else (especially the photographers) was stalking Michael Phelps, I was, not necessarily stalking, but just closely watching his mom. I couldn't afford to lose sight of her.

After a few minutes, give or take, the crowd calmed down and thinking that it was safe enough, I headed down to her row.

"Mrs. Phelps!" I called her as I excused my way through the crowd. Of course the people I bumped into muttered swear words and such, but I did say excuse me. Ugh, people can be so rude!

The three female Phelps turned to me with their red rimmed eyes. Boy, did I pick the peachiest time!

"Uhm...is this a wrong time for me to ask if you've found my camera?" I asked shyly. I was surprised my nervous habit hasn't kicked in yet. I guess it knows when to resurface, thank goodness.

They all looked at me for a moment before. They must've forgotten who I was. I couldn't blame them though. They must meet a lot of new faces everyday and their brains couldn't keep up. Of course even though I can't blame them, it still stung a bit.

"Oh, Erin!" Hilary gasped and my eyes widened a bit. Wow, she remembered me! "You lost you're camera?" her voice broke somewhere along the line since she'd been tearing tears of joy.

I nodded, "I forgot it somewhere in the warm up room. All my pictures are stored in there so that camera is really important to me. In fact, you could very well say it's my life." I told them how precious the camera was to me to make them feel guilty. Yes, it's a cheap move but a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do.

"Well we haven't seen it honey. Perhaps Michael did" Mrs. Phelps said after wiping her tear-filled eyes.

"Yeah, MP probably found it or one of the swimmers" Whitney reassured me.

"Um, how am I supposed to get it back?"

"Well we can't go now. MP is probably busy with interviews and such" Whitney said hesitantly as she looked at her mom, who nodded. "We won't even see him until late this afternoon"

My heart sank as Whitney said those words. I feared I would never get my precious, precious camera back.

"Oh do you mind if we call you and meet up so we can give you the camera by then?" Hilary suggested.

"Of course not" I almost chuckled. It was pretty funny how they thought I would mind. Me, who's hardly famous, mind getting calls from the Phelps family!

"Okay, cool. What's you're number?" she asked and I gladly gave her my number. Of course, I didn't get theirs. I think they feared I might spread them or something. Well I can't blame them, not that I would actually spread their numbers. I just can't blame them for being cautious.

Later that day while I was watching some tv, I got a call from Hilary. She said one of the swimmers did find my camera and Michael Phelps was holding onto it. He apparently turned it on and viewed my pictures so he knew it was mine aka "the annoying girl who couldn't stop talking while she asked me for an autograph". He didn't really say those exact words, but I knew he was thinking them. I'm psychic that way...I think.

She said Michael Phelps would meet up with me the next morning in a Chinese restaurant called "Bamboo Palace". We ended our conversation there.

As soon as I got off the phone, I immediately turned on my laptop and searched for "Bamboo Palace". I didn't really know where it was. After a few minutes of searching, I learned that it was actually close to my hotel. I only had to take a short bus ride and would arrive there in about 10 minutes.

I looked out my balcony and realized it was still bright out. I looked at my cellphone and found out it was around 5 pm. In Florida, it would be...2 am. Was Maisie still awake?

Oh well, I guess I should just leave a message about my day...how I would meet up with Michael Phelps the next day. I'm not doing this so I could be mean...okay maybe I am. Okay, it is mean so I guess I won't do it after all.

I figured I'll just walk around China...I sure wish I had my camera. Taking pictures while walking is so much more fun than just walking.