The Steps

I drove around downtown several minutes before I found out where I was going. It turned out to be the Parthenon (a replica of course) which stood proudly and regally as one of Nashville's many landmarks.

The lawn was neat and trim while tourists milled up and down the stairs the pillars, wide enough so for five people could stand comfortably between them. I didn't know what I was going to find; I didn't even know what I was looking for.

Probably another note, I thought.

Sure enough, there was another note by one of the pillars. It was being held by a lady a little older my mom. She was dressed in a sun hat with a flower print blouse. She had a squat, friendly look about her with rosy cheeks and an equally rosy mouth plied with a bright shade of lipstick. Most likely, she or her husband were on vacation or something. She had "tourist" written all over her.

I didn't know whether to laugh or not. I assumed Nathan had picked her out of the crowd at random.

"A nice young man came by while ago and asked me to hold onto this for him, for which said you would be coming by." She smiled, handing me another folded piece of paper

I smiled back, unable to help myself.

The note was about what I expected, Nathan's cramped handwriting and another clue as to my next destination.

Getting close, he wrote, I'll see you soon… I'll be waiting with my final answer at the feet of wisdom.

"Pretty clever, that one." the woman mused as she was still standing there watching me.

I didn't know what to say except I felt like I was being creeped on, so I didn't say anything.

"Feet of wisdom…?" I murmured, "feet of wisdom…"

"Well there's always the statue of Athena." The woman offered. She struck as one of those people who would likely tell me her entire life story whether I wanted to hear it or not. "Nothing wiser than a goddess… Not that I believe that stuff anyway. I'm Catholic." She added.

"Yeah, thanks." I added absently as I hurried off in the direction of the statute, it was better than having to make up an excuse to leave the woman's company. What had Nathan gotten me into?