EPISODE TWELVE:

MARITAL PROBLEMS

An hour after checking into the Plaza Hotel, Ben landed his airplane at Liberty Island at exactly 10 A.M. Eastern Time. When the travelers climbed out of the plane, they were awestruck. Standing before them was the Statue of Liberty. Everybody agreed that the statue was much prettier than they had seen it on TV. They even took the elevator to the statue's crown and looked out over the harbor.

Stephanie exclaimed, "Oh, Ben, look at the beautiful scenery! Isn't it romantic?"

Ben put his arm around her. "It sure is," he said. He and Stephanie smiled at each other and kissed.

Matthew and Elizabeth were watching them. "How often are they going to lip wrestle?" Elizabeth whispered to Matthew.

"I dunno," Matthew said, "but cold season's coming up. They'd better watch it."

Just then an excited young man about the age of twenty-five entered the crown. He was Jim Buckworth, a reporter for the Channel 8 News. "Attention, everybody," he said, "coming all the way from England to see the Statue of Liberty is none other than Gertrude Weaver, the sexiest supermodel in the world!"

A beautiful young girl about Stephanie's age (and with hair that was long and blonde like Stephanie's and Elizabeth's) who was dressed in a styling tank top and miniskirt, fashion hat, and high heels entered the crown.

"Wow, is she hot!" Matthew breathed.

Alexis looked to her left and saw that Lionel was thinking the same thing. He seemed to be thinking the same thing. She snapped her fingers in front of his face, and he turned to her, seeming to have come out of a daze. "Uh, uh, sorry, Alexis, what were you saying?" he asked.

Alexis stormed back to the elevator and went back down. Lionel went after her.

Ben looked at the other kids. "Come on, you guys," he said, "we have to get them back together!"

Gertrude looked up. She knew Alexis was mad at Lionel because of her. "I'll come with you guys," she said. "I want to help, too." She left the crown with Ben, Stephanie, Matthew, and Elizabeth.

When they got outside, they saw that Lionel and Alexis were standing on opposite sides of the statue. Ben said, "I think the girls should go and talk to Alexis. The guys will go and talk to Lionel."

So they split up. Ben and Matthew went to Lionel. "What did Alexis say?" Matthew asked anxiously.

Lionel sighed. "She said that there are plenty of courts in this town and she'll be happy to find one and file for divorce."

Ben put a sympathetic hand on Lionel's shoulder. "She's just angry right now, Lion," he said. "Stephanie's just the same way. When I talk about pretty famous women like Britney Spears and Paris Hilton, she goes nuts. I always make it up to her by being romantic." Ben looked around and saw a woman with a cart with a bunch of flowers in front of them. "Buy her a nice gift," he told Lionel. "Women love it when you get them flowers. It makes them feel special. When I gave Stephanie the first bouquet I ever gave her, she said she'd love me forever. She knew I thought she was beautiful and the only one for me. I know Alexis will be assured of your love if you get her flowers."

"Yeah," Matthew agreed, "but whatever you do, when she tells you how beautiful the flowers are, tell her they're not as beautiful as she is."

"Thanks, guys," said Lionel. "I will do that." Off he went to buy the flowers.

Meanwhile, Stephanie, Elizabeth, and Gertrude were talking to Alexis. "I honestly didn't mean to cause any trouble," Gertrude said. "Next year I will be giving up modeling anyway. I just took the job to pay for college in Paris. I wasn't trying to cause problems in anyone's marriages or relationships."

"You're going to college?" Stephanie asked. "What will you be studying?"

"Medicine," Gertrude replied. "I want to be a doctor."

"Fascinating," said Stephanie.

"Pediatrics, to be precise," Gertrude told her.

"Hel-LO, we're trying to reconcile a MARRIAGE here!" Elizabeth exclaimed.

"Oops," said Gertrude.

"Sorry," said Stephanie. "Anyway, Alexis, Lionel loves you. I can see it in his eyes. Everybody's human, though. We all make mistakes. I'm sure you still get tempted to stare at sexy guys, like actor David Hasselhoff, for instance?"

Alexis smiled. "You're right, Stephanie," she said. "I guess I was oversensitive. I just need to know that my husband thinks I'm the most beautiful woman in the world all the time."

"He does," Elizabeth encouraged her. "I know he does."

Stephanie took Alexis's hands. "It takes prayer and work to force yourself not to have any desires for anyone but your spouse, especially when you see other attractive people. But I believe it's possible. You just need the Lord's help to do that. I think if you and Lionel both pray together and seek Jesus for strength, you'll be able to make it without staring at other people more."

Gertrude smiled. "She's right," she told Alexis.

"I can see that," Alexis said with a smile. "Thanks, Steph." She and Stephanie embraced.

Just then Lionel came running up to them with a big bouquet of flowers. Ben and Matthew were not far behind. Lionel handed the flowers to Alexis. "Alexis, baby, you are the most beautiful woman in the world to me," he said. "Please forgive me and know how much I love you."

"Oh, honey," Alexis whispered. She and Lionel embraced and kissed. "I know. I'm sorry, too. What we need to do is just pray together that we won't be tempted to look lustfully after other attractive people and just desire each other."

Lionel agreed, and they kissed some more.

TO FOLLOW...

The group informs Gertrude that they are on their way to search for the other Cities of Gold. She warns them that a tycoon from Europe is planning to steal from one of the Cities of Gold, and the gang decides to formulate a plan to stop him. Make sure you read the next episode of THE MYSTERIOUS CITIES OF GOLD REVISITED.