Israelis and Cyber Friends Arrive

Family and friends made the effort to cross the globe and enhanced the feeling of togetherness. The Wickhams may not have promoted that harmony, but most of the others did.

The next wedding guests to arrive had also flown from a foreign country to celebrate with us. But they were far more polite and friendly than the Wickhams. Family events can bring out the best and the worst of people.

The two brothers from Tel Aviv and Sergeant Joshua Federman flew into the UK in the afternoon. My heart warmed when my eyes landed on the trio making their way through Arrivals, lugging their cases. Standing behind the security tape across the airport corridor, I waved frantically. In the middle-eastern tradition I hugged and kissed all three on their cheeks. Simeon and Joseph were staying with friends in Manchester: worshippers at a nearby synagogue.

I dropped them at the train station in Holmes Chapel and said emphatically, "It's so good to see you both again. We're all looking forward to spend time with you: Wesley especially. Thank you so much for coming. See you at the wedding!"

Driving Josh to Kirmingsham Hall, I inquired about his Colonel and colleagues. "How is Colonel Balak?" I said.

"The Colonel is well, thank you, John," Josh replied. "He sends his best wishes."

"What have you been up to, since we met?" I asked,"...if you can tell me of course." I turned in the driver's seat and winked.

Josh thanked me for the question, assured me that Balak fared well. "I have actually been in the USA for a NATO conference and recently in the Embassy in Jerusalem. How are your family, John?

"Everyone is well, thanks, and looking forwards to seeing you. Especially Becky." I said. His face brightened.

At our home introducing the Mossad sergeant to my family went easily. On our trip to Tel Aviv the family had seen Josh during our SKYPE chats. Wesley's reaction the most heart-warming aspect of Josh's introduction. After twenty minutes he had shown him his bedroom, demonstrated all his toys and games, and suggested they take Bourne and Aunty for a walk. At that point Becky suggested she could come.

Josh replied, "Yes please, that would be good."

Beholding the muscular dark-haired soldier alongside my raven-haired lithesome daughter, I caught my wife's eye. Liz gave a knowing nod. She looked euphoric. Wesley grabbed Joshua's right hand and led him across the lawn, the dogs raced ahead, Becky close at hand.

When a blue mini-bus arrived, with luggage strapped precariously to the roof, and black smoke belching out, I suspected more expected guests had arrived. Waving hands appeared behind windows when the vehicle jolted to a stop with a boing. The door creaked open and the driver strode towards us, hand extended.

"Hi, I'm Martin," he announced with a Merseyside accent. On his grey hoody a white label said: "THUDD". I shook his hand while others dis-embarked. All were greeted with hugs or back-slaps from James and Aly. Martin, from Liverpool, he told me, had met the passengers at the train station, some arriving via Eurostar, others from Stoke-on-Trent, Nottingham and County Durham. They were a handful of the online friends and fellow WOW game-players of James & Aly.

They unpacked drinks from their rucksacks, slurping as they spoke, and the conversation buzzed. I noticed that on their jackets, hoodies, anoraks, coats and fleeces, all wore white printed name-tags, courtesy of Aly's initiative. Confused to read the names, without mixing people up, I walked amongst them eaves-dropping, hearing varied accents.THUDD, WICKEDGYPSY, BRUNSON, TEALEAF, MELISSA, and others had travelled from over Europe, and others were yet to come.

James and Aly still looked exhausted after their deliberations with the Wickhams, but Aly explained, "our friends need name - tags as they are either WOW players or cyber friends: we've never met in real life."

Their friends were shown around Kirmingsham Hall, much to the initial consternation of Liz. She observed the motley crew carefully when they entered every room with expressions of "Cool", "Awesome", and "Epic". James rounded up the gaggle of guests to march off towards the lawns and lakes. They resembled a party of schoolchildren on an adventure ramble. The sun's rays reflected off the waters as geese flapped and honked, and ducks ran with splashes.

Sean and Rachel pulled into the driveway. Staring after the guests Sean said, "Who the frigg are these, Boss?" He scratched his crew-cut head and added, "aliens and super beings, I guess." Rachel punched his arm.

A dirty white Ford Transit clunked up the drive churning up pebbles and shale. Heads peaked through misty windows. Suitcases, rucksacks and cardboard boxes nearly tumbled out when the sliding door banged open. "Hi, James," the driver said. "You must be James' dad. Sorry we look a bit ragged, we've drove from Greece. This is my girlfriend and a friend from Sweden."

Incredulous to hear that they had driven from Greece, travelling through Spain to Santander, and arriving at Portsmouth the previous night I shook the driver's hand. The Best Man, PETROS, and his girlfriend, ORCSLAYER had with them a slightly overweight passenger called "DORKE". I thought he resembled a boy, but assured by James that he could be in his twenties or even thirties.

"No-one knows, Dad, how old Dorke is," James said, "and we don't know his real name."

"...but he's loyal friend," Aly butted in, "and one of the best IT guys on the planet. He helped us with our 'problems', John. Remember?"

"Yeah, I think," I said," anyway if he's yours and James' friend he's welcome." The overweight passenger looked right and left, drinking from a coke can.

"Did I fall asleep and wake up in Star Wars or Lord of the Rings?" I asked Sean.

Slapping me on my shoulder, Sean said, "They sure are a queer bunch." He quickly leashed the barking dogs as Bourne jumped excitedly around the guests and Aunty sniffed new "meat".