Claudia's Big Break by Lisa Heidke

back in time to when this place had been the centre of Greek culture and religion. I found it fascinating and almost unbelievable that these structures still existed thousands of years later. It made my almost thirty-nine years on Earth seem insignificant. Tara, Sophie and I would have been happy to sit and stare for ages, but unfortunately Levi had other ideas. He’d been trapped in his undersized stroller too long.
    â€˜Please stay where I can see you, Leev,’ Sophie said, unbuckling him, and he promptly ran off and disappeared behind a caryatid. Sophie stood up, mumbled something about filling out a Prozac prescription, and set off to find him.
    Even with sightseers dotting the hill, the Acropolis didn’t feel overcrowded. People kept to their own space, which is more than could be said for the roaming cats.
    â€˜How do they manage to survive up here?’ I wondered out loud.
    â€˜I guess people like us throw them scraps of food and they live on that,’ said Tara.
    â€˜But it’s so dusty and hot. See that one.’ I pointed to a black and white moggy, only just out of reach.
    As Tara turned to look, the cat pounced on an unsuspecting pigeon and attacked the bird with such force we heard the pigeon’s neck snap. It was over within seconds. Then we watched as the cat dragged the dead bird to his hideout somewhere underneath layers of ancient sandstone. Within moments dozens of cats appeared as if from nowhere, presumably to fight over the remains.
    â€˜So that’s why the cats around here look so healthy,’ Tara said. ‘Pigeon parties.’
    â€˜The Angel of Death,’ I said. ‘Spooky.’
    â€˜Coincidence, more like it.’
    I stood still, watching and listening, as nearby tourists gathered in clusters taking holiday snaps. Photo after photo featured smiling couples and groups standing in front of the Erecthion, the Parthenon and temples such as Nike Athena.
    Instead of focusing on the famous buildings, I nervously began side-stepping camera-weilding tourists. It seemed every time I turned around, someone was snapping and I’d inadvertently get in their way. I guess it was inevitable I’d end up in a stranger’s happy snaps but I felt uncomfortable about being immortalised in someone’s photo album, or worse, their Facebook homepage.

6
    â€˜I hate these little planes,’ said Sophie, holding on tight to Levi’s arm as the plane took off for Santorini.
    â€˜I’ll second that,’ I said, digging my nails into the armrest. I peered out the window as the plane accelerated into the wind and lurched from side to side. My stomach heaved, so clearly that wasn’t a good idea. I closed my eyes. The uneasy feeling I’d been aware of yesterday at the Acropolis had stayed with me. Maybe it was the Angel cards or the cat and the pigeon — whatever it was, I felt weirdly uncomfortable. I’d been so looking forward to exploring the Acropolis but after the slaughter, I became aware of hundreds of people hanging around taking photos, speaking in foreign languages and pointing.
    I got to thinking about Con. We were on a plane to Santorini and I still hadn’t heard from him. I wouldn’t relax until I had his signature as Marcus had instructed. It was supposed to have been a simple exchange in Athens. I didn’t relish having to hang around waiting for him in Santorini. Then I thought about Marcus. Was he missing me?
    â€˜My God! Bumpy, isn’t it?’ shouted Tara, as the plane unexpectedly hit an air pocket, flinging Levi’s crayons into the air.
    â€˜Close your eyes and try not to think about it,’ I said, as much to myself as to Tara.
    â€˜Mummy, I’m being sick now.’
    True to his word, Levi promptly vomited all over his tray table and most of Winnie, Tigger and Eeyore. For the next fifteen minutes, the flight attendants really earned their pay. Even after Levi had been cleaned up and his