Let Them Have Cake Read Online Free PDF Page A

change of mood or didn’t feel it was significant.
                  As the bus pulled to a stop in the shadows of the Eiffel Tower , Mark let out an involuntary sigh. “Whew! That thing sure is tall!”
                  Anna exited the bus and went to the end of the line to buy a ticket for the Tower. Mark reluctantly followed.
                  Jeff and his entourage were already in line. The girls were giggling and acting completely out of character for two statuesque model types. Jeff was reading a guidebook and ignoring the antics of his companions.
                  He glanced up and smiled at Anna. “Hi. I was just reading some trivia about the tower. Interested?”
                  Anna turned to look for Mark before answering. Finding that he was staring up at the tower in abject terror, she focused her attention back to Jeff.
                  “Sure, it looks like we’re going to be here awhile. The line is pretty long.”
                  “You’re in for it now. I’m a bit of a trivia buff.” His blue eyes sparkled as a bit of sunlight shone through the clouds. “Anyway, the tower is painted once every seven years and it takes fifteen months to paint.”
                  “Really, fifteen months?” Anna asked.
                  “Yes, and that’s not all. Who do you think does the painting?” Jeff quizzed.
                  “Painters, I assume.”
                  “Well of course, but they’re a special kind of painters. They’re mountaineers.”
                  “That’s interesting,” Anna said, thinking that Jeff could make anything fascinating.
                  Jeff flashed her a grateful grin, showing two rows of perfect white teeth. “They use three different colors of paint. The darkest color is painted on the bottom, the middle section is lighter, and the lightest color is on the top third.”
                  Anna looked puzzled. “Why is that?”
                  “If it were all one color, the top of the tower would disappear into the clouds. It’s an optical illusion.” Jeff paused and gazed towards the top of the tower.
                  Anna felt someone tugging at her sleeve and twisted her head so she could see who it was.
                  “Anna, I need to tell you that I have Heightaphobia,” a pale Mark offered.
                  “That’s Acrophobia, not Heightaphobia,” Anna corrected.
                  Mark shook his head and said, “Yeah, well whatever. I’m still afraid of heights.”
                  “Look, Mark. You don’t have to do this, you know,” Anna said. “I’m perfectly capable of going by myself.”
                  “Really, I want to go. I was just teasing earlier about being afraid,” Mark replied.
                  Sure you were, Mark. Anna thought as she presented her money to the cashier.
                  They, along with other tourists, were herded into a cage type apparatus resembling a ski lift. Packed in like sardines, it was difficult to see out the tiny windows to view the city. The cage soon lurched to a stop and they were then driven out the opposite door.
                  “This is the first stop. There’s a snack bar on this level,” said the operator; first in English, then in French, then in other languages Anna didn’t understand. “Anyone wishing to go higher can follow the arrows to the elevator.”
                  The tourists followed directions and crammed into one of six tiny elevators to go to the next level. At first the door wouldn’t close on the elevator Anna and Mark were on. Finally the operator discovered Mark’s backpack was jamming it. Once it was freed, the elevator slowly made its way to the next stop.