"You have to trust me," he said, as he led me up a dark staircase.
I was in Parliament, the monstrous building beside Big Ben that houses England's government.
The Reverend at Wesley's Chapel in London is also a peer in the House of Lords, a lifetime position.
Monday, I went to visit Rev. Griffiths at Parliament for a tour. The building is one of the grandest places I have ever visited. I only wish I could have snapped a thousand pictures for you. We tread the same paths as Queen Victoria and all royalty after her.
After watching the Lords debate and touring the halls, Rev. Griffiths took me to the House of Commons side. It was 8:30 p.m. and most of the leaders had gone home. He began trying door knobs all down the hallway - but to no avail. They were all locked.
Finally, we found a knob unstuck. Behind it, the lights were out, but I could see the dim outline of a spiral staircase. I held closely to the railing. Up and up we went until we came some forgotten corner near a sooty, pentagon-shaped window.
"You'll have to trust me here too," he said. He stepped over some scrap wood, unlatched the window and stepped out. I ducked my head and followed.
And then I looked up.
There was Big Ben, the Thames and the London Eye before me. Surrounded by piping, plywood and concrete, the London skyline fell before us.
We were on the roof!
When my surprise wore off, I instinctively grabbed for my camera in my purse. My hair flower tumbled out of my purse and the wind carried across the roof! Lexi had given it to me, which made it special, so I hopped on a ledge and chased it.
"Don't go over there! The guards will see you!" Rev. Griffiths said.
Oops. Hadn't thought of that.
I ran back, clutching my torn flower, and said, "Oh! I wouldn't want to get shot!"
To which he laughed and replied, "We're not the Americans, you know."
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