Pt. 8

...Hoboken, where my mother lives.  She'll give you provisions, and tell you where to get the best hoagies before you start the next leg of your quest.  She'll also tell you what a hoagie is."  Brother Platinum then turned abruptly, shot one pointed finger high in the air and left without another word.

Bo considered everything that had just transpired, how one moment he could be alone in his room and an instant later, Brother Platinum materialized out of thin air, red-faced and talking crazy about something called "a hoagie".  How one day, he was telling him to continue fishing in the forbidden pond, and then next was sending him on quests to New Jersey with a dirty guitar and a braided lock of hair from an aged rock star.

"You know what?" Bo mused to himself, "this place is kookier than a short stack of drunk hookers."

The next day, Bo was on the first bus to New Jersey.  Brother Platinum's mother, Midge, met him at the bus stop in Hoboken, two days later.  He felt like a bag of garbage and smelt nearly as bad, but she still snatched him up in a tight embrace as though she'd known him for years.  After getting showered, fed and catching a good night's sleep, Midge handed him some money and a backpack full of freshly cleaned clothing - along with some other items hidden in the pockets.

He was on his way to Philadelphia, because