“Can you give me a hint for what I need to look for next?” I pleaded. “Once I leave I’ll do another time jump to God knows where.”
“It’s something your image is wearing.” She says. “There is a pattern to be found here, and a way for you to control the direction of the time jump if you pay attention to the direction of the doors.”
“Thanks.” I mutter grumpily and head out the exit door.
I stumble out into knee-deep powdery snow. I blink and shield my eyes from the sun trying to figure out where I am. Then I see the inner tube pull, and the ski lift ride and know where I am. I’m at the ski resort on the outskirts of Amesbury. I see me around six or seven being lifted onto the ski lift seat by my mother who hopes on beside me. “Are you ready?” She asked excitedly.
“I’m scared.” I pouted. This must be the first ski trip we went on because she taught me how to ski this year, and it’s the only thing I still do even after she left. I hopped on the ski lift chair behind the duo to listen in.
“There is nothing to be afraid of Naomi. We’ve been practicing at home in the yard, then on the small sledding hills near the house. This is the same thing but on a larger hillside. I’m going to be there with you the whole time. You know I won’t let nothing bad happen to you.” She coaxed me.
“I know mommy.” I smile at her. If only I knew at this moment what the following summer would hold, I would have felt differently. I watched as they hopped off the chair and slid over to the beginning of the hill.
We took our positions on the easier course as the little version of me looks nervously up at my mom. “Just look straight ahead and remember your positions. I will be right behind you in case you fall.” She encouraged with a smile. “Whenever you’re ready Naomi.”
I nodded, then pushed off. I bent my knees and tucked in like she taught me as I began to glide down the soft white powder. When I reached the bottom, I smiled triumphantly back at my mother who slid to a halt next to me covering my boots with snow. That’s the common thing. My boots being covered in snow. I reached down to pick up a handful of snow but couldn’t. I made my way over to where my mother was taking off my snow gear in the back of the truck. Dad doesn’t like the cab of the truck getting wet with snow. I reached out to knock over one of the boots, and when I felt the material of the boot, I knew this was the item I needed.
I proudly wandered around the town through the side roads towards that shop. I passed the pastry store that’s been there forever, then down past the old hospital, then the library, and the old church that still provides free supper to the community. Finally, I reached the shop at nightfall. This memory is where I’d be telling my dad all about the ski trip with mom. How great it felt sliding down that hillside, and talking about someday going down a mountain, which I now know I achieved in my teen age years. Someone was leaving when I snuck into the shop.
I set the black snow boots on the counter with a smile. “You found your first item. Congratulations.” The man from before called as he approached, causing me to jump in surprise.
“But the woman told me to bring them to her.” I protested looking around for the lady with purple hair.
“I am here.” He muttered.
“Whatever I’m not going to argue.” I sighed. “What next?”
“Look for a common theme between the two scenes them bring it to me before your third-time jump.” He shrugged.
“That’s my hint?”
“You're smart enough to figure it out without a hint, now that you know how to find the answer.” He assured me.
I rolled my eyes at him with a huff. Without saying anything more, I marched over to the door I came into and pushed it open. This time, the time jump doesn’t take me by surprise like it’s been. I know what I need to do. Ten items, then I can get back to reality and escape this hell.
Chapter 4
The scene shifted to a tavern. This one, I’ve frequented several times through the years since I turned twenty-one in downtown Amesbury. I spot a version of my self-sitting at a table talking to a man with some heavy cologne on and clearly, I’m bored. I don’t even want to know what is going on, but I move closer to get a better look. There is something here that will be in the next scene once I go through the door. I look at my outfit and not that I’m in my dark blue skinny jeans, ankle boots, and a nice yellow halter top under a white blazer jacket. My hair is done up in a side swipe of curls, clearly, I put some effort into this look. I’m wearing my old hoop earrings and a gold bracelet on my wrist.
Satisfied with my look, I turn to look at the guy who is boring me to sleep. “I’m so glad we decided to do this. It’s so impersonal these days using all these apps. It used to be so simple, go to a bar and meet a nice girl.” He clucked on. Ugh, don’t tell me I fell for a dating app. I look at this man with his gelled back brown hair, seriously who still does this? He’s got a suit on with a silver knock-off Rolex watch that he keeps flashing as if he’s trying to impress.
I note that I am drinking a glass of red wine, and he’s drinking a draft beer. I see my black clutch purse on the table, and that I’m fiddling with the napkin under my drink. I glace at the clock twice in two minutes. “So, Mitch, what do you do for work?” I ask as sincerely as possible. Oof, I must really be having a bad time here.
“Oh, I’m a salesman at a car dealership.” He boosted. This explains a lot. “If you're in the market for a new car, I’m your man to hook up the sweetest deals.” He winked at me. Did he just do a sales pitch?
“I’m not currently in the market for a car, but I’ll keep that in mind.” I forced a smile, but it was more of a grimace. Though he didn’t seem to notice.
“I saw on your profile that you’re a nurse. That’s pretty cool. What department?”
“The emergency department in Boston.” I stated.
“Oh wow, you must see all kinds of things there. What’s the strangest thing you’ve ever encountered while working?” He asked. God, this is a terrible thing to ask a nurse. It’s like asking a police officer what’s the worst case they ever worked.
“Oh, I don’t know.” I sighed pretending to think. “This one time a man came in with a broken leg so bad that the bone was showing through his leg.” Not the strangest, but definitely among the top ten grosses. “I had to clean the wound and get him ready for surgery. He was awake the whole time telling me about how his buddies bet him that he couldn’t jump from the roof of his house to the roof of his shed. Of course, there was heavy alcohol usage, so he took that bet, and well, he failed. Luckily for him, there was a bush where he landed otherwise, he could have died.”
“Wow, that must have been stomach-turning.” He mumbled stuffing his face with some jalapeno poppers that the waitress just brought over.
“I’m used to it by now. I’m studying for the head nurse position at work.”
“Cool, so what are your hours like?”
“Depends on the day and whether or not I get called in since I’m always on call. I may only be a nurse, but we do twice as much work as the doctors do.”
“Oh, well I don’t think this will work out then. I like my woman home before me and there for me to shower with attention.” He states stuffing another popper into his mouth.
“Yeah, I guess I’m lucking out.” I murmured sarcastically.
I’m done listening to this fool, and I know I’m about ready to tell him that we’re in the twentieth century and women don’t need to be home or at their mans’ beck and call to be in a relationship. He sounds like a piece of work and probably a controlling person. I’ve come across my fair share of men like that who tried to tell me that I can’t have a career and a healthy relationship, but I know they're wrong. Plenty of people do it, they just need to find the right person. I push through the door ready for the next time jump…
A bright light and the sound of screeching tires tells me what’s about to happen. Then the infamous all-telling crashing sound of cars colliding together. I blink my eyes trying to make
out the scene then note it’s a wintertime scene since there’s snow and ice everywhere. As I begin to walk the image becomes clearer, there’s a three-car pile-up and one of the cars is on fire. I see a version of myself looking a bit older, rushing from my car towards the crash. I help everyone clear the scene then I notice the car that’s on fire still has the driver in it. I run to the car trying to talk to the man who is out of it. I reach in and unbuckle his seat belt. The door is stuck, so I have to help him out of the car through the window. As he grabs my shoulders and the version of me pulls him out, I notice the glint of a watch.
How fitting, a silver watch is my object. I watch as the scene continues to unfold. The version of me pulls the man away from the wreck as his car becomes more engulfed in flames. The fire department shows up five minutes later to put out the flame and tend to the wreck. The police are close behind directing traffic around the crash and taking witness statements. I’m still with the man I pulled from the burning car, keeping pressure on a head wound. The EMS shows up to take care of everyone, and I go over what I know the man has. The EMT looks at me with a curious look. “Are you a doctor?”
“Emergency Department head nurse down in Boston. I deal with this kind of thing on a daily basis.” I correct.
As they load the man onto the stretcher in the scene I wander over and touch his watch, and sure enough, I’m correct. I carefully pull the watch off his wrist as they begin to load the man into the ambulance. As they buckle him, I notice that even though I’m holding his watch in my hand, he still has it on in the ambulance. Interesting, but good to know that what I take doesn’t affect the scene like I thought it may.
I turn and walk to the storefront that still doesn’t belong in downtown Amesbury. As someone enters, I slip in behind them and approach the desk only to find a young kid with a mohawk and lots of piercings standing behind the counter. “What do you have there?” The kid asks in an annoyed tone.
“Where's the other people that work here?” I demand.
“They are all me lady. What do you have there?” This is getting messed up. I need to get back to reality and fast.
“A watch.” I state as I set it down on the counter.
“Very well.” The kid nodded. “I told you that you could figure it out.”
“Yup, and I did. I just hope that none of these are actual futures.” I mutter.
“The future can be changed by a single decision that you make. That is why the future isn’t clear or set-in-stone.” The kid remarks. That explains a lot. Clearly, I need to work on my life when I get back to reality and figure out what I truly want in life. I turn and walk out the door ready for the next time jump. Is this going to be my past or my future? Is there a way to control these? Wait, there’s a pattern here the other person said find the pattern and figure out the direction to choose what I see next. I guess I’ll have to pay attention after this.
Chapter 5
I blink as my eyes adjust to the fluorescent lighting telling me that I’m inside somewhere. I look around trying to figure out where I am. I see elderly people sitting in a large room; some talking, some playing a game, and others just watching television. I know where I am now. Going out that shop door the way I went in sends me to the past but going through the other door sends me to the future scenarios. Or at least, I think. I’ll have to test that theory out, but for now, I can’t help but smile at this memory. I’m in the nursing home that I used to volunteer at when I was in high school. The nursing home is right across the street from the High School which made it convenient for me to do.
I wander around looking for my younger self wondering where I am. Then I spot me, I forgot this was the time when I had bangs. I look so different with bangs, but it was the style back then. I would curl and hair spray my bangs so that they kind of puffed off my forehead in a big under curl. I’m wearing plain jeans, with sneakers, and a green quarter sleeve knitted sweater over a grey tank top.
“Okay Norma Jean, here you are.” I said to the elderly lady as I rolled her wheelchair to a table with her friends.
“Oh, thank you sweaty.” Norma Jean said patting my forearm. “You’re such a good kid, Naomi.”
“You are too kind.” I smiled and walked back to the resident’s rooms. I stopped at one door that was partially opened and knocked before poking my head in. “Hey Frank, how are you doing today?” I asked.
“Just fine, though I’m not sure where I am. I could have sworn I had to go to work today, but now I’m here and this looks nothing like the train station. My boss is going to fire my ass for sure.” Frank grumbled looking out the window. Though he made no effort to stand up and move.
“Frank dear, remember you don’t work at the train station anymore. You retired almost thirty years ago.” I reminded him gently. He was the first person I ever encountered that had dementia, but I loved his stories. He served in World War II and worked as a train engineer for over fifty years. The stories this man told were so fascinating.
“What? Oh, yeah, I know that. Have I ever told you about the time I had to stop the train because of the cattle on the tracks? The damn cattle broke through their fence and gathered on the tracks for some reason or another, and I had to stop the train and send one of the conductors out to find the farmer to wrangle his cattle back to his farm. He was so thankful that I didn’t just drive through his herd that he gave us workers all fresh milk, butter, and cheese for free.” Frank recalled.
“That was very kind of the farmer.” I smiled taking a seat in the chair.
“That was nothing.” Frank beamed cheering up. “I was running to work, and I mean running on my two legs here because my car broke down and my boss told me that if I’m ever late don’t show up to work. With three kids and a wife to feed, I needed to keep my job. So, I left my car sitting on the side of the road broken down and ran the ten miles to work. I was ten minutes late and praying the boss let me work. I got in there, he called me into the office and ask why I’m late. I explained what happened, and he seemed to believe me. Later that night, I was running the redeye freight, came around a bend, and saw a car stopped on the tracks. I blew the horn and hit the brakes, but my speed and the weight of the train cars behind me wouldn’t allow me to stop. I hit that car and sent it rolling down the tracks in front of the train. When the train finally came to a stop, and the police were called, we found out that the car was thankfully empty. It turns out that the car ran out of gas on the way to the station, and the owner walked to the nearest gas station a mile away. That was the first and only time I ever hit anything on the tracks, but it was scary as all hell. I was worried I killed someone inadvertently.”
“Thank God no one was hurt.” I sigh.
“My wife said the same thing the next day. All I could think about was that person had an angel looking out for them that day.” Frank sighed.
I noticed a group of cards on his bedside table. “Frank, is it your birthday?” I ask.
“Nope. My birthday is April 12.” He replied.
“That was yesterday.” I tried not to giggle. “Happy Belated birthday Frank.”
“Oh, well look at that.” He smiled.
I reached over and gathered the three cards on the table. “May I read them?”
“Sure, I can’t remember what they said.” He shrugged.
“The warmest birthday wishes to a very special guy.” I read. “Happy birthday Dad. I love you, Jessabelle.”
“Oh, my little Belle. She’s so busy being an interior design, I feel terrible I don’t always remember my kids.” Frank said as he dabbed his eyes.
I look at the second card. “Here’s to another birthday pops. I wish we could age backwards once we turn seventy. I love you, Keith.”
“He’s always the wise guy, but I love him all the same.” Frank chuckled.
The last one has a picture of a classic red car. “You’re never older, you just become a classic. Happy birthday, stay classic dad. Love, Frankie.”
“Frankie’s my oldest.
My wife named him after me while I was away at war. I don’t see him much since he lives down in Tennessee.” Frank sighed.
“I wish I knew it was your birthday or I would have brought you something.” I sigh.
“It’s alright dear, just having you come visit with an old fart like me brings me some joy.” He said patting my hand. “Your parents must be so proud of you.”
“My dad is.” I assure him.
“I’m sure your mom is too.”
“I don’t know, she left when I was seven. She doesn’t even send me birthday cards.” I muse.
“Well, some people just don’t deserve to have kind people in their lives. You turned out alright despite her, and I hope you do great things with your life, Naomi. Never let anyone tell you that you can’t do something.
“Thank you, Frank.” I smile at him. Those words have stuck with me my whole life, and I still live by them to this day. I walk away from the scene and leave the building ready for the next time jump.
As everything shifts, I take a moment to look around. I’m outside in the backyard of my childhood home. Everyone has gathered around, and the porch is decorated with balloons and streamers and a happy birthday banner. My dad is sitting in his chair wearing a paper crown that I made him. I remember this vividly. I was eight at the time. “Thank you everyone for coming out. I’m not only another year older, but I got the call this morning from my doctor announcing that I am now cancer-free!” My dad announces excitedly. “It’s been a long and trying year, but thanks to all of you, Naomi and I have made it through. I want to put it all behind us and move forward from here on.”
I hand him the gift that I made, and a card that I picked out for him. He opens the card as usual first and pulled it out of the envelope. As I watch the scene unfolds, I quickly realize what the item is that I need to collect. For the card, is the same card with the classic car on the front. As he set the card down on the table I reach out and grab it, noticing that it’s still on the table even though I’m holding it in my hand. I know how this memory ends, so I walk away towards the center of town. I enter the shop as someone leaves and see an elderly man sitting behind the counter. “Did you figure it out?” He asked in a solemn voice.
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