Spinning Time: a time travel adventure

by Jones, D. F.

  The quaint restaurant, next to the Cane River, offered their patrons the option to sit inside at one of the red leather booths or outside at one of the wooden picnic tables. Phillip opted for the inside. “Looks like there’s a table open in the back. Is that okay?”

  Wrinkles creased in the corners of Julia’s smiling eyes, and she said, “Perfect. I’ll have you all to myself.” She slid into the seat next to the back wall, and he slid into the seat across from her.

  The waitress came over smacking bubblegum. “What’ll you have to drink?” she asked, handing Phillip and Julia the menus.

  “Two beers.” Phillip answered for Julia and said, “Unless you’d rather have soda?”

  “Phillip, you need to relax.” She smiled at the waitress and said, “Two beers, Net.”

  “Sure thing, doll.” Net left the table and came back with two beers in bottles.

  Phillip took a long pull and sat the bottle on the table. “Hey, Net, bring two more.”

  Net laughed loudly. “Julia, you got this one sweating bullets.” She went to the bar quickly, coming back and placing two more brews on the table. Net pulled a pencil from behind her ear and flipped the order pad to a clean sheet. “Burgers or the catfish special?”

  Julia replied, “I want a cheeseburger with the works and French fries. Phillip?”

  “The same for me.”

  Net jotted down their orders. “It’ll be out in a jiffy. Just holler if you need me.” She went back to the kitchen and pinned the order to the stainless-steel carousel.

  Looking at Julia, he said, “I don’t know why I’m so nervous. I guess it’s because I’m crazy about you and last night was the best night of my life. I meant every word I said.”

  Julia reached over and placed her hand on the top of his. “I meant every word too. Something wonderful happened last night. I didn’t dream it, and neither did you.”

  “Did you get in trouble?”

  Julia released her hand and leaned back against the leather booth. “Bunny was in a tizzy, but she’ll get over it. We might want to wait a few days before I invite you back to the house. I told my father how much I like you. Do you think I’m too forward?”

  He grinned and immediately relaxed. “That’s what I needed to hear from you. I thought maybe you drank too much and I took advantage. You’re not forward. You’re honest, and I like you too.” Phillip more than liked her. “Oh, and your dad said I had to have you home by ten o’clock.”

  Julia laughed, and the couple in front of them turned around and stared. She waved at them, and they turned around. “Dad is the best. He’s not conventional, and he trusts me. So, tell me, where were you stationed during the war?”

  Phillip leaned in, placing his forearms on the table. “Several locations. Philadelphia, San Francisco, Hawaii, Guam, and the Philippines. Ugly business, war. A lot of my friends from New York died, and many were maimed for life. I still wonder why I was spared when so many weren’t.”

  Phillip and Julia talked easily over dinner, like two best friends. Julia looked at the world with freshness, and everything to her seemed attainable. It seemed like the biggest difference between them. Julia lived a privileged life where everything was possible. He lived in a world where you had to work hard to achieve any dream.

  The jukebox played swing music, and after paying the bill, Phillip and Julia walked outside. The people on the back patio danced under a string of bright lights. He placed his hand on the small of her back, then leaned down and said, “Do you swing, Julia?”

  “Does a honeybee make honey?”

  Spinning Julia onto the makeshift dance floor, Phillip placed his hands on the sides of her waist, and she put her hands on his shoulders. The two began a procession of fast paced moves between the twirls and lifts. At the end of the dance, Phillip and Julia were laughing and out of breath.

  “It’s still early. What do you want to do?” Phillip asked as he held Julia’s hand strolling back to the Jeep.

  “Sloane’s best friend, Bobbie, is having a few friends over tonight. We could stop by for a few kicks.”

  Phillip didn’t want to go to Bobbie’s, Snookum’s, or any of Julia’s sorority sisters, but he plastered on a smile and said, “Sounds fun.”

  Julia gave Phillip the directions to Bobbie’s house. She lived close to campus with two of Julia’s sorority sisters, Alice and Miggy. Cars lined both sides of the streets and music filtered out into the front lawn. Classes for the graduating seniors were over, and the party overflowed with students.

  Inside, Julia held Phillip’s hand and introduced him to several of her friends. Amelia Grierson stepped over and kissed Phillip on the cheek. “Phillip, it’s good to see you, but I didn’t think you liked parties.” Amelia looked at Julia and said, “Phillip and I dated for a while last year, and I couldn’t get him to go anywhere near one of our parties. You are one lucky girl, Julie.”

  Dougy Hawthorne draped an arm around Amelia’s shoulders and said, “Professor Clayborn, how the heck are ya?”

  The noise inside was deafening, and Julia shouted, “Let’s step outside. It’s too loud in here. Amelia and Dougy, we’ll talk to you later.”

  Phillip followed Julia outside where the noise level wasn’t much better. She said, “You dated Amelia?” People were laughing, dancing and drinking on the backyard lawn.

  “Briefly. Nothing serious. Amelia works part-time for my dad’s insurance firm.”

  “Oh, yeah, I remember that now. You don’t like it here, do you?”

  Phillip frowned and said, “What gave it away?”

  Julia looked down at the ground and then back up into his eyes. Shaking her head, she said, “Your body language. I caught you rolling your eyes at Dougy. You’re clenching your jaw tight, and you’re not smiling anymore. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have brought you here.”

  Sloane ran over and shoulder-bumped Julia. She looked up at Phillip and slurred her words. “Julia is in love with you.” Julia elbowed Sloane in the ribs, and Sloane laughed and said, “She wants to run naked in Central Park with you under the light of the full moon.”

  Julia pressed her lips tight and shook her head. “Sister, I believe you’ve had too many cocktails, and I’d hate for you to regret your actions in the morning.”

  “I’m spending the night with Bobbie, so buzz off, big sis.” Sloane turned to Phillip and smiled. “Guess, I better fly, beautiful.”

  Phillip chuckled and looked down at Julia. “So, you want to run naked in the moonlight. I kinda like that imagery.” His body relaxed a bit.

  Julia whispered into his ear, “Maybe one day. Hey, I’m going to the ladies room. Then we’ll leave.” He nodded and watched her go back into the house. He waited for about fifteen minutes, and when Julia didn’t return, Phillip went into the house to search for her.

  Walking down the hallway, Phillip saw Julia pressed against the wall in the arms of Brooks Davis. His heart started pounding, and he took two long strides, grabbing Brooks by the collar. “Get your damn hands off her.”

  Julia had her eyes closed and seemed frozen in place. Brooks swung around, and Phillip ducked to miss the punch. Brooks was obviously drunk and yelled, “Julia is my girl, Hoss, not yours.”

  Phillip nailed Brooks to the wall and pressed his forearm against Brooks’ chest. “If you lay another hand on Julia, I’ll break your blasted neck.” He released Brooks and watched him fall to the floor. Phillip grabbed Julia’s hand and pulled her out of the party. He was breathing hard, and once they were inside the Jeep, he turned to Julia, and with a raised voice, he said, “Did you take me to this party to make Brooks jealous?”

  Julia blinked several times before looking at him. She barely whispered, “It’s not like that, Phillip. You don’t understand.”

  He snapped, “Then by god, you better well explain it. I don’t play games with little girls.”

  Tears rolled down her cheeks. “Please, let’s leave, Phillip. I want to get out of here, please.”

  Phil
lip tried calming down, but he was too damn mad. He peeled out of the driveway and flew down the back streets of campus. His breathing became normal once they hit the Burkett Falls highway toward the Boatwright Plantation.

  Fog shrouded the area, making it difficult to drive. Phillip pulled down a dirt road and stopped. Gripping the steering wheel, he looked at Julia. “I like you, Julia, but I won’t allow you to make a fool out of me. You either tell me what happened back there or this thing between us will stop before it gets started.”

  Julia swallowed hard and turned in the seat to face him. Between intakes of breaths, she said, “I didn’t do anything, Phillip. Brooks is like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. When he’s sober, he’s a gentleman, but when he gets drunk, he gets mean. When Brooks and I first started dating, our relationship was picture perfect. But once he joined the fraternity he began drinking straight whiskey.”

  She turned away from Phillip and looked out the window. The dense fog made the Jeep feel like a tomb. Julia cried softly, and he went to reach for her but stopped. He waited for her to tell him what happened and he got a sickening feeling in the pit of his stomach.

  “About a year ago, Brooks and I left a party like the one tonight. He told me his billfold was in his room at the frat house. I said I’d wait in the car, but Brooks convinced me to go with him to his room. Inside, he locked the door. I became terrified when he turned and looked at me. No, that’s not the right word. Brooks leered at me.”

  Phillip held his breath. He had a feeling where this conversation was heading, and he didn’t like it one dang bit.

  Julia turned and faced Phillip, nervously biting her bottom lip. “I begged Brooks to unlock the door and take me home, but his switch flipped. He was a different person. He shouted at me, calling me vulgar names. Brooks pushed me onto his bed and ripped the buttons from my sweater. The harder I fought him, the more he liked it. He smacked me across the face and then ran his hand inside my shirt, pinching my breasts.”

  Julia stopped talking. Her downcast eyes broke Phillip’s heart, and he vowed to himself to beat Brooks to a pulp the next time he saw him.

  Tears filled Julia’s eyes, and her voice quivered. “I gave up. Brooks overpowered me. So, I went limp on the bed and closed my eyes. I prayed whatever Brooks did to me would be over quick. When I quit fighting him, Brooks stopped. He looked at me and started crying like a baby. He begged me for forgiveness. I felt so cheap and dirty. When he pulled into my driveway, I told him I’d never go out with him again. I knew we’d still see each other because it’s a small town so I said I wouldn’t tell anyone.”

  Phillip wanted to embrace her. He wanted to tell Julia he’d make everything right, but a violation like that took time. So, he reached over and squeezed her hand. Julia sobbed and leaned her head on his shoulder. He let her cry until there were no more tears. He shook all over with emotion.

  Julia moved slightly away from him and said, “Tonight, Brooks’ switch flipped again. He saw me with you, and he was drunk. He grabbed me when I came out of the bathroom, and I froze. I froze, Phillip. I was terrified of Brooks, all over again.” She placed her hand over her mouth and sobbed.

  “I’ve never told anyone, not even Sloane. Sloane likes him. What should I do? Should I tell her? I felt responsible. If only I had stayed in the car that night, things might have turned out different.”

  Phillip held her hands. “Julia, alcohol makes some people do insane things to those they love. Brooks is obviously an alcoholic. You’re not responsible for his actions. Do you understand me? What happened in his room was not your fault. As for Sloane, if she were my sister, I would tell her. If he did that to you, I would bet he’s taken advantage of others. I’m going to kill him.”

  Julia looked into his eyes with such tenderness, and he melted. “No, Phillip, I don’t want you to get in trouble. Brooks isn’t worth it. I’ll tell Sloane, and I’ll understand if you don’t want to see me anymore. I’m sorry.”

  Phillip drew Julia into his arms and held her tight against his chest. Her face nestled in the crook of his neck. “It took me a long time to forgive my father. I resented him for years for not trying harder to keep me at home. He had to grieve my mom’s death, and eventually, he quit drinking. That’s when our relationship got better. I think someday you’ll have to forgive Brooks to move on from the scars of that night. I’ll be here for you anytime you need to talk about it. I will always be here for you, my darling Julie.”

  Julia seemed so confident on the surface, but underneath the veil of strength, her vulnerability made Phillip want to protect her and make sure nothing bad would ever happen to her again.

  In the stillness of the night, Phillip and Julia forged a bond, and their love began to bloom.

  Chapter 3

  After graduation, Julia continued to work at Big Joe’s but mailed off her portfolio to every television and radio broadcast show in New York. She even sent a few of her scripts to Hollywood. She received several nice “thank you for your submission” letters, but most were rejections of her applications. In her cloud of disappointment, Phillip was the silver lining.

  Over the next six weeks, Julia and Phillip were inseparable. After work, they went to dinner, to the movies, and on the weekends, she took him swimming at the Falls and horseback riding on the farm. Julia even caddied for Phillip when he played eighteen holes of golf with Sloane at the country club.

  One evening, Julia returned from work and found Phillip, stripped to his jeans, helping Sam with the tractor. She slipped out of the car and stepped over to them, overhearing Sam giving Phillip step-by-step instructions. Julia placed her hands on her hips and said, “Well, what do we have here?”

  Sam looked at her like he just got caught with his hand in the cookie jar. “Aw, Miss Julia, Phillip is just helping me. My back is down with the misery.”

  Phillip rolled from under the tractor. He stood up covered in black grease, and leaned in to hug her. She stepped back and threw up her hands. “Whoa, you’re nasty.”

  Sam handed Phillip a red bandana to wipe his hands. Phillip grinned at Julia and said, “I’ll go home and take a bath. Meet me in town?”

  “Sure. What’s cooking tonight?”

  Phillip said, “I have a surprise for you. Oh, and I brought Bunny a bouquet of wildflowers I handpicked, and she turned her nose up. She’s never going to like me, is she?”

  Sam laughed. “Miss Bunny likes you all right. She just loves putting on a show.”

  Julia said, “What can I say? At least, you’ve captured the hearts of the rest of the family.”

  Sam nodded. “That’s right. Ethel made Phillip a pan of her prize-winning banana pudding. It’s only a matter of time before Miss Bunny caves in.”

  Phillip raised his hands in the air as he leaned over and kissed Julia’s forehead. “I’ll be ready in thirty minutes.”

  “I’ll see you at the house. Is there a dress code for tonight?”

  Grinning, Phillip said, “Comfortable clothes that you don’t mind getting messed up.”

  * * *

  Julia wore ankle-length jeans with a long sleeve pink shirt and sneakers. The last time Phillip suggested she wear something comfortable, they’d helped stock cans of food at the school’s food bank for students on working scholarships. Phillip made Julia want to be a better person.

  She pulled into Phillip’s driveway where he lived in a two-bedroom brick house one street over from campus. Walking up the little sidewalk, Julia pictured herself married to Phillip. She envisioned flower beds and rose bushes in the landscaping with a little brown and white springer spaniel playing on the lawn.

  Julia raised her hand to knock on the door, but Phillip opened it before she had a chance. He scooped her up into his arms and nuzzled his face into her neck. “I love you in jeans, and I promise I’m not putting you to work tonight.” He placed her feet on the ground and reached for a telescope next to the front door and tucked it under his right arm. “I’m taking you out to the old Dyer farm to starg
aze.”

  After placing the telescope in the back of the Jeep with the quilt, Phillip helped Julia into the passenger seat. Seconds later, he sat behind the wheel and cranked the engine to a roar. He waggled his brows and said, “I washed the quilt and aired it dry.”

  Julia threw her head back and laughed. “Uh-huh, looking to smooch under the stars tonight?”

  “And then some, ah-ram-bom-bom.”

  Phillip drove out of town and made a right down a dirt road barely visible from the main highway. He pulled into an open field where he parked the Jeep and reached in the back seat for the quilt and the telescope.

  He grinned and said, “I want to give you the stars and the moon, but there’s a slight chance for thunderstorms close to midnight.” Julia melted into a puddle of sappy happiness. The gods were smiling on her. She had a handsome beau that was sweet, kind, and full of compassion, and his romantic gestures were icing on the cake.

  After exiting the Jeep, Julia spread the quilt on the ground as Phillip set up the telescope. Glancing over his shoulder, he said, “I became interested in the constellations during my time in the Air Force. You know, space is the final frontier. So, I bought this old telescope at a pawnshop after the war. It’s not great, but if we’re lucky we may catch a shooting star or two.”

  Julia sat down on the quilt and looked up at him. “I love looking at the stars. They’re so beautiful and mysterious. You ever wonder if they’re looking back?”

  “Great question. I am a man of faith and science. If God created this world, why wouldn’t he create another one? Come on over here. I want you to look at the stars because I can’t be responsible for my actions if I join you on the quilt.”

  Julia dipped under his arms and placed her hands on the telescope, resting her right eye on the viewfinder. She bent over slightly, brushing her bottom against his belt.

  Phillip took another deep breath as he placed his hand on her low back. “What do you see? Do I need to adjust the lens?”

  “No, I can handle it. I see the moon. It’s incredible.” She raised her head and glanced over her left shoulder. “Want to see?”