Spinning Time: a time travel adventure

by Jones, D. F.

  It was last night, for crying out loud. She shouted, “Last night, Phillip asked me to marry him. Not more than an hour ago, he asked my father for my hand.” She pointed to the pool of water. “We swam in there, minutes ago, and now, you’re telling me that Phillip’s dead. That he married one of my friends, and you’re his grandson. My parents are dead, and—and my baby sister is an old woman.” She pointed at the quilt. “That’s Phillip’s quilt. And you—you look just like him, by the way.”

  She shook her left fist to the sky. “Is this some cosmic joke? Life cheated me.”

  Andy picked her up in his arms and brought her to what she assumed was his car. “Get in. I’ll be right back.”

  Julia got in and watched as he ran back to the tree, snatched up the quilt and his bag, and raced back to the car. He opened the driver side door and threw his stuff in the back seat before sliding behind the wheel.

  Gripping the steering wheel, Andy turned toward her and said, “We can’t tell a single soul who you are. Do you understand?” She shook her head no. “The discovery that you traveled through time would create a fuuu—well, a freaking media circus. Heck, the government would get involved. Mass hysteria and riots in the streets. You’re living breathing proof of Einstein’s Theory of Relativity. Sorry, I’m totally whacked out. I need a beer. Do you drink?”

  With a slight upturn of her lips, Julia replied, “Yeah, I drink. But don’t you think I need some clothes? Or do people today walk around half-naked like those people over there?”

  Andy burst out laughing. “I’m sorry, it’s not funny. But this is too crazy, and people today wear pretty much whatever they want. It’s nothing like your day.”

  “My day? Oh, good lord.”

  Andy drove his spaceship-looking car through the farm, which looked the same as it did this morning.

  Then Julia spotted her house, and she shouted, “Stop. Stop the car.” The entrance sign read Boatwright Plantation House and Museum. “Pull into the driveway. I need inside the house.”

  Andy said, “It’s closed. They only open the house on the weekends. It’s Monday, so I’m pretty sure no one is up there.”

  Julia faced him with her chin quivering and begged, “Please pull up to the house. I know how to get in.”

  Andy parked his fancy spaceship car in the circular drive. Julia looked at the door for a second before pulling the lever. “You can sit here. I won’t be long.” She ran barefoot to the house trying her best to rein in her emotions. She needed inside the house and in her dad’s study. Think, Julia.

  Andy ran up behind her. “You’re not going in there. It’s called breaking and entering in today’s world.”

  Julia looked at her home, but it wasn’t hers anymore. The house seemed cold and empty. Her home had always been so warm and inviting. Julia stood at the bottom of the front porch steps she’d just walked down with Phillip and Sloane. She thought of her argument with Bunny, and how Bunny relented and accepted Phillip. All of it was gone.

  Julia went to the side of the house, got down on one knee, and felt for the spare key under the first right pier. Ha! It was still there. She walked to the side door of the house near the kitchen, placed the key into the keyhole and turned the knob, then pushed the door open. “I told you I knew where they hid the key. Are you coming with me, or are you going to stand there with your mouth hanging open?”

  He said unreservedly, “For a woman born in 1927, you’re very outspoken. Let’s pray the museum doesn’t have security cameras or we’ll both get arrested.”

  Julia turned swiftly and stared him straight in the eye. “I said I would go in alone. That’s my house, regardless of what the sign reads at the entrance.”

  Julia’s world turned upside down in a mere thirty minutes. Andy briefly explained that Burkett Falls was a public park, and her home had been placed on the National Historic Register. A museum for strangers and she was some mythical legend the town of Burkett Falls celebrated once a year.

  Julia grappled with Phillip marrying her sorority sister, and they had a son. “What happened to your parents?”

  “My dad took over Clayborn Insurance. He and my mother flew to the Caymans on a charter plane shortly after I was born. The small plane malfunctioned and went down in the ocean. We never found them.”

  “I’m sorry for your loss, Andy. Did Phillip and Amelia raise you?”

  “Phillip raised me. Amelia was killed in a home invasion when my dad was an infant.”

  “Oh, my god. I can’t believe this is happening.”

  Julia’s mind reeled from one Shakespearian event to another. Too many people she knew and loved had died. It didn’t seem possible she was walking into an empty house that only this morning had been filled with so much love and life, another tomb of devastation crashing down around her.

  She glanced at Andy and closed her eyes for a second. The likeness to Phillip was striking. Opening her eyes, she noticed that Andy didn’t look anything like Amelia.

  Jilted by life, Julia walked inside the house, passing the living area, and stopped. A portrait of her family hung over the mantle, frozen forever in her mind, and she fought back the tears.

  Shaking her head, Julia tried concentrating on more practical matters. She needed money. Julia prayed that her dad’s secret safe still held his box of money. She strode into his study. It looked the same as it did this morning.

  Stepping behind his desk to the bookshelves, Julia flipped the small lever under the lip of the bottom shelf. The false panel opened, and she held her breath as she reached inside, pulling out a black jewelry box with mother of pearl inlaid in the center in the shape of a diamond. She opened the box and exhaled.

  Julia’s mother’s jewelry, gold coins, and a wad of cash were in the box. With an intake of breath, her hand flew to her mouth. There was a sealed letter with her name on it.

  Stepping behind her, Andy said, “We have got to get out of here. This property belongs to the city, and if they find you with that loot, we’re going to need real lawyers. Give me the box, and we’ll go to my house. You can go through the jewelry box once we’re safely inside.”

  Glancing up, she said, “I still need clothes.”

  Andy gently squeezed her hand. “First things first. We need time to think, or at least I do. We’ll go to my house, and you can wear some of my clothes until I can go to Wally’s World.” He led Julia outside to the car. He started the engine, sped down the driveway and out onto the main road.

  “What’s Wally’s World?”

  Andy snorted with laughter. “It’s a discount store that sells everything from underwear to sweet potatoes.”

  Julia wrinkled her nose and stared out the window. “This place has changed so much. Discount stores and half-naked people.”

  Andy said, “Hey, my grandfather kept a cedar chest full of journals about you, and time travel. I didn’t believe him. I thought he had dementia or was delusional when he gave me the chest. He told me to read the journals and memorize the data. I humored him, but I never believed him. Boy, am I an idiot. I could’ve asked questions. Instead, I thought he was a dawdling old man.”

  “I can’t think of Phillip as old, and it’s extremely disconcerting looking at you. You look so much like him.” Julia’s hands began to tremble. “I want to read Phillip’s journals. Maybe there’s something in them to help me get home and make things right.”

  “Phillip was a theoretical physicist. He’s the reason why I became one. I should’ve paid more attention. I let him down, but I promise I won’t let you down.”

  Andy pulled into the driveway of a two-story colonial with an immaculate lawn and landscaping. “This house belonged to my grandfather. He left it to me.” He turned off the ignition and faced Julia. “Let’s go inside.”

  Before opening the passenger door, Julia placed her hand on Andy’s forearm. “Okay, but I want to read the letter in my dad’s box. I want a bath, and then I want to get smashed.” She followed Andy inside the house through the foye
r to the kitchen off to the right of the house.

  In the kitchen, Andy motioned for her to take a chair. “Beer? Wine?”

  Julia sat in the chair placing her elbows on the table. “After I bathe. Do you have sweet tea?”

  Andy poured two glasses of tea and brought them to the table and joined Julia.

  “Andy, tell me what happened to Amelia? How did she die?”

  A large lump formed in her throat looking at the expression on Andy’s face.

  Andy clasped his hands, bowed his head for a second and then stared into Julia’s eyes. “Granddaddy never spoke of Amelia or you very often, even when I asked him to. He blamed himself for your disappearance and Amelia’s death, when neither of the events had been in his control.”

  Julia began to cry again. Andy pulled her into his arms, and she cried until there were no tears left. He brushed the hair away from her face and cupped her chin. “We’ll figure out the mystery together. Why don’t you take a hot shower? It’ll make you feel better, and I’ll pick up some take-out for dinner. Then we’ll get smashed. Deal?”

  She nodded, sniffled, and wiped the tears away with her fingers. “Deal. Do you think you could find me something else to wear?”

  “Sure, come with me.” Julia followed him down the hall to a huge bathroom. Andy said, “The towels and washcloths are in the linen cabinet. The soap, shampoo, and conditioner are in the shower, and the hair dryer is under the sink cabinet.”

  Julia shook her head. “Hair dryer? Like in a beauty salon?”

  Andy opened the cabinet, plugged the hair dryer in the outlet, and demonstrated how it worked. “You’ll find a couple of hairbrushes and combs in this drawer, and there’s a new toothbrush in the cabinet. I’ll leave you to your privacy.”

  Numb, dazed, and confused, Julia sat on the toilet seat for a good five minutes before making up her mind to go home. Bust, gut or die.

  After showering, Julia quickly brushed through her hair and pushed the strands behind her ears. She brushed her teeth before proceeding to peek out the bathroom door. She found clothing folded on the floor with a note from Andy:

  I’ve gone to the mall to buy you some clothes. I’ll guess your sizes. I’m also picking up a pizza and something decent to drink. I’ll be back soon. Sorry, but I have no undergarments for you to wear. The sweats may be too big, but it’s all I have for the moment. Andy

  Julia picked up the clothes and put on the pants first, then pulled the sweatshirt over her head and rolled up the sleeves. Andy’s clothes were three sizes too big, but at least they were clean.

  The hardwood floors in the hallway creaked under Julia’s footsteps. She paused and looked at several old photos on the bookshelves. Phillip and his son fishing, and later Phillip with Andy at a baseball game.

  How did I get here?

  Her dad’s jewelry box sat in the middle of the kitchen table. Julia pulled out a chair, sat down, and hugged the box close to her chest as if the box.

  Closing her eyes, Julia said a prayer, “Please, God, help me find my way back home.” Her fingers trembled as she opened the box. First, Julia pulled out her Grandmother Boatwright’s pearls. She held them in her hand and wondered how in the world she ended up nearly seventy years into the future.

  Next, Julia brought out Bunny’s diamond pendant, bracelet, and teardrop earrings. She swallowed hard while holding her dad’s gold initialed cufflinks. Julia left the wad of cash in the box. She’d count the money later.

  Taking another deep breath, Julia opened the letter, and immediately recognized her dad’s handwriting.

  Dearest Julia,

  I can’t believe you’ve been gone for nearly thirty years. But then again, it feels like an eternity since I watched you leave with Phillip and Sloane to swim at the Falls. You, my sweet angel, left that morning so much in love with Phillip.

  Poor Phillip, he’s been ravaged by your disappearance and has searched tirelessly for the answers.

  I’m writing to you in hopes that someday this letter will find itself in your hands.

  Here’s what I’ve learned as of this date, September 12, 1978.

  After extensive study, Phillip discovered a secret agency handling inquiries of the unnatural and the unexplained. Alien Encounters and Time Travelers made the top of our list we know as, ATTRA, Alien Time Travel and Research Agency.

  Phillip spoke with a couple of agents in 1950. If you’re not with them, and by some miracle, you read my letter, be aware they have your disappearance in their records and often operate in secret ways.

  Phillip’s written many journals since your disappearance. He discovered there are time portals that open and close every day, and all over the world. We believe you were caught in a type of portal.

  Phillip met with some of the top scientists in the country regarding Einstein’s Theory of Relativity. He also did a study with a colleague of Tesla's. Phillip’s journals may contain the information you need for your safe return to 1948, so you may live your life as God intended.

  One last thing, Phillip’s research revealed that time travel is possible into the future with little or no side effects, but time traveling into the past has complications and many risks. Paradoxes happen. Traveling to the past is dangerous, and an individual may die or may materialize not whole in body.

  If you find my letter without Phillip’s journals, search for physicists well studied in the Theory of Relativity. I pray God will lead, guide, and direct your path home.

  With all my love,

  Dad

  Julia stared at the letter. “Oh, Daddy, I miss you.”

  The back door opened, and Andy came in toting an armful of shopping bags. “Hey, Julia. I bought you some clothes.”

  Julia pushed the jewelry box back to the center of the table. “Here, let me help you.” She grabbed the shopping bags from Andy and sat them on the table.

  “Thanks. I have more bags in the car.” He turned and went out the door.

  Julia stood on the back steps, and he threw up a hand. “Please stay inside. I have everything.”

  With a raised brow, Julia said, “Why?”

  Andy held a pizza box with one hand and slipped another bag of groceries in the other hand. “I’ll tell you inside.”

  He jogged up the steps and into the kitchen, placing the pizza on the table and the groceries on the counter next to the pantry. “I’ve been thinking. We need to change your appearance. The town celebrated your birthday and disappearance not long ago. You’re a recognizable person, and it may attract unwanted attention. We need to make a plan of action before you go out in public.”

  Julia plopped down in the kitchen chair. “Huh? I don’t understand.” She was tired and upset as she placed her elbows back on the table.

  A second later, Andy massaged Julia’s shoulders. “I’m trying to create a mental checklist of things we need to do to protect you. Let me put up the groceries, and we’ll eat pizza and drink a few beers. Relax a bit. It’s not like we’re going to figure it out in a night.”

  Julia nodded and replied, “I’ll help you put up groceries.”

  Andy picked up one of the shopping bags. “Hey, why don’t you try on your new clothes? The girl in the boutique helped me pick out a few items, a couple of pair of leggings, several tunics and two pairs of snazzy flip-flops. Just try them on and see if they fit. Once we transform your look, I’ll take you shopping for clothes more to your liking.”

  Andy’s kindness touched her heart. She wrapped her arms around his neck. “Thank you for helping me.”

  “I haven’t done much yet. I’ve been turning the wheels over in my mind on the kind of propulsion it would take to send you home. We’ve made large strides in the space program, but only a handful of scientists are actively working on time travel, and they keep silent about their work. Tomorrow, I’ll start researching Phillip’s journals.”

  He motioned for her to move along. “Go and try on your clothes and then we’ll eat and drink a couple of beers.”


  Julia made her way to the guest bedroom. She emptied the contents of the bag onto the bed. “Are you kidding me?” She picked up what looked like stockings with no feet. There was one pair in black and the other in white along with different pieces of lingerie.

  The tunics looked more like oversized men’s shirts. She slipped on the black leggings and opted for the multicolored tunic with a thin black belt attached. Bunny would’ve had a heart attack if she could see Julia now. Turning her back to the mirror, she glanced over her right shoulder. She liked the way the tunic fit, and the leggings flattered her long legs.

  Julia looked at the sandals, or well, the flip-flops. She chose the black paisley pair. At least her toenails were painted. She leaned in toward the mirror and pushed her hair behind her ears. Andy wanted to change her appearance.

  Julia noticed a smaller bag and opened it. “Bless his heart—makeup and lipstick.” She opened the tubes of red and pink lipstick and sighed. Red was her signature color. She applied the ruby red lipstick, smacked her lips together, and checked her teeth.

  Lifting her hair off her shoulders, Julia tried to picture herself with short red or brown hair or possibly black. “Yes. I’ll do black.” She’d get a hairdo like Elizabeth Taylor’s. Surely that little telephone of Andy’s could find a photo of Elizabeth Taylor. She’d get Andy to drive her to a beauty shop in Asheville. “Maybe no one will recognize me in another town.” Julia felt a little better that she’d made at least one decision: short black hair.

  Stepping out of the bedroom, Julia caught a whiff of pizza, which made her stomach growl.

  Andy suddenly stood, knocking over the chair. “You’re stunning. Do you like the clothes?”

  Julia’s cheeks heated in a blush, and she demurely lowered her lashes. “You’re embarrassing me.” Looking up with a grin, she said, “I love the clothes. They’re very chic. Oh, I’ve decided to color and cut my hair like Elizabeth Taylor’s. Or at least what she looked like before I traveled in time. The pizza smells heavenly.”