Middle Falls Time Travel Series, Books 4-6 (Middle Falls Time Travel Boxed Sets Book 2)

by Shawn Inmon

  Mr. Burns smiled at the class. “Good morning. Please turn to page 148 in your textbook. Today, we’re going to discuss the tensions in the Middle East and look at some of its historical roots.”

  Veronica perked up. Did we really talk about interesting things like this in class? I remember being bored most of the time, and only doing the homework to get the grades to keep Mom off my back. School is so often wasted on the young, including me, apparently.

  Veronica leaned forward on her desk, put her chin in her hands and listened to Mr. Burns’ lecture. She got so caught up, she even raised her hand and asked a salient question. She was rewarded with a smile and a “Good question, Veronica.”

  The hour went by quickly, as did the rest of her first day back to school. She survived, thanks mostly to her own notes from long ago that told her where she needed to be.

  Veronica did her best to catch up with Ruthie in the halls, but she didn’t quite have the hang of navigating the crowds between classes. She did manage to sit with her at lunch, although she noticed another table of girls looking at her. Did I usually eat lunch with them? Well, if they want, they can come over here and join us.

  Chapter Nine

  Veronica emerged from Middle Falls High, into an overcast afternoon, feeling much more confident than when she had arrived in the morning.

  And now, I get to go to Artie’s. I guess it’s a little weird to look forward to going to work, but Artie’s is so cool.

  Veronica walked along the buses lined up, looking for Bus 12. Eventually she found it and stepped up. Mr. Harrison flashed a quick smile and waved her on. “Heard from your mother already.”

  Of course you did. Veronica sat at the back of the bus again, more comfortable this time, because she didn’t normally ride this bus, and so wouldn’t be expected to know anyone.

  Unless she was.

  A dark-haired girl with a turned up nose acted like she was going to walk right by Veronica, then faked her out and slid in beside her. She bumped her with her shoulder. “Hey, stranger.”

  Oh shit. I know you. I know you. But, what’s your name? Wait! Alice. Alice ... Alice ... Gregory! Alice Gregory.

  “Hey, Alice, how are you?”

  “We’re feeling formal today, aren’t we? She lowered her voice, drew her chin in and mimicked Veronica, “Hello, Alice, how are you?” Then, she laughed, though, and everything seemed fine. “What are you doing on my bus? Gotta work today?”

  Veronica grinned and nodded, glad to be back on steady ground.

  “You are so lucky to have gotten on there. So many girls applied last year. Me too.”

  “I think my Dad put in a good word for me. He knows Artie from his job.” Huh. That’s right. I haven’t thought about that for years, but he did. Daddy helped me get on at Artie’s. He may not rule the roost at home, but he always got things done outside the house. I need to remember to thank him, because I probably didn’t. I was so self-absorbed.

  “So, I saw you eating lunch with Ruthie Miller today. Are you abandoning us?”

  “No, of course not. But, Ruthie was my best friend forever. It feels like I’ve lost touch with her.”

  “Sure,” Alice said. “I understand.”

  The way you said it makes me think you don’t understand, but I don’t care.

  “Oops. Gotta get out here,” Veronica said, standing up and scooting by her as the bus pulled to a stop right in front of Artie’s. “Bye, Alice.” She walked to the front of the bus without looking back. She said “Thank you, Mr. Harris,” as she hopped down the stairs.

  She remembered to use the employee entrance in the back, stepped into the small bathroom in the back room and changed into her uniform. She dropped her school clothes into the bag and hung it on a hook. At 3:30, she walked into the grill area, smiled and said, “Veronica McAllister, reporting for duty.”

  “Well, aren’t you chipper?” Perry Zimmerman said. He glanced up at the red Coca Cola clock in the dining room. “You don’t start for half an hour. Ask DJ to make you something if you want.” He turned back to writing something in an order book.

  Hasn’t been that long since lunch. But then, who am I to turn down an Artie’s burger? I’ve still got my youthful metabolism working in my favor. Veronica glanced back at the grill area. Unlike Saturday, DJ was the only one working the grill, and it wasn’t jam-packed with patties and buns yet. Only a few were sizzling away.

  “Hiya, DJ.”

  “Artie’s answer to Annette Funicello puts in an appearance!”

  “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

  “As it was intended,” DJ said, flipping three patties over smoothly. “What can I do to bolster your strength for another strenuous Artie’s shift?”

  “Mmmm. How about the usual?”

  “One Ronnie burger and fries, coming up.” DJ glanced at her, and the familiarity of the conversation, combined with the intensity of his glance, made her tingle, just a little.

  What’s wrong with me, suddenly crushing on every cute teenage boy I see. I’m almost eighty years old and feel like a schoolgirl. Hormones are a powerful thing. No wonder we don’t handle them well when we’re young.

  Veronica stood and chatted with DJ while he made her burger basket, then took it out to the dining room, which was empty once again. High school kids, loosed momentarily from the shackles of their education, were trickling into the parking lot. Veronica looked at each of them, but didn’t recognize very many. She had been surprised to find she remembered more of her teachers than she did kids at school.

  A few minutes before 4:00, Veronica stood up, dropped the grease-stained butcher paper from the basket into the trash and went to work. Mom said I only work two days this week after school. Too bad. I’d like to come every day.

  Much like drive-ins in small towns all around America, Artie’s was a social center in Middle Falls. It didn’t matter the day of the week, or the season—at dinner time, it got busy. By 5:30, DJ was as busy as one person could be on the grill, the green and silver double milkshake machines were humming, and Veronica was hustling to keep up.

  Man, I love this. It feels like I could do this forever, but I don’t know if I’ll feel that way when I’m forty again, still slinging burgers and fries.

  As it started to get dark, Danny Coleman’s Ford Country Squire pulled up to one of the ordering speakers. Veronica was delivering another order on the other side of the parking lot, but saw him pull in. She tilted her head a bit to see inside the car and noticed that today, Danny was alone. Which of course, doesn’t mean a thing.

  Unless it did.

  Veronica went on working, delivering food with a smile, chatting with everyone she came into contact with. It was much easier for her to be relaxed and easygoing with people she didn’t know. Her only real concern was that she would treat someone she was supposed to know like she didn’t. I’ll burn that bridge when I get to it.

  Eventually, she picked up the tray that went to Danny. She took it out to him and placed it on the window. “Are you so rich that you can come eat at Artie’s every night?”

  “Well, no,” he admitted. “It is where the prettiest carhops work, though.” When he smiled, she noticed how white his teeth were.

  Veronica smiled, and asked, “Where’s Lisa?”

  Danny stuttered a little bit, but Veronica’s attention was pulled away by the car that pulled in right beside Danny. A silvery-blue 1956 Ford Thunderbird convertible. She didn’t even need to look inside to know who was behind the wheel. Christopher Belkins, her ex-husband, who she had not met in this life yet. Her smile faltered, then faded altogether.

  “Hey, Ronnie. You okay?” Danny asked.

  “Yes, I’m fine. Sorry. I’ve got to go back in and pick up some more orders.”

  “Can you come back in a minute, when things slow down a little? I want to ask you something, but I can wait.”

  “Sure,” Veronica said, not even thinking.

  She turned and walked back inside. “Hey, Zimm? Can
you cover for me? Nature calls.”

  “Sure, go ahead. I’ll keep an eye on things. Be sure to wash your hands!”

  Veronica nodded and headed for the door that led to the small restroom. She pushed the slide lock into place and sat down on the toilet. Her hands were trembling, her stomach in knots. She tried to take deep breaths, but had a hard time calming down.

  I thought I had time to figure things out, to decide what was next, and now here he is. It’s not like he’s going to ask me to marry him today, but it didn’t take long. We met in April and got married in August that same year. I moved straight from Mom and Dad’s house into his. What am I going to do? Just seeing him makes me sick. But.

  Veronica felt tears forming and reached for a few squares of toilet paper to blot at her eyes.

  But, if I ignore him, or rebuff him, Sarah and Nellie will never be born. What right do I have to do that to them?

  She stood and looked at herself in the mirror, dabbing at the corners of her eyes again.

  But, I have a right to a life, too, don’t I?

  She leaned against the sink and stared straight into her own bottle-green eyes. It’s decision time. She nodded at her reflection. I know what I’m going to do.

  Chapter Ten

  Veronica emerged from the ladies’ room to find several trays lined up, ready to be delivered.

  “Just in time to save me from myself,” Perry said. “Tag, you’re it.”

  Veronica nodded and did her best to swallow the lump in her throat. She grabbed the first of the trays, checked the ticket and hustled out to deliver it. She delivered three more trays before she returned to find a burger basket and Coke with a slip that had “17” written in a circle.

  Veronica picked up the tray and walked in what felt like slow motion to the Thunderbird. Veronica remembered that Christopher had bought the car and the little two bedroom house he owned, thanks to an inheritance from his grandmother. Some kids would have blown it on beer and parties, but not Christopher. He always had an eye on the future.

  She approached the car and waited for Christopher to roll his window down so she could put the tray on it. When he did, he said, “Would you mind not attaching the tray? It’s a new car, and I don’t want to scratch the window.”

  Veronica glanced down at the rubber-coated tips on the tray, designed specifically to not cause any damage, and said, “Of course.”

  Christopher took the Coke off the tray and put it between his legs, then claimed the basket.

  I’d say you have a much better chance of messing up your interior by dropping ketchup all over it than you ever did of scratching your window. But, what do I know?

  Veronica leaned over and said, “Forty cents, please.”

  When she leaned over, her face moved closer to Christopher and he stopped dead, right in mid-reach for his wallet. A moment later, he smiled a little self-consciously and said, “Sorry.” He grabbed his wallet, fished out a dollar and handed it to her. “Has anyone ever told you that you have the most amazing green eyes?”

  Veronica managed to say, “Has anyone ever told you that is a lame pick up line,” but she couldn’t help but notice his own hazel eyes. He always did have beautiful eyes.

  Christopher laughed a little, then said, “Just give me two quarters back, if you would.”

  Veronica put the dollar in her order book, clicked two quarters out, and handed them to him. “Is there anything else you need?”

  He leaned toward her. “Yes. I need you to go out with me.”

  Veronica’s eyes grew wider. “Oh, Artie’s carhops are not allowed to date customers. That could get me fired.”

  “I promise I will never eat here again. You have my word.”

  I know what your word is worth, Christopher Belkins.

  “C’mon. Whadya say? Dinner and a movie on Friday?”

  “I say that I will be right here, delivering delicious Artie burgers on Friday night.”

  “Saturday?”

  “Ditto.”

  “I don’t give up easily. There’s a Sunday matinee playing at the Pickwick. After church, but before it gets too late.”

  “I’m still in high school.”

  “Congratulations, I’m just out of college. Just went to work at Crimmins and Holder Accounting. I expect it to be Crimmins, Holder, and Belkins accounting before too long.”

  You never did lack for confidence. And, damn you, you’re exactly right, that’s what happened.

  “Just out of college and driving a beautiful car like this? How’d you swing that?” She knew the answer, but wanted to see if he’d answer truthfully.

  Christopher shrugged. “Good things happen to good people, right?”

  Well, that’s not a lie, exactly, but most people wouldn’t call their grandmother dying a ‘good thing.’ That was always his talent—to tell the truth in a slanted way that made him look better.

  “Hey, Ronnie! We’re getting backed up in here,” Perry Zimmerman called from behind her.

  “Sorry, Zimm. Be right there.” Veronica turned to leave, but Christopher reached out and grabbed her hand.

  “You didn’t give me an answer. Sunday? I can come pick you up at your house at 1:00. Deal?”

  I already made up my mind. Might as well go ahead with it.

  Veronica wrote her address on a slip of paper from her order book. She hesitated. In for a penny, in for a pound. She jotted her phone number as well and handed it over. Christopher released her hand, but it still tingled a bit where he had held her.

  “You better call me on Thursday night and speak to my folks. I don’t think they’re going to like me going out with someone already out of college, and I don’t want you to waste a trip on Sunday.”

  “Will do. I am happy to speak to your parents. I have honorable intentions.” He glanced down at the paper with her address and phone number. Christopher gave her his best Pepsodent smile, and said, “Thank you, Ronnie.”

  Veronica’s eyebrows arched up in an excellent imitation of her mother’s. “No, no. Veronica to you. You don’t know me well enough to call me Ronnie yet.”

  Christopher chuckled a little and nodded. “Yes, ma’am. Veronica. I’ll call on Thursday, and see you Sunday after church, then. “

  Veronica turned and hustled away. She didn’t notice that Danny Coleman had his passenger window down and had followed the whole conversation.

  Christopher saw him, though, and waggled his eyebrows at him with a rakish grin, then held up the paper like a trophy.

  Danny put his parents’ station wagon in reverse and slowly drove away.

  VERONICA SPENT THE rest of her shift in a daze. The quiet satisfaction she had started the day with faded away, replaced by a sense of impending dread. When you make a decision, you stick to it and take the consequences, right? Besides, it’s not like he asked to marry me, and I said yes. It’s just dinner and a movie.

  Still, deep inside, Veronica felt a growing conviction she had set her feet on a path she wouldn’t be able to step off.

  Once again, a few minutes before her shift ended, Wallace McAllister parked in the far corner of the parking lot. He strolled in with his hands in his pockets and an expectant look on his face.

  “Hello, Daddy,” Veronica said, coming out from behind the counter and kissing him on the cheek. “Just a warning. Mom knows you grab a hamburger when you come pick me up.”

  “Oh, I always figured she did.”

  “You don’t care?”

  “No, not really. You’ll understand someday when you get married. I still get to have my own life, but ... “ he trailed off, not knowing how to complete that sentence.

  “But, it’s within the confines of a loving marriage, so some sacrifices of complete honesty have to be made?” Veronica guessed.

  Wallace beamed. “Couldn’t have said it better myself!”

  “Sit down, Daddy. I’ll get your basket. Maybe I’ll ask DJ to leave the onions off tonight, though. The retsin in those Certs isn’t doing the job.�
�

  His smile faded.

  “I know, you love the onions. Okay. I’ll have DJ leave the onions on and damn the consequences.”

  Wallace dug in his pocket and pulled out a dollar bill and offered it to her.

  “My treat tonight. It’s been a good tips day.”

  “My little girl is almost all grown up.

  You have no idea.

  Chapter Eleven

  The next day at Middle Falls High, in between second and third period, she saw Danny Coleman in the hallway. He made a point of turning his back and not seeing her.

  It’s for the best, anyway. Of course, I thought the same thing last time, and how did that turn out?

  It was only her second day back at school, but she was already growing more confident. She was sure she would be able to fake her way through and get her diploma.

  If it goes like last time, Christopher and I will move quickly from dating to going steady, to him wanting me to get married. At least if I do that, I can cash in my college fund and buy myself a car. I still don’t know what I want after that, though. After the girls are born, then what? I guess that will be up to how he acts. And, if he lets his mother run our life like she did last time. I can’t put up with that any more.

  Third period was English, the source of the term paper Doris had been reminding her about off and on. Today, as she sat in class, she searched through the notebook marked “English” she had found in her locker. She flipped halfway through and was rewarded with a complete outline for a term paper on the impact television was having, both on entertainment and education.

  Hmmph. Pretty good. I can write that, with a little research on Google, of course. She smiled to herself. Or, I guess, the 1958 version of Google, Ye Olde Public Library.