Somewhere In Time

Tate spoke up. “We haven’t even seen Dorothy, but thanks for the warning. No way have we ever been around anybody with smallpox. It has pretty much died out where we come from.” “Died out, you say? Why, how can that be? Where do you come from, my boy?” “Oh, uh, way out west, sir. Anyway, Cade and I will be sure to escort these lovely ladies to Melanie’s Mercantile.” As Jeannette and her friends waved goodbye to Dr. Morgan, she shouted, “Oh, do hurry, Dr. Morgan! Do hurry. Save our dear Dorothy!” The doctor hollered at the fine-looking chestnut gelding and gave him a thump with his reins. As the doctor drove away, Jeannette noticed Cade’s melancholic countenance. She asked, “What are ye thinkin’, me love?” “Ach, I was remembering aboot me own poor maither who died of smallpox, and I wish that dreadful disease had been eradicated in Wales.” In great distress, Cade began to sing a sad song. “Smallpox, that dreaded disease. It takes you with no ‘if you please.’ Nobody’s safe, nobody’s free. If you get the mark, you’ll be seized with the wicked, bloody, dreadful, dreaded disease!” Jeannette hurried to Cade’s side to comfort him. Both Tate and I joined Jeanette to offer support. The four of them walked on wooden boards down to the clothing shop and in through the front door. “I’m glad we are here,” said Jeanette. “I will burn this dress I have on, as the doctor suggested. I don’t want other people to worry that I might be contagious.” Turning to the others, Jeannette asked, “Are you goin’ ta buy some new clothes too?” Cade nodded. “Aye, that might be a good idea for me since I did see Dorothy.” Tate agreed. “I guess I will, too, just to be on the safe side.” As Cade and Jeannette walked away, Tate whispered to me, “IF we go up to pay for our clothes, the cashier will see how different our dollars are.” “I was thinking the same thing. I wonder if she will barter with us. You know, trade something we have, instead of money.” “Let’s ask her.” They all picked out some clothes, then I walked up to the cashier and handed her some money. The cashier stared at it. “I’m sorry, but I can’t accept this.” “Okay, I understand. Is there something we can give you in trade?” The cashier said, “Yes, we can do that. I’m the owner of the store. I like that wide, black bracelet you’re wearing. What is it?” “It’s a watch, but it will only work until the batteries die, and there aren’t any batteries for sale around here.” The cashier gave me a quizzical stare. “That’s okay. I like the looks of it. I’ve never seen a timepiece that looks anything like that. I will trade you that watch for the clothes you have picked out.” The cashier wrapped the clothes in brown paper and tied them with string. The foursome walked out of the shop, happy with their purchases. I said, “I didn’t see any jeans for women, only dresses. Hey . . . I just remembered that the theme for the homecoming parade for juniors is the Wild West. I can wear my new old-fashioned dress in the parade. It will be perfect.” “Homecoming parade?” asked Jeannette. “Oh, uh, yeah, it’s a parade we have at school. We actually have to head back home to prepare for it. I’m so sorry we are always in a rush to get back.” I said apologetically, “We haven’t helped you get to California yet, so we will be back as soon as we can. I’m so sorry we gotta leave again.” “We understand. We hope to see you a week from Friday. That’s when we will board the steam locomotive bound for St. Louis.” “You can count on it. We will work it out somehow.” Tate shook their hands. “Look for us. We really want to help you guys.” As we waved goodbye, I furtively glanced up and down the road, looking for a hole in the ground to jump into to get home. “Keep your eyes open for a hole to jump into and something shaped like a pyramid.” “Definitely.” I’ve got football practice at five. That gives us an hour to get back home.” “We’ll find both those things somehow.” “Gotcha.” Tate nodded. Walking down what was considered Main Street, I brushed away the dirt that blew into my face. I was deep in thought. “Oh, Tory with the beautiful eyes, what are you thinking about?” I smiled. “Can you believe President Lincoln is alive right now? I wish we could tell everyone the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution will be passed in January and the Civil War ends in April.” “It’s so cool you know so much about President Lincoln,” I said. “It’s so awesome the president kept the Union together and ended slavery. He was a man of integrity.” “He really was kind and compassionate. He proved it when he wrote his second inaugural address. It’s cool we both have a copy of it and the Gettysburg Address on the back of our student ID cards and that they have the entire student body memorize these speeches to get credit in our history classes.” Tate grimaced. I asked, “What’s wrong? You look like you’re in pain.” “I just wish we could change history and go to the White House to warn President Lincoln to stay away from Ford’s Theater in April.” Tory nodded. “I hear ya. I wish we could book a flight to tell him.” “I wish I could text him,” said Tate. “This is definitely the bad part of time travel—not being able to change the bad things.” After sitting in silence for a while, Tate reached for my hand and quietly said, “Tory, we better get back home. We’ve spent our entire Saturday here. Coach wants me back in half an hour.” “Okay. Let’s get you back in time for practice,” I said. Both were scanning Main Street for an escape route when Tate noticed a farmer digging several postholes around his property. The farmer then placed some boards in the holes. It was obvious to Tate the farmer was building a fence. Extra boards were stacked up against a tree in the form of a pyramid. I saw it too. Tate squeezed my hand and smiled at me. I smiled back. We had found their passage home.