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And now for something completely different!
TIME SLIP
By Andrew Heighway
Nome, Alaska.
2007.
Bruce’s parents where very concerned about their only son. On the surface you’ll wonder why, he had plenty of friends, behaved very well for his owners and also was very intelligent. But recently he started telling everybody he knew about what happened to him over a summer’s weekend, it did not go down well. How his story begins is not very remarkable, it’s when he talks about meeting a wolf dog from the 1920’s that people start to get worried, it had to be a lie, its absurd how could he have possibly met someone from the 1920’s? Someone who’s been dead for nearly eighty years? His story begins when he walks down Front Street next to the coast; there are normal passers by going about their business, answering their cell phones, listening to their I-pod’s and getting ready for July 4th... I told this part isn’t remarkable. He stops because he has chewing gum stuck to his paw... gross... then suddenly he lifts his head up... and everything is different...
Nome, Alaska.
1926
Some other dog next to him says ‘Quit day dreaming melon head’, Bruce apologises like nothing has happened and keeps on walking up the street... but everything is different, the brick buildings are now made of wood, the clothes people are wearing look completely different and not to mention that there isn’t any traffic on the road... it’s like he’s in another time. I don’t know what’s weirder the fact that he’s back in time or that he acts like nothing has happened. As he walks along the street he see’s that everyone is getting ready for the July 4th just like before, but only this time the atmosphere of the place is different, people seem more into it then before. I guess they don’t have cable TV to distract them you know. He then notices a dog, a very strange looking dog who is trying to steal some ham from a table without a rather large guy with a big knife noticing. Bruce decides to watch... but then a passer by gets in the way and when he goes by...
2007...
He’s back in the present and realises that chewing gum is still stuck to his paw. Another dog in the street tells him ‘Quit day dreaming Melon Head’. Bruce was now freaked out, and started to run across the street, nearly killing him self with all the traffic. He ran quite far, all the way across town and onto the beach. He stops because he’s not that fit you know, must have been the steak one of his owners passed him under the table last night. He lies on his back and begin to breathe in order to calm down. ‘What the hell was that?’ he asked himself, I mean it was strange, like something out of H G Wells or something.
“Excuse me” said a voice from behind him.
Bruce didn’t respond at first, he just wanted to rest a while.
“Hey, you okay?” said the voice again.
“I’m fine... what do you want? Can’t you see I’m resting here.” Replied Bruce.
“Sorry... just wanted to say thanks that’s all.” Said the voice.
There was a pause for a moment; Bruce thought that was a strange thing to say. He didn’t recognise the voice. Why would a stranger say thanks to him?
“Thanks for what?” asked Bruce.
“For not telling on me, I’ve not eaten since yesterday.”
Bruce got up slowly and turned to face who ever it was...
1926...
He couldn’t believe it. It was the strange looking dog from before... Bruce then turned to face the town and saw that the building had changed again! Bruce was know completely freaking out.
“What the... How...” spluttered Bruce.
“Are you okay Bruce? You don’t look too well.” Said the Strange looking dog.
“Okay, jokes over. Very funny, very authentic all the buildings and everything.”
“Err... okay. That’s not exactly the response I was expecting.”
“Tell me what’s going on... who ever you are!”
“Look Bruce, listen to your good friend Balto for a moment, maybe you should go home and get some rest... okay” said Balto.
Bruce closed his eyes hoping that this would just all go away... but then another voice came along.
“Bruce?”
2007...
Bruce opened his eyes to see his friend standing in front of him.
“Bruce, did you hear what I said?”
“... Yeah... Sure thing.”
“Come on I’ll walk you home.”
Bruce walked back into the town with his friend, still confused but decided not to say anything what he had been seeing, after all who would believe him. The town was still getting ready for July 4th by hanging up banners and even old photographs of the past July 4th celebrations.
“Look” said Bruce “I’m sorry about before, I’ve not been myself today. I don’t know maybe I need a long rest, I have been working myself like crazy these past few weeks. You wouldn’t believe the things I’ve seen lately.”
“Look don’t worry about it.” Said a different voice.
Bruce turned to his side...
1926...
Bruce saw Balto yet again, he jolted backwards.
“I know you’ve been under pressure and it was a hard winter. I don’t think any of us are the same after that.”
Bruce was shaking slightly. But before Balto could comment on it a photographer came along.
“Well would you look at that. The hero of the Anti-toxin run himself, Balto. Stay where you are boys you’re just perfect where your standing.” Said the Photographer.
He lifted his camera and took the photograph; the pop of the flash was heard.
“That should come out nicely” said the Photographer who walked away to take another shot.
“I hate it when they do that, it seemed so much simple when I was disliked. Come on, lets get you home Bruce.” Said Balto.
“What?” replied Bruce...
2007...
“I said come on lets go” said his friend, who was now beginning to tire of Bruce’s behaviour.
“This is getting ridiculous! I demand to know right now what is going on! I simply...”
Bruce stopped talking, he was staring right at the old photographs that a man was putting up in his shop window, and he couldn’t believe what he was seeing. He saw himself sitting right next to Balto. The date on the photograph said July 3rd 1926 with the caption ‘The hero of the Serum run ‘Balto’, with fellow Sled dog.
“Bruce? That guy kinda looks like you.” Said Bruce’s Friend.
Bruce just didn’t know what to say...
“So... I didn’t imagine it, I’m not mad... I’ve travelled back, but that’s just stupid how could I have travelled from the future...?”
1926...
“You and that future of yours, I think you should keep that over active imagination of yours quiet, everyone will think you’re Mad.” said Balto, who began to walk away from Bruce.
There was nothing Bruce could do but sit their completely baffled. Was he an insane dog who thinks he’s been to the past? Or an insane dog who thinks he’s from the future?
THE END
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