by A. E. Albert
Dickens shook his head. “No one knows where in the time stream I hid you, Billy”
“Um, remember? The rings,” Billy retorted.
“Billy,” Herald said in exasperation, “we were looking for significant information, not what the date was on a calendar or newspaper. Anyway, no one thought you were going to be returning to your time.”
Billy turned to his father. “Dad, it doesn’t matter, I can’t leave you now, anyway. Not even, Herald. You guys just blew up a top secret lab and all of the Sphere data. The Circle is going to send an army down here looking for you.”
“Exactly, Shank won’t dare hurt us. Herald and I are the only ones with enough knowledge needed to rebuild the Device. And we are certainly not going to do it for him.”
“Dad, they’ll use something against you to make you cooperate!”
“Billy, the only thing they could use to make me do anything, is you. That’s why you need to leave.”
Billy locked eyes with his father and with deadly determination; he said in a low voice, “No, we escape here. Or fight back if we have to.”
“Thank you, Billy, you’re a brave boy. But are you willing to do that with Jeanie? And only you can take her home.”
“What about Dickens, he can take her?” As soon as the words were out of his mouth, he stared at his father.
“Yes, I know who he is. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure it out,” his father said with a small smile.
“Regardless, young man, I’m not leaving here without you. We all go, or none of us do,” the old man stated with a tone of finality.
“And I agree,” added Preston.
Billy let out a frustrated growl. As he looked from Dickens to his father, he knew by their serious expressions that there was no way he could convince them to let him stay. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Jeanie come to stand beside him. He suddenly remembered what his main goal had been since leaving Pine St; getting Jeanie home safe.
“Remember, Billy, you have the most important job, keeping the Device safe,” she said softly.
Billy felt torn. He knew what he needed to do, but he still felt compelled to do what he felt he should do. “But how can I go home knowing that you’re both in danger and by events I’ve set into motion!” he said with frustration, as he looked back and forth between Preston and Herald.
To Billy’s surprise, his father smiled. “By going home and knowing that you did the right thing. My part to play from here on out is just a small consequence of your interference. Billy, I’m glad things have happened as they have. All I’ve ever wanted to do is help this world. Now I get the chance to, but for real this time.”
“Faith, Billy.” Billy turned his head to meet Dickens warm gaze. “Isn’t that what has made this whole journey possible, after all? It has helped us before and it will do so again. You have achieved what you set out to do, now let others play their roles in this great adventure.” Dickens put his hand on Billy’s shoulder and said, “It is time.”
Billy looked over at Jeanie, who smiled and nodded her head. “Besides, I have a feeling our part isn’t done yet, but it will be if you don’t leave with the Device.” she added.
Billy looked at each of the people standing before him. Everyone had risked so much. They were right, of course. If he didn’t protect the Device, then it would all have been for nothing.
That old fear suddenly began to form in Billy’s chest. The fear of the unknown. His mind raced with thoughts of his father and Herald and what may happen to them; fear of the General and Inner Circle and their plans for mankind. Fear of everything he had ever known and loved disappearing.
A feeling suddenly came over Billy. It was a feeling of warmth and certainty, which spread through his chest. It was something that can only come from doing what you know is right and the belief that that is enough against all odds.
Hope.
A hope for the future. Not just for himself anymore, but for everyone. Billy knew he had to return to his own time; without him, that future wouldn’t exist.
Billy looked up at his father, his eyes shining as he whispered, “Ok, Dad,” and embraced him in a tight hug. As he held his father, tears threatened to fall, but he was secure in the knowledge that he would see him again. “I’ll miss you, Dad. But just so you know, I will be back.”
His father returned the gesture and in a gruff voice replied, “I know. I’ll be waiting for you.”
Billy turned to Herald and held out his hand. “Thanks, Herald. Keep my dad safe.”
Herald nodded his head. “I will,” he said, as he shook his hand.
After saying their goodbyes, Billy, Jeanie and Dickens stood in the underwater lab for the last time. Billy decided that he was not going to worry about the approaching events to come. He would just have to let the future reveal itself and deal with it as it happens. Besides, he had this funny little feeling that if he accepted this path, things were going to work out in the end.
The time travelers stood side by side as they embarked on their final journey, ready to end the chapter of this story. Dickens reached in his pocket and took out the rectangular device it contained. As he looked from Billy to Jeanie, a smile spread across his face. With that twinkle in his eye, Dickens pressed the button.
Chapter 43
The laboratory vanished. After a short trip within the Sphere, they were suddenly standing in the park on Pine St.
The park no longer had gouges in the grass or gaping holes. It was as perfect as it was when he climbed down the tree to meet Jeanie that fateful night. Billy smiled, breathing in, deep, the sweet balmy air of New Orleans. Everything was the same, but yet, somehow different.
He turned to look solemnly at his friends. When his eyes met Dickens, he held out his hand.
The old man smiled as he shook it and he began to laugh. “You know, son, you had me a little worried there.”
“What do you mean? I thought it was meant to be and all that,” Billy said with laughter in his voice.
“Oh no, you could have made any choice you wanted. Mind you, I happen to know what a smart lad I was,” he said giving Billy a wink.
Billy gazed thoughtfully at the old man, his eyes full of understanding. “Thanks, Dickens. I just want you to know that I get it. I get why you did what you did.”
Dickens just smiled down at the young man who was quite different from the boy he met in the French Quarter. He gave Billy a slight nod and said, “You had better start hitting the history books, if you know what I mean.” He let out a loud belly laugh at Billy’s tortured groan. “And start learning how to control that horrible temper of yours, now that you’ve found it!” he said, raising his eyebrows just a little.
“Ya, I guess I do,” replied Billy sheepishly, as he looked down at the ground.
Billy felt Jeanie brush up against his shoulder. He looked into her soft eyes and gently smiling face. “I don’t think you have too much to worry about, Billy. You do grow up to be him, after all,” she whispered. Dickens gave a slight nod in thanks.
That’s right, Billy thought. I guess I eventually get it right.
“And remember the responsibility you have taken on,” Dickens reminded him, as his eyes roamed to the bulge in Billy’s coat.
Instinctively, Billy’s hand reached into his pocket to touch the rectangular Device it held. “I will,” he said, suddenly realizing how Dickens had a Device in the first place.
“Dickens, I’m going to miss you!” cried Jeanie, throwing herself into his arms.
“I’ll miss you too, my dear,” he said affectionately, his eyes growing a little misty.
Dickens looked fondly at both children standing before him. “Well, children, it’s time for me to go.”
“Will we ever see you again?” Jeanie asked.
“I can’t say, my dear. But I will say this; your adventures are far from over.” The old man smiled as he looked at Billy and Jeanie. He held out the Device, ready to push the button.
“Dic
kens, wait! I need to know just one more thing. Why did you ever give yourself a name like ‘Dickens’? I mean really!” Billy laughed, as he rolled his eyes.
Dickens smiled his mysterious smile and gazed at him with that gleam in his bright blue eyes. “Well, Mr. Townsend, I borrowed it from a very intelligent chap by the name of Charles Dickens, who was an interesting man, really. He wrote about ordinary people, who find themselves in extraordinary circumstances, doing extraordinary things. And well, unfortunately for you, boy, you develop a very odd sense of humor in your old age.”
The old man gave a quick wink and he was gone.
Billy and Jeanie stared for a long minute at the empty spot where Dickens had just been standing.
Of course, Jeanie broke the silence. “Well, I guess I should get going home,” she stammered a little nervously, looking at Billy from the corner of her eyes.
Billy shoved his hands in his pockets. “Ya, me too.”
Both just stood there not saying anything. Billy felt a blush creep into his cheeks, but he wasn’t letting Jeanie leave without saying what he needed to say. He forced himself to look into her blue eyes and he said, “Thanks, Jeanie, for everything.”
She returned his gaze and smiled. “Ya, me too. So, I guess I’ll see you at school tomorrow,” she said, as she gave him a little wave.
Jeanie started to turn around, only to stop in her tracks. She then whipped around and gave Billy a quick kiss on the cheek. His slight blush was now a raging inferno covering his entire face.
However, Jeanie now carried a slight blush of her own as she began to slowly walk away. “Don’t get any ideas, Townsend! My dad said I can’t date until I’m fifteen and well, you know, maybe in a couple of years.” She flashed him that cheeky grin, turned around and ran towards home.
Billy couldn’t help but smile the entire walk home. As he stood at the end of the walkway, leading to the house on Pine St, Billy found himself glad to be back. He jumped up into the tree and climbed back through his bedroom window. It was as though he’d never left.
He could hear Sandy reading Toby a bedtime story, Robby bouncing his ball against the wall and could only imagine what Aaron was concocting in his room.
Billy lay on his bed, feeling safe and warm. He stared up at the ceiling, gazing at those familiar cracks in the plaster above his bed. No one’s life is perfect, you just do the best you can with what you’ve got.
Although Billy loved his father, he now knew that he was more than just the sum of his parts. He was the person he was because of every person he had known and had been in his life. He may not have known all of them for long, but they gave and taught him what he needed to know for that time. A family is where there are people who care about you. Of course, you have to let them.
Billy was going to need that knowledge where he was going. The future was still uncertain and his father was going to need his help. He knew that his travels in the Time Sphere were just beginning.
He closed his eyes, feeling secure in the knowledge that his life may turn out a little on the bizarre side, but otherwise all right. And maybe the unknown isn’t really that scary, but an adventure!
As Billy drifted off to a much needed sleep, he once again wondered what his place in this life was? What was his role to play in the little house on Pine St.?
Everything had changed.
Toby was the baby, Aaron the brainiac and Robbie the tough guy. Who was he?
Billy folded his arms behind his head and smiled into the darkness.
He was Billy Townsend: Time Traveler.
Dear Reader
Thank you for reading my book. I hope you have enjoyed he adventure a much as I have. If you did like the book, please take a moment to leave me a review at your favorite retailer.
Acknowledgements
First and foremost, I would like to thank God, who pushed me to write even when I didn’t want to. Who gave me the strength to carry on when I didn’t think I could do it. Thank you.
I want to also thank: my mother Anna, my nephew Zachary, my aunt Patsy and my friends Karen, Gina and Cesar whose criticisms and help were invaluable and necessary throughout my writing journey. I especially want to thank my sister, Melanie, whom I consider my creative editor. Of course, my father Ed, my brother James, Chris and everyone else who was my sounding board and gave me feedback.
Next, I would like to thank all of the children and adults I worked with in the social services field throughout the years. I think you know who you are!
And thank you reader! I hope you enjoyed the ride as much as I have.
If you have any comments or questions, I can be reached at:
[email protected]
aealbert.blogspot.com
https://www.facebook.com/aealbertbooks
https://twitter.com/aealbert23
http://about.me/a.e.albert
Please, stay tuned for the continuing adventure of Billy and The Time Sphere.
About the Author
A.E. Albert lives in Ontario, Canada. She has worked as a Child & Youth Worker for many years. She is also an avid traveler and lover of books.
