Nellie Nova Takes Flight

by Stephenie Peterson

  The machine crashed into the ground and Nellie glanced at the screen to see when and where she was. The screen on the wall of the time machine read, "Paris, France, December 18, 1999." She sighed, thinking Niles would have really enjoyed Paris, when her exceptional mind had an exceptional thought. She'd been looking at the screen the whole time, right up until she hit her head. Maybe, just maybe, he’d fallen out into the last location she'd seen. Inside her mind, the moment replayed like a movie. In addition to her many other gifts, Nellie had a photographic memory. The locations scrolled before her. “New York City, New York, USA on December 20, 1852,” “Cape Town, South Africa, on March 29, 2009,” “Plano, Texas, USA, on July 21, 2012,” “Athens, Greece, on August 28, 1683,” “Silverdale, Washington, USA, on April 12, 2007,” “Tenochtitlan, Mexico, on March 18, 1505,” then THUD, she hit her head on the screen. She hoped and prayed that her theory was right. If it was, Niles would be in the ancient Aztec city of Tenochtitlan.

  Without so much as a glance toward Paris, Nellie typed the location into the time machine's computer. Off it spun, into time and space, spiraling, twisting, and turning, hopefully toward Niles.

  Niles was lying on the ground, curled up in a ball, moaning unconsciously. He was totally unaware of his surroundings, but if he had been in better shape, he would have taken in the beauty of the great ancient city around him. The sun shone brightly upon his battered body, birds sang sweet songs overhead, and a gentle breeze filled the air. Had it not been for the fact that he was badly injured, it would have appeared to be a perfect day.

  After several minutes of rolling around on the ground in pain, he slowly started to become conscious again. He remembered falling, falling so very far. But where had he fallen from? Then he remembered. He had fallen out of Nellie's time machine and he could be anywhere—and any time. How he wished he were at home, safe in his bed.

  Slowly, he forced himself to open his eyes and accept reality. The sunlight was a welcome surprise, as was the beautiful setting. He was sitting on the shore of what appeared to be a large lake. Mountains encircled the lake, and it appeared he was on an island. The island contained a large city full of ornate buildings and many people traveling on dirt roadways and on small boats through canals. He sat up, beginning to panic about what he would do next. This city seemed familiar, but not in an "I've been here before" kind of way. It was familiar in an "I read about this in my history book" kind of way. He wasn't going to be able to find his own way home without Nellie and her time machine.

  A heaviness filled his chest as he rose to his feet. What on earth was he going to do? Where would he go? He looked around, searching for somewhere to hide, thinking it might be best if he stayed out of sight of the many people bustling about the city.

  As he scanned his surroundings, a shadow blocked out the lovely sunlight. Niles looked up and saw something that filled his heart with joy. Above his head was Nellie's time machine, spiraling toward the ground in all its purple glory. It hit the ground about a hundred yards away from where he was standing. He ran for it, but so did a lot of other people. A dozen or so tan-skinned, dark-haired, shirtless men ran toward the time machine, surely wondering what in the world was going on. Niles' heart pumped with fear as he struggled to get to Nellie before them. He pushed through the pain of his injuries and quickened his pace.

  Several of the men were shouting in a language he did not understand. But he didn’t need a translator to understand that they weren’t happy. A terrible sense of dread overtook Niles.

  He pushed ahead of the crowd as Nellie poked her head out of the box and called, "Niles? Oh, Niles please be here!" Quickly, she spotted him. They made eye contact briefly. Nellie saw the crowd running toward them and rushed back to the computer, ready to send the machine anywhere but Tenochtitlan as soon as Niles entered the machine. He burst through the door, and Nellie sent the purple box away.

  As it lifted off, they rushed to each other and hugged.

  "I thought I'd lost you!" she cried.

  "I thought I'd never see you or Mom or Dad or anyone ever again! Thank you for coming back for me."

  "Of course. I don't know what I'd do without you."

  "Well, thanks. But aren’t you hurt? What even happened to you in Tenochtitlan?"

  "Nothing really. I was unconscious for most of it. Wait, I was in Tenochtitlan? Those people were Aztecs? Aw man, that would have been so cool if I wasn't so scared! I knew that city looked familiar! I am all right, Nellie. I’m sore, but I’ll be okay. It's just good to be safe and with you."

  As much as the Nova children could argue, bicker, and drive each other crazy, they loved one another fiercely. They were both relieved to know that they were together again.

  Their relief was short-lived, however, because Nellie quickly noticed a problem with the time machine.

  Gasping, she pointed toward her feet. There was a hole in the bottom of the refrigerator box.

  "Should we go home?" asked Niles.

  "I think we're going to have to!" said Nellie sadly.

  She pulled a roll of duct tape out of the backpack of supplies she had stocked the machine with and attempted to patch the hole.

  "That should hold us for now, but we won't be meeting Amelia Earhart today," Nellie said mournfully.

  She turned to the computer and set the date to “2015” and the location to “home.”

  "You can fix it, Nellie. I'll help. You'll meet Amelia. I'm sure of it," Niles told her.

  The machine's engine whirred, and a component Niles could not identify, mounted above the computer monitor, filled the box with a bright green light. The kids shielded their eyes for a moment and then, stepping carefully over the patched hole, made their way to the doorway of the machine to watch what they hoped was not their last trip through time.

  Nellie and Niles eagerly watched as time scrolled before their eyes. While the undulating, startling unraveling of time was quite a spectacle, the reaction going on inside Nellie’s sparkling gem of a mind was even more interesting. With every new sight, the gears spun faster, the dancers moved more gracefully, and the music became more and more enchanting. It was truly a wonder to be seen, If only one could actually see inside of Nellie's mind.

  The refrigerator-box time machine hit the ground with a jolt. Nellie and Niles were knocked off their feet, but neither was hurt. After a moment, Niles stood up and reached out his hand to help Nellie to her feet. Nellie checked the computer screen to confirm they'd landed in their home on the same day they left. They had, and for this, they were thankful.

  CHAPTER SIX

  Nellie and Niles were barely able to step out of the box before their parents blustered into Nellie's bedroom.

  "What on earth is going on in here?" Fox shouted.

  "Nellie! Niles! Are you okay?" Annie gasped.

  "Daddy," Nellie began, "I did it. My time machine worked."

  Fox's eyes grew wide.

  "Niles came with me. First we went to London in the 1890s, and helped some street kids. The little girl fell, and I helped her clean out her cut.

  But scary men were chasing them and we had to leave them. Then Niles fell out of the time machine . . . but I found him, Daddy, in Tenochtitlan. He's okay. Really."

  Niles nodded, trying to reassure his parents. "It was absolutely amazing, Daddy. You wouldn’t believe how beautiful time travel really is. Time's not a line. It's more of a maze. A maze of wonder and beauty."

  Fox was overcome with emotion. He was immensely proud of his daughter for actually building a time machine. He was also exceptionally angry with his children for leaving not only the house, but the century, without telling him and Annie.

  Annie stood silently for a moment, then rushed over to the kids and threw her arms around them. She was delighted, furious, and relieved. Fox joined them and threw his arms around his family.

  "I am so, so, proud of you," Annie told the kids, "but you are so grounded."

  "But, Mom!" Nellie and Niles chorused.

&n
bsp; "I built a time machine! By myself!" Nellie said.

  "And you left the house without asking!" Annie said.

  The kids groaned, but they knew she was right. They shouldn't have traveled in time without talking to their parents.

  Fox looked at Nellie, his eyes misty with tears of pride. "I cannot say how very impressed I am with you, Nellie. It's nothing short of amazing what you've done. You wanted to do something and you decided that you would not stop until it was done. You accomplished something that no one who tried before you has ever been able to do. And then you handled it all with bravery and quick thinking.”

  Nellie beamed. It wasn't easy to truly impress Fox Nova, and it made Nellie very happy to know she had.

  Fox looked at Niles. "And you, you took care of your sister and acted responsibly. I'm very proud of you too, Son."

  "Thanks, Dad."

  Fox gaped at Nellie's purple time machine. He inspected the gears and levers, peered at the computer monitor, and admired the engine. After a few minutes, a smile spread across his face. It was a smile that I have to say was quite reminiscent of Niles's smile when he was up to no good. It was a smile full of mischief and wonder.

  "When do I get to use it?" he asked.

  Nellie sighed. "Not anytime soon," she replied.

  "Well, why not?" he asked.

  "It's broken. The box is ripping. It needs a whole new frame. I should have known better than to use a cardboard box to travel through time. What was I thinking?!"

  Nellie had a tendency to be too hard on herself. It's hard to live in a family full of geniuses. What Nellie didn't understand—what most kids with loving parents don't get—is that her parents did not expect anything out of her other than effort and kindness. Of course they enjoyed her achievements, but they would not have loved her even one percent less if she’d been any less exceptional.

  "Well," Fox said, wrapping his arm around his daughter. "I guess we'll have to fix it."

  Nellie beamed. A shiver of excitement shot down her spine. Maybe she'd get to meet Amelia Earhart after all.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  For a few hours the following day, Nellie locked herself in her room again, trying to fix the time machine by herself. Niles did not leave her in peace for long. He'd been part of her time travel adventure, and he was not going to be left out of the repair and redesign.

  Together, they drew up a blueprint of the new and improved time machine. It took several attempts and lots of revision, but Nellie and Niles made a good team and, in spite of the mess they made while working, they accomplished a lot.

  By lunchtime that day, they'd worked together to create a solid plan for the new machine. The only problem was they didn't have everything they needed to make it happen. They found, however, that when they asked their father, who was working on some research in his home office,he was more than willing to take them to the hardware store for supplies. In fact, Fox was almost giddy as they picked up lumber.

  When they got home from the hardware store, Nellie and Niles realized that their duo had become a trio. From the moment he'd been included, Fox was hooked on the project. They all worked hard to build a new frame for the machine. It would be solid wood with old tires attached to the bottom to act as shocks. Hopefully, this would make future impacts less bumpy.

  Nellie busied herself with painting the frame purple while the guys took a snack break. When they got back, Fox and Niles were wearing identical impish grins.

  "What's up, guys?" Nellie asked.

  "Niles had the most amazing idea."

  "What's that?" asked Nellie.

  "I think we should build an invisibility shield of sorts,” Niles blurted. “We can attach mirrors to the exterior, paint the backs purple,but when you turn on the shield, they'll flip over, so that the machine blends with its surroundings. Something mirrored is less likely to attract attention while we're out exploring."

  "That's brilliant, Niles!" Nellie was truly impressed.

  "Thanks, Nellie."

  After another run to the store for mirrors and the electronics required to make them flip, Nellie, Fox, and Niles got busy painting them, wiring them, and attaching them to the time machine. When Annie got home from work, she found the three of them in Nellie's room, talking, laughing,and working together.

  "Hey," she said, poking her head into the bedroom. "Is there room for one more helper in here?"

  "Of course, Mom!" Nellie said.

  Within the hour the shield was built.

  "So is it ready then?" Fox asked excitedly.

  "Well, I'd like to make some changes to the computer programming."

  Fox sighed. His desire to try out the time machine was stronger than that of a child eager to open the gifts under the tree on Christmas morning.

  "Give me a day or two, Dad." Nellie laughed.

  "Okay. But why don't you take a break? Go play outside with your brother."

  Nellie sighed, but she agreed. The siblings decided to take a walk through the neighborhood. When they got outside, they noticed three men in suits sitting in a car across the street. Nellie nudged Niles and asked what he thought of them. Before he could answer, the men drove away quickly.

  "They were probably just lost,Nellie." Niles said.

  But Nellie was not so sure. A sorrowful song played inside her phenomenal mind and one of the giant books slammed shut. Something was not right.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  Nellie stayed up late that night, working hard on her new programming. She wanted to surprise her family with her changes. At about 2:00 a.m., she was finished. She was so excited. She would be able to travel in time again. It had only been a little over a day, and she already missed it. She was even more excited because she'd come up with a plan for where to take her parents on their first trip through time.

  Even though she'd been up much too late for a nine-year-old, that morning she was up before the rest of the family. She went into the kitchen and made them all breakfast. There's nothing like the smell of bacon, eggs, and coffee to draw people out of bed.

  Nellie's plan worked, and soon her family was gathered around the table enjoying the tasty meal she'd made for them. Annie took a sip of coffee and asked Nellie what was up. She knew that her daughter, although sweet, was not usually the kind of person to get up early and make breakfast.

  "We're going back in time today." Nellie smiled.

  "I thought you needed a few days?" Fox said excitedly.

  "I stayed up late and finished it." Nellie told him.

  "All right!" said Niles.

  "Where are we going?" Fox asked, nearly squeaking with anticipation as he bounced to his feet. He briefly turned back to his plate to snatch up a piece of bacon for the trip.

  "Or when?" Annie asked nervously.

  "I'm not telling you. It's a surprise. Don't worry though, I guarantee you will like it." Nellie told them.

  Fox and Annie exchanged glances the way parents do when they are trying to have a discussion in front of their kids without speaking. Annie nodded, and Fox said, "Okay then, let's go!"

  The family made a beeline for Nellie's room. The moment they entered the room, Fox leaped into the time machine, which now had a working door and eye-level windows on three sides. Annie and Niles followed, and Nellie entered last. She was smiling.

  "Good morning, Purple Flyer," she called out in a clear, cheerful voice.

  "Good morning, Nellie Nova. Where would you like to go today?" a voice answered from the computer terminal.

  Annie gasped and then giggled.

  "I'd like to go to the First Church of God on Fremont Street in Harborville, Oregon. On September third, 2003."

  "Our wedding?" Annie asked with a smile.

  "I figured this is better than watching your wedding video." Nellie smiled back.

  "I detect voices that are not Nellie Nova’s. Would you like to add new commanders before liftoff?" the computer asked in a choppy, electronic-sounding voice.

  "Yes, please, Purple Flyer
."

  After a few minutes, all the Novas were registered in the computer's system so that they could command it with their voices. One of Nellie's programming changes included this security measure. That way, no one could move her ship without her approving them.

  "Are you ready to go?" asked the computer.

  "Yes, Purple Flyer," Nellie chirped.

  A green light filled the machine. The engine whirred and the time machine began to spin around and around. Fox whooped. Annie giggled. The machine lifted off.

  "Now, you watch," Nellie told them. All the Novas fell silent as they watched time unfold before their eyes.

  "You were right," Annie told Nellie after a minute or so. "It's not a line. It's a maze. A splendid, confusing, wonderful maze."

  As they watched out the window, the ground became visible underneath them and then Nellie knew they'd soon come to a stop. "Brace yourself," she called out to her family.

  The impact, while not smooth, was much less dramatic than before. The Nova family stood up and looked out the window.

  "Welcome to Harborville, Oregon, United States of America. The year is 2003. The local language is English. Do you require more information on the area?" asked the computer.

  Niles looked at Nellie and gave her a thumbs-up.

  "No thank you, Purple Flyer. We've got this! Please enter invisibility mode," Nellie answered.

  "That is going to be so useful!" Niles told Nellie.

  Panels turned over on all exterior surfaces of the machine, covering even the windows with mirrors. Fox opened the door, ready to see what it looked like from the outside.

  "Wait!" Nellie told him.

  "You can't go in there looking like that!"

  In their excitement, all the Novas, other than Nellie, had climbed into the time machine in their pajamas.

  "Oh no," said Annie with a look of panic on her face.