A Dream From The Past
Birthdays and Picnics

It happened again last night, that same dream. This time I was pushed out of the plane. Now I know what you’re thinking. When I get back, I should see a shrink or something. I may be nuts, but I’m not about to go to a shrink for it. Not yet anyway. The moment I step into a psychiatrist office is the very same moment I get pulled out of the rotation and most likely placed on a permanent vacation.

Although Josh already had the knack for making friends easily, he was also trained on the customs of the various times. Which for Josh really meant nothing more than proper clothing attire for the occasion and perhaps a proper introduction, as for the rest, “Customs smushtoms,” Josh would say, “Get them talking about themselves and be genuinely interested in what they are saying. Within a few minutes they will become your best friend for life. It works every time.” This was Josh’s motto. In fact this uncanny ability made Josh the first Stepper to successfully bring back a subject, and he remains the most successful one of all time. His motto didn’t just make friends though; it had a very impressive knack of quickly leading people to trust him implicitly. With his charm, passive demeanor and his motto for his tools he had managed to get himself invited to Albert’s (yes, they were on a first name basis by now) private birthday party.

It was March 14, 1955. “I would like to propose a toast to the man of the hour, and of the year. Whose life’s work has changed history and will forever redirect science in a new and prosperous direction, and whose calls for peace should earn him the Nobel Peace Prize. To Prof. Albert Einstein.” Josh finished to a small applause and a few “here here’s”. As the birthday party was wrapping up, Josh could tell that Albert was getting tired. Albert sheepishly smiled and said, “Thank you, Josh,” then tried unsuccessfully to squelch a yawn. Taking the queue Josh added, “It looks like our guest of honor has had all the fun he can take for one evening, so I suppose we’d better clean up and scuttle on out of here.” With that, all the guests began to straighten up and take down the party streamers and balloons. Josh took up Albert’s plate, and his glass of water. Albert had decided to have another piece of cake—against his doctor’s orders even though the doctor had also been present at the party. Albert was going to have some ice cream too, but that would have been just a little too much for his stomach to handle, and was further dissuaded by the grimace he got from his doctor when someone offered it. Now with the food safely put away or packed up to be taken home by the guests, and the garbage all taken out, the guests began to file out more rapidly. It was now just Josh and Francine.

“I will be just a minute Francine; you wait out in the car.”

“Ok,” she said, “Good night, Mr. Einstein, happy birthday.”

She shook his hand, and went out the door. Before she closed the door, she shot a quick glance back at Josh and smiled.

“Is there anymore I can do for you, Albert?” Josh said, in a soothing tone clearly showing his deep affection for Albert.

“Yes there is, could you help me get into my night clothes? I’m having a little difficulty these days…” Albert’s voice was trailing off as his eyes drooped heavily.

“Sure thing, Albert.”

Normally Albert’s stepdaughter would be there to help, but she had to take home a few guests that night, and wouldn’t be back for an hour or two. Josh assisted Albert to his room and helped him get to bed.

“Good night, Uncle! I love you.” Josh said, quietly indulging himself for a moment, realizing that Albert was already asleep and couldn’t hear him.

As he got in the car, which he had borrowed that night for his date; Francine beamed another smile his way.

“You are a really sweet guy. You say you have only known that man for three days and yet you treat him like your father.”

“Well actually he has only known me for three days; I have known him all my life.” Josh corrected, but this still didn’t wipe the grin off Francine’s face.

Even though Josh’s mission was to convince Albert Einstein to come back with him to Josh’s time, he still had an obligation to keep the timeline for Max. This was to be the night Max went on his first date with Francine Post, John Post’s sister. She was to become Max’s future wife. Max and John were to become good friends after that day of Albert’s last lecture, but actually they were supposed meet in the class that followed Albert’s lecture. Still they met, the friendship began and the timeline was only altered in a minor way. The following day after the lecture was a Saturday and John was to bring Max home for lunch this was when Max was to meet John’s sister. Max was instantly smitten by Francine, and once Josh actually met her he could see how Max could fall head over heels for this girl. Francine stood 5’3”, slender body with long flowing blonde hair, and those penetrating blue eyes seemed to reach right in and snatch your heart. Josh was sure she was wearing clothes too, but he just couldn’t get past those eyes. However, there was more to her than her ravishing beauty. She was incredibly brilliant; at just seventeen she was already in her freshman year at college, studying business management in order to take over her parents’ store. John was studying to be an astronomer, much to the dismay of his parents. They had hoped John would be taking over the family business. It was only after Francine showed interest in the idea of taking over the business that John’s parents forgave him and began to encourage him in his career choice. It was clear then to Josh why John appeared to be a bit of a rebel. Max—too—was studying business management and was in his third year. A fact that did not—at all—go unnoticed by John’s parents, who were a great deal excited, and were all too willing to loan him a car to take their daughter on a date. This was almost un-heard of in this time, but again Josh was a very good people person.

Taking Francine to a birthday party for Albert Einstein wasn’t actually in the timeline either. They were supposed to go out for dinner and a movie. In fact this didn’t even require a car, but Josh again had to take some liberties with the timeline to meet his mission objective, besides, there was food at Albert’s party, and they still might be able to catch a movie.

“Are you cold?” Josh asked seeing a shiver run across Francine.

“A little,” she said, and Josh quickly took off his suit coat and handed it to her.

“I’m so sorry; I hadn’t realized it had gotten chilly out here.” Josh said with a look of genuine concern that made Francine feel better already.

“I’m ok, really! Thanks!” said Francine, as she put on his coat.

“Well it’s a little late, but we could still go to the movies if you like. But with school tomorrow, I can...”

“Sure we can still go; I only have afternoon classes tomorrow.” Francine cut in.

Josh was going to finish with, “I can understand if you don’t want to.” Max actually had classes all day tomorrow and a quiz to study for, well, Josh did anyway. Business management was not Josh’s favorite subject, although it wasn’t too different from managing scientists on a project. Still it was challenging keeping up with the schedule of a third year student and he had to jump into it with only a little bit of preparation. He wondered if Max had this problem, or if he just wasn’t thinking about school when he asked Francine out on a date on a Monday night. Maybe, had the real Max’s mind been here, he wouldn’t have given Tuesday a second thought, with a beautiful girl like Francine to go out with. Even Josh was smitten, mostly because she reminded him so much of his own wife Marina. This thought relaxed Josh some, for it felt a bit more comfortable this way—dating a pretty girl that reminded him of his bride waiting for him back home. Never the less, he still would much rather be studying. Maybe Max had asked Francine to help him study for the quiz on one of his class breaks, since she had no morning classes. History isn’t too specific on how the two of them got on in the beginning. Wait! That’s it! He thought. She could help him study. This would give him the extra help to get through these classes.

“Ok,” he said finally, “but tomorrow you’re going to have to help me study for a quiz.”

“OK!” She said, and the grin on her face got even bigger.

The spring air was still cool in the mornings of April, but by the afternoon it would warm up just enough to make it irresistible for the students on campus to go outdoors. On their lunch breaks, Josh (a.k.a. Max) and Francine would go out on the school lawn under a tree and have a picnic while studying for midterms.

“Honestly Max! How could you have possibly made it through nearly three years of Business Management, without knowing that? I learned that in my first class.”

“You’re so beautiful! You’re distracting me!” Josh lied, and tried to feign the look of innocence.

“You’ve used that excuse before, Max. I’m not buying it.” Francine said shooting him her accusing look, “Have you cheated your whole way through college?”

“Hey! That was low,” Josh replied, and then thinking quickly he added, “Actually I am a bit distracted. Have you seen how bad Albert has been looking lately? I don’t think he’s going to be with us much longer.”

Of course Josh already knew this, but it was meant as a deflection; it would be one week from today, Albert’s last day. His plan worked. Francine’s expression instantly changed from an accusing scowl to a look of deep concern. The two of them had been spending a lot of time with Albert. Josh had wisely used most of the time he had to build his budding romance with Francine, to cozy up to Albert as well. She too, had grown to share Josh’s affection for the old man.

“Do you really think so? I mean, I think I have noticed too; I just haven’t wanted to admit it.” Francine started, with a slight glint of a tear in her eye, “He’s such a sweet old man.”

“I know, I think I’m going to go visit him after my last class this afternoon.” Josh said, working on a plan to meet him alone this time.

Francine’s face lit up, “What time? Can I come with you?”

“Maybe, my last class ends at three o’clock. I think I will go see him then,” said Josh, realizing what was coming next.

“I have accounting at three, can you wait ’til after five?”

“No can do, John and I have the racket ball court scheduled for five, wanna come and watch?” Josh said with a cheesy grin—again he knew what was coming.

“How can you two be scheduling a game of racket ball with midterms coming up?” Her look of concern was now gone, she replaced it with a chagrin.

“It was John’s idea, besides exercise helps me relax and calm my nerves before the exams begin.”

At least this part was actually true, for Josh had been extremely nervous about taking Max’s midterms. It hadn’t dawned on him when taking on this mission that Albert’s death was actually going to take place the week after midterm exams. He had hoped that he might be able to get out of it and put Max back in the timeline. Max of course would retain all knowledge of the events before, during, and after the time jump and would probably have had no difficulty taking those tests, but Josh, without the prior two and a half years of classes to draw knowledge from, might have a hard time with it. Math, English and French weren’t much of a problem and Accounting was nothing more than structured math, but Economics was like an alien world to Josh. Then there was Advanced Business Management. This class scared Josh the most. How could he possibly memorize all those terms from the whole semester, and possibly from previous years, and write essays on each. Indeed, he was looking forward to the racket ball match.

Francine took the last bite of her sandwich and finished her lemonade, “Maybe I will come and watch, but tell me how your visit goes with Albert.” She stood and grabbed the basket and began to put the garbage in it. Josh swallowed his last few bites whole and started to get up to help her with the blanket, but then gasped and sat back down.

“Could I have the last of that lemonade?” Josh croaked as some of the sandwich caught in his throat.

“Sure,” she said and reached into the basket and pulled out the thermos.

It was a little sticky from the apple cores and mayonnaise, but this didn’t matter right then. Josh grabbed it and took big gulps in the hopes of washing down the lodged food. It worked.

In that moment, he marveled at the fact that the lemonade was still cold, and that they actually had the technology to keep drinks cold in this time. In his time, food wasn’t considered a necessity; no one actually needed to eat to stay alive. Nutrients could be delivered directly to their body and their stomachs would be given very easily digestible paste to work on so that the feeling of hunger wasn’t there and no one had to suffer from indigestion. If anyone did eat it was for very special events, like holidays and vacations or perhaps a visit from a relative or a dignitary. However, having a drink was a little different, but not for the nutritional value or for the water content, instead it was practiced more for the social value. For that reason and the lack of the need to eat, drinking anything had become a very important and crucial social event. Drinks were elaborate, and extremely varied from the non-alcoholic to the alcoholic variety; there were literally millions of different drinks and equally millions of ways to drink them. Containers to hold the drinks were elaborate too—able to keep the drink at whatever temperature one desired, including varying the temperature from sip to sip. Some drinks were even designed to give you a different taste experience—including varying flavors—at different temperatures.

After a couple more swigs, Josh was able to choke down the sandwich. Even though he had experience eating, occasionally he would forget to chew. He handed her back the empty thermos, and wiped his hands on the napkin she surreptitiously slipped into his loose fingers. Together they folded the blanket and gathered their books. She put everything back in the basket and then gave him that all too familiar glance that said, “I wish we didn’t have to part.” They kissed and then grabbed their stuff to go.

“So I will see you at the match at five?” Josh said.

As she let the question linger there in the air, Josh studied her face for any sign of acceptance, but she gave no indication of what she was thinking. Actually, she didn’t really want to go and watch two sweaty boys beat the garbage out of each other. To her, the whole thing seemed so barbaric, but then again, it might be cute to watch Max run around in shorts and a t-shirt.

“Ok, I will be there,” she grinned.