Acme Time Travel Incorporated - Volume 1

Margaret Cullen’s two boys were playing football on the grassy cliff top outside the small town of Walton-on-the-Naze. More precisely, her older son, John, thirteen years old, was sitting on a bench, gazing towards the sea. His younger brother, Robert, now ten years old, was playing football with some friends. Occasionally Robert would bring the ball over to where John was sitting, and slowly roll the ball towards him. John would vaguely watch the ball, but with seemingly little idea of what response was required. Where possible, Robert would roll the ball so that it bounced gently off John’s shoe. As it rolled back towards him, Robert would make encouraging noises and comments.

Mary, a young girl in Robert’s class at school, stood slightly to one side of the football pitch, watching Robert, and touched by the way he treated his younger brother. The other boys at school seemed very young to her, but Robert seemed more caring, more mature.

Seeing her glance over, Robert looked towards her and smiled.