Acme Time Travel Incorporated - Volume 1

Margaret turned to smile at Ian. She and her husband had cycled out, him with a picnic basket tied onto his back pannier; tied on with a piece of brown hairy string. It was a lovely summer’s day, and they were walking down a little country lane, cowslips on either side.

Shafts of sunlight streaming through the gaps in the tree canopy made the path alternately emerald-bright and then shadowed. She could hear the birdsong all around them ... and rustles from the undergrowth and from the hedgerows ... tiny creatures ... pleased to be alive on such a day.

Margaret had chosen her favourite yellow dress. She had needed to repair it several times, and she had done so with great care. She loved this dress. She knew it fitted her well, and she knew from how Ian looked at her that he liked to see her wearing it too.

Ian leaned over to hold her hand, and she felt his pleasant warmth.

He stopped walking, turning to her, saying “Can you hear that, Margaret?”

Margaret listened. The birds were still singing, but somewhere far away, there was a faint knocking sound. Maybe a woodpecker. She didn’t think that she had ever heard one before. Was this the time of year for woodpeckers? She didn’t know.

“Better go answer it,” said Ian.

Margaret looked quizzically at her husband, but he had turned away from her, slowly walking into the distance.

“Don’t go,” said Margaret.

“It’s time, love,” he replied.

Margaret felt tears welling up, and she blinked her eyes closed tightly.

With her eyes closed, she could still hear the knocking.

She opened her eyes, looking across from the sofa where she sat, looking down the hall to where someone was knocking on the front door. Slowly she got up. She smoothed down the wrinkles in her old grey skirt.

John sat opposite her, immobile in a straight-backed wooden dining chair. He seemed to be watching the afternoon sun stroking down along the wall, across the shelf next to the fireplace, on which sat a photograph of his brother, Robert. The photograph had been taken when Robert had first joined the Royal Airforce. He was standing very proudly, in his smart new uniform.

Margaret walked slowly down the hallway towards the front door.

The knocking had stopped.

She unbolted the door, to see Mary walking away down the path. Mary stopped when she heard the door open.

“I’m, I’m sorry Mary ... I think I must have dozed off.”

“Have you been crying, Margaret?” Mary said, looking concerned.

“No ... no. I was having a wonderful dream. I think, maybe ...”

Mary put her arms around Margaret and gave her a big hug.

John turned his head towards them, gazing at them, gazing through them.