Acme Time Travel Incorporated - Volume 2

Walton-on-the-Naze

Vicky had teleported them to a quiet spot on the cliff-tops outside Walton-on-the-Naze. Gabriel was wearing cargo pants, a blue sweat-shirt and sneakers. Ginny had on a pair of tight-fitting blue jeans, a white T-shirt, a green fluffy jacket and hiking boots. Vicky had suggested that their apparel wouldn’t be considered out of place for the time and space.

“So, here we are,” Gabriel said. “It’s like we’ve never been away.”

“John will be about 51 years old,” Ginny said. “We’re looking for a middle-aged man.”

“He was pretty sprightly when I last saw him,” said Gabriel, “and he was twice that age then.”

“I’ll direct you to his house,” Vicky said.

A thin yellow line appeared momentarily on the road in front of them.

“Off we go then,” Gabriel said.

. . . . . . . .

John’s house looked quite sweet. A small terraced cottage, with a small garden in the front.

They walked up the garden path and knocked on the door.

A middle-aged woman answered the door. She was slim, maybe five feet four inches tall, wearing a cream-coloured dress detailed with deep-red poppies.

The woman smiled at them. “Can I help you?” she said.

“We were looking for John,” Gabriel said.

The woman turned her head back into the house.

“John ... there’s someone here to see you,” she called.

“Coming ...,” a man’s voice in the distance.

“Won’t you please come in,” the woman said. “I’m Mary, John’s wife.”

She closed the door behind them, then gestured them into a room on the right.

They walked in. It was a small but very cosy living room.

“I’m Gabriel, and this is Ginny,” said Gabriel.

“Pleased to meet you,” Mary said. “John should be here in two ticks. He was just in the garden doing ... oh ... here he is.”

A middle-aged man came into the living room but was immediately ushered out again by Mary. They could see him taking his muddy shoes off in the hallway.

He came back in again.

He pointed to his feet on which could be seen a pair of tartan socks.

He grinned across at them, as if apologising for his attire.

Gabriel grinned at him, holding his hands out in front of him, palms upwards. A sense of comradely understanding.

“They’re called Gabriel and Ginny,” came a voice from the back of the house. “And they’re looking for you.”

“And how can I ...?” John said.

“I’m just putting the kettle on,” came Mary’s voice again.

John smiled, then sat down. He gestured for them to sit down as well.

Ginny sat down.

Gabriel remained standing.