"What'll we do, Kate? What if we're stuck in history?" "Well, at least we won't be bored. One thing we've
learned is that our state history is pretty exciting stuff. But, if given a choice, I think I'd rather be home in my own bed, rather than spending the night on a battleship."
Dark was threatening and they were tired. They
decided to look for a place to sleep. The kids found a niche on the deck that was relatively quiet and out of the way and curled up together. Before long, they were both fast asleep.
* * * * *
Sam opened his eyes.
It was morning and he was in his own bed. His mother stuck her head in his door.
"Come on, sleepyhead. You're going to be late for school. Hurry up."
Sam jumped out of bed, threw on his favorite pair of jeans and a
shirt, then sat down to breakfast.
"Time to go, honey." His mom told him and she handed him his book bag for the walk to school. Kate was already waiting for him on her porch.
"Sorry I'm late. I, uh, had a weird
dream last night. Guess I overslept," Sam told her and they started down the street.
"You had a weird dream? Me, too. Boy, was it strange!"
"Mine was, too. If I told you about it, you'd probably freak," Sam said.
"Hey, look, there's Mr. Dreamer. He's already out working in his garden. Hi, Mr. Dreamer!" Sam waved. Kate joined in.
"Gee, he doesn't look tired at all," Kate said. Sam stopped and looked at her.
"Why would he look tired?" he asked.
"Uh – no reason," Kate said.
"How are you two today?" Mr. Dreamer asked.
"Just fine. We're starting North Carolina history. I can hardly wait!" Kate said.
"Me, too. I can't wait until we get to the part where the Patriots take the bridge apart and put grease on it at Moore's Creek," Sam said.
"Nah – I liked it better when the Wright brothers were learning how to fly,"
she answered. Then she stopped and they stared at one another.
"No – that's impossible…"
"Couldn't be…"
They looked at Mr. Dreamer, but he just smiled serenely and checked his watch.
"My
goodness, children, look at the time! You'd better hurry along or you'll be late for school," he said.
"Yeah, well, guess we'd better get going," Kate said as the two started walking toward school.
"Sam, you don't think…"
"Of course I don't. It didn't happen. It couldn't happen. People can't go back in time. That's preposterous!" Sam said. Suddenly Kate stopped him.
"If it's so preposterous, then where
did you get this?" she asked as she reached down and pulled a piece of yarn from under his shirt. On the end of the yarn was a very old-fashioned door key. Sam looked at it and gulped, then looked back at Mr. Dreamer.
But
he was no longer there. Instead, Mr. Dreamer was back in his garage, shutting the old-fashioned red door that someone had left open the last time they passed through it.
