Another place, another time

It was a miserable day in England 1892. Two school boys John and James were home alone at James' nice house and bored.
"So... what do ya wanna do?" James asked
"Well the whether says going outside is not an option. What about a board game?" replied John.
"Nah, takes too long."
"Well lets check out that old toy box your dad keeps saying not to touch."
"Hmmm, I dunno... Well it is pretty miserable out side and what else is there to do? We are home alone and they haven't invented iPads or phones or computers yet have they?"
"Ok then, its settled, lets go open it!"

As James and John climbed down the stairs to the basement, they start discussing what could possibly be in that ancient looking toy box Billie's dad found so important and why he comes down to basement to 'explore' the toy box for hours hours at a time. "He did say that there is much more then what meets the eye with that box." John pointed out.
"And I also over-heard him say that it possesses magical properties or something." James added. "But surly not. I mean it couldn't have, could it?"
"I guess we'll see"

Once they reached the basement, they found something they wouldn't think they'd see. "So this is what your dad meet about 'experimenting'. Nice set up," John exclaimed "but why?"
"The toy box I guess."
All around the basement was desks covered in paper work and microscopes with funny looking materials next to them that were carefully covered in clear plastic. There was even a small walk-in-wardrobe outlined with selves. Glass jars of every size possible filled with some strange object that John nor James know what he hell they were.
There was also a big freezer with a glass door on the wall. Inside was what seemed to be the bodies of multiple little animal things that the boys hadn't ever seen either. "Whoa check it out, a full laboratory! How come I never new about all this?" James called out in an unnecessarily loud voice.
"What do ha recon this stuff is?" John asked to no one as he pointed to the stuff in the wardrobe. James to the liberty of answering. "Dunno. Let's do what came down here to do and get out. I'm grumpy now."
"Wait before you open the toy box, read this it looks important." John exclaimed.
"What" said James in a croaky voice as he walked over to were John was sitting.
"It's a story book!" John said with a smile and showed James the kids story book. It was titled 'Another place, Another time'.
"Bloody hell your stupid" James pointed out and started walking the other way. He would hear John giggling behind him.
"But I want to read it James!!"
"To bad. Come on."
"Pleeeeeeeeeese"
James sighed and turned around to face John and said "Fine but make it quick you idiot!"
"Yaaaaaaaaay" John said with a laugh. He opened up the book and James sat down next to him. He started reading aloud.
The book read:

Once apon a time, there was a young boy named Timmy.

Timmy always wanted to drive trains but he was brought up in a poor family with 12 other siblings so Timmy was barley even noticed.

But Timmy was going to for fill his dream. He was going to drive a train no matter what, he just didn't know how.

Every day he would sit outside watching the motionless train tracks out the back of there house and if he was lucky, a train would come past.

One day he found where his parents kept the small amount of money they made for working in the factory and being a maid.

So, day by day, he took a little bit of the money so his parents didn't notice he was taking it and put it towards building his very own train.

He was drawing the plans for it in the mud everyday so he could remember it but would then smudge it over strait away so no one knew what he was doing.

He occasionally went down to the store to find out how much it would cost to make this awesome train. He needed wood, a bed sheet for a sail, screws to keep it together, and the most expensive part, big metal wheels.

Somehow, after 10 weeks of plaining over and over and steeling money over and over, Timmy finally had enough money to buy the parts for the train. He went down to the store right away and bought everything he needed. All up, it cost him over $150!!

He went down to the old abandoned train station with all the parts he needed and started to build the small wind powered train!

Luckily for him, his parents didn't even notice he was away the whole time he built and after many, many days of hard work and determination, the trains was ready for the tracks.

The big day had come. He get the train on the tracks with a bit of a struggle but he did it. Timmy sat down behind the sail and let it go.

The wind picked it up right away and he was blown down the tracks at a very fast speed.

Wind was going through his hair. Timmy had never felt so free in his life. It was the greatest feeling ever.

He started to pick up speed but he didn't care. He loved it. And Timmy just rode on that train until he had enough but Timmy knew, that would be never!

The story ended.
"Well that was nice. Look it even has a picture. Cool!" said John with joy.
"Yeah, really enjoyed it!" Reapplied James with sarcasm "Now let's go open that toy box."

They walked over to the toy box and opened it. Inside was dirt. Yep you read it correctly. Dirt. Dirt and a few plants in the corners. In the centre were two little teddy bears holding hands.
"Is this it?" Asked John.
"Must be. I don't feel so left out and uninformed now," James said sadly "I'm just a bit disappointed."
There was a sudden voice behind them. A man.
"What are you to doing here???" Greg (the father of James) asked. A hint of anger but mainly embarrassment in his voice.
John and James jumped in shock. "Ah, dad, your home early." James said a little scared.
"No actually I'm not. I told you I'll be home by 3:15 and that's the time. In fact, I'm late!" Greg exclaimed "and didn't I tell you guys not to touch my toy box?!"
"Yeah we are sorry dad. It's just, we were bored and-" James was cut off by his dad.
"No it's ok. I don't need an excuse. I should have locked the door. But there was no harm done. Now you just know my secret."
"What secret?!?" John and James said together.
"This" replied Greg and he indicated to everything around the room.
"What is it?" Asked John.
"It's all fake. There all just toys" Greg answered with major embarrassment in his shaky voice.
"Is it!?! But it looks so real! Said John in amazement.
"Why do you have all this stuff and the basement shaped like a laboratory?" Asked James "And why didn't I know about it?
"Well I have it all like this because when I come down here, it makes me feel young again because son, I'm getting old and I don't like it!" Answered Greg, his voice really shaky now. "And you don't know about it because it was embarrassing for me!"
"Oh! Well it's ok dad!" James said kindly. He want up to his dad and gave him a big hug. Greg hugged him back.
"Yeah Greg, it's all cool. We won't tell anyone, we promise. And besides, this place is pretty cool" John added.
"Thanks guys. Now let's go back upstairs. Dinners ready."