The Conductor

Chapter Nine- Cicile

Strangely, my grandma let me go with the man.

I don't know why, but she trusted I'd be safe with the Conductor. I guess I trusted him as well.

So before I knew it I was running down the block carrying a suitcase in my hands trying to keep up with the Conductor. We ran until we reached an abandoned alley with tipped-over trash cans and an occasional screech from a cat followed by rustling garbage. Classic New York.

"What are we doing?" I asked.

"You'll see." he replied. "I had to find the right place to do this. Now, stand back."

I took a few steps back away from the Conductor. When he saw I was a safe distance away from him, he pulled the famous Baton out of his jacket pocket and pointed it to a wall. When he seemed focused enough he pressed a button that I hadn't noticed. The magical button opened a vortex-like hole in the stone wall right where he had pointed his baton.

He turned to face me. "Welcome to my time machine." he smiled. "Please, come this way."

The Conductor walked into the vortex. It was like a window, and I could still see him standing there. He peered back at me. "This is FACE." he said with excitement.

"FACE?"

"It's a musical term. When you look at a musical staff, those are all the notes on the spaces. And since we are traveling through time and space..." The Conductor waited for me to get the cheesy joke. I chuckled and shook my head.

"Well, aren't you coming?" he said, smiling.

I stared at the vortex just a bit longer in complete and total shock. What was I doing?!?

"Why the heck not?" I said after a few moments of awkward silence. I hesitantly stepped into the window, the Conductor closing the vortex behind me. I was entering a different world, like something out of a science fiction movie.

The room I entered was big, almost resembling a middle school Band Room, but there was a large desk at the front with many dials and switches, similar to that of a captain's control panel. Behind it was a black leather desk chair that seemed to be comfortable. That must've been where the time machine was controlled. There seemed to be more than one floor, with a stairway at the side of the room leading to a series of doors, the hallway cut off by rails.

"This is incredible." I gaped.

"Why, thank you," the Conductor gushed, "But this is only the beginning of the many wonders of my time machine. Since it isn't an actual building, just a portal, there's any room you could think of in here."

"Any?"

The Conductor nodded.

"How do you drive this thing?"

"Well, it's certainly a lot less complicated than you think. Would you like me to demonstrate?"

I nodded with excitement, a smile slowly spreading across my face. The Conductor gestured for me to follow him. He led me to the main control center and pushed a few buttons. A monitor buzzed and up popped a screen that said, "Enter Location."

"So, where would you like to go?"

"Where can we go?" I asked.

"Anywhere, any time period."

I hesitated at the question. There were so many places I could think of where I wanted to go. But, now that the decision stared at me square in the face I couldn't seem to think of anything.

"Let's see..." I pondered.

We sat in silence, the Conductor giving me a questioning expression almost the whole time.

"Oh, I know! The sixties!"

Where in the sixties?" the Conductor questioned.

"Didn't think about that..."

I sat thinking for a few more minutes.

"Boston...?"

"Alright, 1960's Boston it is!" he agreed.

There were separate fields for location and year. In the year field he put 1962 and in the location field he typed Boston, Massachusetts.

"Now, when the engine starts the whole capsule will shake and you may fall over, so I'd advise you to lay flat on the floor." the Conductor advised. The engine roared to life as I stood there, asking ridiculous questions.

"On the floor?!" I asked. "Why on the floor? Are there no chairs in here or something?!?"

"Of course there's chairs!" he replied, annoyed. "I just haven't installed them yet! I'm a busy man! I have no time for such foolish things!"

"Safety isn't supposed to be foolish!" I replied.

And with a sudden jerk I fell over on the floor and kinda just lay there, wishing I had just listened to the Conductor.

We "flew" through time and space for about 15 minutes until we reached our destination.

When we finally reached the old generation, I was on the floor while the Conductor was walking past me and pointing his baton at me. He suddenly stopped and looked at me.

"I warned you." he teased and smiled. I rolled my eyes and smiled right with him.

I slowly stood up off of the floor and dusted myself off, joining the Conductor as he walked out of the newly opened vortex.

I walked out to place my feet on top of an old skyscraper, a look of amazement on my stunned face. My t-shirt and jeans had changed to a pink sock hop skirt and a black dress shirt, my blonde hair in a bun with a light blue hair bow tied around it.

The view from the sky scraper was incredible. Busy people that were ants from how high up we were crowded the sidewalk, their automobiles and other modes of transportation crowding the busier streets below. The air was clear and fresh, unlike the smelly, black New York air. The buildings reflected the golden drops of sunshine as if they were made of diamond.

"Cicile Shultz?" the Conductor asked.

"Yes?" I replied, stunned.

"Welcome to time travel."