Someday We'll Be Together

Chapter 4- Pop Culture Shock

"Okay, there can only be one explanation for this. We are currently in the past," Lena said, looking anxiously at Tyler and Max walking beside her.
"Or we could have gone to the future," Tyler said.
"No. The woman's skeleton is missing. That means we've gone to a time when she's still alive. And if we had gone to the future, I don't think this forest would be here," Lena reasoned.
"Past, future? Just chillax. These things only happen in science fiction movies," Max said mockingly.
"How do you explain the disappearance of the skeleton?" Lena asked seriously.
"What episode of Backyard Science was it, Tyler? How did they explain things disappearing out of nowhere? I must have missed that one," Max said with a fake smile.
"I'm afraid there wasn't such an episode," Tyler said. Sensing the seriousness of the situation, Lena's concern spread to him as well. Max spoke confidently:
"Come on, guys. I bet Tyler's car and my bike are still at the entrance of the forest. You'll see."
As Max said this, they had reached the entrance of the forest. Neither the sign that read "Lincoln Forest" nor Tyler's car and Max's bike were anywhere to be seen.
"Well, this isn't funny at all," Max said, bewildered.
Tyler walked around the area where he had parked his car, now empty, with fear.
"M-My car's gone! If I can't take it home in one piece, my dad will kill me!"
Max burst into laughter, "Good thing I wrecked the car the other day. At least it didn't disappear from in front of the house."
"What car, what house! Don't you realize what's going on? We don't even know if our parents are alive, if our house is still there, let alone these," Lena said angrily.
"Well, if what you're saying is true, then my dad won't be mad at me," Tyler said, relieved. But his relief was short-lived. When he realized again what was happening, he was horrified:
"Because I don't know if my dad is alive or not!"
"Well, whatever this is, I don't like it. It must be some sort of hidden camera prank like Just For Laughs Gags," Max said.
"Just For Laughs Gags is a television show filmed in Canada. What would they be doing in Park Springs?" Tyler said.
"Maybe if they've run out of people to prank in Canada, they're on a world tour now. I bet a dinosaur will come out from behind those trees any moment now," Max said.
"I don't think we've come to the Dinosaur Age. Look, the road is made of asphalt. And the sign pointing to the city center is still here. So, we're probably not too far from our present time," Lena reasoned.
"Plus, there's grass. I heard in one episode of Backyard Science that grass evolved after dinosaurs," Tyler said.
"My God, have you watched all the episodes of Backyard Science?" Max asked strangely, looking at Tyler.
"At least three times."
"So, if there's no grass, what were the dinosaurs eating?"
"Each other," Tyler shrugged.
"Hey, guys, aren't you aware of how serious our situation is? We don't even know where we are right now," Lena said seriously.
"Not where, but when," Max corrected. No one seemed to be amused with that joke.
"In that case, let's go to the city center and find out which year we've traveled back to," Tyler suggested.
"We also need to find where the woman lived. She's the only one who knows how the time machine works," Lena added.
"Okay, you win, Just For Laughs Gags team. Now stop recording us and give us back our bike and car!" Max called out into the forest. He still thought someone was playing a prank on them. Lena pulled Max by the arm and said, "Let's go this way," pointing towards the direction of the city center.
They had walked a bit and were approaching the area where their house was supposed to be, but there was neither a house nor a car in sight.
"Hey, where's our h-house?" Max asked incredulously, looking at the land that now had nothing but construction trucks.
"Our house hasn't been built yet," Lena said, pointing to the Town Springs sign. It was an advertisement board that read "Get your future home now!"
"I bet someone else is living in our house," Tyler said, looking at Max, who was staring at the advertisement board with confusion, and patting his shoulder friendly.
As they approached the city center, they saw a few cars. Max tried to stop a passing car at one point, but the elderly couple inside mistook him for a robber, with his wet black T-shirt, baggy pants, and black beanie.
"This way!" Lena pointed, indicating that they had reached the city center.
Billy Idol's "Eyes Without a Face" song could be heard from a corner cafe, which used to be a Starbucks in 2008. Tyler then pointed to a Michael Jackson poster on the wall,
"Hey, look! Michael Jackson is still alive."
"And check out these comic books!" Max exclaimed excitedly, pointing at the bookstore's display window.
He read the title of one of the comics underneath the newly released ones: "The Death of Captain Marvel". This came out in 1982, it must have been placed under the new releases instead of the bestsellers."
"No. It's right where it belongs," Lena said.
Tyler and Max looked in awe at the RadioShack store, kids skateboarding in the streets, posters of the greatest rock bands of all time on the walls, and people in colorful sports outfits.
"We must be in the 80s," Lena said, looking at the city that seemed to come straight out of an 80s movie.
A campaign vehicle belonging to the city council passed by, making an announcement: "Re-elect President Burton! Progress is Tom Burton's middle name. Park Springs has never been a better place. Vote for President Burton!"
Max was already admiring the technology store's brand-new radios and televisions, which resembled antiques found in antique shops. Tyler was examining the tapes and Walkmans. "Hey, do you think I can buy this in exchange for an MP3? I've always wanted a Walkman," Tyler said to Max.
"I've always been curious about Atari," Max said excitedly.
"Forget about the culture shock and come with me to the supermarket," Lena said, pointing to the local supermarket that was still in its place on the corner. "Mr. Davis, Marla's father, must be working there. At least we can find out where this Margaret Lincoln lives."
Max and Lena entered the supermarket, followed by Tyler stumbling behind them. The cashier, a blonde girl, looked at the three strangers as if they were from another universe. The market indeed resembled its 2008 version. Only the shelves now had simpler products instead of the colorful variety.
"Is Mr. Davis here?" Lena asked the girl. Just then, a man in his thirties appeared from the back aisles.
"Did someone call me?" Lena looked at Marla's father, who looked 20 years younger, in astonishment.
"Uh, um... Mr. Davis, do you know someone named Margaret Lincoln?"
"Who doesn't? Last week, the power outage in the entire town caused all my refrigerated products to spoil." Lena's eyes lit up at hearing this.
"Oh, great! I mean... oh, that's quite unfortunate. So, do you know where she lives?"
"Turn left at the fork in the road, about 1 mile from the city, into the forest. She lives somewhere around there in a weird wooden house. I know from the pile of municipal vehicles parked outside her house, due to the rumor that she conducts unethical experiments on Mrs. Murray's Cat,"
"He's talking about George W. Bush Street," Max added.
Mr. Davis gave her a strange look. "Who the hell is George W. Bush?"
The girl at the cash register chimed in, "The municipality definitely can't take necessary measures for that woman. If I were the mayor, I'd implement strict supervision in that area."
"You're not thinking of running for mayor, are you, Georgina?" Mr. Davis said to the girl.
"Hey, isn't she the mayor Georgina Hamphred?" Tyler whispered to Max. Lena then noticed that the girl had been the mayor in 2008.
"That's right! She's going to be the mayor," she said excitedly.
"A woman? As mayor? That's heavy," Mr. Davis laughed.
"You never know what will happen in the near future," Lena said.
"Yeah, like there won't be flying cars, but a woman could be mayor," Max added.
"Hey, I wonder if they have Magnum?" Tyler asked, standing next to the freezer with ice creams.
"This isn't a gun shop, kid," Mr. Davis said.
Meanwhile, Max was trying to flirt with Georgina at the cash register.
"I like your style," Georgina said to Max's appearance straight out of the 2000s.
"My style?"
"Yeah, dressed like a robber. Looks pretty cool."
"Uh, yeah. I dressed up like this for exactly that reason. It keeps the weird kids away from me," Max said, flustered.
"How clever. You're as smart as your style is good," Georgina replied, making Max feel pleased.
"Let's get crunk* sometime."
Georgina looked at Max like she didn't understand a word he said.
Meanwhile, Tyler, by the newspaper stand, called out to them,
"Hey, guys, take a look!" Lena and Max walked over to Tyler. Tyler was pointing at the top left corner of the newspaper he was holding: "November 5th, 1983."

*crunk: crazy and drunk