Someday We'll Be Together

Chapter 24- The Letter

After what happened in the mine, they were walking toward Davis Farm. No one spoke along the way; the only sounds were the pebbles under their feet and the birds chirping.
"We lost the camera," Lena said, breaking the silence.
"It wasn't working anyway," Max said hopelessly.
"It was still our only hope of returning."
"Can't we find another way to go back?" Tyler asked.
"It'll be at least 40 years before the woman is born, and 100 years before she invents the machine," Max said in a flat voice.
"So we're trapped here."
"This is ridiculous! I don't want to keep living in this stupid place. It's much worse than the '80s. There are just a few horses, a giant desert, and real guns."
"Actually, there is a way," Lena interjected suddenly.
Max and Tyler looked at her indifferently.
"What do you mean? We lost the camera, and the woman won't be born for years. How could there be a way?"
"If we can't go to the future... we can call someone from the future here."
Max and Tyler looked at each other, completely confused. "We must not be on her level of intelligence," Max said sarcastically.
"The camera still exists in 1983, doesn't it?"
"How do you know that? Maybe we did something here that prevented her birth, and the camera was never invented," Tyler said.
"If we had done that, do you think we'd still be here? If we prevented the camera from being invented, how could we have traveled through time in the first place?"
"Wow, our intelligence really can't compete with hers," Tyler said to Max.
"What I mean is, we could leave a note for someone in the future, like Mrs. Lincoln, asking her to come here with the time machine and get us."
"How is Mrs. Lincoln supposed to find our note? 100 years is not a short time."

Dear Mrs. Lincoln,
We are writing this letter to you from 100 years ago. Due to a mistake in the time machine created from a Polaroid camera that you invented, we had to make several journeys, and we accidentally ended up on November 2, 1883. Well, you already know that because you should've sent us to the future on November 12 1983. Anyway, we lost the time machine in a mine while escaping from a man chasing us. We are stranded in 1883. Please set the time circuits to November 3, 1883, at 5:00 PM, and come to the place that will be your backyard in 1983 to pick us up.
Tyler asked me to add this part. He thinks you will believe him when you read it.
To prove this letter is for real, I know how you invented the time machine. Years ago, while experimenting to revive your deceased dog, a kettle slipped from your hand while heating water and burned half your arm, which enlightened you and gave you the idea to invent the time machine.
Also, Max wanted me to add this.
We really got stuck in 1883 from 2008! I miss my PlayStation 3 a lot, please come and get us as soon as possible.
Excuse Max for panicking.
Best regards,
Your Time Travelers, Lena, Max, and Tyler.

Lena put the letter in a yellowed envelope and found some strong glue on Mr. Davis's desk, sealing the envelope tightly. She wrote on the envelope, "Do not open until November 12, 1983."
"How do you plan to explain this weird thing to Mr. Davis?" Max asked.
"We'll tell him that Tyler works for an important agency and this envelope contains vital information about the government, and that it needs to be delivered to the specified address, Mrs. Lincoln's address, on the specified date. Since Mr. Davis is the most authoritative person in this town, he'll ensure our letter is kept safe for 100 years," Lena explained.
"Wow, am I a government agent now?" Tyler asked excitedly.
"Yes, but don't say it like that. He might get suspicious."
"Did you hear that? I'm a secret government agent, Max," Tyler said mockingly.
"So what? I nearly got shot twice."
"Alright, after we deliver this letter to Mr. Davis, if the letter successfully reaches 100 years later, we just have to hope Mrs. Lincoln shows up around 5:00 PM," Lena said.
"What if she doesn't come?"
"That won't happen. She has to come. Otherwise, we're stuck here."