Double Twenty

Chapter 22 - Changes (2Pac)

"We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children." — Native American Proverb

Béatrice fills the plates to the brim, while in the background, the TV prepares to broadcast the evening program. Ordinarily, nothing brings Alejandro more joy than sharing these moments with family. His wife, his son, and Marie, who perfectly fits into their household. Happiness isn't founded on appearances or artifices. It requires full awareness, accepting to turn away from ease, not complaining, gritting your teeth if necessary, realizing how lucky you are to eat your fill with those you love. He doesn't talk much, but in the secrecy of his heart, he invites his ancestors, his parents, those who fought to give him the chance to be master of his destiny, to the table. Béatrice, too, hasn't always had an easy life, but together they built their home. Brick by brick. Step by step. Their son is the culmination of their work, which today particularly worries Alejandro. As planned, he had returned at lunchtime to search Julien's room, leaving no doubt. Julien is indeed a traveler. The information won't stay confidential for long. The chrono-traitors can appear at any moment. He has no choice but to talk to Sundial first thing in the morning.

Marie tries to put her hand on Julien's leg, but he resists; at twenty or forty-seven, it's the same. He loves Marie, he loves his parents, but he doesn't compromise on impropriety. Besides, he's struggling to finish his plate, delicious but he knows that if he doesn't finish it, his mother will worry about him. "Julien is taking me to San Sebastian next weekend," "Really? That's nice, but aren't you too young? Going just the two of you, and what about your studies?" "Bea, they're grown up now, it's good to travel, it's by discovering the world that you know later what is important, what matters to you. But, Marie, you have to keep my son in check, I know him!" and he laughs, followed by his wife and Marie. Alejandro's stomach tightens; should he stop them?

Julien, who has nothing to blame himself for, apart from his time travel, which isn't his doing, wonders what his father is getting at. He hopes it isn't a roundabout way of telling him to extend the family line. "There are the studies, Dad, and we're going there to walk around and get some fresh air." "I know you young people. By the way, Madame Letourneur, the neighbor, told me that Marie was very good at bowling, that's amazing, what happened?" Julien scowls, and Marie, very proud of herself, coos, "Oh, nothing special, I was challenged, so I did my best. Your paella is delicious, can you give me the recipe?" "Next time, you will make it," Julien has a flash: "Do we have a Minitel?" his mother thinks for a moment, "Yes, I think so, but we never use it, why?" "A friend is in Paris, and I think he needs me," his father looks at him intensely. "Son, friendship is the most serious thing in the world. You can't achieve anything in life alone, and you can't look at yourself in the mirror if you fail in your duty, especially if your friend is in trouble... Why do you think he needs you?"

Marie, who has never heard of a friend of Julien's in Paris, removes her hand from his leg and waits for his explanation. "It's hard to explain clearly, we met in Bordeaux, you know Marie, during Alex's party." He doesn't take a big risk; Alex organizes at least one party a month, and even without drinking, there are always many people. "Oh yes, I remember." "Maybe it's nothing, but at least I should check on him." "Julien, if it's important to you, and if you think he might need help, we'll find him. Do you have any information that could be useful?" He looks up at the sky and thinks, "Yeah, we were in 2024 watching a football match, talking nonsense about girls, work, and friends, and the next day, I was in 1997 at your place...."

"I know his last name and, in principle, where he lives." "That's a good start!" Alejandro worries about the situation becoming uncontrollable. Béatrice follows along; if her husband and son are going in one direction, there's no question of leaving them. Marie, on her side, wonders, Julien isn't the type to have intuitions or impulses. She hopes this story won't have repercussions.

Béatrice goes up to the attic, so immaculate that a sterile room could pass for a dump. They connect the high-tech device for the time. Julien feels better, "Thanks, this is perfect, but it's not a priority, we'll see about it later." Marie, who has no reason to doubt it's actually a girl hidden under his vague explanation, still senses that something is going on. She knows him by heart, and for a few days, he's been different. When he holds her in his arms, it's intense, as if it's new to him. He looks at her with eyes she's never seen before. It's neither disturbing nor weird, but still, and now he wants to find someone she's never heard of, who is in Paris, and at the same time take her to San Sebastian without their friends. That, however, is an incredible thing, not the destination, but the fact of leaving just the two of them without the gang. She goes through all the emotions, she wants him all to herself. His parents are different; moreover, you can't find kinder or more considerate people, even hers, known for their exemplary probity, seem a thousand miles away from Alejandro and Béatrice. She has to understand what he has in mind.

They watch the movie on TV, "Groundhog Day." Béatrice has prepared popcorn, they're settled, his father in his chair, Julien and Marie on the couch, and his mother between the living room and the kitchen. Despite all his resilience, he has trouble enjoying the show on a screen that must barely be a quarter of his 90-inch Samsung OLED with sound almost inaudible at times. "Groundhog Day," really? And why not "Back to the Future." They say goodnight to each other. He falls asleep in Marie's arms. A troubled sleep. Something is wrong. The traveler can't define it, but it's serious. Very serious.