What Happened In 1940

chapter one

Present Day

January the 1st, 2016.

The bright sunlight beats down on the old dinky car belonging to the Peterson family. The baby blue beetle was travelling no faster than a turtle and it was no surprise as the car was a hand-me-down from Great-Grandpa Peterson before he passed away. Mr Peterson, the breadwinner of the family and a father of three, has always looked up to the old man. He didn't want to sell away the car despite its worst condition.

As the car rounded a corner onto a gravel road, leading to an old town which no one really visits unless they have an older family member living there, the cold morning wind blew through the window bringing in the sweet aroma of freshly baked goods.

The neighbourhood was calm and peaceful, unlike the city, people didn't buzz around and talk in loud voices.

16 year old Emily Peterson was staring out the window with her chin resting on top of her knuckle. She was scanning through rolls and rolls of old houses when she came across a boy, who looked to be almost the same age as her older brother. He was sitting on a swing seat with a book in his hand. His eyes darted towards the vehicle as it drove past. Emily and the boy shared a moment of eye contact before she lost sight of him.

" You know that guy? " Came a familar voice. It was her brother, Derek.

Emily rolled her eyes before giving him a cold reply, " Of course not. This is your first time as much as it is mine. I couldn't possibly know that guy. "

" Well he was looking at you as if you guys were old buddies or something. " Derek laughed, " Or maybe he just finds you pretty. "

" That was nice, considering it was coming from you. "

Ignoring her snide remark, he continue on saying, " If that is the case, then he must be blind. "

Before Emily could reach out to smack the living daylight out of her brother, the youngest member of the Peterson family suddenly cut in. The little fella was afraid that he was going to be stuck in a war zone as he was sitting right in the middle between the two. " Guys, stop it. You were fine before. " Despite being the youngest, he was ironically the most mature.

" Well, don't blame it all on me. He started it! " Emily pointed her finger at Derek in accusation.

" Really? I didn't know that being sarcastic was a crime? "

" Children, ENOUGH. Both of you! One is 18 and another is 16 but neither is acting like the appropriate age. I will not be having this kind of nonsense at Grandpa's house, do you hear me? " Mrs Peterson chided from the passenger seat. She had her hand raised in mid air. It was one of the things she usually does whenever she wants everyone to shut up so she could have a say in the conversation.

As soon as she said that, the car slowly pulled up onto a driveway.

Grandpa Peterson was sitting on the wooden rocking chair on the front porch. He quickly got up the moment he realized the family had finally arrived.

Being 92 years old, he was every bit his age. He had hearing loss on both ears, his eye sight was no better, his arms were very scrawny with sagging skins and he had a slightly protruding belly from the long years of alcohol. Grandpa Peterson was a man of few words, he does not like to socialize all that much and would rather be alone by himself. He was the complete opposite from Mr Peterson, his son.

The two wasn't very fond of each other either. Ever since the divorce, Mr Peterson went to live with his Mother in the big city. They didn't stay in contact. Neither of them bothered to call. Even when Mr Peterson got married and his wife gave birth, Grandpa Peterson still doesn't want to show his face. So, it was a big mystery when he suddenly called and ask the family to come over for a visit.