A Different Set of Events

Chapter Two

I awoke to a harsh breeze washing over me and an icy substance on my fingertips. Snow. Snow was all around me and my blanket burrito was gone. I thought maybe I sleepwalked outside but I definitely wouldn't be covered in snow. The world around me didn't even look like a neighborhood, more like a town. Not any town in Oregon, that's for sure. The record shops, post offices, and diners told me it wasn't even 2016!

I covered my bare arms and dragged myself through the snow covered sidewalk. Where the crap was I? It was still summer wasn't it? Then I remembered seasons are different on opposite hemispheres. So I was either really north, or really south. A lady yelled from across the street telling me it was the latter.

"Are you okay Miss?" She asked. Her Australian accent was hard to miss. I could hear another accent there as well, but I couldn't place it. She made her way to me. I was nervous about what she wanted and I backed up. "Wait!" She picked up her pace. I hugged myself tighter and put my right foot on my left to warm it up. "Oh my goodness you must be freezing!"

She took off her brown coat and put it around me. "Th-thank you," I chattered and switched my feet.

"What's your name love?"

"H-Hannah." She started walking with me.

"What are you doing out here? Oh never mind, I'll ask you later. We'd better get you someplace warm." She led me down the road for a few blocks and we reached a small house. We walked inside and I was immediately greeted with comfort. "Sit on the couch dear, I'll make you some tea."

The living room was small. Two couches took up most of the space and a table sat off to the side. The kitchen wasn't any bigger. I sat myself on a couch and watched the woman make the tea. She was quite young really. Although her face showed signs of weary wisdom. As if she needed to guide a lot of people in her life.

She finished the tea and gave me a cup. "We're all alone right now, the boys aren't back yet. Better enjoy the silence while it lasts." She sat across from me. "Now what were you doing outside dressed like that?" I swallowed my tongue.

"I uh- actually don't know. I fell asleep in my bed and woke up in the snow," I explained.

"We'll have to think about that one," she said studying my face. "My name is Margaret by the way. Margaret Young." Young? No way. It couldn't be, it was impossible. "Have you lived here long in Australia?"

"Is that where this is?" I asked double checking. It still wouldn't snow in Australia would it?

"Yes. I suppose that answers the question then," she laughed. "Would you like a blanket then?"

"Oh sure. Thank you."

"It's no trouble love." Margaret stopped at a closet and pulled out a blue knit blanket. "Here you are. I hope you don't mind, it's Angus'. I made it for him when he was a toddler."

"Oh it's fine," I answered smiling. "You did a good job."

"I've always had a knack for sewing and knitting." She sat back down. I'll admit I was very warm with the blanket and coat, and being indoors was all the better. But when she said the blanket belonged to Angus... I just hoped he wouldn't mind. Maybe he was one of the boys that wasn't back yet. That only meant... oh boy. "Do you have any place to go?"

I snapped out of my thoughts. In light of the circumstances, no not at all. It was freezing outside (in Australia?!) and so warm in here. I hoped she'd let me stay until I got back home. But what if I never made it home? I'd be stuck here forever. And I couldn't tell them I'd time traveled. They couldn't do anything about it. I wasn't even sure I had yet...

"No, not really. Unless you know of any park benches close by," I joked.

"Nope, absolutely not. I will not let you freeze. I'll tell you what. There's a spare room down the hall. The boys keep their instruments in there, but I'll keep them out of your way. You can stay there until you get back on your feet again." I weighed my options. There really wasn't any choice.

"Thank you, but only if you insist."

"Of course. I'll get it ready for you." She made her way to the room and I heard the shuffling of guitars and other various objects being pushed aside. "Here you are love. I'll find you some warmer clothes for tonight and I'll take you shopping tomorrow." I set my cup on the coffee table.

"Margaret? What year is it?" I asked.

"1975 of course." I blanched. Margaret hurried over. "Are you alright dear?"

"Yeah, it's- it's okay. It happens sometimes I'm okay." She eyed me.

"If you say so. The boys should be back any minute for dinner. Go ahead and shower, I'll get you some pajamas." She headed into a room to look for suitable attire. She seemed to be rather busy. Must have been if she takes care of the whole band. I found a bathroom after I left the blanket on the couch and hung the coat up. I got in the shower which was pretty heavenly for the seventies. Wrapping a towel around myself I made my way to the room Margaret mentioned. Several guitars sat by the wall and a couple amplifiers were stacked in a corner. A guest bed stood with clean sheets and a scratchy bedspread. A long nightgown was draped over the bed and I put it on.

Margaret was making dinner in the kitchen when I walked back out. I sat back on the couch and wrapped the blanket around me again. It really was soft.

"Sorry about the pajamas. I thought it'd be the only ones you'd like."

"Oh they're fine. More comfortable than they look." I covered my mouth. "I mean-"

Margaret laughed. "It's okay Hannah. I'm washing your other pajamas too so you won't have to wear mine all the time." I laughed along with her. A loud commotion came from outside. The door opened and five young men wandered through the door talking and laughing. The snow from outside came off their shoes and onto the floor. One of them with long brown hair set his jacket on the coffee table next to my cup.

"Hello Margaret. What's for dinner?" he asked walking by me.

"Oh no you don't. I just cleaned yesterday. Take your shoes off before coming in."

"Alright alright," he mumbled before they all removed their shoes and jackets. Margaret paused her cooking and came over to us.

"Boys, this is Hannah. I found her on the street getting frostbite, and she'll be staying with us until further notice," she said. All six faces stared back at mine each with a growing smile. They seemed really nice, I thought. I stood up with the blanket and returned a shy smile. They introduced themselves as Bon, Mark, Phil, Malcolm, and finally Angus. Phil and Angus sat on either side of me on one couch while Bon, Mark and Malcolm sat on the other.

"Hey Angus, isn't that your blanket?" Malcolm pointed out. Oh great.

"Oh yeah. I haven't seen this in a while," he observed.

"Margaret let me use it, she didn't want me to be too cold." Angus smiled.

"I'll bet. It's soft isn't it?" I smiled and nodded. Bon chuckled to himself.

"Just like Margaret, always givin'," he joked. Margaret gave him a look.

"Better watch out Bon, I bought enough dinner for six and since we have a guest you might not get any," she joked back.

"'T's alright, she can have mine," he smiled at me. I smiled back glad to be in the company of such nice people. They were rowdy yes, and had their faults but that's why Margaret was here. To keep the band in line. I was just worried about how long I could keep this up for.