Time Travel Society

chapter two

"NEED?" Mother seemed confused. "Why could you possible need Allen? He's utterly useless."

Oh geez, thanks mom, love you too. The president raised an eyebrow at me, as if to say you had to think about leaving? I just shrugged.

"Mr. and Mrs. Benson do you even realize how brilliant your kid is?"

"Yeah he's smart. Goes to collage you know, he's only thirteen."

"Yes, we know. But did you know that Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Oxford and many other collages have offered full scholarships, but he turned them all down."

"Why did you do that stupid boy?" my father asked harshly. But before I could answer Bane said "He said you needed him."

"Well we don't. Allen you may go to Washington DC to work on this ridiculous theory."

By then I had already decided that I wanted to go. I nodded my thanks to my parents. "When do I leave?" I asked

"We fly the other children in tomorrow. We can fly you in to if you please."

"I would like that."

"Just pack a suitcase and we will send packers for the rest of your belongings." Bane stood and left. Nodding again to my parents I headed to my room.

Once inside I fell back on my bed. President Bane had explained why they need us to solve time travel, us meaning the three other kids that would be assisting me.

He had said that there is a time when all the mysteries of the earth will be solved. Many great scientists have tried and failed at this noble task we were asked to do. Professor Anderson, a scientist that believes that the younger minds are more creative then adult minds, and that to solve Time Travel you need to be bursting at the seams with creativity and genius.

President Bane explained that this new leap for mankind was beginning now because, to quote 'We are frightened by the future.' And we need to know what will happen.

Personally, his statement didn't put my mind to rest. I believed that he was hiding something.

∞

I folded shirts and pants, gathered socks and underwear and neatly pack them in to my suitcase. I slipped my favorite book between a white tee shirt and a button down. I also put a framed picture of my family at the beach in between some jeans and slacks.

By now you probably have noticed that I have a hamartia. No, that is not a disease or food (if you were thinking food, you might try hummus) it means fatal flaw. And my fatal flaw is my compassion for those who do not return it and the occasional one who do. I would lay down my life for anyone in my family even if they wouldn't return the favor.

A knock came from my door. It startled me, turning around I saw my brother Alex. "Hey." I said zipping my suitcase.

"Hey, so you're going to Washington DC?" he took a seat on my bed.

"Yes."

"That's cool." He didn't sound very enthusiastic, he seemed almost shy.

"Do you need something?"

"Actually I do."

I raised my eyebrows. Alex never asks for anything.

"Okay what is it?"

"Could you give this to someone for me?" he handed me a letter.

"Who am I to give this too?" I examined the envelop. Cream colored, no name.

"yourself." I looked up at him, confused.

"What?"

"I wrote this for you, please read it on your 15th birthday." He stood and hugged me. "I'll miss you brother." This was weird I was the one who showed strange affection, not Alex. Not the Alex I knew anyhow. My brother hurried out the door, me staring after him perplexedly.

I took a pen and wrote in my chicken scratch handwriting on the front of the envelope......

Open on fifteenth birthday.

I unzipped my suitcase and put the envelope on top of all my clothes. I would have to wait two year to open that letter and I don't know if I can wait that long. I glanced at the clock red letters showed 10:01. I pulled my clothes off and got into bed. Even before my head hit the pillow I was fast asleep.

∞

I dream in black and white.

80% of people dream in color, those who do not are in the very few percentage (10%-20%). last night I dreamt I was flying. Most people have a dream about flying once in their lifetime. I flew with mighty silver wings that matched the color of my eyes. I flew over roof tiles, around cloud touching hills and over winding rivers. I flew up and up to touch the clouds in the sky. I could feel the sun warm my wings and back.

Then I began to fall. Just as Icarus fell when the burning sun melted his wax wings. As Josephine Preston Peabody wrote 'Alas for him! Warmer and warmer grew the air. Those arms, that had seemed to uphold him, relaxed. His wings wavered, drooped. He fluttered his young hands vainly- he was falling- and in that terror he remembered. The heat of the sun had melted the wax from his wings; the feathers were falling, one by one, like snowflakes and there was none to help.' I screamed just as he did. My wings not of wax but falling down as snowflakes all the same; the stinging pain as each was pluck from my skin by the torturous wind. I was head towards the ground at top speed. 20 feet. 15 feet. 5 feet.

Awake.

I was sweating profusely and shaking. My clock read 6:30, I would be pick up at 8:00 AM. Groaning I tumbled out of bed and it to the bathroom to take a shower.

After my refreshing shower I ate toast and watched some morning news. Good Morning America announced a five year old girl named Natasha Beckley was taken from her bedroom, estranged father prime suspect. I picked the remote up ready to flip stations when flashing letters appeared on the screen. BREAKING NEWS! Hum? This is interesting. Engagement of royal couple in India! Ugh! I click the TV off in disgust.

Is that the only thing people are interested in these days? Ooh, Justin Bieber wrote a new song! Look, a new fashion designer! Miley's in Jail! The Cleveland browns and New Orleans saints are going to the super bowl!

I jarred myself from my thoughts. 7:45 AM. No one will come to say goodbye to me. I put my suitcase next to the door. Finding a piece of paper and pen I wrote:

Dear family,

I will miss you all! I am thankful for this opportunity and I am hoping to see you guys for Christmas. Please call or email me! I love you all.

Love,

Allen Benson

I left my note on the counter along with the pen.

At 8:00 sharp a knock came at my door.