The Kennedy Life: Back to the Future

The Kennedy Life: Back to the Future: Ch. 1

Chapter 1

Even if it turns out time travel is impossible, it is important that we understand why it is impossible

-Stephen Hawking

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John Kennedy Jr sat in the cool air of the Kennedy family basement. Beside him sat Rory. Next to Rory was Max. Caroline sat near the door.

Rory was still smacking on lollipops when Kathleen came running through the door. She sat beside Rory.

John spoke first. "So, Uncle. What's up?"

Teddy coughed and pointed his chin toward the far end of the basement. John squinted and saw a light in the darkness.

"Now," Uncle Teddy said. "All of you are aware of the Kennedy asassinations?"

"Not Rory," Caroline replied. She kept her eyes on the floor. "She wasn't born yet was she?"

"Fair enough," Uncle Teddy sighed and ran a hand through his clean shaven hair. "Do you want to hear our side of the story, Rory?"

John saw that she looked unsteady but she nodded. "I've wanted to hear this story."

"Let's go back to 1960," their uncle started, "to where John Kennedy was just deciding to run for president."

Rory bit into one of the lollipops, cracking her teeth on it. She ignored the glares her cousins shot her.

"John Kennedy was a very charismatic man," Uncle Teddy started again. His eyes seemed to glaze off at this. "He won over the crowd in a heartbeat. He faced Nixon off and won the election. People hated him because of what he stood for, his wealth, and his religion." He stopped for a second, trying to stop the sobs in his throat.

Rory had an admiring look on her face. The senator, or liberal lion of the senate continued, "He stopped nuclear war. He was going to win his spot again in the presidency next year but then he was killed on a Dallas street. Everything was crushed and destroyed."

Caroline shifted on the floor as her uncle continued, "The older brother, Seantor Bobby Kennedy, ran for the presidental ticket of the Democrats. He was killed in June of 1968. The end of the dream, the beginning of the nightmare," Teddy quoted, "goodnight, America."

Rory had been staring at her uncle with wide blue eyes. She hadn't known her father but she was curious. The lollipops had been gobbled and tasted under her tongue which was now the colors of the rainbow. She asked, "What's the point of this, Uncle?"

"The point of this." Teddy's piercing eyes stared hard at John, then to the others. "How would you guys feel if you changed history?"

Rory had been sucking on one of the lollipops. She choked on it and sent the pieces flying across the room landing at John's feet. He shot her a dirty look but no one else was screaming at her. "Change history?" Kathleen asked.

"Yes," Teddy admitted one of those smiles spreading across his face. "Change history. Meet the father you never knew." He directed this at Rory. "And change the lives of all of the Americans."

John was desperate. "How do we change history though?"

Teddy grinned and laughed. "Well..." He put his fingers to his lips. "It started back in 1962, it was Bobby who showed the time travel portal. I wasn't sure if I should use it. Jack told me to tell no one and use till a reasonable process. I figured it'd be this."

"Time portals?" John snorted. "Where'd did Daddy get that idea?" He was dripping with sarcasm.

"John, hush," Teddy snapped. "Don't say things like that."

"Sorry," John replied. "I just had to crack some humor." His pale eyes widened.

"Just listen," Uncle Ted started, "do you guys wish to change history?"

"I do!" Rory blurted out the answer for all of them. "Uncle Jack seems like a good friend! I wish I'd met him. And Daddy of course."

"I'm with Rory," John agreed, his eyes shining. "Oswald's bound to pay for killing my father."

"This isn't for revenge," Kathleen reminded him. "It's to change history. Imagine no Vitenam War. No Nixon presidency." She hated Nixon with a burning passion and she wished her father had taken the role of president. "And possibly Uncle Teddy wouldn't crash into the water." She winced at the thought.

"Don't forget Johnson," Caroline mockingly added. She was smiling, her expression full of glee.

John pinched his lips. He didn't like Johnson like his late Uncle Bobby.

Uncle Teddy continued with a smile, a Kennedy smile. "Well then, you need to get a moveon." He grasped a bunch of dollar bills from the desk. Caroline's mouth dropped.

"You're not coming with us?" She squeaked. Uncle Teddy shook his head.

"I'm too old," he replied. "You're going to have to save Jack and Bobby on your own."

Kathleen picked up the bills and shoved them into her pocket. "What day will it be?"

"Around August the 1st," Teddy answered truthfully. "But remember if you guys come back for supplies, everything will be a complete reset." He flashed the Kennedy grin again. "Good luck, guys. I hope I see my brothers again here in a few years."

"We won't fail you, Uncle, I promsie that," Caroline said. John and the others nodded in agreement. "We'll do what everyone had dreamed of: changing history."

It was still dark outside. John felt with his hands and then he felt the door. "Trust your instincts," Teddy said, his eyes rigid on them in the darkness.

John opened the door and a blast of light smashed through his face, knocking him out cold and unconscious.

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