Temporal Exploring 101 - Deep Future

IV.26 Why don't you all come visit me at Berkeley?

On Sunday afternoon, James drove us to Heathrow Airport: Madison, Nancy, Lizzy, Natty and me. We arrived early, about an hour before check-in  for Madison's flight to San Francisco.

We spent the time hanging out in the airport's mall, buying soft drinks and a variety of delicious little snacks we indulged in while sitting in the lounge and chatting. Meanwhile, James was drinking coffee and reading the Times in the airport cafeteria.

Natty was wearing Madison's dark sunshades. Nancy's cousin had given them to her as a farewell gift.

Natty was grinning like an idiot and goofing around. I knew her well enough not to be surprised, but for 23rd century historians and temporal physicists alike it would have been an exceedingly odd experience to see Natty Fogg, math genius extraordinaire, beside herself with happiness because somebody had given her an over-sized pair of sunglasses.

"I would leave you the guitar too. But Ally's going to kill me if she finds out that I gave away her guitar," Madison remarked.

"This is your girlfriend's guitar, then?" Nancy asked.

Her cousin nodded. "Ally taught me to play the guitar, in the first place," her cousin explained. "I only borrowed that guitar from her, for my trip to England." She turned towards Natty. "I know it's not fair, to teach you to play and then leave you without any chance to continue practicing afterwards."

"That's okay," Natty told her. "I am going to acquire a guitar somehow. Don't worry about it."

I did not know what exactly Natty had in mind, but I had a strong suspicion that it might involve a visit to the Arlesten Music Store where she would ask me or one of the other girls to distract the personnel while Natty made off with one of their guitars.

"Uh, I am sure we shall find a way. A perfectly legal way, that is," I added, with a meaningful look in Natty's direction.

Natty raised a questioning eyebrow, the very epitome of innocence.

Madison and Liz looked confused, but Nancy fixed Natty with a stern look. "No more pilfering at the Music Store, is that understood?"

"Seriously?" Madison laughed. "You're in the habit of stealing at your local music store, Natty?"

"It's how she acquired most of her beloved Bob Dylan records," Nancy pointed out. "And it's not as funny as it may sound. She already got caught two times at least, and there is a distinct chance that she will get kicked out of our school if it happens again."

"Don't worry about it," Natty told her. "I am being much more careful now, okay?"

Nancy groaned.

"I am sure we can afford to buy a guitar for Natty," I hurriedly assured all of them.

Which ended the discussion of that particular topic, at least for the time being.

"I just wish I could spend more time with you guys," Madison mused. "I had some misgivings about my visit here, but I must admit that I truly loved these holidays."

"I think it is grossly unfair that I got hardly any time to spend with you, Maddie," Liz complained. "Same goes for Sneaks here."

Lizzy's pet white mouse Sneakers had climbed onto the girl's shoulder and was eyeing Madison solemnly, as if to say that she was in complete agreement with Nancy's little sister.

"I would have loved to get to know Sneakers a little better, myself," Madison gravely replied. "Especially in view of what you told me about your plans to be become a witch. I do not have any doubts that Sneakers is the perfect familiar for you."

"She totally is," Lizzy eagerly agreed. "You ought to see all the tricks she can do and how she understands a lot of what I am telling her."

"It is true, Sneakers can pick out pearls of a specific color when Lizzy asks her to do so," Nancy confirmed. "I have witnessed that with my own eyes, and so have Natty and Cathy."

 "Well, I am definitely impressed," Nancy's cousin declared. She reached out and gently stroked the little animal's head, causing Sneakers to close her eyes.

"She likes you, Maddie," Liz whispered.

"I like her too," Madison replied in kind. She sighed. "You know, why don't you all come visit me at Berkeley, later this year? Or perhaps next summer?"

"I am sure we all would love to do that," Natty told her, speaking for all of us. "But the flight by itself costs more than most of us could afford."

"Oh." Madison seemed to be taken aback. "I did not think of that."

"Perhaps Mum and Dad will make it possible for Lizzy and me to visit you," Nancy mused. "In that case, I wouldn't be surprised if they'd offer to pay the airfare for Natty and Cathy, too."

"Well, we shall see," I said.

In the context of a Temporal Assignment such as mine, money was not really an obstacle when important objectives of the mission were at stake. I would only have to convince my Temporal Instructor that going to Berkeley was imperative to assure the success of my mission.

Admittedly, I had no idea yet how I was going to achieve that.

About half an hour later, Nancy, Liz, Natty and I, as well as a fascinated small rodent,  watched the plane Madison had boarded take off and disappear in the clouds.

Later that evening, James was going to drive my friends and me back to St. Albert's.

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A / N : So, back to school it is, for Cathy and her friends.

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