Time and Time again

Part 1

(COMPLETE)

The bitter wind numbed Brian's face and blew his shaggy hair into a storm around his vision. He flipped his collar up and jammed his hands into the deep pockets of his coat.

Dark orange and golden rays of light poured over Franklin Town, bring a new day and a new challenge for Brian. His breath was like a cloud of steam that came out in swirls in front of him.

As Brian slouched down the street, he took note of the cars that were parked on the curb. None of them looked like they were worth stealing. However, he knew he'd have to pick quickly because the people of Franklin town would be up soon. He paused by a car that's bleached blue paint was flaking off, it wasn't a looker but the driver's window was down so that made it an easy take. Brian looked around before he reached in the window and opened the door. He sat in the seat and tried to remember how his father had taught him how to hot-wire a car. He tried and failed, so he tried and tried again. He began to feel anger rising, he dropped the wires and slammed his fists down on the dashboard.

"Can I help you young man?" a weak voice quavered. Brian turned to see an elderly woman poking her head in through the window.

"Umm... yeah, just having some trouble with my car." He scratched his head and tried to look at her as innocently as possible. The old lady shook her head and sighed.

"I'm afraid you've got the wrong car sir, you see, this is mine"

"I'm so sorry Mam, I didn't mean to." Lied Brian, still sitting in the car.

"It's okay young man, what's your name?"

"Jackson" The name rolled off his tongue with caution he had learned to lie and cheat to get his way, even if it meant to hurt someone.

"Well, my names Doris," replied the old woman.

"And don't worry about it, I forget things all the time," she continued.

"It was 1939," she sighed.

Brian began to impatiently tapped his foot on the pedals, hoping the car would magically start so he could drive away. Yet Doris proceeded to tell her story.

"When my Ray went off to war, World War two that was. I was 21 then. You know, you remind me a lot of my husband. Raymond was such an honest man..." Brian bowed his head and bit his bottom lip in shame; he didn't take much pride in stealing from others. But it was his only other choice of survival.