The Railroad of The Universe

Shapeshifting Trust

   When the scene rippled in, they were astonished to see what had happened to this version of their hometown. While 'Bob's Burgers', 'Jimmy Pesto's Pizzeria', Mort's funeral home, and Wonder Wharf remained in their respective places, they were each boarded up, looking as if the life had been sucked away from every location. In fact, every building on the street was boarded up and the streets were empty. The only signs of life at all were tumbleweeds passing by on the wind, making noise as they brushed against the asphalt. 

    Linda and Tina's eyes scanned the scene, anxiously. This universe gave off eerie vibes almost as if something paranormal or supernatural was occurring in town. 

   Linda looked over to see their boarded up home. "Okay... maybe we should just knock on the apartment door?" she uttered, nervously. 

   "Um... okay," Tina managed, frightened herself.

    As Linda and Tina approached the apartment door, a sound behind them began to tease their already jumpy nerves. They turned to see a stunned Bob, carrying two reusable grocery bags in his hands. 

   "Changelings!" Bob exclaimed, catching Linda and Tina off-guard. 

   "Ch-wha?" Linda sputtered, perplexed. 

   Bob reached into one of the bags and retrieved a bottle of bug spray, aiming it at the two girls. 

   Not knowing what the object was yet, Linda and Tina were startled. 

   "Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa!" Linda cried. She held Tina tightly in her arms and collapsed to the ground. "Wh-wh-what's a changeling?" Linda stammered, considerably afraid. 

  "Don't play dumb!" Bob spat at them. "You're changelings! You can't fool me." 

   "We're not changelings!" Linda squealed. "We don't even know what a changeling is." She stared into Bob's steely eyes, a nervous chill oozing through her body. "Bobby, it's us! We swear." 

   "Likely story!" Bob hollered back. "My daughter and my wife are inside. We're barely allowed to leave that place!"

   "Why not?" a puzzled Linda wondered. 

   "Quiet!" Bob snapped.

   "Ahhhh!" Linda and Tina panicked. 

   "Now hold still!" Bob commanded as he re-aimed the bug spray at them. 

   Linda squinted, finally seeing what the object in Bob's hand was. This calmed her down. "Is that bug poison? I mean, that can't really kill us since we're human, but I just didn't think you'd be carrying bug poison on you-" 

   "I don't have time for this," Bob moaned. "I gotta get back to work."

   Bob spritzed the bug poison at them. Despite it being mainly harmless to them, Linda and Tina coughed. The sensation stung their eyes and the smell of the spray was rancid. Bob watched in confusion as Linda and Tina waved the spray away with their hands.

   "Okay, Bob!" Linda snapped. "Game time's over. What's going on? Could've given us insecticide poisoning." 

   Bob furrowed his brow. "Okay... guess you aren't changelings because... you aren't convulsing in agony." After a pause, he realized what he thought this meant. "Oh my god! Linda, Tina, what are you two doing out here? It's dangerous!" 

    "Um... oh," Linda said. 

   "Come on, get back inside!" Bob urged, desperately.