Lost In Time

Chapter 9

Juliet's POV

"We’re back," Jessica shouted. She and her brother were walking back to us with an enormous basket in their hands. It is kind of like a picnic basket.

They opened it and took out a checked yellow and white cloth and spread it in the middle of where we were sitting. After that, they took out the food prepared.

"So we have tuna noodle casserole and meatloaf," Jessica calls after every food item she pulls out.

"Meatloaf is my favorite," David grins.

"Sandy’s Chocolate Cake," Jessica continued.

"Which I drove 1 hour to buy," Jess added.

"Zucchini Hamburger Pie."

"I hope you guys will like it." It’s my grandmother’s recipe," Pat added, and it went on until all the food was gone.

The food display in front of us looked magnificent. When Jessica shouted, "Dig in and pig out," everyone grabbed what they wanted and ate to their hearts' content. As we eat, we talk about our good times, laugh, and even get to the point where some of us have food on our clothes.

David mumbled, staring at his shirt. "Aww, man,"

Michael muttered. "He always eats like a baby."

"It’s not good to waste food," he said, nodding and raising his shirt to his mouth and eating the food that had fallen.

Jessica scrunched her nose up and murmured "Gross," while Pat and I laughed at him along with Preston, Jess, and Josh.

***

"I saw a dragon."

"That looks nothing like a dragon."

"It kind of looks like a rabbit to me," David adds.

"If you squint your eyes, it will look like a dragon," Pat said.

After lunch, we lay in a circle with our heads together. Jess and Preston were both next to me.

As Pat, Josh, and David continue to decide what the clouds look like, Preston turns and smiles at me.

The sun was warm and homey, filling the void in my heart from not being able to see my parents and siblings. A strong wind suddenly blew, and I moved my finger through the bright green grass as it swayed.

My hand came to a halt as it came into contact with Preston’s. My head quickly turned to him. But he didn’t pull away. Instead, his lips twisted into a small smile. Glancing at our hands, I watch as he entwines them.

It brought a peaceful feeling deep inside of me. And right now, I just want to be stuck in this moment. But unfortunately, that was ruined when Jess shouted, getting up and tripping along the way. "Your a*s is grass, and I’m the lawnmower," while David ran away cackling.

Each of us sat up, watching the scene in front of us, laughing until our eyes were filled with tears.

After a while, we all calmed down and went back to what we were doing. With a stretch and yawn, I lay down and closed my eyes.

"No, run, run!" a distant voice yells.

My eyes slowly flutter open, my hands going up to block the sun.

"Nooo," the voice yells again.

I sat up and mumbled in a groggy voice. "What’s going on?"

"He’s having a nightmare," Pat said, and I looked at the person to see it was Josh mumbling and tossing on the grass.

We must have fallen asleep. "How long did you wake up?"

"5 minutes ago," she mumbled, dropping her shoulders.

I whispered. "Everything's alright," she said, trying not to wake the others.

"It never seems to stop." Her hands touched the small necklace around her neck.

"What doesn’t?"

"The Nightmares."

I repeat. "The nightmares,"

"Yea," she mumbled and stared distantly, her eyes becoming dull. "One day, Josh and I were walking down the street to go to the record shop when suddenly we heard a plane flying overhead." We both took off running down the street to escape the bomb that we thought was about to be dropped. Every day since that day, he has been having nightmares about that. "

I remember my history teacher telling us something about how her parents at that time all thought the world was coming to an end. I think it was something about President Kennedy or someone else.

I should have really paid attention in history class.

I moved closer to her and took her hand, rubbing her back. I want to say something to comfort her and let her know I understand how she feels. But I can’t. All I know is what I read in the textbook at school and have forgotten now.

I don’t even belong here, and more often than not, I keep forgetting that.

We stand there for what feels like hours, until finally she pulls away. Her eyes are red and puffy, but she has a small smile on her face as she steps back.

We don’t talk about the nightmares anymore, but every once in a while, I see her touch the small necklace around her neck. and I know that she is still haunted by them.

Her red, puffy eyes were less viable by the time everyone woke up. She had managed to compose herself, but I knew the truth.

"The sun's setting; we should probably head back now," Josh says, glancing briefly at his watch.

We all began packing up all the stuff we brought and the leftover food. When we finished, we headed back to where the truck was parked, following the same seating arrangement as when we came.

It was a silent ride home under the bright stars. I watch the stars twinkle while we cruise down the road, loving the cold air against my skin.

My head whipped down as I felt a hand on my legs. Preston was looking at the sky with his hands graciously resting on my tight and his thump going in circular motion.

I left it here since it felt good while grinning a little to myself. The warmth that was emitted from his hands made me forget about the chilly night air. We lingered in this position for a long time, just savoring the moment and the tranquility we had brought about, until the truck stumbled into the corner, smoke billowing from the bonnet.

Everyone in the back of the truck stood up and looked in front to see where all the smoke was coming from. One after the other, we got in the truck and went to the front.

David mumbles and slowly backs away. "Yeah, don't ask me anything about that because I don't know."

Jessica, Pat, and I stood behind him with Michael, Preston, and Josh, watching them as they worked their magic.

As the boys worked, David munched on snacks and watched them try to fix the problem.

The boys tried their best to solve the issue, but they failed. They keep circling the car's hood and gazing intently at the engine, failing to recognize the issue.

I heave a sigh and step forward, tiptoeing and leaning over Preston's shoulder to take a look. After I back away and bend over, I look under the truck.

"It seems like the leaking seals or valves are the problem, plus it seems like your gaskets have a hole, and there is oil under the truck." I shrug.

Immediately after those words left my mouth, all eyes were on me. I gave a slight smile and went back to where I had been previously.

Pat nudges my shoulder with hers. "How did you know that was the problem?"

What could I say, though? I'm from the year 2021, a time when everyone is a skilled mechanic, not just men. My brother owns a sizable auto repair and mechanic facility. Even a car is being built from the ground up. He employs both men and women because there is no difference between their abilities when it comes to fixing cars.

I gave her a small grin and settled in with the good old. "My dad loves cars and taught me everything he knew."

Pat nods and hooks her arms around mine.

"Ok, there is a phone booth about a mile from here." "Let's call someone to get us, and I'll collect the truck tomorrow to repair." Josh says, and everyone nods in agreement.

We all heave our bags over our shoulders and head for the booth.

"I'll be right back," Josh says to us as we nod. We watch as he calls the receiver up after dialing a number. After a while, he sighed and put the phone away.

He came out of the booth looking distraught. He runs his hand through his hair and glances at each of us before sighing once more.

"My cousin went out of town; I don't know anyone else to call," he says.

The situation was made worse when raindrops of all sizes started to fall from the sky and hit the ground as well as our bodies. Just as it begins to hurt harder, I extend my hand and gaze up.

When lightning bursts across the sky and thunder rumbles, Jessica and Pat scream as if someone was going to die.

We all stand in shock, and then Pat slowly states the words that nobody wants to hear: “We're stuck here now.” I try to remain calm, but I'm already worried about what we should do next as we all stand in the rain, soaked to the bone.

Despite the torrential downpour, I look to the horizon and catch a glimpse of hope as the faint glimmer of a distant light gives me a sense of assurance. It's then that I realize the light is coming from a nearby house and know that if we reach it in time, we will be safe from the thunderstorm.

"Hey, do you see the small light coming from there?" I pointed, and everyone turned to look. "Maybe whoever is staying there will let us crash for the night?"

"Seems like a plan," Preston says and grabs my hands, then begins running to the house with the small light within. Everyone proceeded to follow, and before we knew it, we had reached the house.

Preston lets go of my hands, and coldness immediately takes over. He squeezed his shirt from the wetness and ran his hand through his head, shaking off the rain.

He then walks up the porch and knocks on the door. We were met with silence, and just when we thought no one was home, a voice called from inside the house.

"Who is it?" the voice asked, sounding slightly confused yet stern. We introduced ourselves, trying to explain why we were there and how we were looking for a place to stay for the night because of the weather and because our car broke down. The voice seemed to relax a bit as we spoke, and it agreed to let us stay for the night.