Newsgroups: alt.ql.creative From: jdeclari@is.rpslmc.edu (John-William DeClaris) Subject: Solo1 Message-Id: <1993Oct27.191555.17965@rpslmc.edu> Nntp-Posting-Host: troosevelt.is.rpslmc.edu Organization: Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center Date: Wed, 27 Oct 1993 19:15:55 GMT The tingling sensation was fading away indicating that the leap was over. Sam looked around and saw that he lying in bed. The alarm clock on the nearby night stand told him it was 5:50, he could only assume, 5:50 am. Sunrise was just starting. Sam slowly rolled over, he was tired, and a few more minutes of sleep could not hurt him. The resistance next to him, told him that he was not alone. He gently reached out to the form lying next to him and touched the forms shoulder. There was a soft female murmur in response. The form rolled over and faced him. Sam examined her. Fortunately, both he and the woman were under sheets. Sam always felt uneasy about leaping into someone's bed with their wife or girlfriend next to him. In this case, he was very happy because the woman next to him was pregnant. From the looks of her, she was due soon. Maybe this would be a good time to learn the name of the person he had leapt into and find out as much information as possible. Especially since he was on his own. The thought struck him like a thunderclap. He had just finished fixing Al's life. He managed to convince Beth that it was worth waiting for Al and that he would be home soon. It had been strange to leap in as himself. It had been so long since he had seen himself. Sam walked over to the mirror. He rubbed a sleepy eye and stared at the reflection. "Nice looking guy", Sam thought. "Wait a minute, that's my face!!" He quickly looked over at the woman on the bed, and then he looked at the mirror again. Yes, it was in fact his face. he quickly looked for a wallet. It was lying on top of the dresser. He took it and and pulled out the driver's license. No picture!! There was a description. The name was Jim Haversack, and he was 5' 11", green eyes, 200 lbs, and had red hair. A picture on the dresser caught his eye. He took it and looked at it. He was right, he had leaped into the guys place, but not his form! Sam looked at his reflection. "Oh boy." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Sam quietly walked over to a closet and grabbed a pair of jeans, a shirt, and some shoes. He went back to the dresser and got a pair of underwear, and some socks. He took the wallet also since Jim was not using it now. As quietly as he could manage, Sam left the bedroom. He went downstairs, and put on "his clothes". They were baggy, but at least he had something to wear. He went into the kitchen and searched for something to eat. There not a lot of money in Jim's wallet, and he did not know how long the money would last. Sam made a couple of sandwiches and wrapped them in wax paper. He also stole a couple of apples. There was a discarded newspaper which he took also. With these items he slipped out of the house. The back yard was enclosed by a tall picket fence. There was a car, but it was probably not a good idea to take it. Sam look p into the sky. The sun had just risen and was quickly climbing into the sky. It was going to a hot day today. Sam looked around. He could hear seagulls, and bells ringing rhythmically. There was also the sound of several engines running. Sam crept to the front of the house. He could not see anyone, so he walked out into the middle of the road and looked around. There were small sand dunes on the opposite side of the road in front of the house. Sam looked down at the paper. The name of the paper was the Chesapeake Herald. So he was in Maryland. The date was August, 7 1953. If this was yesterday's news paper, that meant that today was Sam birthday. he smiled at the irony and then realized that he had better get away from the house or he would be spending today and everyday in jail. Sam turned and walked north to the sound of the engines. After walking for fifteen minutes, Sam arrived at a small fishing marina. Many of the fish boats had already left, but there were some that wee still getting underway. The seagulls flew overhead. Sam slowly approached the marina. There was a diner nearby, this would be a good place to sort out his troubles and learn more about this area. The several stares that Sam received as he entered the diner told him that this was a close community. That was okay, he was used to that from his childhood in Elkridge, Indiana. The only difference was that he was somewhere along the Chesapeake Bay, in Maryland. "Farmers, fishermen. They are all the same", thought Sam. "Can I help you", a large moustached man wearing an apron asked from behind the counter. Sam smiled back. He thought he remembered seeing a little over twenty dollars in Jim's wallet. That was a lot of money in 1953, so it should cover breakfast easily and not be felt. "Yeah, I would like to get some breakfast. Do I sit at the counter, or can I get a table?" sam asked. "The counter is okay. What will you have?" the man asked. "Do you have oatmeal?" Sam asked. "Ran out. I have grits." The man replied. Sam looked at the what the others were eating. All the plates had eggs, bacon, toast, and hash browns. Coffee cups sat full, or near full, by each plate. One man had a stack of pancakes as well as what seemed to be the usual fare. Oh well, what is a little cholesterol? "A second thought, I feel the need for a big breakfast. How about two scrambled, some bacon, and toast. And some milk." Sam said. The man smiled, "Coming right up." He went over to the grill and started the order. Sam took a stool at the far end of the counter. He read the paper while he waited. From the newspaper, Sam learned that he was in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland and that it was Saturday, August 8, 1953. The headlines in the paper ranged from local reports, to state events like a proposal to build a bridge spanning the Chesapeake. There were some human interest stories as well as reports on the area's main industry, which was fishing and shell-fish. It was an interesting side of life that Sam had never experienced but instantly saw many similarities. Both cultures were very weather dependant. Mother nature could make or break a person. It was also a very close-knit community with the threads of each life being interwoven like the fabric in a blanket. The only problem was that Jim Haversack's thread was being replaced by Sam's and without Al, Sam had no idea what the blanket was supposed to look like. If only Al were here. "What did you say?" the large man asked as he brought Sam his breakfast. "Uh. I...uh...I said I wish my friend was here." Sam answered weakly, not realizing he had spoken his thoughts. "You new here?" The man asked. Sam nodded. "Well, my name is Mark. Welcome to Chesapeake Beach. You just move here or are you visiting?" "I'm just passing through," Sam replied quietly. "Job hunting?" Mark asked. Mark tapped on the newspaper, which just happened to be opened to that particular section. "Yeah." Sam answered back after some hesitation. "Well, I was going to put an ad in the paper, but why spend the money. I need someone to help take orders and clean up around here. You interested?" Mark asked. "You get meals for free, providing you you don't eat too much." Before Sam could respond, a policeman entered the diner. He stood in the doorway and called to Mark. Mark grabbed the coffee pot and poured a cup of coffee. "Hi, Mark. You wouldn't happen to have seen Jim Haversack, would you? His wife heard him get up, but now he's disappeared." the policeman asked. "Sorry Bob. He's not been in here. Maybe he's out on the bay." Mark said. "His ol' lady says it was his day off and they were supposed to go to Baltimore to visit her folks. Well, you know how it is. If I had to visit my in laws, I would skip town too. Shirley's just panicking cause of the baby and all. Have a good one." Bob said as he left the diner. "People think this place is the town hall. Just because I happen to know what goes on in this town does not mean that I know what goes on in this town." Mark commented and then went back to the grill. "Hey, about that job?" Sam said. -- John-William DeClaris All comments made by me are mine and not reflective of RUSH or anyone else... even any spelling errors I most likely made. Live each day as if it were your last, because someday it will be.