“I sure can.”
I felt the fear subside a bit. I wasn’t sure how this August 30thwas going to play out. Not to mention I’d realized this universe wasn’t exactly like the one I remembered. “Thank you, Coop. And thank you for calling me baby. I kinda liked that a whole bunch.”
“You caught that, huh?”
I grinned at his sweet face, overcome with how handsome he was. “I love you.”
“I know you do, Mikey. Trust me, I know.”
CHAPTER SIXTY: Mike
Coop’s dad was waiting in the driveway at their house when we got home so Coop hurried across the street after a quick kiss. Old man Holder, who lived next door to the Mathews’ household, was talking with Coop’s dad, Roger, and did a double take when he witnessed the kiss. Both of us let out a laugh at how shocked he looked.
I was nervous and unsure of what waited for me on the other side of the front door at my house. Due to Coop’s arrival, I’d rushed out an hour ago when Mom had seemed confused after my announcement that I was from a parallel universe. But then again, why wouldn’t she be?
I walked into a hushed kitchen. Druzella was consulting her tarot cards while Mom was looking through the library book. Neither were in a rush to speak.
“Find anything yet?” Druzella asked Mom. “Even a minor detail could be important.”
“From what I can tell this book is mostly about physics. A bit on black holes and how they may warp time,” Mom spoke, her finger scanning paragraphs of highly technical gobble-de-goop.
“Might warp time, huh?” Druzella mused, finally acknowledging me. “Sit,” she ordered.
“Seems impossible a black hole would be involved if what Michael says is true about parallels. Don’t black holes swallow everything? But then again what do I know?” Mom added, smiling at me.
The room felt like an episode of theTwilight Zone. Neither of them were sitting there bawling their eyes out or banging their skulls against the wallafter my newsflash.
“What are you two doing?” I asked.
Druzella pointed at Mom and explained, “She’s the one who figured out how to do the time travel trick, so I guess we’re trying to figure out how she brought you here?”
I was in total disbelief. Mom hadn’t said anything about where I’d come from, who I might be, how the switch was possible, or even that I must be entirely out of my mind.
I turned to Mom. “So, you just believe my story?”
She nodded and smiled, getting back to her book.
“I tell you I’m from the future and you’re just like . . . like . . . shit, I don’t even know what you’re like right now.”
“I’mlikeyour mother first off, and secondly, you don’t cuss in my house, young man. I don’t care how old or young you are. You are still my son. And of course I believe you,” she said.
“Just like that?”
“Just like that, Michael. Why would you lie to me?”
“Did you two want some sorta proof?” I asked.
“I know you’re not eighteen, Mike,” Druzella stated. “I sensed it the second I met you, but sure, why not show your mother what you have. I can’t lie, I’m as curious as a cat too.” Druzella glanced around the room, mostly the floor area. “And you’re sure you don’t have a cat?”
Mom hadn’t looked up from her book but still managed to follow the conversation. “Michael’s father was allergic to cats,” she said. “But I think he just despised the clever animals to tell you the truth.”
“I sense a cat,” Druzella said. “Here. In this very room.”
Mom looked up. “Nope.”
Druzella gathered her cards and then folded her hands on the table top. “Okay. What ya got?” she asked.
Mom closed the book and both of them leveled their gazes on me. After ten seconds someone finally spoke. “Well?” Mom asked. “Let’s get this show on the road, son.”
