Clark woke up his usual time for work on Thursday morning.
He shaved and showered, and all he had on his mind was what he witnessed last night at his uncle's house. A time machine! He built a fucking time machine. He said over and over again in his head.
So instead of getting dressed in his work uniform for Chamberlain Cadillac, Clark got dressed in his black pants, black shirt and donned his black Fedora hat.
Clark walked over to his dresser.
He saw his cell phone, car keys and The Life and Times of Dirk Beaumont book on the top of his dresser. He grabbed his cell phone and punched in a phone number.
"Chamberlain Cadillac, service department, Tim Noone speaking," Clark's boss answered the call.
"It's me, Clark Burrows. Listen," he said into his cell phone then hesitated while he tried to think what he was going to tell his boss. He didn't think this one out before he made the call. "I'll be out today. I'm sick," he blurted out in a hurry.
"Well if you have a runny nose, I don't care if you drip snot on these greasy engines. It won't harm them one at all," replied Tim jokingly.
"No, it's not that, I ate something last night that didn't agree with my stomach.
I think I have food poisoning. I can't work on cars if I'm always running to the bathroom to you know," he said, and the more he thought about it, the more he knew that was a perfect excuse.
"Food poisoning, you say?" replied Tim.
"Yeah, listen, if I don't run to the bathroom this second, I'm going to have a huge mess in my pants. I should be back tomorrow," replied Clark then disconnected his end of the call. He had a smile then looked concerned and wondered if he screwed up and would get fired.
But then he remembered he hadn't called in sick during the past three years, so he should be in good shape for still having a job.
Clark shoved his cell phone into his pants pocket then grabbed his car keys and book off the top of the dresser.
He headed out of his bedroom room and looked like he was on a critical mission.
A little while later after his house was secured, Clark drove his Ford pick-up hot rod north on Interstate 35 headed toward the big city of Dallas. He listened to one of his CDs, and Glenn Miller's In The Mood song played. He whistled along with the first trumpet part.
Later that morning, Clark roared his hot rod east on Interstate 30 headed toward Texarkana. He listened to The Very Thought Of You by Billy Holliday on his CD. He sang along with the song and knew all the words.
After Clark drove closer to Texarkana, he headed south on Interstate 369. He listened to Caravan by Duke Ellington on his CD.
It wasn't long before Clark drove down the Lake Drive exit on Interstate 369.
He turned off his CD player while he drove down the exit ramp then turn left on South Lake Drive. He stopped at the red light.
He grabbed his Google map he printed out then waited for the light to turn green.
He studied the map to guide him to his destination.
He drove down that road then he turned right on South Kings Highway.
He drove down that road then he turned right on Wainwright Blvd.
He drove down that road then he turned right on Finley Blvd.
Clark drove back east on Finley Blvd, and after a quarter of a mile, he made a U-turn.
He immediately pulled off the side of the road where there was a Historical Marker in the shoulder. Clark turned off his engine then stepped out of his hot rod.
He walked over to the Historical Marker.
"Public Enemy Dirk Beaumont and Associate Carl Sommers Were Arrested at this Spot After Robbing the First National Bank in Texarkana, Texas on May Twenty-Second, Nineteen Thirty-Five. Their Getaway Car Broke Down Enabling the Texarkana Police to Catch Up With the Criminals," was the wording on the marker.
"I need to do what it takes to get rid of this marker," he said, looking around the area. He reached in his pants pocket and removed his iPhone. He navigated through his contacts and made a call.
"You have reached Dr. Burns.
I'm sorry, but I'm not available, as I'm probably teaching young minds. Please leave a message, and I will get back to you as soon as I can.
Thank you," said Wallace's recorded phone message from the University.
"Uncle. I think we should go back to nineteen thirty-five. I'll explain later. I'm going to go get us some money to use for the trip," Clark recorded his message while he looked at that historical marker.
He looked determined and shoved his iPhone back in his pants pocket then rushed back into his hot rod.
He started up his engine then pulled back onto Finley Street. He roared his hot rod pick-up down the road and looked determined.
Ten minutes passed, and Clark made a ninety-degree turn and ended on Wingwright Blvd.
He turned left then west headed down that road which soon turned into Will Smith Road.
He drove down Will Smith Road then turned right on Clara Road.
He drove south down Clara Road then turned left on Eylau Loop Road.
He drove south down Eylau Loop Road and then turned right on Gun Club Road.
He headed east on Gun Club Road pulled off to the side of the road the second he saw a farmhouse to the right.
He stared at that farmhouse that had been renovated ten years ago. That farmhouse was the last known hideout of the Dirk Beaumont gang.
Clark made U-turn then headed west on Gun Club Road.
He retraced his tracks to head back to the Interstate in Texarkana.
Fifteen minutes later and Clark drove his hot rod west on Interstate 30.
All he could think about was how he would react during his first encounter with Dirk Beaumont back in 1935. He was thinking positive that if he went back in time, he could actually meet his hero. He practiced his greeting with the famous outlaw.
"Hello Dirk, I'm so and so. How are you?" he said. Then thought about that greeting. "Nah," he said then thought of another greeting for a few seconds.
"Mister Beaumont, I'm so and so. Can I join your gang?" he said then thought about that greeting. "Nah, he'll probably shoot me on the spot," he said then thought of another greeting for a few seconds.
"Mister Beaumont. I really need a job. Would you hire me as a driver? I know how to keep my mouth shut, and I'm an excellent mechanic," he said then thought about that greeting for a few seconds. "That's more like it," he said and smiled, thinking that was the perfect greeting.
He drove down the street a little farther. His eyes widened when he forgot something. "What name will I use?" he said then pondered for an answer for a few seconds. "Should I use my own name? What about identification? I can't use my driver's license." Clark wondered how he could solve that little problem. Then his eyes widened when he remembered a place in Dallas that might help his dilemma.
He turned on his CD player. The Moonlight Serenade song by Glenn Miller started playing.
Clark whistled along with the tune while he roared his hot rod down Interstate 30.
Later that day, Clark visited Melvin's Antique Emporium. It was a store he often frequented because of the 1930s, 1940s, 1950s and 1960s antiques. This was the store where he bought his 1931 Crosley console radio he keeps in his den.
Clark walked around, looking at the display cases.
He stood at a case and looked at a display case with 1940s toys. His iPhone rang from his pocket.
He removed his iPhone and saw Wallace was calling. "Uncle. You got my message," he answered the call.
"Yeah, and why nineteen thirty-five?" Wallace replied from the iPhone.
"Well, I was thinking how cool would it be to go around Austin, snap a bunch of pictures, then write a historical book about the town during the mid-thirties," Clark said walking away from that display case and headed over to another one.
There was a moment of silence from his iPhone while he walked up to the other display case.
"You know, I would like to visit the campus from that time. Doctor Elmer Evans was a great physicist of that day. He retired in forty-five then died the next year from a car accident. He spent a brief moment with Albert Einstein out in California.
I've always wanted to chat with him about his time with Albert," replied Wallace, then he paused for a few seconds. "Thirty-five would be good," he said then paused for a few more seconds. "Now, I know you, so I don't want you venturing off all by yourself then getting yourself into trouble," he said and sounded dead serious.
"Trouble? How can I get myself into trouble?"
"I know you and your obsession. I'm imposing a strict requirement that you stay by my side the whole time.
I'll introduce you as one of my students," said Wallace and again sounded serious.
Clark saw an old driver's license in the display case next to an old leather pistol shoulder harness. "I will," he said then smiled at the sight of the license and listened to Wallace repeating the requirements for time traveling. "I will, Uncle Wallace."
"Now that that's settled. I'll need some time to prepare for the trip. Be at my house by eight tomorrow night and then we'll leave."
"Eight tomorrow night. Got it," said Clark then he disconnected the call and motioned to the sales clerk that he wanted her assistance.
He shoved his iPhone in his pants pocket while a middle-aged sales clerk named Melvin walked up to the display case. He was the owner of this store.
"Can I help you?" asked Melvin.
"I'm interested in that driver's license," he said, pointing to the license in the case.
Melvin smiled then unlocked the back door of the display case, slid the one door open, reached inside, then grabbed the license. He handed Clark the driver's license placed in a protective plastic sleeve.
Clark looked at the license and saw it was for a Jacob Johnson of 1357 Oak Avenue, Fort Worth, Texas and dated 1932. He smiled and knew this was perfect. "I'll take it," he said and could care less that the price was twenty dollars.
Melvin locked up the display case. "I'll ring that up for you."
"That's all right, I'm going to look for some currency from between nineteen thirty and thirty-five."
"We have a selection over there," Melvin replied and pointed in another direction of the store.
Clark walked away from the display case with Melvin following.
Ten minutes had passed.
Clark left the store after buying that driver's license and two five-dollar bills dated 1932 and a ten-dollar bill dated 1933.
He got in his hot rod and headed south back to Austin.
Instead of driving straight to his home, Clark drove through town and headed to his uncle's farm.
He drove his hot rod down Maple Road and went past Wallace's dirt driveway.
He drove a little farther down the road then stopped off a quarter-mile east of Wallace's farm.
He pulled off the side of the road and stepped out of his hot rod. He looked around the area. "I hope your story is correct grandma," he said while he remembered his grandmother Kimberly taking him to that spot when he was a young boy. She told him a tale that he never forgot. He got back inside his hot rod and roared off down the street.
Clark pulled his hot rod into the parking lot of the old Heavenly Souls Cemetery.
This cemetery was established in 1900 and was filled to capacity by 1956.
Clark parked his hot rod and got out.
He headed off to the gravesides.
Clark stopped off at an old gravesite contained inside a small security fence.
He glanced down and saw "Here Lies Dirk Beaumont, Born March 25, 1909, Died April 5, 1940" engraved on the marble headstone.
"Well Dirk, I hope to extend out the final date by many, many years," he talked to the headstone.
After spending a few minutes staring at Dirk's gravesite, Clark walked away and headed back to his hot rod.
He drove away from the cemetery and headed back home.
Clark parked his hot rod back in his garage.
He stepped out of his garage and glanced over at Dudley's home. He noticed Kristy's Cadillac SRX parked in the garage. His interest got peaked, and he headed over to Dudley's house.
Once Clark walked over to Dudley's home, he knocked on his front door. He looked anxious while he waited.
After a few seconds of waiting, Dudley's front door opened and Kristy appeared at the door.
She saw Clark outside. Not this creep again. She said in her head then gave him a polite smile. "Yes."
"Ah, hi Kristy."
"Hi," she replied and wished he would go just away and leave her alone.
"I was wondering," he said, looking in her eyes.
Please don't ask me out for a date. Please don't! She silently prayed in her head.
He suddenly started to get a little scared. "I was wondering if your daddy was home," he said chickening out.
Kristy looked relieved.
"Who's at the door, darling?" asked Dudley walking up behind Kristy.
"The neighbor," she said.
"Hey Clark," said Dudley while Kristy walked away with a smile that Clark didn't ask her out.
"Dudley, I was wondering if I could borrow your photo album. I'll return it tomorrow."
"Sure, please step inside," said Dudley moving aside to let Clark inside his living room.
"I'll be right back," said Dudley closing the front door.
Dudley walked out of the living room.
Clark glanced around for sights of Kristy.
But she was gone since she discreetly rushed into her bedroom to grade test papers on her bed.
Dudley returned into the living room with his old family photo album in hand.
"What do you want with it?" he said while he handed Clark his photo album.
Clark hesitated, as he didn't plan this far ahead. "Ah, I'm rereading your book and wanted to check out the real pictures."
"Okay. Give it back tomorrow."
"I will," replied Clark, then he opened the front door then stepped outside.
"There's something odd about him," said Kristy while she walked up to Dudley the second Clark closed the front door behind him.
"He sure has an obsession with daddy," said Dudley.
"What he really needs is to join this century."
"Yeah, I guess you're right. So, let's head out to that steak house for some dinner."
Kristy nodded in agreement then they walked out of the living room and headed off to their bedrooms to freshen up.
Clark went inside his home and immediately started studying Dudley's book and glanced at the photo album.
Friday morning arrived, and Clark tossed and turned the whole night. He was too anxious about the potential of going back to 1935 to fall sleep.
It was a long day working on Cadillac's for Clark since he had nineteen thirty-five on his mind.
After he finished work, he raced his hot rod down the streets to headed home.
After he got home, he returned Dudley's photo album. He gave it to Kristy, and she stated that Dudley was taking a nap since he was feeling a little ill. Clark didn't want to talk to Dudley now, as he had to get ready for his trip.
It was now eight that evening, and Clark was dressed in his pinstriped suit, new white shirt, black tie, and black Fedora hat.
He roared off away from his house in his hot rod.
Clark parked his hot rod at Wallace's home next to his Cadillac.
He rushed out of his hot rod and rushed across the porch to the front door.
He immediately knocked.
The front door opened and Wallace appeared in an everyday brown 1930s suit and hat that looked cheap.
"Where did you get that suit?"
"It actually belonged to your granddaddy."
"You'll bend in perfect."
"So, are you ready?" asked Wallace.
"Let's go before I chicken out."
Wallace stepped outside onto the porch and locked his front door.
"Let's go traveling through time," he said while he walked across the porch.
Clark followed with a spring in his step.
Wallace and Clark went in that room inside his barn.
Wallace looked at Clark and got a little suspicious. "Now, with the way you're dressed, you better stick to my requirements," he said and looked serious.
"I will," replied Clark while he walked over to the starboard side of the machine.
"Okay," said Wallace, then he walked over to the port side of his time machine.
He pulled up on the handle on the side of the machine. The canopy flipped up, and the small doors opened on the sides of the machine.
"Get inside," said Wallace motioned for Clark to sit in the bench seat then he got inside the machine and sat down on the seat. He buckled up with the harness.
Clark got inside the machine and sat down on the bench seat next to Wallace.
He buckled up with the harness.
Wallace reached up and grabbed a handle on the bottom of the canopy. He pulled it down and closed the canopy and the small doors at the same time with a whish.
Clark took a deep breath of courage while he looked at the console, not knowing what to expect.
Wallace flipped the "1 - Power Switch" and saw the green light.
He flipped the "2 - Canopy" toggle switch and heard the canopy lock get activated and saw a green light.
Wallace looked at his watch then back at the panel. He dialed in September 26, 2014, 2036 for day's date in the "Now" panel.
He glanced over at Clark. "Oh, I forgot to ask what day in thirty-five?"
"I was thinking May sixteenth, thirty-five," replied Clark as he studied Dudley's book last night for the perfect day to travel back in time for his agenda.
Wallace dialed in May 16, 1935, 0400 in the "Drop-Off" panel then he pondered a few seconds.
"Two days should do it," said Wallace then he dialed in May 18, 1935, 2345 in the "Pick-Up" panel.
Clark looked concerned, as he needed to stay longer in 1935.
While Wallace reached for the "3 - Date" toggle switch, Clark quickly turned the dial and changed the "Pick-up date to May 22, 1935, 2345.
Wallace flipped the "3 - Date" switch then saw that the light was green for the date.
Wallace flipped the "4 - Engine" toggle switch up and noticed the green light.
The engine in the rear started up with a whine. The engine started to hum.
Wallace glanced at a circular "Engine" gauge with white, green and red bars.
He saw that the needle was in the white bar on the right and slowly moving to the green bar in the middle.
He dialed in "3" for the digital readout of three minutes in the small "Timer" panel.
He flipped the "5 - Timer" toggle switch and noticed he had a green light.
He saw that the needle of the "Engine" gauge was now in the middle of the green bar.
Wallace flipped the "6 - Time Travel" toggle switch and saw he had a green light.
"It's showtime," he told Clark then waited for the ride.
Wallace saw that the date was changed on the "Pick-Up" panel. "How the hell did that pick up date change?" he said while he tried to change it back to what he originally dialed. But the humming got louder and was ear piercing.
That caused Wallace to use his ha