Chapter 4
Saturday morning arrived, and Ernie headed to Conner Chevrolet at 9:00 a.m.
Ernie pulled his car into the lot and parked near the Sales Building.
He got out and reluctantly went inside the building.
Ernie walked through the showroom where a few salesmen were showing off some of the 1981 Chevrolet's to potential customers.
Some of the salesmen gave Ernie a hello nod when they saw him.
Ernie headed to Jesse's office.
He stepped inside and saw he wasn't there.
"I believe he's in the service area," a man's voice said from behind Ernie.
"Thanks," Ernie said while he turned around and saw another salesman that walked toward the showroom.
Ernie walked away and headed toward the door that led to the service area.
Ernie entered the service area where three mechanics serviced some older Chevy's.
He scanned the area over and saw Jesse in the corner. He talked with a bald mechanic; rough looking with both arms filled with tattoos and had a goatee. Jesse discreetly handed the mechanic an envelope.
The mechanic shoved the envelope into his pants pocket with a greedy smile.
Jesse walked away.
Ernie turned around and headed back through the door for the showroom.
When Ernie entered the showroom, he remembered the woman at the fountain telling the policeman about the man she saw with Laurence. He started to get suspicious while he walked over to a white Camaro.
"It's about time you showed up," Jesse's voice came from behind Ernie.
The sound of Jesse's voice made him jump a little. He turned around and saw Jesse behind him.
Jesse looked at one of his salesman who sat at a nearby desk. "Ernie's going to buy a new Camaro. Handle the sale," he told the salesman.
The salesman nodded and got up from his desk.
Jesse walked away and headed toward his office.
"Hi Ernie," the salesman said while he walked over. "Let's go out to the lot and pick one out," the salesman added then walked Ernie to the door that led out to the car lot.
Two hours had passed, and Ernie was the owner of a new red 1981 Camaro. He hated the car and was also ticked that his father didn't give him a special deal.
He drove his Camaro out of the parking lot. He turned onto the street and gave it too much power. His eyes widened in a panic when the Camaro fishtailed all over the road.
Other cars screeched to a stop avoiding a collision by inches. Car horns blew, and The Finger by numerous drivers was thrown at Ernie while he straightened out his Camaro.
Ernie drove down the street. He really missed his Tercel.
Ernie walked into his apartment living room with his owner's manual of his new Camaro. He placed the manual on the table by his lazy boy chair. He sat down and turned on the TV with the remote.
A cartoon appeared on the TV.
Ernie picked up his owners manual. He started flipping through the pages. He couldn't read it, as his mind was on his real mom. He couldn't get her out of his mind and wanted to know the truth behind her death.
He set the manual back on the table then grabbed his remote. He jumped off the chair and turned off the TV. He dropped the remote in his chair then rushed toward the hallway.
Ernie rushed back down the hallway with his 35mm Canon camera strapped around his neck.
He rushed to his apartment door and left.
Ernie raced his Camaro through the streets of Waterford.
He soon pulled his car into Louie's driveway.
He got out and rushed to the front door and rang the doorbell numerous times.
A few seconds passed, and Louie opened the door.
"Are you okay?" Louie asked as the many doorbells sound raised a concern of an emergency.
"I hope your machine is working. I want to go back to nineteen fifty-six," Ernie said and anxiously paced on the stoop.
"I haven't tried it yet."
"Let's try it before I change my mind," Ernie said while he stepped inside Louie's home.
"What the hell," Louie said while he closed the door.
Louie stood in the living room and watched while Ernie headed toward the kitchen.
"Let me lock the place up, and then I'll meet you in the basement," Louie said.
"Okay," Ernie replied while he went inside the kitchen.
Ernie rushed down the stairs to the basement.
He rushed over to the covered time machine and started removing the tarp.
He had the tarp removed, folded and over by the wall.
Louie walked down the stairs and saw Ernie standing by the machine.
"Man, you are anxious to time travel," Louie said while he walked over to Ernie.
"I have to learn the truth on how mom died," Ernie replied.
"Let's go," Louie said while he opened up the left side door and got inside.
Ernie opened the right side door and got inside.
Ernie took a deep breath while he looked at the console.
They both buckled their seat belts.
"What day?" Louie asked while he inserted the key in the ignition.
"July fifteenth."
Louie turned the key to the "Both" position.
He pressed the power button.
The engine powered up with a low hum.
Ernie got a little nervous but looking forward to time travel.
Louie flipped the three toggle switches.
The needles of the four gauges move a little.
The two screens powered up with "Date" and "Time" entry spots visible.
Louie typed in "July fifteenth, 1956" pressed "Enter" and it displayed on the "Date" screen.
He typed in "8 a.m.," and it displayed on the "Time" screen.
"Ready?"
"I'm ready," Ernie replied.
The needles of the four gauges moved into the green bands, and the engine hummed louder.
Louie pressed the green button.
Louie and Ernie braced themselves.
The engine hums louder than it suddenly shut down with a low whine.
The needles on the gauges dropped to the left side.
The screens went blank.
It was quiet inside the machine.
Louie looked a little confused.
"I guess it doesn't work," Ernie said while he looked at the console
"I thought it was ready," Louie said while he tapped on the four gauges.
Ernie looked disappointed while he opened his door and got out of the machine.
Louie sat in the machine scratching his head why he pondered the problem.
Ernie went back up the stairs and headed out of Louie's house.
Ernie got back inside his Camaro and backed down Louie's driveway.
He drove off down the street.
Later that afternoon, Ernie went back to the Waterford Cemetery.
He stood by Erica's headstone with his Canon camera still strapped around his neck.
"I guess the truth will never be known, mom," he said while he looked down at the headstone.
Ernie walked away disappointed.
Darkness fell upon the Georgia area.
Ernie was back in his apartment and slouched in his lazy boy chair in the living room.
He watched the TV where a movie played.
On TV, a good guy punched a bad guy hard in the bad guy's throat. The bad guy dropped to his knees, gasping for air. Then the good guy kicked the bad guy in his jaw. The bad guy flew backward and landed on his back.
The bad guy squirmed on the ground in pain.
Ernie cringed in sympathy pain while he watched TV.
A knock was heard on his apartment door.
Ernie ignored the knock.
The knock turned into pounding.
Ernie got up a little irritated and walked to his door.
Ernie opened the door and saw Louie outside. Louie looked like he has ants in his pants.
"What's wrong?"
"It works! It works! The problem was with a loose wire at the engine," Louie replied proudly.
Louie looked over his shoulder. He pushed his way inside Ernie's apartment.
Ernie closed the door and turned around to find Louie flashing a color photograph of downtown 1956 Waterford.
"We'll have to dress to blend in. People gave me odd looks while I was back there."
Ernie looked at the photograph, and a grin grew on his face. "Can we leave tomorrow?"
"Eight in the morning."
Ernie smiled about the thought ongoing on his time-traveling adventure.