Epilogue

 

Forty-nine years passed by again for the second time.

It was now Friday June 3rd, 2011.

Michael's backyard looked different. It was all landscaped with rose bushes and beautiful flowers.

Jennifer, now seventy-seven years old, looked great for her age even with her styled white hair. And she still wore glasses.

She sat on some nice patio furniture on the porch.

Michael, now seventy-seven years old, walked from the sliding glass door. He looked healthier with more meat on his bones.

He sat down in a chair next to Jennifer. He reached over and held her hand.

“It's hard to believe it's been fifty years,” Jennifer said while she stared at the garage remembering that time machine.

Michael looked over at Jennifer. “I know. And I can't get over how the police never found a trace of that girl.”

“What girl?” Jennifer asked not having a clue what he was talking about.

“That girl that came to town and looked so much like you. Oh what was her name?” Michael said while he tried to remember.

Jennifer’s eyes widened when she remembered her former life. “Abby.”

Michael's eyes widened a little. “That's right Abby Austin. Strange how they never found her body. Just like she simply vanished.”

Jennifer looked back at the garage with a hint of a smile. “Yeah, vanished.”

There were a few moments of silence while Michael and Jennifer enjoyed their landscaped backyard.

“Hi grandma, grandpa,” a young girl’s voice called out from behind them.

Jennifer's eyes lit up hearing her voice.

She and Michael turned around and saw Kristen Bronson their nine-year-old granddaughter standing in the doorway of the sliding glass door.

Kristen stepped out of the house and to the porch.

She rushed over and gave Jennifer a hug.

She rushed over and gave Michael a hug.

“Grandma, grandpa, the voice of a young boy was heard behind them.

Bobby Bronson, their seven-year-old grandson stepped out of the house.

He ran over and gave Jennifer a hug.

He ran over and gave Michael a hug.

Cindy Bronson, their forty-year-old daughter stepped out onto the porch from the sliding glass door.

Cindy walked over to Jennifer.

“Happy fifth wedding anniversary, mom and dad,” she said then gave Jennifer a kiss on his cheek then gave Michael a kiss on his cheek.

Cindy sat down in the chair next to Michael.

“Can I go inside and play in the garage?” Bobby asked Michael.

“Oh no, it’s too dangerous in there,” Michael said as he used it as a workshop for some woodworking projects.

“Can we go inside and watch TV?” Bobby asked.

“Sure,” Michael replied.

Bobby and Kristen ran back to the sliding glass door and went into the kitchen.

“I talked with Robert and Kathy. They'll be here later with their kids,” Cindy said.

“I love our family gatherings,” Jennifer said with a smile happy that she got this chance to have a family.

“So, are you to ready for your trip down to Florida to watch the last shuttle launch?” Cindy asked them.

“Yeah, and it’s sad to think this will be the last one,” Michael replied.

Jennifer nodded in agreement.

 

Hours had passed and it was now the evening.

Michael, Jennifer, Cindy, Bobby, and Kristen drove to the Brandywine Restaurant outside of town.

 

They went inside the restaurant and were escorted by the hostess through the eating area to a large room used for large parties.

This room was to the right of a smaller room where Michael and Jennifer had their rehearsal dinner back in 1961.

Already seated at the large table was Maris with her husband George, Gail with her husband Ricky, and Linda with her husband Ernie. There were all seventy-seven years old.

Also at the table sat Jennifer and Michael’s son Michael Junior and his wife Kathy. He was forty-eight years old and Kathy was forty-seven. Between them sat their kids Wendy, twelve years old and James, fourteen years old who was not thrilled at being at function with a bunch of old people. He wished he was home playing video games.

Jack and Joe, also seventy-seven years old also sat at the table.

All the grown ups chapped when Michael and Jennifer stepped into the room with Cindy, Kristen, Bobby, and Cindy’s husband Steve, also forty years old.

Michael and Jennifer smiled at the sight of all their friends.

Everybody got situated in his or her seats.

After the two waitresses brought everybody their drinks, Michael held up his glass of iced tea. “A toast,” he said then paused while everybody brought up his or her glasses.

James rolled his eyes thinking this was stupid.

“I want to thank all of you for showing up for our fifth wedding anniversary.”

“Here, here,” Jack called out and drew nods in agreement with Joe, Maris, Gail, and Linda.

Michael looked a little somber. “I also would like to toast those loved ones we lost during the past fifty years. Our parents, our beloved friends Diane, Sandy, Wendell, Mark, and someone that we briefly knew but touched Jennifer my hearts for a brief period, Abby Austin,” he said.

Everybody clinked his and her glasses together.

The two waitresses entered the room and started taking down their dinner orders.

The rest of the anniversary dinner was wonderful for Michael and Jennifer.

 

It was now July 8th, 2011 and Michael and Jennifer made it down to Cocoa Beach, Florida two days ago.

It was eleven twenty-four in the morning and Michael and Jennifer were on the crowded beach waiting for the last launch of a space shuttle.

Jennifer glanced at all the people on the beach while she stood in the sand holding Michael’s hand.

Her eyes lit up when she saw a familiar face. It was Rich, Abby’s old boyfriend from 2010. Rich stood five feet from Jennifer and stood next to his wife Becky. Rich held a year old daughter in his arms and looked so happy.

“He lived,” Jennifer said and her eyes welled up being happy about Rich.

“What’s wrong?” Michael asked when he saw her eyes tear up.

“Oh, its just sad to think the space shuttle program will be soon be over,” she replied.

“I know,” Michael responded.

The crowd on the beach started cheering and clapping at the sight of the space shuttle soaring into the sky.

Jennifer took her eyes off Rich and looked up at the sky where all other eyes were aimed.

She and Michael watched while Atlantis soared up into the sky with a fiery smoke trail.

 

Two weeks had passed and it was early in the month of August.

It was nighttime back in Barbourville, Pennsylvania and the clear sky was filled with twinkling stars and a full Moon.

The front door to Michael’s house opened and Jennifer and Michael stepped outside.

They walked hand in hand to the driveway then walked down to the street.

They walked down the street and into the darkness holding hands unaware of the psychedelic colors that suddenly filled the inside of his garage.

 

Inside Michael’s garage, his old time returned to that bare spot.

The door to the machine opened and Bobby Bronson, now fifty-six years old, got out of the machine. He stood with wobbly legs by the machine and looked a little confused.

He rushed over to the wall and vomited onto the floor. He regained his composure and looked around the garage.

He hoped that his attempt to travel back to 2011 from 2060 worked.

He glanced around the garage and realized this was not the garage he had in 2060. “I made it,” he said and was happy that the time machine actually worked.

He walked over to the workbench and opened up the window.

He climbed out the window and stepped into the darkness of 2011 on a mission to determine how this time machine mysteriously appeared in his garage during one night two months ago in May 2060.

After all, he found his father’s books and notes on time travel.