The Time Traveler's Lover : Jack at 24 (BEST WESTERN 2)
Inspired by The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
The characters belong to Annie Proulx
Jack travels back and forth in time during the course of his life and encounters Ennis and himself - visits that change everything and almost nothing.
June 5, 1968
Jack kept one eye on the point of light that lay miles ahead on the dark, blade-straight road and the other on the glowing radium dashes on his watch. He adjusted his truck's speed so that the the minute hand's infinitesimal progress toward 12 matched the light's gradual growth from dot to glow. It was a game he often played on long drives to keep himself awake. The goal was to pass the oasis of light at the exact moment that the minute hand and the second hand pointed to 12. It would be 2 am; he should reach Childress by three o’clock.
At twenty seconds before the hour he could make out the sign. He'd driven this road in the past and suddenly remembered it was a shabby motel standing like a lonely sentinel on the endless stretch of blacktop. But now it was ablaze with lights and he saw why. Instead of plain neon MOTEL letters, the place now boasted a bright yellow sign topped with a crown: Best Western. Holy Shit. He braked and swung sharply into the small, nearly-deserted parking lot then practically sprinted to the entrance. As he was pushing open the door he noticed a sticker on the glass and it dawned on him that Best Western was a chain. He began to doubt: his future self had looked much older than twenty four.
When he pushed open the door to the small reception area he saw that the young dark haired woman sitting at the desk had her face buried in her hands, her splayed fingers making a perfect fan tipped with red varnish. She didn't look up as he approached the counter and he could see her shoulders were heaving. He cleared his throat.
"Uh, miss..." She raised her head and stared at him with huge, shimmering brown eyes, tears spilling down her cheeks. His own eyes widened in surprise. "I, uh.….wh.. what is it?" he stammered.
Her face crumpled and she choked out, "It's Bobby..." before covering her eyes again and breaking into sobs.
Jack felt a stab of fear shoot through him and his stomach lurched. He backed away, breathless, then turned and hurried back to his truck. He felt as though he'd been yanked back to the present, even though he hadn't left it. And for the next hour he didn't think once of Ennis Del Mar.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Why
.
.
she
.
.
is
.
.
crying
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
V
Don't know who that is?...
<< Jack at 23 | Jack at 25 >>
The characters belong to Annie Proulx
Jack travels back and forth in time during the course of his life and encounters Ennis and himself - visits that change everything and almost nothing.
June 5, 1968
Jack kept one eye on the point of light that lay miles ahead on the dark, blade-straight road and the other on the glowing radium dashes on his watch. He adjusted his truck's speed so that the the minute hand's infinitesimal progress toward 12 matched the light's gradual growth from dot to glow. It was a game he often played on long drives to keep himself awake. The goal was to pass the oasis of light at the exact moment that the minute hand and the second hand pointed to 12. It would be 2 am; he should reach Childress by three o’clock.
At twenty seconds before the hour he could make out the sign. He'd driven this road in the past and suddenly remembered it was a shabby motel standing like a lonely sentinel on the endless stretch of blacktop. But now it was ablaze with lights and he saw why. Instead of plain neon MOTEL letters, the place now boasted a bright yellow sign topped with a crown: Best Western. Holy Shit. He braked and swung sharply into the small, nearly-deserted parking lot then practically sprinted to the entrance. As he was pushing open the door he noticed a sticker on the glass and it dawned on him that Best Western was a chain. He began to doubt: his future self had looked much older than twenty four.
When he pushed open the door to the small reception area he saw that the young dark haired woman sitting at the desk had her face buried in her hands, her splayed fingers making a perfect fan tipped with red varnish. She didn't look up as he approached the counter and he could see her shoulders were heaving. He cleared his throat.
"Uh, miss..." She raised her head and stared at him with huge, shimmering brown eyes, tears spilling down her cheeks. His own eyes widened in surprise. "I, uh.….wh.. what is it?" he stammered.
Her face crumpled and she choked out, "It's Bobby..." before covering her eyes again and breaking into sobs.
Jack felt a stab of fear shoot through him and his stomach lurched. He backed away, breathless, then turned and hurried back to his truck. He felt as though he'd been yanked back to the present, even though he hadn't left it. And for the next hour he didn't think once of Ennis Del Mar.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Why
.
.
she
.
.
is
.
.
crying
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
V
Don't know who that is?...
<< Jack at 23 | Jack at 25 >>