12 May 1972
Tom woke up on the bitumen. He was naked. But what was this? The baby was still in his arms. How on earth did that happen? He had never been able to take anything with him when he travelled in time. But where was his father?
He couldn’t sit her in the street naked. Cars were already going past. As soon it was full light someone would notice him. His first concern was with the baby though. Would it go back to its own time when the sun went down or when it went to sleep? But in the mean time it needed food. There was a hospital right there. So that’s where it is going. If it goes back it will be to the nurses quarters. If it doesn’t then they will take care of it right here.
He started walking toward the hospital holding the baby as close to his chest as possible to keep it warm. He was freezing so he new the baby would be too. Rather than walk right around the street he cut through the hospital grounds. There was a truck parked at a loading dock and inside Tom could see piles of linen. He figured it was worth the risk so he snuck in and stole a couple of bedspreads from the pile. He wrapped one around the baby and one around himself.
Nobody must have noticed because nobody yelled. He slipped silently back out of the loading area and hurried around to the main entrance of the hospital. The door was locked but there was a night bell. He placed the baby in front of the door and pushed the bell. Then he ran around the corner of the building. He watched as a man came out picked up the baby and looked around. He called out “Who is there?” Then he took the baby inside.
Tom quietly snuck out of the hospital grounds. He walked down to Mary Street to the office where his dad now worked. He couldn’t explain what happened to his father but maybe he would be here. It was still early so the office was locked. At 7:30 his father drove up in the Kingswood and parked outside the office.
“What are you doing here? Your mother is worried sick.”
“What am I doing here? What happened to you?”
“Nothing. What are you on about?”
“You parked outside the hospital while I went to sleep so I could go back to 1929 and see whether Mathew Connolly had a twin?”
“Who is Mathew Connolly?”
Then the penny dropped. Tom realized that by bringing the baby back history had changed somehow. “Dad I have changed history again. Am I under arrest for the murder of Cathy Rigsby?”
“I most certainly hope not. Who is she? One of your girlfriends?”
“Not likely.” Said Tom.
“Come on I will take you home. Mum and Fran will be in the cow yard so I can’t ring them.”
At school that day Tom was very happy to see Cathy Rigsby and even more pleased when she ignored his greeting.
The next day the Gympie Times was full of the story of the baby left at the hospital. There was never a story to say the baby had vanished so Tom assumed that he was here to stay.
YOU ARE READING
2015 Revisited
General FictionThis is the third book in the series "A Timeless Adventure". Tom is desperately trying to fit into two worlds. He is sick of being a book worm so he becomes a surf lifesaver. He even grows his hair long. So ante establishment. Then he has trouble w...
