Weird Thoughts

Setback - Part 3

The edge of his former hometown came into view. He was struck by how little had changed in thirty years. Sure, houses had gotten repainted and gardens looked different, but other than that it was perfectly preserved.

There was Main Street with its row of stores, their bricks all a slightly different shade of umber brown. The buildings were contrasted by low grassy mountains further towards the horizon. Guy nearly expected classmates hanging around their favorite spots. They must've been middle-aged now as well. They had careers. They had children. They might have already died.

Eventually Clifford pulled into Ralph's neighborhood. His house didn't seem much different either. The lawn was shabbier and there was no longer a car in the driveway. To Guy it was a good sign.

He jumped out after Clifford had parked itself. Ignoring the gravel driveway stabbing into his feet, he rang the doorbell. It was rung twice more for good measure. A muffled voice came from the other side. Guy's heart leapt; it was Ralph's. His friend's mouth turned circular when he opened the door. Whereas Guy had quickly recognized his own aged face, he had to look twice for his friend. Ralph's nose had gotten red and bulbous on his deeply lined face. He'd also added a few pounds.

At least his pimples had disappeared. Still, Guy couldn't help but think he himself had aged a little better.Ralph broke into a smile, shook Guy's hand and waved him in. The smell of cheap beer wafted through the living room. A coffee table was covered in empty bottles and closed curtains let in little of winter's light. The place hadn't been vacuumed in months.

Ralph's still a messy dude, Guy thought. It's even worse than thirty years ago. There was an offer for a drink, but Guy didn't have the patience left for pleasantries.

"Ralphy, you gotta help me. Remember that device you gave me yester...I mean when we were teens? After we'd messed up that statue in the park?"

Ralph laughed and extended a vertical hand. "Wow, hold your horses, buddy. I don't see you all this time and now you come steamrolling in? Let's sit down first, shall we?"

"Please, I need you to remember. Do you still have it?"

Ralph's grin faded, happiness making way for confusion. "Why would you even bring that up?"

Guy sat on Ralph's couch, raking his hands through his hair. How only now realized how exhausted he was. Sleep must've eluded him for over twenty-four hours. He needed to take a step back. Of course, Ralph didn't understand what was going on.

"I used it that night, thirty years ago." Guy said, looking up at his friend. "To get out of my father's lecture."

"I remember. You gave it back to me."

Guy had to stop himself from doing a victory dance; he was getting a step closer to figuring out what to do. He asked Ralph again if he still had it.

The red nosed man looked at Guy for a long moment. "No, of course not. You made me promise I'd get rid of it. You never wanted to see the thing again."

"Well, I do wanna see it now. Can't you make another one?"

Ralph shook his head. "You were adamant. Even if you begged me, I wasn't supposed to help you."

Guy groaned, wondering why he'd said that. A possible solution was slipping through his fingers. He needed to lay his cards on the table.

"Ralph, I woke up a few hours ago."

Ralph remained stoic, seemingly waiting for Guy to get down to brass tacks.

"I mean woke up." Guy said, making wild gestures, "Like that normal consciousness you talked about. You walk around but don't remember things?"