Zach's Time Machine

It was two in the morning when my mobile phone buzzed. I yawned, turned on my bedside lamp, and grabbed my phone.

“Who could be messaging me so early in the morning?” I asked myself, “It better be important.”

I peered at my screen. It was a text message from my friend Zach. I was about to read it when my phone started to ring. It was Zach. I clicked the green phone on the screen, and put the mobile to my ear.

“Zach, why on earth are you calling me so early in the morning?” I asked.

“I’m sorry but you have to come to my house. I made this time machine and I need someone to test it.” Zach said, talking quickly as he was so excited.

“Can’t it wait until the morning? I’m trying to sleep.” I said, slightly irritated.

“No, come on. Please, come down. It’s a better time than any. You are already awake.” Zach said.

“Oh, alright. I’m coming. Let me get some clothes on.” I said.

I jumped out of bed and quickly slipped on some clothes and pulled on some shoes, then I tiptoed down the stairs and let myself out the back door.

Soon I was standing beside Zach by this odd looking machine. He handed me a remote control and told me to get into the machine.

“You dial in the year you want to go to, then close the door. It will start spinning round really fast, and when it stops spinning you will find yourself where you wanted to go.” Zach said, as if this sort thing happened every day.

I rolled my eyes. I didn’t think it would actually work. Zach was always creating things and most of his inventions never worked so I thought this would be the same.

“Where do you want to go? Come on, test it out. When you want to come back, just type in the present year and the place and hey-presto.” Zach said.

I thought for a minute and then put in the year 1910. I just thought it would be intresting, and I had been learning about life in Britain at that time and thought it would be intresting to see it for myself. Zach grinned and shut the door. I felt myself spinning. It spun faster and faster. Then suddenly it stopped.

I slowly opened my eyes. Where was I? I was in a green field but it looked nothing like 1910. I got out of the small machine and looked about. There suddenly was a loud whooshing sound and I looked up, thinking I would see a plane. But instead it was a care. A flying car. I must have come to the future. I knew Zach’s machine wouldn’t work! Wait… I was in the future. The machine did work, but instead of going back in time I was in the future. My future. I would be able to see my family, friends and life in the future. I wondered what year I was in…

Suddenly the control, that was still in my hand buzzed. I looked down at the screen just as some words appeared on the screen. I quickly and nervously read what it said:

“You have arrived in the year 2024.”

After I had read it the control buzzed again and another sentence appeared on the screen. This time it said:

“Needs recharging before being used again.”

I suddenly felt like crying. I had no batteries or a charger. I was stuck here. Probably forever. I would never see my parents, friends, or my pets again. I was stuck in the future.

Then I really did burst into tears. How was I going to get home? I needed to get home. I wanted to get home. Why did I let Zach do this to me?

Then the control buzzed again. I groaned. It was probably going to tell me I was stuck in this future-world for the rest of my life. I slowly read the new message, my heart beating in my chest.

“If you want to go anywhere else with this time machine all you have to find a Level 9 Battery Code and dial it in. You have until midnight or you will be unable to travel for another 48 hours.”

What on earth was a Level 9 Battery Code. How did Zach get his hands on one? I had never heard of it before!

Anyway, if I wanted to get home I needed this code, and that meant one thing…. I had to go on an adventure. I had to go into shops and ask people where I could find this mysterious code thing. But I couldn’t go looking like this. I needed I disguise. But what? I looked about me but I couldn’t see anything. I groaned. I had to set off and find this thing before I was stuck here for a whole two days.

I took a deep breath and set off on my journey. A journey of a lifetime. A journey that could possibly change my life. I started to feel excited. Who else could have a peek into their future life? I was one in a million people who could have anything like this happen to them…. and I was going to try and enjoy myself.

After walking for about twenty minutes I found myself outside a little shop. I peered inside and saw they sold clothes. There were strange frilly dresses, and weird looking hats. I guessed they were “future clothes”. I wouldn’t want to be caught dead in any of those outfits. How could people wear these things? But I wanted to find this code and I needed to have a disguise so I had no choice. I had to go in.

“Hello, How can I help you?” a tall pretty young lady asked when I entered the store.

The lady had black hair in a bun and she seemed to be wearing ordinary clothes. Maybe these “future clothes” weren’t worn by everybody after all. When I looked closer at her I saw she was not actually that tall, and in fact, she was hovering above the floor on what looked like hover shoes. And it looked as if she had just been putting some clothes onto a top shelf.

“Why are you staring? You are acting like you’ve never seen Air-Shoes before.” the lady said, with a friendly smile.

“I…. I haven’t seen them before. You see, I am not from here. I am from the past. From 2015 actually.” I stammered, my cheeks going pink.

The lady laughed and said, “You funny little young’un” Then she looked at me up and down and added, “By the way, what are you wearing?”

I looked down at my old jogging trousers and my old flower crop top, that I had pulled on before going out to see Zach, and then back at her, with a puzzled expression on my face.

“What’s wrong with it?” I asked, nervously.

“Looks like you just came out of one of those dress-up shops in town.” the lady said with a laugh.

“In 2015 girls often wear these sort of things when relaxing at home or with friends. It’s considered cool in some groups.” I said, trying to act as if she hadn’t hurt me at all but in fact I felt like bursting into tears again.

The lady looked me up and down again then rolled her eyes, as if she didn’t believe me. I didn’t care. I just wanted to get the code and go home.

“I actually came here to get something new to wear.” I said, looking at a shelf of strange outfits which I assumed were for girls.

“You’ll need it.” she said with a laugh, “Follow me.”

I followed her over to the lady’s section and she showed me some outfits which she thought I would like, but to me they all looked strange and wacky.

“Don’t you have any jeans and t-shirts or skirts?” I asked.

The lady looked at me again, one eyebrow raised. Then she led me to another section at the back of the store.

I let out a sigh of relief. There were jeans, shorts, t-shirts, and shirts. This was much nicer than all the other clothes in the store but why was this section so small.

“A couple of people are still interested in these outfits… like I can see you are…. so we usually try and keep some in stock. A couple of adults say these are more appropriate than the new fashions, and many of the young people prefer these sort of clothes. I don’t see why… new is better. Why keep with the old? Keep moving foreward… that’s what I believe.”

I quickly picked out some jeans, a new shirt, a hat and some sunglasses. I didn’t want to be laughed at again by anyone for wearing jogging stuff. After paying… thank god I had some money on me… I changed and stuffed my clothes into a new bag, that I had also decided to buy, to carry any souvernirs and then started off on my journey to find a Level 9 Battery Code.

After walking for what felt like ages.. I found myself in a town centre. There were people everywhere and I pulled my hat down a little so nobody would regognize me. I went into store after store asking for a Level 9 Battery Code but nobody seemed to know what one was or they didn’t have any left. What was I going to do?

I soon started to feel hungry. I continued to walk, looking for a Café. Did Starbucks still excist? So many other things seemed to have changed. There were hover shoes, flying cars, hover boards, robots…. and so many more intresting things to see. But I couldn’t stop and take everything in. I had to find this code and find it quickly.

I soon found a café. It was called “Outer Space”. I felt that it suited its name. This future world seemed to me like some distant planet out in space. I felt alone and lost, even when I was surrounded by lots of people. I decided to go into the café. I was so hungary ,I could have eaten anything.

The inside looked like any ordinary café but there were people with hover boots serving at the tables and people wearing different types of weird, intresting, and wacky outfits. I was starting to feel like the odd one out, when I noticed a couple of people wearing “past clothes” as the lady in the store had called them.

Just then a lady walked into the café behind me. She was holding a little baby in her hands. I looked at her for a while, thinking she looked familiar. But how could she? I didn’t know anybody here.

“Oh, Hello Sandra. Is  John with you today? And how is it with little Jerry, and another on the way?” one of the waitresses greeted the famillir lady.

I froze. Sandra? John? No wonder she looked familiar. Sandra was my best friend at school. Her boyfriend was called John back then. She couldn’t possibly have married him. They were so young when they started dating. I never thought they would end up together.

“Everything is going well. John is actually on his way here.” Sandra said.

Just then the door opened and a young man appeared. It was John. The same John that Sandra had been dating in 2015. I started to feel really happy for her. She and John actually ended up getting married.

Sandra looked up and looked at me directly in the eyes. I turned pale. If she saw me, and regonized me then my cover would be lost. I would be the centre of attention and be pestered with questions. I backed up, then opened the café door and ran down the street. I know that sounded mean and rude, but I didn’t want to slow myself down or blow my cover or ruin anything that was going to form my future, this future…. my friends and families future…

I contined to walk down the road. Then I found myself outside a store called “The Future Handy Man” and under the sign it said, “Batteries, Tools, and More”. Maybe this store would have what I would need.

I entered the store and saw another familiar face behind the desk. I turned pale. It was Zach. He had always said he wanted to someday be a handy man and an inventor. Maybe he had his dream come true…

“Welcome, little lady. My name is Zach. How can I help you?”

I smiled. I just couldn’t help it. He looked so handsome, and smart… and well… like Zach.

“ I am actually looking for a Level 9 Battery Code” I said, still smiling.

“You’ve come to the right place, little lady. We are one of the few stores in this town that sell the Level 9 Battery Code and that is because I invented it… haha… and they only work in my inventions. You see, little lady, I’m an inventor. I great inventor I must add… haha… let me get you a Level 9 Battery Code from the back of the store. Just wait here a minute, and I’ll be right back.” Zach said.

I smiled and nodded, and watched as he went to the back of the store.

When he came back he smiled and lay the packet on the table.

“That will be £9.90” he said.

I stopped smiling.

I didn’t have that much money on me, plus that was the most expensive type of battery I had ever brought… ever.

“Is something wrong?” Zach asked.

“I.. I don’t have enough.” I muttered, tears coming to my eyes.

I was so close, yet so far.

“Well.. why don’t you run home and ask your parents for a little extra cash?” Zach asked.

I was about to answer when Zach’s mobile rang.

“Excuse me, I have to take this.” he said.

He put the phone to his ear.

“Hello Rosa.” he said.

I froze and my face turned white.

Rosa? That was my name!

I totally zoomed out when Zach continued talking on the phone. Was he talking to future me? Was I just a friend of his or his wife? I suddenly felt sick. Did I end up falling in love with Zach? I couldn’t. He was just a friend. A good friend. Nothing more than that.

“Little lady?”

I quickly snapped back into the present and looked at Zach.

“I’m sorry about that. I was on the phone to my wife. She was just wanting me to pick up a bottle of milk and some bread before I go home.”  Zach said.

Oh My Gosh! I was his wife! I ended up married to Zach?

“Are you alright?” Zach asked, looking at me with a worried look.

I nodded slowly, starting to feel dizzy.

I heard a shout.

Then I fainted.

When I opened my eyes I saw Zach standing over me.

“I was worried about you. You just fainted. I would have phoned your parents but I don’t have your home number….” Zach started to trail off, and then his own face went white.

I slowly sat up and looked about me. I was still in Zach’s store, but he had somehow got me over to some bench in the corner of the shop.

“You look… you look like…” Zach muttered, looking confused yet excited at the same time.

“I’m Rosa. I came here in your time machine. I’m from 2015.” I said.

Zach gave a gasp and took a step back.

“It worked. My time machine worked. It actually worked. My first proper invention ever. And it worked.” Zach sang, dancing around the room.

I hoped nobody would walk into his store right then.

When he had stopped dancing he looked at me with a large smile.

“I can’t believe it worked.” he said, then he kissed me on the cheek…. just as the door opened.

“ZACH?”

Zach turned around and there stood his wife, and the future me.

“What are you doing here?” Zach asked, blushing.

“I got a phone call from a friend and decided to come out to buy the things myself. I popped in to see how you were. Who is this girl? What are you doing with her?”

Zach looked from his wife back to me and then at his wife again. His face was bright red, and I started to feel sorry for him.

“Rosa. My name is Rosa. I am you. I’m from 2015. Zach made a time machine and I ended up here…..” I found myself saying.

Future Rosa looked at me more closer and then her face went pale.

“I can’t believe it.” she said, her face turning white.

I was sure she was going to faint.

“Oh, I feel dizzy. I need to sit down.” she said.

I moved so she could sit down next to me, and I explained everything to them both.

After that Zach let me have the Level 9 Battery Code for free, and after saying goodbye I set off back to the time machine… and to home.

I couldn’t wait to get home and tell everyone the good news, and in my bag I had a couple of souvenirs to show everyone what the future was really like.

THE END