Time ... But not as we know it ... A short story by Rob Hopcott

Either I'm going crazy or the Universe is!

This morning, in the shower, whilst using my shampoo, I was surprised to find that my hair seemed unusually abundant.

My tendency to baldness appeared to have been reversed overnight.

"You're going daft or senile," I thought.

So, I got dressed and went down the road to get my morning newspaper.

By the time I got back, my shiny new Ford in the driveway was looking strangely ancient. My motorcar, of course, is my pride and joy and I'm even thinking of giving it a name but can't work out what sex it should be. Is my car a Rufus or a Rosemarie? ... It's a puzzle that keeps me awake in the early hours of the morning ... as my wife snores.

Still trying to put my finger on why I thought my not-yet-named car looked older, I slipped the driver's door open and settled myself behind the wheel ... Well, it's been a day since we went driving together and that was only a short journey down to the Post Office to get some more bird seed for the voracious sparrows that over-populate our garden. I don't like my little Ford to feel lonely so I use her every day, if I can. Unfortunately, I forgot to pop her in the garage last night ... Perhaps that's why she looks a little tired ...

Without switching the engine on, I depressed the clutch and slipped into first gear. It felt smooth and sweet ... But something niggled at the back of my mind. Ah, that's right, I'd forgotten for a moment, my lovely little Ford is an automatic. Most curious!

Rufus and I trundled fairly contentedly down our little suburban street. The sun was flashing in my eyes and there weren't many people around. In fact I didn't see anybody at all which was strange because it was about nine o'clock in the morning and the road is usually full of mothers taking their kids to school.

Rosemarie seemed to be creaking a bit and had definitely developed a noisier exhaust pipe by the time we got to the High Street. A police officer emerged from his Police Box and gave me a rather severe second look so I accelerated a bit in the hope he might not catch me on his bicycle which was propped against the water pump next to the horse and carriage. It was all getting so confusing so I decided to return home and check the News.

It took me a while to figure out the buttons and I couldn't find the remote for the television. Well, to be truthful, I couldn't find the television either. It seemed to have been replace by a rather ancient radio. My wife was nowhere to be seen. Is she ever when she's needed? Perhaps she'd popped down to see our daughter on the other side of town.

The radio crackled and whistled but eventually I found a station. Unfortunately, I couldn't find a news channel. My radio didn't seem to have one anymore. Perhaps the microchips inside were not functioning properly. They did seem to be glowing somewhat brightly. Most unusual. A bit like the old valves we used to have after the Second World War.

My hair seemed to have returned to its usual state of sparseness ... In fact, I was now feeling practically bald so I popped that furry hat on my head my daughter gave me last Christmas. Reassured, I sat down in front of the radio that should have been a television and waited for the News.

I must have dropped off because, a few minutes later, the television was back and running a documentary. I do like these documentaries about the World and the Universe we are living in. It is so incredible to think how limitless the Universe is out there and all those billions of stars, galaxies and planets. It's amazing how much our clever scientists have figured out and they are always coming up with something new about time and space.

Having a television screen that covered the wall, of course, made the shots of the endless galaxies very impressive, even quite scary. Strange, because yesterday I'd just been talking to my wife who is called ... I forget now but she's very nice ... So I was saying to my wife that it would be good to get a television with a bigger screen. I wonder why I'd said that because obviously a screen covering the whole wall is more than adequate .. And quite scary when the shots came up of the riots in the town next door which I'd always thought was a good neighborhood mostly populated with pensioners.

I still couldn't find the remote for the television but it seemed to switch itself off as soon I thought I might go out again for a while. It occurred to me that I should eat and then perhaps pop up onto the moorland hill that overlooks our town.

I quite fancied a prawn filled sandwich and was pleased to see that my clever wife had made me one and left it in the fridge ready for when I got hungry and realised I wanted one.

The kitchen looked very shiny and new too and I wondered when she decided to change it. I couldn't remember her mentioning anything about a new kitchen ... Not that I understand much about the kitchen and cooking. It's more my wife's hobby than mine. I'm more of a postage stamps saving and walking on the moors sort of person. Which is a good thing because I wouldn't have a clue about which of all those shiny knobs switched the kettle on - although I have to say the cup of tea my wife had left on the work surface was not only piping hot but just as I like it.

The prawn sandwich was, I must say, absolutely excellent. So, full of contentedness, I nipped outside ready and raring to go for my lunchtime walk. Driving up onto the moors would give me an opportunity to practice using the new manual gear change option that I'd recently discovered in my Ford.

Well! Before I could figure out where the gear change stick was, we were half way down the road and I have to say Rufus / Rosemarie was purring along very silently ... Well, hardly even purring ... Rufus was completely silent even at speed. And she seemed to know exactly where to go without me steering ... Which was just as well, because I couldn't find the steering wheel!

Things were so confusing that I was quite relieved when we got up onto the moors. The moorland grass felt good underfoot. I like my walks on the moors. We live next to the sea and I like to look out over the green and gold heathers and watch the sunset in the evening over the bay. It looks beautiful, so calm and tranquil.

I sat for a long time on my favourite seat looking out over the countryside... So permanent and reassuring.

Occasionally, I would turn and check Einstein, which was the name I'd now decided to call my car. Einstein seemed better than Rufus or Rosemarie because my car was turning out to be such a clever car. One minute Einstein was the shiny Ford I knew and loved. The next minute it was ... Well, hard to describe, as it shimmered and shifted focus in the sunshine. When I looked again, it had reverted to something out of a vintage car rally. I'd always wanted a vintage car so, at these times, I felt quite pleased.

The countryside and moorland looked very good indeed so I took a photo which was normal and reassuring and not at all like everything else on this strange day.

It was fortunate that I took the photo because it gave me something to look at when I wanted to remind myself how things were ... Before there were three suns in the sky and things got very hot. Even the sea now seems to have a low lying mist that could almost be steam...

I think I'll just sit here a while longer. I'm feeling very tired and it's difficult to breathe.

It's so very confusing. I feel genuinely scared to go back into town. I really don't know what I would find. I doubt my house is still there. Although, if it is, I expect Einstein will know where to find it.

Perhaps he would know where to find my wife too ... So she could make me a prawn sandwich for supper ...

Perhaps it's better to sit here and not move.

Either I'm going crazy or the Universe is!

The End

Enjoyed this short story? You may also enjoy In THEIR eyes, you are just compost - a short flash science fiction (sci-fi) story by Rob Hopcott

Have you ever felt that time may be slipping out of synch all around you? Your comments are welcome below :-)

Bye for now

Rob Hopcott - online short stories author

This science fiction (sci-fi) short story about time and people's perceptions of changing time is copyright Rob Hopcott 2008, all rights reserved. All characters and places in this science fiction short story about time, space and alternative universes and other free on-line humor, short stories, flash fictions, science fictions, micro-fictions, sudden fictions, post card fictions or very short stories on this site, are fictitious and no reference is intended to any person or organization, living or otherwise.