New Yesterdays by Jim L Wright - HTML preview

Chapter 4

"I know damned well you're thinking about going back to that cave and you just better not do it!"

The abrupt vehemence in Tony's voice bewildered Jim. They had always gone off on adventures and were constantly on the lookout for more. To be sure, the adventures they'd had up to this point had been mostly imaginary as they played in the hills and forests around their house. But this one! This one was as real as it could possibly be, and both brothers wanted to back out on it! Jim could scarcely believe it!

The three boys were sitting under the giant oak tree that shaded the back of their house. They were still a bit dazed after what they'd experienced. Jim was adamant. "I want to see what it's like over there. The magic of that cave takes us back in time maybe a hundred years!"

"I know it does" Tony shot back, "but what if we get over there and can't get back? Did you ever think of that? How would you like to get trapped a hundred years ago?"

"Well, we went and came back with no problem today!" To Jim, this seemed proof of the safety of the portal. What happened once could be predictably repeated. It was logical, dammit!

At last Michael gave his input. "Well, we ain't got no business in that place and if you go back, I'm telling on you!"

That was the last straw. Jim made a ball of his fist and punched him in the eye, knocking him over on his back. As usual, that's all it took. The three brothers were rolling around in the rich, black dirt and decayed leaves throwing punches, biting, kicking and scratching. All three were swearing at the top of their lungs. Also as usual, no real damage was being done. These three brothers fought at least twice a day; more often on some days.

Occasionally, Mother would have had "just about enough of this nonsense" and she'd bring them in the house and after giving them a good thrashing with her ever-ready hickory, she'd make them stand with their noses in the corner for an hour or so to contemplate their sins. Generally, this punishment only served to exacerbate their anger rather than make them reflective. They spent their punishment time seething because one of the others had brought this punishment down on all three. The real thinking they did as they stood, staring at the corner was about vengeance.

Usually after a fight the three boys would part ways for a while to play on their own and get over their hurt feelings and bruised egos. As Michael trudged off to nurse his wounds, Tony stayed put.

After a long silence he finally spoke, "Jim, I really wish you wouldn't go back up there to that place. I know you like spooky things and shit that makes no sense to the rest of us, but going back in that cave might be dangerous."

Jim considered his words carefully. Deep in his heart he knew he had to go back. The curiosity would eat him alive if he didn't. No matter which way he turned it around in his mind he couldn't see any real danger in re-entering the cave. It was the magic of it that lured him as much as the fact that he would travel back in time. He wondered, not for the first time, if he would go back to the same time or if it changed each time the portal was crossed. These were questions he knew he would have for the rest of his life if he didn't get answers today.

"I've been thinking about it. You just might be right. Maybe it's too dangerous to go back. I might not be able to get back home. Anyway, even if I did go back, it might not work again. It probably only works for a little while, and then closes."

Jim was genuinely ashamed of his dishonesty, especially when he saw relief flood his brother's face. Telling a lie to Mother didn't really bother him so much. After all, one had to lie to one's parents if he wanted to

get out of trouble. Somehow though, telling this lie to Tony didn't sit well with him at all but he couldn't see any other way.

He stood and looked down at Tony and hoped it wasn’t for the last time. As he started walking away Tony asked, "Where you going?"

"It's time for Granddaddy to be up from his nap. I'm gonna go up and see if he will give me some coffee."

The boys' maternal grandfather, Roy, lived across the road from them and worked the night shift at the cotton mill in Jacksonville. When he got up in the afternoon, he would have coffee heavily laced with cream and sugar. He always shared his coffee with Jim and the boy adored him for it. He enjoyed spending time with 'Granddaddy' almost as much as with his brothers because he didn't treat him like a little boy, but as an equal. He talked about things that Jim sometimes didn't understand, quite, but he loved the sound of the old man's voice and the twinkle in his eye when he told funny stories. He laughed with Granddaddy even when he didn’t know why they were laughing.

Tony went into the house for some water and to rummage around in the refrigerator to see if he could find something to eat. When he reached the end of the driveway, Jim looked back at his house and asked himself if he was really doing the right thing. He hadn't any intention of going to Granddaddy’s house this afternoon. With a final glance backward, he hightailed it up the road toward an adventure that was bigger than anything he had ever imagined.

Fighting his way through the thick vegetation, Jim was surprised to find Dustu waiting for him at the entrance of the cave. The two boys smiled broadly and Dustu gave him a welcoming clap on the shoulder. "I knew you'd be back."

Jim smiled, "My brothers are not happy that I decided to come back. They think I'll be trapped here forever. Every minute I was at home a new question popped into my head. The curiosity was eating at me, so I had to come back."

The Indian boy draped his brown arm over Jim's shoulder amiably and said, "Let's go see my father. He will tell you everything and answer your questions." To watch the two boys walking down the trail it would have been easy to assume they'd been close friends from the cradle.

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