I left Eddie at the airport and said I would be back later that afternoon. I rented a silver Saturn. It felt awkward, because I wasn’t used to driving something other than my truck. I headed down highway 68 east towards Millersburg. I had driven this way so many times, yet this time I was noticing small changes.Once I reached the edge of town it occurred to me that the little grocery store by the bridge wasn’t there. I worried that it really was only a dream. I turned onto Vimont lane and drove slowly up the road. As I pulled up in front of Ben’s house, I was disappointed. The lawn was rather empty. There was no motorcycle, mannequins, or sculptures, instead a green Honda was parked out front, along with a kid’s bike and a rusty swing set. I walked up to the door and knocked. A little kid met me at the door and ran back towards the kitchen.

“Mama! There is some strange man at the door.”

A blond woman in her thirties came to the door smoking a cigarette. She pushed open the screen door.

“Yeah, what do you want?”

“I was looking for a man named Ben Fisher. I was told he lived here. You don’t happen to know him do you?”

“Nah, I’ve been living here for the past eight or nine months. Never ever heard of a Ben Fisher.”

“Thanks, Sorry to have bothered you.”

I walked back to the car thinking it strange that I should recognize this house since supposedly I had never been here before. I got in the car and drove through Millersburg. For the most part the town looked pretty much the same. I did notice that the car lot in Judyville was not there and in its place was a storage company.

I rode all the way out to my farm in Nicholas County. I didn’t know what to expect. I followed the narrow roads just as I had remembered. Rounding the curve something was very different. The small patch of woods that lined the driveway up to the farm house had been cleared revealing the house from the road. I looked out towards the small patch of woods and it gave me the shivers thinking that’s where I’d encountered the God of nature. And it still made no sense. But the house existed, just as I remembered, yet some of the charm had been removed. Even the old barn in the field next to the Watt’s farm had been torn down, but it was still the same place. I sat parked beside the road just looking. I couldn’t just drive all this way and not drive up there.

There was no gate to open or close, so I just drove up the gravel road towards the house. I got out and walked up to the porch. With a heavy sigh, I noticed the porch swing had been taken down. I knocked on the door and a tall blonde man in his fifties dressed in overalls came to the door smiling.

“Howdy, my name’s Travis McAllister. I was just wondering if y’all happened to know anything about some previous owners that used to live here by the last name of Thomas? I knew them from when I was a kid.”

The man smiled and walked out on the porch. “I bought this farm from an old man by the last name of Thomas nearly twenty years ago. I heard that he went to live in an old folks home and had died not too long afterwards.”

“That’s too bad. What about the family next door,the Watts? They still live there? They were pretty old.”

He scratched his head and put his hands on his hips. “I don’t really know much about them. Seems like their granddaughter lives there now.”

“Thanks so much. I used to come out here as a kid with my parents. He and my papaw used to be friends. As I was turning to leave I looked back and said, “I remember there used to be an old porch swing there.”

The guy laughed. “Yeah, used to be, but I took it down a few years ago after the boards rotted out. I’d almost forgotten ‘bout that thing.”

“Well y’all have a good day.” I walked back to my car. Wow! Cody did live there and so did Mr Thomas.

I drove up the driveway to Cody’s house and I saw Cody’s granddaughter Mary sitting on the porch. She eyed me with suspicion as I stopped the car and got out. I had butterflies in my stomach walking to the porch.

“Howdy Ma’am, I’m curious about a man who I remember living here named Cody Watts. I knew them years ago when I was a kid.

Her eyes lit up. “He’s my pappaw. He doesn’t live here anymore. He’s living in an old folks home in Paris. Not doing so well these days I’m afraid.”

“I’m so sorry to hear that. I’m Travis McAllister by the way. I grew up in Millersburg. Cody and Ethel were friends with my pappaw.”

“I’m their granddaughter Mary. We moved in after pappaw left.”

“My grandparents died a while back and I went off and joined the army. I came back to visit my hometown and just looking up people that I used to know.”

“Goodness, Pappaw Watts wouldn’t talk much about the past. He took Mammaw’s death pretty hard and wasn’t the same afterwards.”

“I’m sorry, How did your mammaw die?”

“It was terrible. I was in college at the time. It was right before Christmas and there was a huge snowstorm. Mamma was alone here at the house and Pappaw was stripping tobacco. Mom told me that Mammaw had walked down to the mailbox and on the way back she fell and broke her leg. She tried to crawl back up the hill but didn’t make it. Pappaw was driving home and found her frozen in the snow. From what I hear, he almost ran her over because she was covered in snow.”

“I’m so sorry. That is horrible. Your grandma was so sweet and I always loved her stories.”

“Oh yes, she used to scare me.”

“Oh yeah, I always remembered the story about the ghost.”

“I would have nightmares about that story,” she said. “People don’t talk about the ghost like they used to.”

“Well I hate to run, but I would love to see your pappaw before I leave. May I ask where he’s living?”

“Yes, I’m sure he’d be happy to see ya. He’s staying at Bourbon Heights nursing home. It is on Main Street in Paris.”

“It was nice to meet you Mary, Thanks for telling me about them.”

Back on the road I choked back tears. It felt like a death or breaking up with a lover. I hit the steering wheel with my fists and screamed, “Fuck!” I hated feeling powerless. It was like going back home expecting to see your friends and love ones and only seeing strangers. Usually time eases the pain of loss, or you have a chance to reconnect, but you can’t do that if no one has a memory of you. I hate lying to people.

I was passing through Millersburg and looked up at Cindy’s apartment over the Post office. I parked on the street and sat. I tried to make up a story to explain how I knew them. I ran my hands through my hair. Nothing was coming to me. I turned the radio on and the B-52s were playing. “Oh, oh misty wa-too. Roll around the world.” I’m sure that wasn’t the lyrics, but it brought me out of my funk. “What in the hell is a misty wa-too?” I thought to myself.  I rolled the window down and just watched as people walked by. Some old lady with a red headed toddler came out of the post office. The kid fell and skinned his knee. He was crying and she bent over to comfort him. I was lost in the play unfolding before me. Suddenly I saw Arnie approach the woman and boy. The doppelganger of my friend stood before me.

He bent down in from of the kid and said, ”Did you hurt your knee Georgie?”

He pouted and shook his head yes.

“I’m sorry.”

The old woman said, “I am gonna take him home and put a bandaid on it.”

Arnie waved and the kid cracked a smile. Arnie turned to open the door that lead up to his apartment.

I yelled out, “Arnie! Hey Arnie!” He looked around for a familiar face. I opened the car door and walked towards him. “Arnie can I speak to you a second?”

He stood before me with a very confused look on his face. “Do I know you?”

I couldn’t find the words. “Sorta in a way. I know you though.”

“How do you know me? Have we met before?”

“Yes, you might remember me. I’m Travis McAllister. We went to high school together”

“Yeah, that name sounds familiar.”

“Do you have a minute? I know that you’re interested in the paranormal and conspiracy theories. Can we sit in the park?”

He was a little hesitant, and adjusted his glasses. “Yeah, I suppose. Why are you looking for me?”

“I know we never knew each other in high school, but we met afterwards. ”

“Yeah but…How do you know that?” he said shrugging his shoulders.

“Come sit with me a minute. I’d like to tell you something.” He hesitated and reluctantly followed me across the street.

“If you want to sell me something, I’m not interested.”

“No, not trying to sell you anything. Do you believe in parallel universes or time travel?”

We sat down on the iron benches in the rarely used park. It was hot and muggy and my shirt was soaked with sweat. I wished the benches were under the trees instead of in the bright sunshine.

“Yeah, I am. So how do you know me after high school?”

“It is kinda difficult to explain, so I will start with myself. Back this past March, I woke up in a hospital bed in Chicago. I had no memory of the accident, but I did have memories of having lived in Kentucky. In my memories, I’d lived in Nicholas County on a farm for just over a year. It had been this year, 2001. I met Suzanne, your girlfriend Cindy, and your son Timmy at a laundromat in Carlisle. Cindy told me about a job settling tobacco at Darrell’s farm and I worked there with them. That’s how I met you again Arnie. Suzanne got beat up really bad by Rodger and I asked her and the kids move into the upstairs of my house.”  

Arnie sat there with his mouth open with a confused look on his face. “So you want me to believe that we’d met before in the future and you have somehow lived this year before? I don’t know what to say. So was that from some parallel universe or you went back in time?”

“I don’t really know how to explain it. I started to realize that my memories were real when I started to have deja vu moments. I remembered how new TV show episodes ended before I even watched them. Right now it seems like I’m talking to your doppelgänger. I wasn’t for sure if Cindy or Susanne really existed until just now.”

Arnie seemed excited, “Wow, I used to wonder if stuff like this was possible, but now…Wow.  So.. like what is the reason you’re here? Nobody would remember you.”

“I think I came here to see if it was really was real. But now I guess I’m worried about Suzanne and the kids. When I met her the first time, she was being abused by Rodger. Hank was being beaten and was doing terrible in school.”

Arnie’s face fell.

“Are they okay?”

“Suzanne got beat up really bad this spring. She claimed that she fell off a horse. Sam says he hates Rodger, but we just thought it was because he didn’t want anyone to replace his dad and poor Hank is so quiet. Fuck! I just knew Rodger was a prick.”

“Yeah, Rodger was dangerous,” I said.

“Was? So what happened to them the way you remember it?”

“Maybe I shouldn’t say. This is a different timeline. People can’t be blamed for what happened in the other one.”

“So can you tell me any of the big news events?”

“There were some very world shattering events. Maybe I can tell you sometime if you want.”

“So how do I get in touch with you?”  

“Let me write my aunt’s number down. I’m staying with my relatives.”

“Wow, It was so cool to meet a real time traveler. I don’t think I’ll tell Cindy yet. I don’t think she would believe me.”  

He got up and shook my hand. Looking back at me smiling as if I was some celebrity. It was getting late and I decided to go back to my aunt’s house. I knew that a huge dinner was waiting.

                       Wednesday May 2

The next morning I woke up early again. I ate another huge breakfast then followed Eddie out to help him with his chores. Eddie was wearing a red t shirt and blue denim overalls. He patted his belly.

“Damn, I’m stuffed.”

“Me too. You eat this good everyday?” I asked grinning.”

“Oh yeah, nobody goes hungry here. Ain’t no skinny people in the Hill family.” He reached in his pocket and pulled out his can of Copenhagen. With his thumb and two fingers he scooped out a big pinch of tobacco and put it in his lower lip. He spat and picked up the bucket of slop and carried it towards the pig pen. We were feeding the pigs and the big fat sow was splashing slop on his boots.

“Dammit Queenie! You don’t have to eat so fast. There’s plenty to go round,” he said patting her on the head. “She’s my favorite. The runt of the litter. I fed her with a bottle. I could never bring myself to butcher her. Dad says I shouldn’t get too attached to the pigs, but I can’t help it. They’s smart like dogs you know. So Travis, did you see any old friends yesterday?  Maybe some old girlfriend?” he said looking at me for an answer.

“No girlfriend, but I did see a few friends I knew.”

“That’s cool. You off to see some more friends today?”

“Yeah I was thinking about it.”

“Well before you go, I was wondrin if’n you might help me fix the fence. Dad keeps sayin he was gonna help, but he is always busy at work.”

“Sure Eddie.”

“Good I was hoping you would,” he said as he patted me on the back. I was looking forward to hanging out with Eddie.

We got in his truck and he drove out to the far end of the property. Eddie stopped the truck and reached into his glove compartment and pulled out a little red glass pipe. Then he reached into a pocket in his overalls and pulled out a little plastic baggy.

“You smoke Travis? he said as he loaded the bowl.

“Oh yeah, whenever I get a chance”

We worked for a few hours. I’d pull the wire tight against the post. The thick leather gloves kept me from being poked by the barbed wire as Eddie nailed it in place. I watched as his beefy arms held the hammer and pounded. I caught myself looking at him lustfully. After we finished Eddie seemed pleased.

“Thanks for helping me Travis. This is a two man job and Dad promised to help me with it a month ago.”

“I thought uncle Bubba liked doing this sort of work,” I said.

“Oh hell no! Dad ain’t no farmer. Pappaw Hill was the farmer. Dad always wanted to sell the farm and move to town. Only things he likes about the farm is the food it produces and the money he can make by selling it. Only reason he ain’t sold it yet is because of me. He knows I want to work this farm. Nobody else wants to.”

“I thought he wanted to buy more property.”

“Yeah, he does. To buy it cheap and sell it at a profit. That’s what he does to make money.”

I decided to drive to the Bourbon heights old folks home in Paris. I was looking forward to seeing Cody. He was one of the first good friends I met after coming to Kentucky again. I just didn’t know how to introduce myself.

I was at the front desk and asked the woman where Mr Cody Watts was staying. The air conditioner was turned up to where it felt a bit cold inside. The tiles were buffed and shiny. An old woman was sitting with friends in the corridor. A heavy set woman with big blonde hair had me write my name down on the visitor’s list.

“Mr Watts has not been very cooperative lately. He refused to let our staff members bathe him,” she said informing me of the situation.

“Can he not bathe himself?”

“I suppose he could, but he slipped and broke his leg a while back so he can’t really get around like he used to.”

“I’d like to see him if I could. I’m visiting from Chicago and it’s been a long time since I have seen him.”

The woman called an assistant to lead me to his room. On the way there I heard some elderly guy screaming.

“Why is he screaming?” I asked.

“Lots of these old folks kinda lose their mind sometimes. That guy was mad because he didn’t like the flavor of jello that we gave him.”

“Oh really? This happen a lot?”

“You have no idea. Dementia is common with folks this old.”

As we got close to Cody’s room a naked old woman with cow eyes wandered into the hallway. She smelled like shit. She saw me and started laughing.

“Clara, now let’s get back to your room honey. Can’t be running around the halls with no clothes on now can we?”

She giggled and started to sing some kind of gibberish. I couldn’t imagine living in one of these places.

“Mr Watts room is 103 just a little farther down the hall to your left.”

I walked father down and peeked inside. Cody sat propped up in bed staring blankly at the TV screen. I walked in a faced him. He didn’t seem to notice me.

I called out his name. He turned and looked at me with a grumpy sad look on his face.

“I told you I ain’t lettin’ you wash me like a baby.”

“Cody, I’m not here to do that. I come to visit you.”

He looked at me closer and said, “I don’t know who in the hell you are. Why are you here to see me for?”

“I used to know you and your wife Ethel.”

He started to cry. “How do you know Ethel. She been dead soon be fifteen years.”

“I know that Ethel used to tell a story about a ghost that killed a neighbor boy next door when she was a little girl. I know an Ethel that fell during a big snow storm and almost froze except a man heard her yelling for help and he carried her to your house. That Ethel lived.”

“No you’re wrong,” he cried. “She died. She froze to death. Are you here to torment me?”

“No, but I believe that she is alive and well living in another world parallel to this one.”

“You telling me she is alive somewhere? How did you get here then?”

“I was under hypnosis by a doctor in Lexington. When I woke up I found myself lying in a hospital bed in Chicago. They say I’d been in bad car accident and had woken from a coma. I was almost convinced that my life before was just some dream and that I had made you all up, but here you are. You had never seen me before, but I met you and your wife in that other life. You were both still happy and living at your old house. I was your next door neighbor. In the other life, my uncle had lived on the farm I inherited from him. In this life he never bought the farm and is living in San Francisco.”  

“Don’t you be trying to fool an old man like me. It’s not funny.”

“I’m telling you the truth. You’d told me about the death of your oldest son in the Korean War and your youngest son became addicted to drugs and you lost touch with him.”

His old eyes squinted and he puckered his mouth. “Go away Travis or whoever you are. God took Ethel and she’s waiting for me in heaven and not in some other world. Maybe you’re just a demon here to trick me. Go away! I just want to be alone!” He started to cry and I backed up out of the room.

“I’m sorry to have upset you.”

“Go the fuck away!” he screamed.

I hurried back down the hallways towards the reception deck.

“That was a short visit young man. Mr Watts ain’t being so friendly today I guess. You should drop by another day when he ain’t in such a sour mood,” she said getting back to watching her soap.

“Maybe I will before I leave.”

“You just do that,” she said not looking up”

My hand was shaking. I wasn’t used to seeing Cody so distant and angry. Not at all like the Cody I knew. I decided there was no point in coming back. I got in the car and parked across the street from Rodger’s house to possibly get a look at Suzanne or the kids. I didn’t want to think of myself as a stalker.