Excerpt: The Tale of Future Past

Humphrey was silent for a few moments, “You really think that they'd dissect me?” Delilah sighed softly, reaching out to place a hand on his shoulder, but it was Daniel who spoke up.

“Well, yeah, mate. Course they would. 's what people like them do, right? Take things apart and see how they tick. And you are just a tad more interesting then your average clock, I'd wager.” To Humphrey's shame, he sniffled a bit at this (If anyone asked, he'd claim it was just the cold). Sensing his friend's discomfort, and ignoring Delilah as she gently squeezed Humphrey's shoulder, he continued, “You'd be a bit more messy then your average clock though. Might put 'em off for a while.” He shrugged.

“Thanks, mate. Glad to know you care.” Humphrey smiled at Delilah, before deliberately turning away and attempting to discreetly wipe his nose on the sleeve of his jumper.

“Yeah, well. Having you turn into kibble would really put a cramp in my regular weekend plans. Lynley Stevens isn't nearly so interesting, and he's rubbish at football.”

“Yeah, but he looks fit in those shorts.” A cry of outrage came from both boys, following this unexpected statement. “What? Honestly, it's like neither of you ever even remember that I am actually a girl. There's no harm in looking you know.” The affronted stares of the boys was her only response.

Blinking a few times to clear his head of rather disturbing thoughts, Daniel continued, “oookay, then. Moving right along into other less...awkward topics of conversation. So, we have this wonderful, lovely, absolutely stupendous silver...thing. That, near as the three of us can tell, came from outer space, and separates the operator – for lack of a better term – from the whole rest of reality. That about it?”

“In a nutshell. Yes.”

“Balls.” When it became obvious from his friends stares that they were awaiting further explanation for his rather colorful language, Daniel continued, “I was kind of hoping you two would own up to this all being some really cruel – yet very well done - prank being played on my unsuspecting person. Finding out that it's actually legit is somewhat unnerving.”