Get Into James Shorts - 6. Time Warp

What the...

I got up from the floor. What happened to my flat screen? What is George H. W. Bush senior and Dukakis doing on my television?

I looked around the room, and it was familiar but... a VCR! A CRT television set? I haven't even seen either of those in years.

I picked up the antique TV remote and changed the channel.

Jesus... that was what, 1988? I reach down and pick up the newspaper and read the headlines: Presidential Debates Tonight. Looking at the banner of the paper, I read Oct. 13, 1988.

My head was spinning. What the hell is happening?

My phone rang, and I picked it up, "Hello?"

I was confronted by a voice from my past. "Hi James. What are you doing? Listening to the debates?"

I stuttered, "Aaron?"

I heard him sigh over the phone. "Of course."

"Sorry. I was more than half-asleep when you called. Can you come over?"

He sighed again. "I don't have the car."

"Meet me at the park."

I hadn't seen Aaron in decades. In fact, it's October! I can stop it. I won't lose him this time.

I left my old duplex apartment and shut the door. My neighbor was there on his porch smoking a joint. "Hi Jax. What's up."

Jax was as near naked as usual wearing noting but cut off blue jean shorts. He was deeply tanned as he worked as a roofer.

He looked up and waved as I got in my 280Z.

My radio was tuned to a rock station that would eventually devolve into rap.

Guns and Roses were belting out Sweet Child of Mine.

It was a short drive to the park. Aaron was waiting. Seeing him again after all this time hit me like a ton of bricks. He smiled as he saw me. When I pulled up, he popped open the passenger door and hopped in the seat beside me. All was right with the world again.

We drove for twenty minutes out of town to a house we used for our rendezvous. It was sitting empty waiting for sale and I made $40 a week keeping the grass cut and the yard presentable. I drove up the driveway and parked in the big carport behind the two-story house. If it were just a little warmer we would have probably jumped in the pool.

We went inside and upstairs to the bedroom. Aaron was beside me and this time I would get it right.