Free Sneaks by B Button Page B

it.”
    “I promise.”
    “You keep it,” he repeated. “You keep it and find adventure and happiness.”
    “I have to give you some money.”
    “There is not enough money. There is only the clock, don’t you see that? My mamma must have placed it in the clock. You found it, it is yours.”
    “It was in your clock.”
    “If I was supposed to find it, I would have long ago. No, it is yours.”
    I stood and went to him. I pulled his old bent shoulders to me in a hug. “Thank you, Mr. Bellini.”
    “No. Thank you, Kally Bright.”
    *****
     
    Just because the necklace was now mine didn’t mean I knew what to do with it. I spent long hours pondering how it worked. Nothing happened no matter what I did – turn the pendant, twist the chain in between my fingers, or even take it off. I stayed in Chigo in 2185.
    After six or seven months of waiting for something to happen, both Mom and I decided I was probably home to stay. We went back to living our lives and the memories of my Scottish friends became fainter and fainter.
    But, in truth, we’d just ignored the final ingredient. Birthdays aren’t always magical. Sometimes they’re awful and ruined by big Decisions or terrible presents. But with the necklace, birthdays became full of magic – the magic of time travel, although I was about to find out how imperfect that magic could be.
     
    2185
    Seventeen
     
     
    “Breakfast,” Mom called down the hatch.
    Seventeen was the best birthday. There were no Big Decisions and no weddings. It was the year before marriage and the last year to enjoy every minute with your family.
    “Happy birthday, baby.” Mom scooped some pancakes onto a plate just as I walked into the kitchen. 
    “Thanks. Yum.”
    “Did you finish the clock you were working on?”
    “No, I’ll have to work on it after school . . . Mom.” I felt funny but I couldn’t find the words to let her know. 
    My stomach shifted with my vision and by the time I figured out what was happening, Mom had almost faded completely. As it was, I saw the last bit of her look of surprise mixed with resolution. She knew what was happening before I did. And just when I figured out that I was traveling through time, I think I fainted. Or something.
     
    *****
     
    “Och, up with ye then, lass. Up and move off my land.” The voice was most definitely Scottish. Other than that, it wasn’t recognizable enough for me to want to open my eyes just yet.
    But then the person attached to the voice kicked me not so gently in my side.
    “Ouch. Okay, I’m awake.” I was woozy, but I tried to focus as I shielded my eyes from the warm sun and pulled myself up to my elbows.
    “ Tis better. Now off with ye.” The person signaled as if to shoo me away and then turned and walked toward their house.
    Berna’s house. I’d landed by her house this time.
    “Berna?”
    The old woman stopped moving and turned her hunched figure again. It was Berna, but it looked as if she’d had a rough year. She was so tiny and hunched, she seemed breakable.
    “How do ye ken my name?”
    “It’s me, Kally. Kally Bright. I was here a year ago.” I tested my balance as I stood slowly. It didn’t feel like I was going to go down again, so I reached forward and put my hand on her arm. “Do you remember me?”
    She squinted and put her face closer to mine. Her eyes were dull and somewhat foggy. 
    “No, I dinna remember ye. Ye are dressed strangely. Are ye some sort of witch or something?
    I was in Govment-issued t-shirt and jeans. To celebrate my birthday, I’d put on the sneakers. I was glad I had them on. 
    “No, I’m the one who found the baby and was taken by all the men on horses.”
    “Aye,” she said slowly. “I think I remember, but that was a verra long time ago.”
    Yeah, it’d been a rough year for her. 
    “Here, let me help you back to your house.” 
    Suspiciously, she let me hold gently to her thin arm as we walked. Before long she was leaning into my hands.
    Her house