Free Escape with the Dream Maker by Gilbert L. Morris Page B

still be the Seven Sleepers although they wouldn’t have slept in the time capsules. “We can stay close to each other. Wecan meet, and as we grow older, why, we’ll be closer than ever.” He spoke again with great fervor, and finally he said, “I think we all ought to be together on this.”
    â€œGive us a day or two to think about it, Josh,” Wash said.
    â€œWhy, sure. I think that’s only right. It’s a big decision.” Josh was disappointed for he wished to make the decision now, but he saw that they were not ready. “We’ll meet here again—day after tomorrow, say. That’ll give us forty-eight hours. By that time we can all have thought it over.”
    The others agreed, and Josh thought Wash looked much relieved.
    When they left Reb’s place, Josh and Sarah walked along the streets together, since the room that she had was close to the one that Josh rented at the inn. The stars were shining, and Josh looked up once, saying, “I wish I knew all their names.”
    â€œYou suppose there’d be different stars in that parallel universe?” Sarah asked. “I wouldn’t like it if there weren’t a Big Dipper.” She pointed at it. “That’s the only constellation I really know.”
    â€œWell, I don’t know many myself, but there’ll be stars there. Maybe the Dipper would be turned the other way, or maybe it will be a big dinner platter.” The two laughed together at that, and Josh took her hand. “Sarah, I feel so
good
about all this! You know, you’d be back at our house like you were, and we could go skating again down at the rink. You remember that?”
    â€œHow could I not remember that? You kept falling and pulling me down with you.”
    â€œWell, I needed something to cushion my fall.” Josh grinned. “You were always pretty skinny for that, but a fellow does the best he can.”
    â€œYou’re awful, Josh.” Sarah pouted.
    â€œWell, you’re not skinny anymore,” Josh said. “You’ve fattened up pretty nicely.”
    â€œI’m not fat!” she exclaimed indignantly.
    â€œWell, I didn’t mean that exactly. I mean you’re . . . well . . . you’re real nice,” he said lamely. “Just like a girl ought to be. But wouldn’t that be great, doing all those things together again? And there wouldn’t be any war this time.”
    The two walked on slowly. When they got to Sarah’s door, there was a moment’s silence. Josh said, “I feel like we’ve been out on a date.”
    â€œI always wanted you to ask me for a date back in Oldworld, but I was younger than you, and you weren’t interested in girls anyhow.”
    â€œThat’s what you thought,” Josh said abruptly. “I was always interested in you. I thought you were the prettiest girl I ever saw—I still do.”
    â€œJosh, that’s not so. I’m not nearly as pretty as Abbey.”
    â€œYou are to me,” Josh said loyally. He suddenly felt flustered. “I was always embarrassed when I thought about taking a girl out, because I knew when we got to the door like this, there’d be a tense moment.”
    â€œWhy would it be tense?”
    â€œWell, wasn’t a guy supposed to kiss a girl at the end of a date?”
    â€œMaybe sometimes. But, Josh, we were just kids then.”
    Josh cleared his throat. “Well, we’re not kids anymore. You’re a fine-looking young woman. The best I know, Sarah.”
    â€œAm I, Josh?”
    Sarah looked very pretty as she stood there in the moonlight. Without meaning to, he reached over and kissed her cheek. He expected her to pull away, maybeeven to slap him, but she didn’t. His heart beat faster than he’d thought possible. When he drew back, he could not speak for a moment. He wanted to tell her how sweet she was and how much he cared for her, but