Free Time Leap by Steve Howrie

because we’d done the jump ourselves,” Niki2
added.
    “ That’s right.
So with your phone, I jumped to the morning that Mei Mei picked up
the phone, and simply put it out of reach. So now, here’s the two
working phones – yours and mine.”
    I was wide–eyed. Now
there were two time–travelling mobile phones.
    “ Does this
mean that we can duplicate phones, and create as many clones as we
like?”
    “ I don’t think
so,” Joe2 said. “We only have two now because there’s two of us
here.”
    We were all quiet for a
moment, and then Niki said, “I think it’s time for us to go.” It
was a very strange farewell. We were leaving ourselves behind, plus
a baby that would be ours in ten year’s time, everything else being
equal. We felt like a very close–knit family as we said our
goodbyes, and Nik gave Mei Mei a big hug and kiss. “See you in the
future,” she promised.
    As we were walking away
from the big house (which, we were glad to know, would be ours
fairly soon), I remembered some unfinished business, and with an
apology went back to the house.
    “ Joe,” I said,
“You remember the guy who bought our apartment?”
    “ Yeah, sure…
Mr Withers wasn’t it? Why d’you ask?”
    “ What happened
to his wife?”
    “ Oh, that was
a sad case. I think it was three years ago… beginning of November I
think… right Niki?”
    “ Yeah,
November fifth – my birthday… our birthday,” she said smiling at
Nik. “We were in Italy, remember Joe?”
    “ That’s right.
The Withers were going to a Bonfire Party for Guy Fawkes that
evening. I don’t know the details, but they were in a car accident.
Ed had minor injuries, but his wife was pronounced dead at the
scene. He was naturally very cut up about it, poor
bloke.”
    “ Okay, thanks
Joe,” I smiled.
    “ Good luck,”
he smiled back.
    *
    We remained ten years in
the future whilst I explained my idea to Niki, then we headed off
to our ‘old’ apartment in Finchley. Once there, I set the date to
November fifth, three years previously. I pressed the flat’s
intercom, and this time a woman answered.
    “ Hello?”
    “ Mrs Withers,
this is Joe Cooper and my wife Niki… can we talk to you for a
minute?”
    “ This will be
interesting,” Niki said to me as we climbed the stairs to the
flat.
    “ Oh, you two
must be frozen!” Mrs Withers exclaimed as she opened the door. We
were still dressed for the summer in jeans and tee–shirts, and I
had to admit it was a tad chilly outside. Mrs Withers, whose first
name was Jean, invited us in and called to Ed to join us. We sat on
a very familiar sofa in a very familiar looking living room, which
was in a very different condition from the one I had visited three
years later.
    “ How’s
everything in the new house?” Jean asked as she poured some tea. I
noticed how well and happy they both looked, and I knew that what I
had in mind was something we must do, without making it sound crazy.”
    “ It’s good,”
said Niki.
    “ Such a big
house for two people,” Jean continued.
    “ Well, there
might be a new addition coming soon,” Niki added with a
smile.
    “ Oh, that’s
wonderful!” Jean exclaimed.
    “ I suppose
you’ll be off to a Bonfire party tonight then Ed?” I said, changing
the subject. Ed and Jean looked at each other.
    “ Well, it’s
funny you should say that… Jean and I were talking about exactly
the same thing just before you arrived. We were wondering whether
to take the car, or set off earlier and walk…”
    “ Walk,” I
replied, my bluntness taking the Withers by surprise.
    “ It’s such a
nice day!” Niki added to soften it. “And there’s nowhere to park in
Finchley tonight.”
    “ Well, why
don’t we all go together?” Jean suggested. “If you’ve got
time...”
    “ Great idea!”
Niki replied.
    “ Yes, time is
something we’ve got plenty of,” I added.
     
    ***
     

Fourteen
     
    “ Is that
really what I’m going to be like in ten years’ time?” I