Angry people are all over the place. It doesn’t matter if this is an act or a joke or whatever this may be, they need help.
I bring my right thumb and forefinger to my mouth and whistle. “This way!” One of the guys, seems to hear me. He pushes the guy on his left and points at me. As an answer, I wave. The guy doesn’t seem to consider any other options, because he turns his horse my way, riding out of the circle of cars, followed by the other three. As people look at me with the anger still on their faces, I yell: “Sorry for the chaos! My friends here are trying to make this stupid video about what happens when you put on clothes from the Dark Ages and go stand in the middle of a junction. It’s okay now. I’m really sorry!” I turn around and look in the faces of four very confused human beings.
“Okay, what is a video, what are the Dark Ages and where the hell are we? What year is it?” the guy who came my way first asks. He’s tall and has got dirty blonde hair and dark blue eyes with a bit of green in them. He looks like he’s twenty, twenty-one, and if I look at the others I think he’s the oldest.
“I’ve got one question before I’ll answer yours; Who are you?” I ask.
The guy sighs. “Fine. My name is Cade Pendragon, these are my... friends, Felix,” he points at the guy who heard me first, “Aiden and Valora.” I wonder if he wanted to say servants at first.
“Pendragon?” I ask. “Then you must be family of King Arthur.”
Cade sighs again. “Yes, he’s one of my ancestors. Now it’s your turn to answer my questions.”
“Cool.” Okay, there are three possibilities here: One, they’re very good actors and I’m being Punk’d or something like that. Two, they’re lunatics. Or three, they’re telling the truth and they’re from the past. That would mean they travelled through time. What do I need to believe and how am I going to find out? Guess I’ll just play the game for now. “You’re in Stroud, England, in the year 2012, on the 17th of March to be precisely. A video is a recording of...” O dear, how am I going to explain this? “images, representing scenes of motion. The Dark Ages, or Middle Ages, is how we call the period between the 5th century and the 15th.”
“Why is that period called the Dark Ages?” the third guy, Aiden, asks.
“Err... If I’m right it’s because it follows the Roman Era and comes before the Renaissance, and it was a ‘darker’ period or something... You know, you shouldn’t ask me, I didn’t really pay attention in History class.”
“You said we’re in the year 2012.” Cade says.
“Yep.”
“How is that possible?” Valora asks. It’s the first time I hear her talk. She’s got a warm voice. She’s probably a friendly person.
“I don’t know. I’ve never travelled through time. Where did you come from? I mean, what year?”
“Uh...” Cade looks at Felix.
“1267. The day was, if I’m right, I’m not really good with the calendar system, the 17th of March. Wow, what a coincidence.” Yes, what a coincidence.
“You probably think we’re mad.” Valora says.
“Why would I?”
“Because we think we travelled through time.”
I think I need to tell them about the three possibilities. If I say one of my possibilities is that they’re actors, they might reveal themselves.
“Well, I thought you might be mad at first. That was one of my possibilities. Another one was that you are actors who are pulling a prank on me right now. The last one was that you are speaking the truth.” I think I can scratch the possibility of them being lunatics anyway. What’s the chance that there are four people together who have gone mad and now think the same thing? That leaves two possibilities, and there’s something inside me that really wants to believe them.
“So, what do think?” Felix asks. For an actor the ultimate test.
“I think I believe you. Even though you’re story is quite unbelievable.” An actor would now reveal himself, but they’re looking at me surprised.
“You... You believe us?” Aiden asks.
“Yes. I do believe you, and I’m willing to help you...”
“Great! You can find a way to send us back in time, and meanwhile you can make sure we get a place to stay. And some food would be great too, I’m starving.” Cade interrupts me, just like I imagined he would. He really is a king’s son.
“On one condition.” I finish my sentence.
Cade looks at me and rolls his eyes. “Of course, fine. What’s your price?”
“I don’t have a price. My condition is that I’ll treat you like I treat everybody else.”
“What’s that for condition? Really? Do you know to whom you’re talking? I’m a prince!”
“I don’t care that you’re a prince in your time. You’re in my time now, and here, you’re not a prince. Do you want my help or not? I’m probably the only person who believes you.”
I can see Cade’s in conflict with himself. “Fine.”
I smile. “Good. Now, for a place to stay. I know the perfect place. It’s this very nice hotel in the Golden Valley, a mile away from town. It has stables, so there’s a place for your horses too. I know the owner. You have to follow this street, then turn left at the bridge and follow the road out of town. If you see a small estate with the name ‘Sally’s Paradise’, you’re in the right place.”
“Sally’s Paradise? What kind...” Cade starts.
“Shut up.” I say.
“I was just...” he protests.
“Really, you’re so annoying when you open your mouth.”
“Excuse me?”
“Wait, you’re not coming with us?” Valora asks.
“I’ll come later. I need to do something first. I’ll let Sally now you’re coming.”
“What are...”
“Just wait and see. I’ll be there in half an hour or so.”
“Okay... Let’s go then.”
I bring my right thumb and forefinger to my mouth and whistle. “This way!” One of the guys, seems to hear me. He pushes the guy on his left and points at me. As an answer, I wave. The guy doesn’t seem to consider any other options, because he turns his horse my way, riding out of the circle of cars, followed by the other three. As people look at me with the anger still on their faces, I yell: “Sorry for the chaos! My friends here are trying to make this stupid video about what happens when you put on clothes from the Dark Ages and go stand in the middle of a junction. It’s okay now. I’m really sorry!” I turn around and look in the faces of four very confused human beings.
“Okay, what is a video, what are the Dark Ages and where the hell are we? What year is it?” the guy who came my way first asks. He’s tall and has got dirty blonde hair and dark blue eyes with a bit of green in them. He looks like he’s twenty, twenty-one, and if I look at the others I think he’s the oldest.
“I’ve got one question before I’ll answer yours; Who are you?” I ask.
The guy sighs. “Fine. My name is Cade Pendragon, these are my... friends, Felix,” he points at the guy who heard me first, “Aiden and Valora.” I wonder if he wanted to say servants at first.
“Pendragon?” I ask. “Then you must be family of King Arthur.”
Cade sighs again. “Yes, he’s one of my ancestors. Now it’s your turn to answer my questions.”
“Cool.” Okay, there are three possibilities here: One, they’re very good actors and I’m being Punk’d or something like that. Two, they’re lunatics. Or three, they’re telling the truth and they’re from the past. That would mean they travelled through time. What do I need to believe and how am I going to find out? Guess I’ll just play the game for now. “You’re in Stroud, England, in the year 2012, on the 17th of March to be precisely. A video is a recording of...” O dear, how am I going to explain this? “images, representing scenes of motion. The Dark Ages, or Middle Ages, is how we call the period between the 5th century and the 15th.”
“Why is that period called the Dark Ages?” the third guy, Aiden, asks.
“Err... If I’m right it’s because it follows the Roman Era and comes before the Renaissance, and it was a ‘darker’ period or something... You know, you shouldn’t ask me, I didn’t really pay attention in History class.”
“You said we’re in the year 2012.” Cade says.
“Yep.”
“How is that possible?” Valora asks. It’s the first time I hear her talk. She’s got a warm voice. She’s probably a friendly person.
“I don’t know. I’ve never travelled through time. Where did you come from? I mean, what year?”
“Uh...” Cade looks at Felix.
“1267. The day was, if I’m right, I’m not really good with the calendar system, the 17th of March. Wow, what a coincidence.” Yes, what a coincidence.
“You probably think we’re mad.” Valora says.
“Why would I?”
“Because we think we travelled through time.”
I think I need to tell them about the three possibilities. If I say one of my possibilities is that they’re actors, they might reveal themselves.
“Well, I thought you might be mad at first. That was one of my possibilities. Another one was that you are actors who are pulling a prank on me right now. The last one was that you are speaking the truth.” I think I can scratch the possibility of them being lunatics anyway. What’s the chance that there are four people together who have gone mad and now think the same thing? That leaves two possibilities, and there’s something inside me that really wants to believe them.
“So, what do think?” Felix asks. For an actor the ultimate test.
“I think I believe you. Even though you’re story is quite unbelievable.” An actor would now reveal himself, but they’re looking at me surprised.
“You... You believe us?” Aiden asks.
“Yes. I do believe you, and I’m willing to help you...”
“Great! You can find a way to send us back in time, and meanwhile you can make sure we get a place to stay. And some food would be great too, I’m starving.” Cade interrupts me, just like I imagined he would. He really is a king’s son.
“On one condition.” I finish my sentence.
Cade looks at me and rolls his eyes. “Of course, fine. What’s your price?”
“I don’t have a price. My condition is that I’ll treat you like I treat everybody else.”
“What’s that for condition? Really? Do you know to whom you’re talking? I’m a prince!”
“I don’t care that you’re a prince in your time. You’re in my time now, and here, you’re not a prince. Do you want my help or not? I’m probably the only person who believes you.”
I can see Cade’s in conflict with himself. “Fine.”
I smile. “Good. Now, for a place to stay. I know the perfect place. It’s this very nice hotel in the Golden Valley, a mile away from town. It has stables, so there’s a place for your horses too. I know the owner. You have to follow this street, then turn left at the bridge and follow the road out of town. If you see a small estate with the name ‘Sally’s Paradise’, you’re in the right place.”
“Sally’s Paradise? What kind...” Cade starts.
“Shut up.” I say.
“I was just...” he protests.
“Really, you’re so annoying when you open your mouth.”
“Excuse me?”
“Wait, you’re not coming with us?” Valora asks.
“I’ll come later. I need to do something first. I’ll let Sally now you’re coming.”
“What are...”
“Just wait and see. I’ll be there in half an hour or so.”
“Okay... Let’s go then.”
Exactly half an hour later I arrive at Sally’s. The peach blossom in the front yard is already starting to bloom and the ivy-grown estate is beautifully mirrored in the pond. The few tables and chairs in front of the estate totally finish the picture. It’s no wonder this place is being called ‘Paradise’.
I walk inside and as the bell rings, Sally walks out of her office next to the lobby.
“Ramona! How good to see you again. How are you?” Sally puts her shining red hair out of the ponytail before she hugs me.
“I’m fine, thanks. What about you? The peach blossom outside looks really pretty already.”
Sally smiles. “Yes, I know, she’s doing very well for this time of the year. And to answer your question, I’m doing great.”
“And in business? This year didn’t start too good, did it?”
“No, it didn’t. I had no guests in January, but it’s starting to get better. There’s an older couple from Sheffield staying here right now, plus your friends of course. But just between you and me, they’re quite odd, aren’t they?”
I chuckle. “Yes. Yes, they are.”
“Do you’ve got any idea how long they’ll stay here? I mean, for the administration.”
“I’m not sure, but I think it’ll be a while before they’ll leave. I’ll make sure they’ll pay every week.” I only have to find money.
“I know you will. I gave them rooms seventeen and eighteen.”
“Thanks.”
I walk upstairs. I don’t hear any chatter in room seventeen, so I walk to eighteen and knock on the door.
“Come in.”
I walk in and see the four strangers, looking at objects they’ve probably never seen before. “So, how do you like it here?”
“You came!” Valora jumps up from the bed and walks towards me.
“Of course I came. I said I’d help you, and so I will.”
Valora smiles and grabs my hands. “You’re a good person, uh...”
I realize I never told them my name. “Ramona. And thanks.”
“Ramona? That’s a beautiful name. What does it mean?”
“Err... Wise defender, or protector, if I’m right.”
“Beautiful. I think it suits you.”
I smile. I was right about Valora, she’s really a nice person.
“If I’m allowed to talk...” Cade sounds annoyed, waiting for me to stop him, but as I’m not, he goes on. “may I ask what’s in that bag?” He nods at the big bag in my hand.
“Oh, right.” I grab something out of the bag and throw it to Cade. “Clothes. As you’re going to stay here for a while, I thought it would be better if you’d look like you belong in this century. Now, here,” I grab some other clothes. “these are for you, Felix, these are for Aiden, and these are for you.” I turn back to Valora and give her the clothes I bought for her. “Also, I brought some books with me. You guys can read, right?”
All four nod.
“Good. I’ve got a History book, so you can find out why we call it the Dark Ages. I’m not sure you should read everything.” I say as I lay the book on the desk next to the bed Valora sat on.
“Why not?” Aiden asks.
“Because most of the things written about in this book happen in your future. Though it might be a good idea to know the basics if you’re going to stay here for a while. I’ll make a timeline of the most important things.”
“Okay, what do you’ve got more?” Cade asks.
“I’ve borrowed this book from the library, about today’s society, thought that might come handy as well. This one’s from the library as well, about electronics.”
“What are...” Cade starts.
“Just read the book.” I say annoyed. “I’ve also got a few magazines, don’t ask, about famous people, movies, music, fashion, everything you need to know to fit it.”
I feel my phone vibrating in my pocket again.
“I’ll be here again tomorrow. Don’t go anywhere too far, don’t come into town and be nice to Sally. I’ve got to go now. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
When I leave, my phone bleeps, indicating a new text message.
“Hey, Nance just called my parents, wondering if you were with me. They backed up for you, but you should arrive at home in 10 minutes. Something wrong? Xx Chandler.”
I walk inside and as the bell rings, Sally walks out of her office next to the lobby.
“Ramona! How good to see you again. How are you?” Sally puts her shining red hair out of the ponytail before she hugs me.
“I’m fine, thanks. What about you? The peach blossom outside looks really pretty already.”
Sally smiles. “Yes, I know, she’s doing very well for this time of the year. And to answer your question, I’m doing great.”
“And in business? This year didn’t start too good, did it?”
“No, it didn’t. I had no guests in January, but it’s starting to get better. There’s an older couple from Sheffield staying here right now, plus your friends of course. But just between you and me, they’re quite odd, aren’t they?”
I chuckle. “Yes. Yes, they are.”
“Do you’ve got any idea how long they’ll stay here? I mean, for the administration.”
“I’m not sure, but I think it’ll be a while before they’ll leave. I’ll make sure they’ll pay every week.” I only have to find money.
“I know you will. I gave them rooms seventeen and eighteen.”
“Thanks.”
I walk upstairs. I don’t hear any chatter in room seventeen, so I walk to eighteen and knock on the door.
“Come in.”
I walk in and see the four strangers, looking at objects they’ve probably never seen before. “So, how do you like it here?”
“You came!” Valora jumps up from the bed and walks towards me.
“Of course I came. I said I’d help you, and so I will.”
Valora smiles and grabs my hands. “You’re a good person, uh...”
I realize I never told them my name. “Ramona. And thanks.”
“Ramona? That’s a beautiful name. What does it mean?”
“Err... Wise defender, or protector, if I’m right.”
“Beautiful. I think it suits you.”
I smile. I was right about Valora, she’s really a nice person.
“If I’m allowed to talk...” Cade sounds annoyed, waiting for me to stop him, but as I’m not, he goes on. “may I ask what’s in that bag?” He nods at the big bag in my hand.
“Oh, right.” I grab something out of the bag and throw it to Cade. “Clothes. As you’re going to stay here for a while, I thought it would be better if you’d look like you belong in this century. Now, here,” I grab some other clothes. “these are for you, Felix, these are for Aiden, and these are for you.” I turn back to Valora and give her the clothes I bought for her. “Also, I brought some books with me. You guys can read, right?”
All four nod.
“Good. I’ve got a History book, so you can find out why we call it the Dark Ages. I’m not sure you should read everything.” I say as I lay the book on the desk next to the bed Valora sat on.
“Why not?” Aiden asks.
“Because most of the things written about in this book happen in your future. Though it might be a good idea to know the basics if you’re going to stay here for a while. I’ll make a timeline of the most important things.”
“Okay, what do you’ve got more?” Cade asks.
“I’ve borrowed this book from the library, about today’s society, thought that might come handy as well. This one’s from the library as well, about electronics.”
“What are...” Cade starts.
“Just read the book.” I say annoyed. “I’ve also got a few magazines, don’t ask, about famous people, movies, music, fashion, everything you need to know to fit it.”
I feel my phone vibrating in my pocket again.
“I’ll be here again tomorrow. Don’t go anywhere too far, don’t come into town and be nice to Sally. I’ve got to go now. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
When I leave, my phone bleeps, indicating a new text message.
“Hey, Nance just called my parents, wondering if you were with me. They backed up for you, but you should arrive at home in 10 minutes. Something wrong? Xx Chandler.”
I smile and text Abby back.
“Thanks. I can’t explain what’s going on in a text message, I’ll tell you tomorrow, ‘kay? Xx Joey.”
Now I only need to arrive at home in 10 minutes.
“Where the hell have you been?” Nance yells angry when I close the door behind me.
“With Abby.” I hang my coat on the rack and walk towards the stairs.
“You are grounded. That means you have to come home immediately after school.”
“Yes, but we have to do a project for school together and you banned the use of internet, so we had to go to Abby’s place.”
Nance stares at me, not knowing what to say, and without a word I walk upstairs.
“With Abby.” I hang my coat on the rack and walk towards the stairs.
“You are grounded. That means you have to come home immediately after school.”
“Yes, but we have to do a project for school together and you banned the use of internet, so we had to go to Abby’s place.”
Nance stares at me, not knowing what to say, and without a word I walk upstairs.
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