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Time MachineThis story may contain adult content. |
| Written by Thomas Reynolds | |
| Sunday, 06 April 2008 | |
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Share it:      Time Machine "****!" said Maxine, as the hot coffee splashed all over her lap; "What is wrong with you Charlie Sidebottom!" Charlie had slammed on the breaks as he as he pulled up to the curb causing the spill. Charlie was driving his old Buick Electra 225 that afternoon, when he and Maxine were pulling up to their next stop. He found a spot directly in front of their appointment on Main Street. "Sorry about that Maxie, I woke up on the wrong side of the bed today." Maxine could sense Charlie was about to unload his sob story on her again; she was right. "I mean, I'm nervous enough about things, and my wife has to go and get all worked up about the check book only having ten buck left in it! Like it's my fault it costs forty five bucks every time I fill this sucker up. I work as hard as I can, and I need a powerful engine for Christ's sake! Besides I told her it would be gone today, just like all the other ones, but all I get is ‘blah...blah...blah...why do you keep buying those things.' Maxine interrupted, "You don't need to tell me about being cranky honey; I have a crotch full of hot coffee!" Maxine was not only Charlie's business partner, they were long time friends. She thought the world of him. Considering herself to be very attractive, especially today in her new suit, she could never quite understand why he would never make a pass at her. She wouldn't mind that's for certain! Maxine knew all about his recent troubles. For such a nice guy he certainly did not deserve the hand he's been dealt. His daughter Dina in and out of rehab and his wife Trudy always treating him like the hired help. Charlie was always on the up and up, why did these things happen to him? She wouldn't trust anyone else to go into this business with; character and trust meant everything! "Sorry I snapped Charlie. She's still giving you a hard time, huh?" Charlie seemed preoccupied as he was watching the crowded street. He lifted his wrist to check the time; 1:45 and the last of the lunch crowds were out enjoying the nice day. It was a perfect spring day, with a light breeze blowing off the bay, carrying the smell of the fresh salt air. The kind of day that people fell in love with each other thought Charlie with chuckle. One of his greatest pleasures was sitting in his car and watching the local office girls pass by. He would hope for a good gust to take up one of the skirts buy surprise. This, however, was a better day than usual. One of the girls out for a lunch time stroll actually gave him a flirty grin as she used her fingertips to get her wind swept bangs out of her eyes. But if Charlie was anything he was loyal. Even though she didn't show any love towards him, Charlie loved Trudy. As a matter of fact this was just the kind of spring day they fell in love with each other. The perfect day for a day dream. "Charlie, you're such a pig!" said Maxine as she noticed him girl watching again. Having been snapped out of his day dream, Charlie began to straighten his tie. With his eyes still on the little flirt Charlie said, "How do you think we'll do in there?" Maxine looked to him with a curious little grin. She always did admire his rugged good looks. The more she spent time with Charlie the more she was growing feelings for him. With all the adrenaline going through her in anticipation of their job, she was feeling particularly amorous today. "I'm feeling pretty good about this one. I vision a long vacation on the beach in my future; maybe I'll just get on a plane tonight! You in?" Charlie looked at her and giggled, "Another time, another place maybe Maxie." "You have the worst taste in women Charlie; what do you even see in Trudy?" Said Maxie. "Ah...Trudy's not so bad. Things just haven't been going our way with Dina doped up half the day, and money being tight lately. Things were great before that. You're an attractive single gal though Maxie, you wouldn't understand. You could have your pick of the litter." Maxine Replied, "I'll drink to that!" as she took a sip of what was left of her coffee Day dreaming again on how things could have been different if he could start over, Charlie started to think out loud; "Time Machine." "What?" said Maxine with a quizzical look on her face. "I was thinking that this old deuce and a quarter here is kind of like a time machine. Look out the back window, and tell me what you see?" "I see a dog pissing on a hydrant. Mange animal; I don't mean the dog either!" "No Maxie, you see the past. All of our troubles from an hour ago are left behind. The money we just spent at that coffee shop...gone!" Uh, OK...shouldn't we be focusing on business right now Charlie? We only have a couple of minutes before we head in." "Oh, I am Maxi, I am. Think about it, if I could drive this thing in reverse for 10 years, I wouldn't have a wife that gave me no affection, or a kid all doped up on Heroine; maybe, just maybe...I could find you! You know, another time another place? "Now look out the windshield, and tell me what you see!' Said Charlie, getting more excited each minute. "I see the entrance to our next appointment?" "Nope, wrong again Maxie! That, my long legged friend, is the future; no one can know what the future holds, but we can control how fast we get there. The difference of a couple of seconds could mean success or failure. It's our time machine, and it's fast. I see a future for you and me, with a past long forgotten in the rear view mirror." Maxine felt butterflies in her stomach. Could this be? Would Charlie finally give her the chance to give him the love he deserved? Beep-beep-beep...Charlie's wrist watch alarm struck 2:00 p.m., time to go. But Maxine noticed him leaning into her. He reached over to Maxine looking into her eyes deeply and with conviction. Maxine closed her eyes, parted her soft lips. Finally! This job would be the start of a love like no other. No one knows what the future holds, but Maxine could see it, right there through the wind shield. However there would be no kiss. She opened her eyes to see Charlie had only reached for there gear in the back seat. It was a start, but her heart sunk. "Let's do this!" He said handing her a ski mask. His was already to go. Charlie never looked more menacing, sitting there with his two sawed off shot guns, one in each hand, with the butts on his legs. "Remember we control how fast we get there!" With that came the screeching tires of a juiced up Buick Electra 225, a true muscle car. They took off like a nuclear bomb, crashing through the bank doors! "The deuce's strike again!" He screamed. Chaos ensued. They exited the vehicle. Maxine placed her weapon to the chest of the guard who pulled out his piece, she pulled the trigger. "EVERYBODY ON THE ******* FLOOR!" She bellowed. Charlie was already getting the tellers to dump their registers in the sack. They were pros and timed things perfectly; but not today. Maxine saw a squad car pull up outside. Through the doors and over the car roof she saw units getting ready. "Damn it, we have to hold the place now! I'm not ready for this Charlie!" Maxine had a quiver in her voice he was not used to. "Don't worry baby! We'll do just fine, just like we practiced." His heard his cell ring. "What the hell? Hello?" Charlie said as he picked it up and put it on speaker to keep his hands free. "Hi Honey, sorry I don't mean to trouble you at work." "Trudy? Not exactly good timing babe!" "You've got to be kidding!" Said Maxine. "GET OFF THE PHONE DUMB ASS!" Charlie waived his hand up and down to hush Maxine. Trudy spoke with a sad tone, "I know it's a bad time Charlie. I just want you to know, Dina is going to rehab on her own will and I'm so happy. I think our family is going to be fine sweetie! I know I haven't been good to you lately, but I really do, I mean I really want you to know that...that...I...I love you with all my heart baby." Maxine was enraged. Charlie looked at peace. "I love you to Tru..." KABOOM! KABOOM! Maxine pumped two shells into Charlie's chest. She stood there now with her weapon at her side, in apparent shock at her reaction to Charlie's love for his wife. Maxine looked back through the bank doors, over the roof of the car. In her mind she was thinking about the time machine, there it was, in her past, surrounded by squad cars and police officers, gearing up to storm in. Maxine put the muzzle of the shot gun to her mouth and... Well; like Charlie said, "no one knows what the future holds." Copyright 2008 Thomas Reynolds |
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