Story #1 on 8/11/09

What-if, story #1 is about: What if time went backward instead of forward?
well, here's the story, comment and stuff :) P.S. i need a good title for it, lol. (any ideas)



“Zachary, hurry up! We’re going to be late, get going,” Zack’s mom shouted. Zack was almost ready; he just had to finish tying his shoes. He knew his mom was in a hurry, and he was anxious too. They were going to the local pawnshop, as they did the third Saturday of every month. His mom was very curious about antiques and any other “odd-ball” items that she could find. She had a large and expansive collection; almost every room in their house had something from the pawnshop in it.

Zack, although he wasn’t as enthusiastic about antiques and weird objects, still enjoyed browsing through the store’s collection; sometimes he would find something that would catch his eye and then would beg his mom to purchase it for him. He also would sometimes use his own money; if he had some from doing chores, if not he could always ask his mom.

After Zack had finished tying his shoes, he headed downstairs. His mom had already donned her leather coat, it was fall and was starting to become quite cool, even during the day. Zack decided that he rather not wear a jacket, it didn’t seem the right weather yet. So, after he refused to grab his red hooded sweatshirt off the coat rack, Zack and his mom headed to the pawnshop.

Griffy’s Pawnshop, that’s what it was called. Apparently, the shop’s proprietor was a man named Griffy; although it was known that he preferred the title Uncle Griffy. Zack thought it was weird, to call this man his uncle, even though they shared no relation whatsoever. But, Zack decided rather not to quarrel with Uncle Griffy, for he didn’t want a raise in price of whatever was going to be purchased that day.

“Oh, welcome back, Miss Mitrican and her son! I haven’t seen you folk in quite some time. How is everything? Fine, I’d imagine. Well, anyways get to looking around and when you’re ready to make your purchase, come to the front desk and I’ll ring you up.”

Uncle Griffy talked a lot, and didn’t often let anyone else talk to him. It always seemed like a one-sided conversation. After he was finished babbling on about things that Zack and his mom already have heard many times, Zack started looking around.

Zack found a few coats, but decided that they were too worn out and weathered for him to even begin to think of purchasing. As he paced up and down the aisles, he saw a few fedoras, but he didn’t want to buy those either, he thought, what would I do with a fedora? I don’t need or want a hat. So, he had almost given up hope, when a shiny silver item caught his eye.

He made his way over to the silver watch and examined it closely. He noticed the intricate detail carved into the face of the timepiece, and he thought it was just magnificent. A real masterpiece! He just had to have it. He beckoned his mom over, so she could take a look.

As they were at the front desk, almost ready to check out, for the final time, Zack’s mom asked him if he was sure he wanted the watch. “Yeah, mom; I’m sure I want it, I mean look at how awesome this thing is! Wouldn’t you want it too?” Zack was totally convinced that this watch was the exact thing he wanted.

After paying the large sum of $120, they were heading out the door of the pawnshop, when Uncle Griffy said, “Remember Zack, all sales are final.” With that, Uncle Griffy gave a little wave, as Zack and his mom drove away.

The next few days were wonderful. Zack wore his new watch wherever he went; he even wore it during his sleep. At school, he showed his entire group of friend’s and they might not have been as enthralled by it as Zack, but they still were somewhat fascinated.

Everything was great, until a week or two after the Saturday that he had made his purchase. It was a cloudy mid-October afternoon, and Zack was heading home from the library. He had to admit, he was slightly a bit of a nerd, and he went to the library and actually read for enjoyment. It didn’t bother him though, the awkward stares that he sometimes received as he browsed the library’s extensive collection of literature. So, he was heading home, and it started to drizzle.

Zack, didn’t really like rain, so he decided to hurry up and head home. Without looking both ways, he absentmindedly crossed the street. Unfortunately, there was a car, and when Zack heard the honk of the horn, he quickly dashed forward, out of the way; to avoid being flattened. Unknowingly, his watch had slipped off his wrist, during this incident. When he had gotten to the sidewalk, he soon realized and headed back into the street to retrieve it. After he had his watch again, Zack walked home, with more caution than before.

To his dismay, the watch had been broken back where the accident happened. The face was scratched and the arms of the clock were bent out of shape. Zack was terribly upset, he really had liked that watch and it wasn’t cheap either. He had paid over $100 for it, and now it was broken. He wondered if Uncle Griffy could fix it, or maybe a refund. But, he then remembered, Uncle Griffy had said, “All sales are final.” So, that wouldn’t help. Zack decided to wait until tomorrow, it was Sunday and Zack would head to the pawnshop, to see if anything could be done.

“Wake up honey,” Zack’s mom said in a sweet voice. “You have to go to school, just think; one more day, tomorrow’s Saturday and then you’ll be able to relax. Maybe you could go to the library; you seem to enjoy reading there.”

Zack having just waked up did not really understand what had happened. He remembered that yesterday was Saturday and today was supposed to be Sunday. Was his mom playing a joke on him? He wondered. But, it wasn’t a joke, sure enough the school bus came and he was on his way to learn.

Throughout the day, Zack felt like he was having déjà, it was all too familiar. He recalled that he had just done that lesson with Mr.Buckleton, his science teacher. And he knew the answer to Miss Sharpe’s question about Egypt, before she had even asked the class. It was all really weird; Zack wondered what was going on. But, it didn’t take too long for him to figure out.

When he awakened the next morning, to find out it was Thursday, Zack realized that time was going backwards! He didn’t know why this was happening or what the cause was, but he somehow related it to the broken watch on his wrist. For, it was strange that if time was going backwards, why hadn’t his watch repaired itself? He decided that after school, he would pay a visit to the pawnshop; he had business with Uncle Griffy.

Uncle Griffy led Zack to the backroom, where there was a table and a few chairs. They each took a seat, and then Uncle Griffy passed out some cookies and milk. “So, I wanted to ask you, why is time going backwards after I broke the watch, and can you somehow repair it?” Zack asked.

Uncle Griffy sat in his chair for a few moments, completely silent. Then, he made a coughing noise and took out a tissue. It seemed like he might have a cold. “Why, yes of course. I had a feeling that you would break it eventually, but I warned you, Zack. As I said before, all sales are final. It is your job to fix it, after all you bought it and broke it, and it’s not my responsibility anymore.”

Zack wasn’t happy as he left the pawnshop. Uncle Griffy had told him, there was nothing he could do about it that time would just keep going backwards. But, as Zack was drifting off to sleep, he realized there was something he could do. He just had to wait a week or two.

Sure enough, time was going backward now, so the day would come. It was the day to go to the pawnshop, a slightly chilly mid-October day. Zack still didn’t wear his coat this time either, as he and his mom headed to Griffy’s Pawnshop. It looked the same as it had, way back when it had first happened.

Zack’s mom went the other way, browsing through the junk that Griffy kept on display, while Zack headed over to where he had first spotted the watch. To his amazement, it was there! The watch was on the counter where he had originally found it. He slipped the watch he was wearing off his hand, and then replaced it with the unbroken one. Nobody had noticed and everything was ok.

Zack had decided to buy a nice black fedora, there’s no way a hat could give him any trouble! When Zack went to bed that night, he prayed that it would work. He wanted Sunday to come and he wished with all his heart. Of course, the wishes and prayers didn’t make a difference; what made it Sunday the next morning was that he had finally gotten the watch fixed; even if it was in an unconventional way.

Zack was the happiest kid ever, at least he thought so. Now, he would just have to go over the last few weeks that he had rewound. Oh, the fun of it! At least, fedoras don’t cause trouble… or do they?