Chapter 10
A horse drawn cart tied to a hitching post stood in front of the General Store. You’d think this park could afford a more attractive horse. The poor old nag held her head low. She was on the thin side, and her coat was rough and dusty. The children could see the top of a stable behind the store, and it must have stabled another horse, because the old nag lifted her head long enough to exchanged greetings with the stabled one.
Beside the General Store was another small building with words written at the top which they couldn’t read from this distance. They didn’t see anyone coming or going from the log cabins set on both sides of the dirt road. Maybe all the volunteers had the day off.
As Reece and Sean squatted behind the brush, a man came out of the General Store carrying a large box filled with sacks. The man wore a hat, but the lower part of his face and neck were sunburnt. His shoulders were hunched over and he took small, halting steps on his trips to and from the store. His clothes, which were similar to what James wore, were a bit ragged and his boots worn down. This poor hunched-over man had perfected the impression of someone who worked the fields from dawn to dusk. Where did they get such authentic looking people to play these parts? After placing the box in the cart and giving the horse a passing pat on the shoulder, he returned two more times and brought out more boxes filled with large sacks. From where they stood, it was difficult to know what was in the sacks, except one clearly had the word “flour” written at the top. Why would anyone buy that much flour? Or maybe it was what they did at this park. Maybe they wanted it to appear so realistic that anyone stopping by for a visit would clearly see what life was like for ordinary people a very long time ago.
The man came out with his final load and hefted it onto the cart. He untied the rope at the hitching post and pulled himself onto the seat at the front of the wagon. He sat still for a few seconds then quietly picked up the long reins and pulled back gently on the right rein. The old horse made her way out of the village giving a final neigh to her friend in the stable.
When the horse and wagon were out of sight, Reece’s eyes traveled down the first three buildings on the right. “I wonder if they locked up the Professor and Bear in that third building.”
“Why do you think they’re in there? It doesn’t look like a police station.”
“I know, but the first one looks like a church, and they wouldn’t lock him up in the General Store. The others are log cabins. It’s the only one that looks different.” Reece frowned. “I just don’t get it. If this is a park, why would they lock up somebody?”
“A park is supposed to be a fun place. Maybe it’s not really a park.”
Reece looked over at her brother in surprise. Sometimes he said the oldest things. She pondered the entire situation for a few minutes. “You don’t think that James is one of the volunteers at the park, do you?”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, he’s dressed something like that man, only his clothes are filthy and torn.” Then she sighed. “Except, he had that cut. That couldn’t be part of an act.”
Sean sighed too, but for a different reason. “We never cleaned his cut. It’ll get infected.”
“Yes, but maybe there’s a first aid station here, and that’s why he came back.” Reece hesitated before adding. “But, then why did he sneak around the village and enter from the back unless he didn’t want anybody to see him?”
“Why is he hiding from everyone?” said Sean.
“He acts as if he needs to hide.”
For reasons totally unknown even to them, the two children entered the village from the same spot that James had. This brought them to a path leading directly behind the buildings. They stopped behind the first building and looked in through a corner of the window. It was definitely a church. They walked between the General Store and stable behind it then stopped at the path leading between the General Store and the third building. There were two windows at the back of the third building, but they didn’t look through for fear someone would see them peeking in. And, they didn’t know for sure who was in there. They trotted quietly down the pathway to the doorway and listened. When they didn’t hear any noise coming from the inside, they tried the doorknob, but it was locked.
Reece tapped gently on the door as she called out softly. “Professor, are you in there?”
They heard the sound of paws trotting rapidly to the door. Bear sniffed at the keyhole and whined. He lifted his paw and scratched at the door a few times then continued to whine softly.
“Bear?” both children said at once. “Don’t worry, we’ll get you out.”
Someone walked towards the door. “Who’s there?” Came the familiar gruff voice.
The children looked at each other. It was definitely the Professor. “It’s Sean, and my sister, Reece.”
“Who?”
“It’s the two children you saw an hour ago,” said Reece. She looked at her brother. Why were they talking in such soft voices?
They could feel rather than see the Professor scratching his head. “Two children?” he muttered vaguely.
“You know, you didn’t like our clothes, so that grapefruit. . .
Reece poked Sean in the side. “ANNA.”
“Miss ANNA cut clothes to fit us, and it. . .she gave us two wigs.”
Momentary silence followed until the Professor could process the information. “Oh, yes. Well, you were supposed to trail right along after me, and now look what’s happened.”
“If we had done that, then we’d be in jail with you right now and couldn’t get you out,” Sean said matter of factly.
“Well, I’ll grant you there is some logic to that. But, now see here, I’ve been in here just about long enough, so you need to get me out.”
“Is Bear all right?” asked Sean.
“Bear is our dog’s name,” added Reece when the Professor didn’t respond.
“And I suppose you children have come to collect him and take him away.”
Why did everything take so long to explain? James was the same way. “Yes, because he’s our dog, and we want him back,” said Sean.
The Professor snuffled before answering. “Yes, well, we’ll discuss that. . .later.”
“Why did they lock you up?” asked Reece. “Are you one of the volunteers in this park?”
“Volunteers? Certainly not!” The Professor was incensed. “My dear girl, I am a scientist, and I have been incarcerated in this room by two utter miscreants, and I would be very much obliged if you would arrange for my immediate release.”
They didn’t quite follow everything he meant, but the upshot was that he wanted out and needed their help.
“In any case, this most certainly is not a park,” the Professor added.
“Well,” Reece began then hesitated. “If it’s not a park, what is it?”
“We’ll discuss it later. Do you have the key to unlock this door?”
“No, do you know where it is?” said Sean.
“My dear boy, I’ve no idea, but best guess is that it’s next door in the General Store. From what I’ve seen of these people so far, I shouldn’t wonder but that it’s on a hook somewhere in plain sight.” The Professor thought for a few seconds then added. “But for pity sake, don’t let the storekeeper see you.”
Both children were mystified. “Can’t we just go in and tell him you’re tired of being locked up and want out and please, may we borrow the key?” asked Reece.
“Only if you wish to join me here.”
Now, the children were totally mystified. That’s what James had said. He told them that if they were seen, they’d probably be locked up as well.
The tone of the Professor’s voice became one of warning. “One thing you must absolutely promise me. You are not to ask anyone what year it is or where you are. Do you understand?”
“Why?”
“Because those questions got me locked up in here!”
“But, James said they didn’t like your wi
g or what you wore,” said Sean.
“That, too. But, they were only curious about my clothes,” said the Professor then added. “Who’s James? Oh, never mind, you can tell me later.”
Reece’s head tilted. “We wouldn’t ask those questions anyway, because we know what date it is, and we’re on the other side of the woods from our house, so we know where we are.”
“No, you don’t!” The Professor began, but before he could explain they heard the door to the General Store open. “Don’t let them catch you! Run!”
It was utterly ridiculous how those words terrified the children. But, this was not the time to stand about and debate why they shouldn’t be seen much less caught, and they rapidly retraced their steps down the path behind the store. Yet, as they stood pressing their backs against the General Store, the Professor’s words came back to them ‘this most certainly is not a park’. So, what was it?