Story Burst 11
Squeakerinos
Flash Story: Serendipity
This week’s flash story:
Serendipity
Chris managed Serendipity, that waltz of a store for swanning rich women.
He spun on tiptoe, swirling enough good fortune to make the business a rising crescendo.
We bounded and bopped.
But then came tax time: the music stopped and we tripped on success, crashing hard to the dance floor.
Watch the animatic Serendipity here
Serial: Answer Key - Episode 11
Answer Key: Episode 11
It was a beautiful spring morning. During the short walk to his studio apartment, he found himself looking for differences in the landscape and people but didn’t see any changes. The air was crisp, the sun shone on the daffodils, the commuter traffic was just beginning. There were a few changes in the apartment—a new couch, a painting of mountains on the wall.
“So,” the future Hal said, returning from the kitchen with steaming mugs on a tray next to a plate of chocolate cookies, “what shall I call you?”
Hal took a mug with a grateful nod. “Well, in short, time travel’s possible. I’m … well, I’m you, from your past.”
Future Hal looked down at him in an appraising way. “It’s like looking in a mirror.”
Hal sighed inwardly. Of course it was—they were the same person. Was he going to have to explain that? Surely he wouldn’t—
Future Hal laughed at the expression on Hal’s face. “What I mean is, you don’t look significantly younger than I am now. When exactly are you from? And how did you get here?” He looked now at what Hal was wearing and nodded. “I see. You’ve been in my—well, our office. Is that where you came from in the past?”
Hal started at the beginning, relating the whole project that Amser had run (this Hal rolled his eyes at the mention of her name) and how he himself had made the connection between histone tails and quantum consciousness elements, and developed the ability to send himself forward.
Future Hal took another sip of coffee and leaned back on the couch. He seemed to be taking it all in stride. He looked Hal in the eye and smiled. “So, you—well, me, I suppose—solved time travel. And you’ve solved the age-old question of paradoxes. The same person can be together without the Universe collapsing.”
Hal felt a knot untie in his gut. He hadn’t realized it, but he had been nervous. Worried that his future self might reject him or be so freaked out that Hal wouldn’t even be able to communicate with him. Instead, he found that he was actually starting to warm to this guy. He was smart, quick on his feet. They might be able to work together, create something new, something that no human had ever considered before.
“But you didn’t tell me,” this Hal continued in the same bemused tone, “when exactly you come from.”
“Oh, right. April 5, 2187. First thing in the morning—I beat everyone in.”
“What? April 5? No, no, you must return immediately! Go back and get out of the office, get as far away from the building as you can.