a dollar.”
When Chuck handed him a dollar, John mumbled, “Cheapskate,” under his breath. Nevertheless, he took it and started walking down the street. He looked up at the sign board. The hamburgers cost fifteen cents.
“I will take two hamburgers,” he said to the lady behind the counter.
He paid for them. It didn’t take long before he was eating, sitting at one of the tables. Pretty soon someone’s shadow was over his table. He looked up to see Lieutenant Granger. “Is this seat taken? I promise not to arrest you.”
“I don’t own the table. You can pretty well sit where you like,” John responded. Granger sat down.
“How are you making out? I have not seen you since you left the hospital.”
“I’m doing fine. Susan has let me stay in her spare bedroom and I just found a job at the hardware store.”
Granger scratched his head. “What is a pilot doing working in a hardware store? You should be flying.”
John laughed. “I don’t even have a driver’s license, let alone a pilot’s license. I am wondering how I am going to get a social security card that I have to have to get my first paycheck. Besides, the only airplane you guys have seen me fly is in pieces now.”
“I see. I have an uncle in Idaho who does crop dusting. He is always looking for new pilots, even those who have crashed a couple of planes. He says those are the kind he needs. He tells me the only reason they crashed is because they pushed the envelope. He needs guys who are crazy enough to do that. As for the social security card, tell them you are from Tortilla Flat. A flood in ‘42 nearly washed the town away. It destroyed all of their records so people from there have a hard time proving their age because they don’t have birth records. The town wasn’t real fast in getting the information to the state so the state doesn’t have any copies of the birth records between 1936 to 1942 when the flood happened. So you need to tell them you were born in 1941 sometime.”
“Thanks for the information. You have been very helpful.”
Granger smiled. “I was just trying to protect my country and you were a threat. Now that I know that you are an American and a member of the armed services, I can respect that. Even if you came from the future.”
John looked around and made sure that no one was within ear shot. “Shhh, don’t tell anybody.”
“I know, I know. Do you have any of your memories back? It would be especially nice to know who wins the 1966 World Series. A guy could make a fortune with just a little information.”
John laughed. “I don’t even know who the teams are. I have forgotten everything. I know things are strange and I can’t even explain why. For instance, is a fifteen cent hamburger the norm? I am getting paid only $1.30 an hour. That seems very low to me.”
“$1.30 is just over minimum wage. My uncle pays $5 an hour. He is coming to visit in a month, I will tell him about you. He might be able to help you get your license.”
“Okay, thanks.” John then looked at the Lieutenant and asked, “Why are you so disliked?”
Granger laughed. “It’s hard being liked. You have to talk nicely to people and ask them how their day is going even when you don’t care in the least how their day is going and it is boring to listen to them. Being disliked is easy. You don’t have to talk to anyone and you can walk around with a scowl when you are having bad days and everyone gets out of your way.”
John laughed and laughed. Even Granger cracked a smile. He said, “I have got to get back. I have MPs I have to terrorize.”
Granger got up and left. John had to rush to get back to work on time. The rest of the day was busy helping customers. Susan picked him up after he got off work and they went and bought him a couple of outfits.
When they got back to the house John’s feet were tired so he slumped down on the couch. Susan came and sat next to him.
“Here, try this,” she said, handing him a
When Chuck handed him a dollar, John mumbled, “Cheapskate,” under his breath. Nevertheless, he took it and started walking down the street. He looked up at the sign board. The hamburgers cost fifteen cents.
“I will take two hamburgers,” he said to the lady behind the counter.
He paid for them. It didn’t take long before he was eating, sitting at one of the tables. Pretty soon someone’s shadow was over his table. He looked up to see Lieutenant Granger. “Is this seat taken? I promise not to arrest you.”
“I don’t own the table. You can pretty well sit where you like,” John responded. Granger sat down.
“How are you making out? I have not seen you since you left the hospital.”
“I’m doing fine. Susan has let me stay in her spare bedroom and I just found a job at the hardware store.”
Granger scratched his head. “What is a pilot doing working in a hardware store? You should be flying.”
John laughed. “I don’t even have a driver’s license, let alone a pilot’s license. I am wondering how I am going to get a social security card that I have to have to get my first paycheck. Besides, the only airplane you guys have seen me fly is in pieces now.”
“I see. I have an uncle in Idaho who does crop dusting. He is always looking for new pilots, even those who have crashed a couple of planes. He says those are the kind he needs. He tells me the only reason they crashed is because they pushed the envelope. He needs guys who are crazy enough to do that. As for the social security card, tell them you are from Tortilla Flat. A flood in ‘42 nearly washed the town away. It destroyed all of their records so people from there have a hard time proving their age because they don’t have birth records. The town wasn’t real fast in getting the information to the state so the state doesn’t have any copies of the birth records between 1936 to 1942 when the flood happened. So you need to tell them you were born in 1941 sometime.”
“Thanks for the information. You have been very helpful.”
Granger smiled. “I was just trying to protect my country and you were a threat. Now that I know that you are an American and a member of the armed services, I can respect that. Even if you came from the future.”
John looked around and made sure that no one was within ear shot. “Shhh, don’t tell anybody.”
“I know, I know. Do you have any of your memories back? It would be especially nice to know who wins the 1966 World Series. A guy could make a fortune with just a little information.”
John laughed. “I don’t even know who the teams are. I have forgotten everything. I know things are strange and I can’t even explain why. For instance, is a fifteen cent hamburger the norm? I am getting paid only $1.30 an hour. That seems very low to me.”
“$1.30 is just over minimum wage. My uncle pays $5 an hour. He is coming to visit in a month, I will tell him about you. He might be able to help you get your license.”
“Okay, thanks.” John then looked at the Lieutenant and asked, “Why are you so disliked?”
Granger laughed. “It’s hard being liked. You have to talk nicely to people and ask them how their day is going even when you don’t care in the least how their day is going and it is boring to listen to them. Being disliked is easy. You don’t have to talk to anyone and you can walk around with a scowl when you are having bad days and everyone gets out of your way.”
John laughed and laughed. Even Granger cracked a smile. He said, “I have got to get back. I have MPs I have to terrorize.”
Granger got up and left. John had to rush to get back to work on time. The rest of the day was busy helping customers. Susan picked him up after he got off work and they went and bought him a couple of outfits.
When they got back to the house John’s feet were tired so he slumped down on the couch. Susan came and sat next to him.
“Here, try this,” she said, handing him a
Similar Books
