1984-07-04 “Something’s Not Right” for Merritt (born 1960)

Merritt was jolted to consciousness by… a clock radio on his nightstand. Rather, the nightstand in the bedroom his mother had turned into a guest room when he was in college.

The voice coming from the radio was that of Gary McKee. “Good morning Atlanta! Happy 4th Of July! Today, we celebrate the 208th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence…”

Merritt sat up fast. It had been Nov. 16 when he went to bed. His eyes blinked in the room lit by the red LED glow of the clock radio. He turned on the light and did some math in his head…

1776 + 200 = 1976 

1976 + 8 = 1984

Merritt clambered to his feet and looked for his iPho… He shook his head and hurried to the front door, opened it and picked up the… The Atlantic Constitution, the morning newspaper.

He located the date. Wednesday, July 4, 1984.

“I shifted back…” His words were whispered into the suburban darkness outside his door.

His thoughts raced. Did he shift back? Or was it all a dream? Or both? Or neither? 

He convinced himself that all of the months between July 4 and Nov. 16 simply couldn’t have been a dream. Meaning he had somehow… unshifted. Or something.

In a flash, his thoughts landed on something Jacob had said on Thursday: “I just feel sorry for Emma-1965, if she hadn't shifted… She’d have ended up in 1984 all by herself in Memphis.”

Merritt turned back inside and almost ran into his father. “Son, it’s 4 a.m.… what are you doing?”

Merritt pointed at his room. “My alarm went off…”

“So go back to bed?”

Merritt shook his head. “Dad… I… I gotta go to Memphis. Right now.”

“Memphis? Why on earth?”

Merritt smiled. “There’s a girl who’s gonna get off a bus there, and I need to go kiss her.”