2024-12-14 “Game Day” for Devon (born 2002)

Devon wasn’t really sure what was happening, but Liza said he had won another round. 

“How can you tell?” Caleb asked, laughing and reaching for the popcorn bowl.

Liza reprised the rules of the game she had found at the antique store a few blocks away from the Bank Street townhouse.

While she did that, the events of the night before replayed through Devon’s mind. Eric called Kent and told him that he’d used his connections with the FBI and NSA to locate the versions of Merritt, Emma, Hannah, and Kent who had time-shifted to 1984. They were in their sixties in 2024 and living in Virginia beach.

A trip was planned. Despite the message not to bother looking in St. Louis, they decided that would be the first stop. They would get there on the 14th and look around on the 15th, then fly to Norfolk International and rent a car. Merritt had spoken to… himself… and was told to come right away.

While they were packing and talking to Will Robertson about missing work, Devon got a Snap from Liza.

L: Call Shay.

Devon wondered why Shay had not sent it; he called immediately.

“Um… So… I was thinking. So, Liza wants to have a board game day tomorrow with Caleb and I missed out on movie night, but they said it was fun. Caleb said I should invite you to come again… I mean… He didn’t have to convince me… I just wanted you to know he thought of it, too, so… Um… do you want to come play games?”

“Sounds great. I would be pretty much alone tomorrow. You won’t believe what happened!”

Devon went on to tell her about what Eric found out and the quickly planned trip. “So, I’ll be there. It will be great.”

Liza had just finished re-explaining the rules to the game, then she suggested soda refills before the next round. She and Caleb hurried off.

Shay smiled at Devon. “So… back in 1880… Do you have many memories?”

Devon nodded. “Yeah, his memories pop up sometimes.”

Shay smiled. “Guess what?”

Devon couldn’t guess, so Shay went on.

“The other you… has your memories of school. He can read. Do math. All that science you know… Calculus!”

Devon shook his head as her words set in. “He…”

Shay smiled and nodded. “Emma and I have been… I mean the other Shay, of course… tutoring him. The day before I shifted back he looked up and laughed. ‘Okay, I get it now… and… Shay, I… I know many, many, a thing I didn’t even know was a thing! Oh, this world is about to change!’ Devon, he has a lot of your knowledge.”

Devon shook his head again. “Wow… I never thought about that… I’ve been getting memories of like 1860-something… Slavery in the south.”

Shay smiled again. “Now, you are a historian and he’s an engineer!”

Devon laughed and tried to talk like he was from 1880. “Beggin’ your pardon, ma’am but yous putting the cart befo’ d’ horse, if you take my meaning! I got a whole lotta studies to finish befo’ I can rightly say I’m an engineer!”

Shay laughed delightfully as Liza and Caleb returned with soda refills.

Liza smiled. “Another round of this game or something different?”