Fourteen year old Jeffrey Jones and Phineas Bogg landed hard on a cement surface. Bogg looked around and noticed they had landed in a dark alley.
"Jeff, you here?" he asked. He hated the dark, especially when he couldn't see his young partner.
"Yeah, I'm here," came the answer that was followed by a pained sound.
"You okay?" Bogg asked in concern.
Jeff sighed. "Just a twinge in my stomach is all" he stood up in the darkness and touched the tender spot. Bogg reached out and was relieved to see that Jeff was only about a foot away.
"Okay, hold on to me 'till we get into some sunlight. I don't want to lose you," Bogg felt Jeff touch his sleeve.
"Ha, don't have to tell me twice!"
†
Gingerly, Bogg and Jeffrey walked out of the alley and were greeted by an afternoon crowded street.
"Where are we, Bogg?" Came the familiar question.
Bogg flipped open the Omni.
"Dallas, Texas. 1964."
"Red light?"
"And blinking like crazy."Bogg closed the Omni with a sigh.
"Can't think of what could be wrong" Jeffrey shrugged.
Bogg smiled at him. "Well, ya' can't remember everything, Kid." He looked at Jeff and realized neither of them had eaten lately.
"You hungry?"
Jeff's big brown eyes brightened at the thought of food. "Yeah! I AM kinda hungry."
"Good, let's go."
Bogg was taking in the sights and didn't see the man ahead of him. The two collided and the older man's cup of lemonade was knocked to the ground. Bogg quickly helped pick up his cup.
"Hey, mister, watch it, will ya?" the older man cursed at Bogg and wiped his shirt. Jeff had to hold off a laugh, the surprised look on Bogg's face was priceless.
"Sorry" Bogg apologized.
"You just watch where you're going next time, stranger." he looked Bogg and Jeffery over, noticing their clothing.
"You two here the for the parade?"
"What parade?" Jeff asked, still holding onto Bogg's sleeve.
"The parade for President Kennedy, boy! The parade last year was such a hit, we're giving him another one."
Jeff's eyes widened. "Are you talking about President John F. Kennedy?"
The man eyed Jeff curiously. "The one and only,"
Bogg leaned towards Jeff. "That's not good, is it?"
"Uh, uh." Jeff shook his head.
"Ya'll enjoy the parade. Best get movin' if ya want some action," The man left them and the two voyagers went to stand by a building so they could talk.
"President John F. Kennedy was murdered by Lee Harvey Oswald in 1963, Bogg."
"Why's that?"
The boy's face clouded. "He was both angry and jealous of President Kennedy. President Kennedy wanted to make blacks equal with the whites,"
"I take it Oswald didn't want the to happen," Bogg groaned.
"Nope."
"Okay, guess we gotta go there and..."
Jeffrey cut him off quickly. "No, Bogg. I'm NOT going"
"Jeff?"
"No! I won't be a part to murder!"
"Jeff, we gotta! It's a part of history,"
"Bogg, what about his kids? His wife? Jackie was right there when he got shot, Bogg."
"She was?" Bogg gasped.
"Yeah, Bogg. She was. President Kennedy fell right into her lap, and his eyes were still open."
Phineas shuddered, but remained firm. "I'm sorry, Jeff. We have to go."
Jeffrey grabbed Phineas' shoulders, getting desperate. "Bogg, Jackie went into total shock, when she went into the hospital she still had pieces of his brain tissue on her dress! Please Bogg!" He stepped away to wipe a stray tear; he was getting too old to cry.
"When did this kid get so tall?" Bogg thought as he put his hands sympathetically on the boy's thin shoulders.
"It's our job, kid. Whether it's good or bad, we have to fix it. Look, I don't want to do it anymore than you do, but--"
"Then let's NOT do it, Bogg! What harm would it do if we prevent a President from being killed?? Remember Roosevelt?"
Bogg sighed. He knew this was gonna be hard for the kid, but did he have to make it so difficult?"
"Jeff, remember also, Roosevelt was SUPPOSED to live. This is totally different and you're getting out of hand!"
Jeff's eyes grew angry and he stormed to the corner. "I'm getting out of hand cuz' I don't want someone killed? Oh, that's nice!" Jeff leaned against the wall and folded his arms.
"Jeff?"
"No! I'm NOT going!"
"Too bad," while Jeffrey was talking, Bogg had adjusted the Omni. He walked over to him calmly. "I'm sorry kid, we have a job to do."
He grabbed Jeff and hit the button before the boy could say another word.
†
They landed once again on the hard cement. "Ughhhh!" Jeffrey let out a moan.
Bogg rolled to his side and stood up. He went over to Jeff, who would usually be up by now too. He lent him a helping hand.
"Jeff?"
"I'm okay," Jeff pushed away Bogg's hand as he stood up.
"I'm only concerned, Jeff. You're in pain"
Jeffrey ignored that comment and the twinge in his stomach.
"Where are we?"
"Dallas, Texas. 1963,"
Jeff looked at him angrily. "You did that on purpose!" He struck Bogg in the chest, and then backed away. Though he was irritated with his friend, Jeff couldn't bring himself to hurt Bogg. Bogg knew the kid was angry and hurt, so he let the punch fly by with a shrug.
"Jeff --"
"CAN it, Bogg! I'm not going to help you!"
Suddenly, the two noticed a couple having a heated argument across the street.
The voyagers forgot about their differences for now.
"Bogg, he looks like he might hit her!"
"I know, kid. Let's see if we can help"
The two friends ran across the street and came face to face with the couple.
The girl was a pretty brunette, not much older then Jeff. She was crying, fresh tears spilling onto her soft white cheeks.
"Everything okay here?" Bogg asked, his attention on the young woman. He noticed the bruises on her arm, but held his tongue.
"What's it to you, bozo?" the man asked nastily.
"Well, you guys looked a little, shall I say, stressed"
"Beat it, bozo. This doesn't concern you." The man grabbed the woman's elbow and led her further down the street. The girl looked at them with pleading eyes, but they turned the corner out of site.
Getting the point, Bogg and Jeffrey left. Jeff pulled Bogg aside.
"Bogg THAT was Oswald!"
"You sure?"
Jeffrey rolled his eyes. He loved Bogg, but sometimes...
"Okay, okay. Some how we gotta figure out why he didn't kill President Kennedy," Bogg sighed.
"No way. I'm not doing that."
"Jeff--"
"No, Bogg. I haven't changed my mind."
"Why are we repeating ourselves? We have to do it. No ifs ands or buts about it!"
"Then you do it. Have the death of a President weighing you down!" Jeffrey walked down the street angrily.
"Jeffrey! Get back here!"
"Nope, not gonna do it!!" Jeffrey hollered back.
Bogg watched helplessly as his young friend stormed away. "One day he's gonna get it from me." Bogg muttered to himself. He decided to see if he could find Oswald. With or without the kid, he had to do this.
Bogg found Oswald standing in front of a red brick building, adjusting his trench coat and giving sharp glances at the growing crowds of people waiting to see the president. The girl had gone. Oswald kept staring up at the sixth floor corner window, as if trying to figure out what to do next.
"Need any help?" Bogg asked, startling the man.
The man swung around. "You again? You could get killed sneaking up a person like that, ya know? You have a death wish or somethin'?"
"Not in my plan, no."
Oswald looked around. "Where's the kid?"
Bogg shrugged. "We had a disagreement, so, he's cooling his heels."
This was quite true.†Although he was worried about Jeffrey, he not to only needed to sound tough, but look it, too. It would be necessary to pull this voyage off.
"What happened to the chick?" Bogg pressed, hoping to make a conversation.
Oswald shrugged. "She doesn't think I should go through with my plan,"
Bogg gulped. "Which is?"
"I'm killing President Kennedy, but not sure." Oswald grinned at Bogg, as if it was a joke. Bogg played along and faked a laugh.
"So?you're gonna let a chick make you go soft?" Phineas rolled his eyes and laughed again, waving his hands at Oswald. "Yeah I get it, that's what happened alright!"
"Hey! I don't go soft!" Oswald tapped on him on the chest...hard.
"Sure looks it," Bogg shrugged.
"You calling me yella?" Oswald's eyes were growing livid; he kept his hand dangerously near his trench coat, as if he wanted to pull something out of it. Sweat was beginning to pour down his temples.
Bogg held up his hands in protest.
"If the feathers fit, pal!"
"All right, smart guy. I'm gonna do it. Only to prove to you I can."
"Go for it."
"Fine, I will!"
"Good." Bogg watched the man go into the building. He let out a strong breath, feeling sick inside. He hated dealing with tragedies in history, but those were the downsides to his job as a voyager.
During that time, Jeffrey was fuming over his conversation with Bogg. He loved the big guy, but sometimes he could be so aggrivating! Jeff saw Bogg talking to Oswald and knew what his friend was doing. He looked at the building. Making sure Bogg didn't see him; Jeff went to the building and up the stairs to the sixth floor warehouse.
Jeffrey hid behind some old crates until he saw Oswald was in front of him, cleaning his rifle. Jeffrey jumped out and startled him.
"Please, Mr. Oswald, don't do this!" he begged, tears starting to form.
Oswald was taken aback, but didn't shift his position from the window.
"You and your friend have death wishes, kid!"
Jeffrey shrugged off the comment and put a hand on the man's shoulder.
"What about his kids?"
"What about them?" Oswald snorted. He raised the rifle, making sure he had a clear shot.
"You'll make them fatherless!"
Oswald looked up at Jeffrey with cold grey eyes.
"Listen, kid. I never had a father and I turned out fine."
"No, you didn't! You're a murder!"
"You have a father, kid?"
Jeff shook his head.
"Then you're like me."
The comment hit Jeffrey like a ton of bricks.
"No, I'm not. I'm not killing anyone!"
Oswald shoved Jeffrey. "Get out of here, kid. Leave me alone,"
"Bogg, where are you?" Jeffrey cried out. He felt the pain in his stomach flare up again.
†
Meanwhile, Bogg had been hunting for his young partner.
"Jeffrey!" he hollered, going through the thickening crowd.
Suddenly, he remembered Oswald was looking at the sixth floor.
"Oh, no! Jeffrey!!!" Dodging people and animals, he ran to the building he had left Oswald, ran up the stairs and saw Jeffrey huddled in the corner, crying. Oswald was completely absorbed in watching the streets below, his finger growing tighter around the trigger.
The boy ran to him and wrapped his arms around his waist.
"Make him stop, Bogg! Please!"
"I'm sorry, kid. There's nothing I can do!"
Bogg hated to admit to failure.
Jeff buried his tear-stained face into Bogg's shoulder. Yes, the boy was fourteen, but there were still painful memories of his parents.
Suddenly, they heard gunshots and then screams from the people below.
"Bogg!!!" Jeff sobbed and hugged his friend tight. Bogg swallowed the big lump forming in his throat.
"It'll be okay, kid."
With that, Bogg hit the button. He didn't care where they would go next, as long as it was far away from this scene.
"Hey, guys! Did you see that shot? I got him! Right in the--" Oswald turned to find an empty room.
"Where'd they go??" Oswald asked in bewillerdment...
†
to be continued
†