Author's Note: the disclaimer is in my profile.

Uncle Rico's Past

Uncle Rico and Napoleon were at the thrift store browsing through the used items. Napoleon was looking at a sweet fanny pack while Uncle Rico was looking at the electronics. After awhile he came across a suitcase that said Time Traveling Kit on it. While they were in line to buy things Napoleon noticed the luggage his uncle was carrying.

"What're you buying," asked Napoleon.

"A time traveling kit."

"What? Why the heck are you getting that?"

"Because I want to go back to '82."

"You're just wasting your money on a piece of crap that won't work."

"That other one didn't work, but maybe this one will." Napoleon laughed.

"Yeah, right."

-----

When they returned to Napoleon's house Uncle Rico sat at the table and opened the suitcase. Inside there was a microphone and a portable T.V.

"What they heck," he shouted. "This ain't a time traveling kit!" Then he picked up a piece of paper that said Directions on top. Uncle Rico read the paper carefully.

First you need to go outside in an open area. Then you need to turn the knobs on the T.V. The red one is the month, blue is the date, yellow is the year, and the black one is the on/off dial. Once you've set it and turned it on you need to say these words into the microphone, "Send me to Place of Destination." Then stare at the screen for one minute. You should be at your destination by then.

After reading that Uncle Rico sighed. "I guess I can give this a try." He went to the backyard and found Napoleon feeding Tina.

"Eat the food you fat lard!" Uncle Rico opened the gate and started walking father into the wilderness with the suitcase in hand. "What're you doing Uncle Rico?"

"None of your business Napoleon. Finish feeding Tina."

"Fine."

Uncle Rico walked until he was about two miles away from the house. He placed the T.V. on the ground and turned the knobs so they read 'Dec. 2, 1982'. He held the microphone firmly and said, "Send me to Preston High School." Then he looked at the T.V. screen which now displayed many colors and that long beep sound.

-----

Uncle Rico was lost in a daze while staring at the screen. After about two minutes he finally stopped and looked around. He wasn't out in the open space anymore. He stood before Napoleon's school, Preston High. A sign in front of the school stated 'Football State Championship Game Tonight!'

"I made it," he said to himself. "I'm back in '82. Now I can make things right."

It was an hour before the game was supposed to begin. Uncle Rico went to the football field and saw the Preston football team practicing on the field. He scanned the area closely, and then saw a younger, stronger, and more good looking Uncle Rico wearing the number 64 on his jersey.

'Man,' he thought. 'If only I was in the fourth quarter. I'd make us the state champs.' Then he saw the coach talking to another player. 'Here's my chance.' He walked over and said hi to the coach.

"Who're you," the coach asked.

"Just a fan of high school football. The team's looking good."

"Yeah, I think we've got a good chance of winning."

"I especially like #64 over there." The coach looked at the younger Uncle Rico throw a ball back and forth with another player.

"Yeah, he's the star quarterback."

"I think you should put him in the game as much as possible. Like in the forth quarter." The coach sighed and scratched his head.

"Well, we'll see how the game turns out. Hope you'll enjoy it."

"Good luck coach." As Uncle Rico made his way to the bleachers he saw a young, beautiful brunette walking onto the field.

'What's Tammy doing here,' he thought. He saw the girl go over to #64. 'Oh yeah, she asked me out, but I said no.' Tammy walked away displeased, and when she was out of #64's sight she ran sobbing. 'Why did I not go out with her?' Then Uncle Rico saw the cheerleaders go onto the field, and he eyed a particular blonde. 'Oh yeah, I asked Claire, but she said no.'

Uncle Rico sat on the bleachers, and as time passed more people came and the crowd was huge. Night fell and the field lights flashed. After the visiting team punted the ball the game had started. People were yelling and cheering as the game got more intense. Uncle Rico was sitting on the highest bleacher and watched the game closely.

"That was a good play," he would say from time to time. The game seemed to go by fast and before he knew it the second quarter ended and it was half-time. The cheerleaders went onto the field and Uncle Rico was watching Claire move for awhile.

"Why didn't he go out with you?" Suddenly Uncle Rico's concentration went from Claire to the two girls sitting in the bleacher below him.

"He said that he already had a girlfriend and that he was sorry."

"He doesn't have a girlfriend Tammy. I heard that he's going to ask Claire, but she's not going to date him."

"Why not?"

"Because she thinks he's a dork. Maybe once she says no he'll ask you."

"Maybe, I totally want to date him." Uncle Rico heard that and sighed.

'So,' he thought, 'that's why Claire wouldn't go out with me. I'm not a dork.' By then the third quarter had started. The game got more exciting with many fumbles and awesome plays.

When the third quarter ended Uncle Rico watched the coach to see what he was going to do. The team ran back onto the field and # 64 was among the players. Uncle Rico smiled. 'He put me in! He put me in!' The whistle blew and the last quarter kicked off……