Chapter 4
1. Getting to Know Gerry
The night at Coach's was therapeutic for Kate. Being at a house that would barely change over
the next thirty years brought Kate a calming sense of peace and stability that steadied her nerves.
She stayed awake until 2 a.m. talking with her grandfather. Kate learned from Coach that the
"plans" he'd made reference to when first at Gerry's that afternoon were part of a grander scheme
to get her parents back together.
Gerry invited Alan and J to come over, but didn't tell either that the other was coming as well.
This was all in hopes that the two, who had seemed to put almost all of their hostile feelings
behind them, would begin to renew their friendship. As Kate and everyone else found out, J had
the flu and was forced to cancel.
Gerry and the rest of the conspirators were going to have to fin d another time to bring J and Alan
together. Kate had an inkling of an idea, but she did not want to interfere in a time when she was
not supposed to exist, so she pushed it back.
The next morning, Coach had to go out of town. He offered to let Kate stay at the house by
herself (Sheryl was visiting friends for a few days), but Kate had a different idea. "Could I stay at
Gerry's maybe? If he's not busy, and if he wouldn't mind."
Coach's face filled with surprise, mainly because Kate hadn't seemed too comfortable around
Gerry the day before, and he replied slowly.
"Why…of course you can! I'll have to call and check with Gerry first, but I don't think he'd mind
at all." Gerry didn't mind. Five minutes later, Kate was strapping on her helmet and preparing to
board to Gerry's house. Coach stopped her. "What are you doing?" he asked incredulously.
Kate laughed at Coach. "Isn't it obvious? Going to Gerry's. You have to leave now or you're
gonna be late." She tried to head out the door, but Coach grabbed her arm.
"Are you sure it's safe?"
Kate blew out air, exasperated. "I'll be FINE, Grandpa Coach." She winked at him, a roguish grin
playing about her features. "Worst case, I wipe out again and end up another thirty years in the
past right before Mom and Dad are born. If so, I'll look you up." She patted his arm and prepared
to jump onto her skateboard. "Either way, I'll see you soon." With that, she was off and whizzing
down the driveway.
Coach stared after her for a moment before climbing into his car. "Now I know how Gregory felt
raising J," he muttered. "Poor Alan, he must have a head full of white hair between the two of
them."
***
Kate slowed right in front of Gerry's house and stared in awe at the car that pulled out of the
driveway next door. "Whoa…cool…" she whispered. Gerry waited directly inside for her; he
waved at Kate from the window. Kate stepped down hard on her board, and it flipped and leapt
into her hands. She jogged into the house. "Hey Gerry," she panted, then jerked a thumb behind
her. "Who owns the Delorean?"
Gerry chuckled. "Oh, that's Harry. Nice guy; he just got that car. It's his pride and joy."
Kate nodded. "Very cool." She cleared her throat. "Listen, Gerry, I wanna apologize for acting so
weird yesterday. Everything was just so strange…and I latched onto Coach when it was really
you'n Julius that helped me. He's just kinda like my security blanket…always has been…"
Gerry smiled reminiscently. "Yeah, he's always been like that, for all of us. It's no problem. I'd be
shaken too if I suddenly ended up in the past with my parents only 5 or so years older than me."
Kate grinned, than leaned down impulsively and hugged Gerry. "So tell me EVERYTHING about
the famous 1971 season!" she said, sitting down with a sparkle in her eyes.
Gerry laughed and eyed her strangely. "I'm sure you've heard the story thousands of times
before."
Kate pushed her hair out of her face. "Yeah, but I wanna know your perspective."
Confusion clouded Gerry's face, and he looked at her even more strangely. "In all your sixteen
years I've never told you the story once? What, do I shut myself up in the house and never talk to
anyone in the future?"
Kate stared at him, shocked, for a second, then shifted uncomfortably in her seat. 'Way to just tell
him that he gets killed in a couple months,' she scolded herself. 'Now get yourself out of this.'
Quickly, Kate managed a nervous smile. "Well, you know, I wanna hear it from the 'Ten Years
Later' perspective." She held her hands up in the air as if framing a picture.
Gerry gave her a final stare, then burst into laughter. Kate glared at him indignantly. "What's so
funny?"
Gerry continued laughing. Finally, he took a deep breath. "You!" Seeing Kate's continued glare,
he elaborated. "You're such a mix of your parents. All of yesterday you were a spitting image of J,
but today and especially just now, you remind me so much of Alan."
Kate softened. She contemplated this for awhile. "You and Mom and Dad really are super close,
aren't you?" she concluded.
Gerry nodded. "Of course! They're my best friends, along with Julius."
Kate smiled and cocked an eyebrow at him. "Why are you home, anyway? I know you work."
Gerry shrugged. "I'm on vacation. Just a little one, not long enough to go anywhere."
"Alright." Kate stood and wandered around the room, looking at all the pictures that adorned the
walls. "So, are you going to tell me about that 1971 season or not?" Gerry shook his head,
laughed, and delved into the story.
***
Gerry and Kate spent the morning and afternoon trading stories and small talk. For lunch, Kate
shocked Gerry with her egg salad skills. He was even more surprised to find that she'd learned to
cook from her parents. Gerry knew well that neither Alan nor J had any skill in the kitchen. Kate
explained that they'd taken a cooking class together, which gave Gerry another good laugh.
Perhaps what stunned Gerry the most was that Kate, such a mix of her parents, had minimal
interest in football. She'd gone to all of the games to support Coach until he retired, but after that,
she watched practically no football. Kate had a difficult time explaining to Gerry that it wasn't that
she didn't have an interest in sports. The sports she liked just weren't the traditional kind.
It took a few hours and numerous mini-demonstrations with her skateboard by Kate for Gerry to
fully grasp the concept of extreme sports. Gerry's words upon finally understanding: "Cool."
Around dusk that day, soon before Coach was to come for Kate, an unexpected visitor arrived:
Sunshine. Gerry greeted him with enthusiasm. "Hey Sunshine! What are you doing here?"
Sunshine grinned and ducked his head. "Well, you know, I was just in the area visiting people
when I heard about your little scheme. I had to come and see how it went." Gerry's smile faded
and he sighed heavily. He explained all the events of the previous day and finished just as Kate
made her way out from the bathroom.
"There you are, Kate," Gerry said. "You already know who this is. I filled him in about
everything."
Kate worked her jaw soundlessly as Sunshine stood with eyes full of wonder. "It's amazing," he
whispered. "There resemblance, I mean."
"You—you—" Kate suddenly sputtered.
"What?" Sunshine asked, confused.
Kate started coughing, her face beet red. "Excuse me," she choked, and ran for the bathroom.
Upon reaching it, she immediately turned on the cold water and splashed it over her face. She
coughed violently for a few moments, then was able to breathe again. "That…can't…be
my…uncle," she wheezed. "He's…he's…hot!" Kate coughed again, disgusted by the idea of
thinking that someone, her uncle in particular, was hot. "Then again, it's not like he's related to me
by blood…" she mused, then shuddered. "Just ignore it," she instructed herself.
Gradually, Kate made her way back out to the living room. Sunshine and Gerry were still sitting
there, now joined by Coach. "Ahhh…there she is," Gerry smiled.
"Are you alright?" Sunshine asked, concern in his voice.
"Yeah…I am…" Kate stammered.
Coach stood up, sighing. "Well, we ought to be going. I think you went a little overboard today,"
he said, eyeing Kate. "You're still a bit weak from yesterday."
Kate was about to protest, but decided against it. She was really tired. Kate gave hugs goodbye to
Gerry and Sunshine. With nary a moment's thought, she also leaned down and kissed Gerry's
cheek before leaving.
***
As she drifted off to sleep for the second night in her father's old bed, the seed of an idea in the
back of Kate's head suddenly germinated. Tomorrow was going to be a big day.
1. Getting to Know Gerry
The night at Coach's was therapeutic for Kate. Being at a house that would barely change over
the next thirty years brought Kate a calming sense of peace and stability that steadied her nerves.
She stayed awake until 2 a.m. talking with her grandfather. Kate learned from Coach that the
"plans" he'd made reference to when first at Gerry's that afternoon were part of a grander scheme
to get her parents back together.
Gerry invited Alan and J to come over, but didn't tell either that the other was coming as well.
This was all in hopes that the two, who had seemed to put almost all of their hostile feelings
behind them, would begin to renew their friendship. As Kate and everyone else found out, J had
the flu and was forced to cancel.
Gerry and the rest of the conspirators were going to have to fin d another time to bring J and Alan
together. Kate had an inkling of an idea, but she did not want to interfere in a time when she was
not supposed to exist, so she pushed it back.
The next morning, Coach had to go out of town. He offered to let Kate stay at the house by
herself (Sheryl was visiting friends for a few days), but Kate had a different idea. "Could I stay at
Gerry's maybe? If he's not busy, and if he wouldn't mind."
Coach's face filled with surprise, mainly because Kate hadn't seemed too comfortable around
Gerry the day before, and he replied slowly.
"Why…of course you can! I'll have to call and check with Gerry first, but I don't think he'd mind
at all." Gerry didn't mind. Five minutes later, Kate was strapping on her helmet and preparing to
board to Gerry's house. Coach stopped her. "What are you doing?" he asked incredulously.
Kate laughed at Coach. "Isn't it obvious? Going to Gerry's. You have to leave now or you're
gonna be late." She tried to head out the door, but Coach grabbed her arm.
"Are you sure it's safe?"
Kate blew out air, exasperated. "I'll be FINE, Grandpa Coach." She winked at him, a roguish grin
playing about her features. "Worst case, I wipe out again and end up another thirty years in the
past right before Mom and Dad are born. If so, I'll look you up." She patted his arm and prepared
to jump onto her skateboard. "Either way, I'll see you soon." With that, she was off and whizzing
down the driveway.
Coach stared after her for a moment before climbing into his car. "Now I know how Gregory felt
raising J," he muttered. "Poor Alan, he must have a head full of white hair between the two of
them."
***
Kate slowed right in front of Gerry's house and stared in awe at the car that pulled out of the
driveway next door. "Whoa…cool…" she whispered. Gerry waited directly inside for her; he
waved at Kate from the window. Kate stepped down hard on her board, and it flipped and leapt
into her hands. She jogged into the house. "Hey Gerry," she panted, then jerked a thumb behind
her. "Who owns the Delorean?"
Gerry chuckled. "Oh, that's Harry. Nice guy; he just got that car. It's his pride and joy."
Kate nodded. "Very cool." She cleared her throat. "Listen, Gerry, I wanna apologize for acting so
weird yesterday. Everything was just so strange…and I latched onto Coach when it was really
you'n Julius that helped me. He's just kinda like my security blanket…always has been…"
Gerry smiled reminiscently. "Yeah, he's always been like that, for all of us. It's no problem. I'd be
shaken too if I suddenly ended up in the past with my parents only 5 or so years older than me."
Kate grinned, than leaned down impulsively and hugged Gerry. "So tell me EVERYTHING about
the famous 1971 season!" she said, sitting down with a sparkle in her eyes.
Gerry laughed and eyed her strangely. "I'm sure you've heard the story thousands of times
before."
Kate pushed her hair out of her face. "Yeah, but I wanna know your perspective."
Confusion clouded Gerry's face, and he looked at her even more strangely. "In all your sixteen
years I've never told you the story once? What, do I shut myself up in the house and never talk to
anyone in the future?"
Kate stared at him, shocked, for a second, then shifted uncomfortably in her seat. 'Way to just tell
him that he gets killed in a couple months,' she scolded herself. 'Now get yourself out of this.'
Quickly, Kate managed a nervous smile. "Well, you know, I wanna hear it from the 'Ten Years
Later' perspective." She held her hands up in the air as if framing a picture.
Gerry gave her a final stare, then burst into laughter. Kate glared at him indignantly. "What's so
funny?"
Gerry continued laughing. Finally, he took a deep breath. "You!" Seeing Kate's continued glare,
he elaborated. "You're such a mix of your parents. All of yesterday you were a spitting image of J,
but today and especially just now, you remind me so much of Alan."
Kate softened. She contemplated this for awhile. "You and Mom and Dad really are super close,
aren't you?" she concluded.
Gerry nodded. "Of course! They're my best friends, along with Julius."
Kate smiled and cocked an eyebrow at him. "Why are you home, anyway? I know you work."
Gerry shrugged. "I'm on vacation. Just a little one, not long enough to go anywhere."
"Alright." Kate stood and wandered around the room, looking at all the pictures that adorned the
walls. "So, are you going to tell me about that 1971 season or not?" Gerry shook his head,
laughed, and delved into the story.
***
Gerry and Kate spent the morning and afternoon trading stories and small talk. For lunch, Kate
shocked Gerry with her egg salad skills. He was even more surprised to find that she'd learned to
cook from her parents. Gerry knew well that neither Alan nor J had any skill in the kitchen. Kate
explained that they'd taken a cooking class together, which gave Gerry another good laugh.
Perhaps what stunned Gerry the most was that Kate, such a mix of her parents, had minimal
interest in football. She'd gone to all of the games to support Coach until he retired, but after that,
she watched practically no football. Kate had a difficult time explaining to Gerry that it wasn't that
she didn't have an interest in sports. The sports she liked just weren't the traditional kind.
It took a few hours and numerous mini-demonstrations with her skateboard by Kate for Gerry to
fully grasp the concept of extreme sports. Gerry's words upon finally understanding: "Cool."
Around dusk that day, soon before Coach was to come for Kate, an unexpected visitor arrived:
Sunshine. Gerry greeted him with enthusiasm. "Hey Sunshine! What are you doing here?"
Sunshine grinned and ducked his head. "Well, you know, I was just in the area visiting people
when I heard about your little scheme. I had to come and see how it went." Gerry's smile faded
and he sighed heavily. He explained all the events of the previous day and finished just as Kate
made her way out from the bathroom.
"There you are, Kate," Gerry said. "You already know who this is. I filled him in about
everything."
Kate worked her jaw soundlessly as Sunshine stood with eyes full of wonder. "It's amazing," he
whispered. "There resemblance, I mean."
"You—you—" Kate suddenly sputtered.
"What?" Sunshine asked, confused.
Kate started coughing, her face beet red. "Excuse me," she choked, and ran for the bathroom.
Upon reaching it, she immediately turned on the cold water and splashed it over her face. She
coughed violently for a few moments, then was able to breathe again. "That…can't…be
my…uncle," she wheezed. "He's…he's…hot!" Kate coughed again, disgusted by the idea of
thinking that someone, her uncle in particular, was hot. "Then again, it's not like he's related to me
by blood…" she mused, then shuddered. "Just ignore it," she instructed herself.
Gradually, Kate made her way back out to the living room. Sunshine and Gerry were still sitting
there, now joined by Coach. "Ahhh…there she is," Gerry smiled.
"Are you alright?" Sunshine asked, concern in his voice.
"Yeah…I am…" Kate stammered.
Coach stood up, sighing. "Well, we ought to be going. I think you went a little overboard today,"
he said, eyeing Kate. "You're still a bit weak from yesterday."
Kate was about to protest, but decided against it. She was really tired. Kate gave hugs goodbye to
Gerry and Sunshine. With nary a moment's thought, she also leaned down and kissed Gerry's
cheek before leaving.
***
As she drifted off to sleep for the second night in her father's old bed, the seed of an idea in the
back of Kate's head suddenly germinated. Tomorrow was going to be a big day.