The Devil Comes Back to Retroville

by Gary D. Snyder

Part 7:

Jimmy and Cindy made idle conversation as they walked, unaware of the stranger following them. From time to time their hands would accidentally brush against each other and each time they would move slightly further apart and lapse into a brief and uncomfortable silence. After each incident, however, they would, by chance or design, invariably drift closer together again.

"Thanks for walking me home, Jimmy," Cindy said.

"That's all right," Jimmy replied. "I didn't want you taking any chances."

Cindy gave an embarrassed laugh. "Well, maybe I'm not. Libby seems to think it's all my imagination. But it's nice to know that…well…"

"That someone believes you, even if what you believe sounds a little crazy?"

"Exactly," Cindy nodded.

Jimmy sounded somber and a little sad. "I know the feeling."

Cindy looked quickly at Jimmy, wondering. He was looking down at the ground as he walked and was apparently lost in his thoughts. And part of that is because of me, she thought unhappily, remembering the velociball incident she had laughed at that morning. "Listen, Jimmy, I guess I owe you an apology."

That seemed to surprise Jimmy. "For what?" he asked.

"Well, I haven't always been as nice to you as I could have been. I'm sorry for a lot of the things I've said to you."

"That's okay," Jimmy answered and fell silent again. Cindy waited for a moment, wondering if Jimmy was going to say anything about some of the things he had said to her in the past. When nothing was forthcoming she decided to take the direct approach.

"What about you?" she asked, trying to sound as though the answer was of no great importance to her. "Are you sorry about any of the things you've said to me?"

Jimmy roused himself from his thoughts. "Oh. Yeah… except…"

This is it, Cindy told herself bitterly. The part where he tells me he meant all of them and laughs because I apologized first. She was so angry with herself for opening up that she nearly missed Jimmy's next words.

"Except that I'm more sorry for some of the things that I never said," he was saying.

"Like what?" she asked, still suspicious.

"Well," he said hesitantly, "like how I appreciate when you sometimes stick up for me when no one else does…and how I know that you sometimes give your empty Purple Flurp can to Goddard when you think no one's watching…and how I like the way your whole face lights up sometimes when you smile. Things like that." He shrugged. "That's all."

Once again their hands brushed and this time Cindy couldn't resist. She wrapped her hand around his, holding it gently but firmly in a soft embrace. For a second they paused and gazed at each other as they adjusted to this sudden change of events, each aware of new feelings and each uncertain whether they were the only one who felt them. Then, like the sun emerging through grey morning mists, smiles crossed their faces and they walked on in a communal silence that said more than any words they could speak.

"Oh my gosh!" cried Sheen "Look at that!"

"What?" asked Libby, turning to look at where Sheen was pointing in excitement. She gazed eagerly at the distant forms for a few seconds and then shrugged her shoulders in annoyed disappointment. "It's just Cindy and Jimmy."

"Yeah," Sheen agreed. "But look at what they're doing!"

Libby turned to look again, unsure of just what Sheen was getting at. "They're just walking," she said. "That's no big deal. Jimmy said that he would…hey, wait a minute. Are they…? Oh my goodness! They're…they're…" She stammered as her mind refused to accept what her eyes were reporting.

"They're holding hands!" Sheen looked around desperately, like a rat in a trap. "Did we get sucked into some parallel dimension? Have we fallen into that weird twilight place? Do you see Rod Serling anywhere?"

"I hope not," Libby answered, still watching Jimmy and Cindy. "He's been dead for years."

Sheen dropped to his knees in a begging position. "Please, Libby. Promise me that no matter what happens, no matter how bizarre things get, and no matter what else may change in our alternate lives here you won't forget Ultra Lord!"

"Relax, Sheen," Libby replied. "We're not in some strange new dimension."

"How can you be so sure?" Sheen answered on the verge of panic. "That's exactly what people would say in that zone place." He considered it. "Although maybe they'd say it backwards, or in a strange squeaky voice, or -"

"Sheen, focus! We aren't in the Twilight Zone."

"But how can you be sure?"

"Because things aren't all in black and white and we aren't wearing dorky clothes and hairstyles." She gave Sheen an appraising look. "Well, I'm not, anyway." She turned back to watch Jimmy and Cindy move further away. "But there is something odd about all this. Maybe we should follow and see what's going on."

"Okay," agreed Sheen, getting back to his feet. "But just in case," he went on suspiciously, "maybe we should hold hands too until I'm convinced that we're still in Retroville and you really are Libby."

In response Libby shoved Sheen hard, knocking him off his feet. He lay sprawled on the ground for a few moments as she glared at him with her fists planted on her hips.

"Okay, I'm convinced," he said.

Not long afterwards Cindy and Jimmy arrived in front of the Vortex residence, still hand in hand. "Well, we're here," Cindy announced, stating the obvious. "It looks like nothing happened."

"I wouldn't say that," Jimmy replied, causing Cindy to blush and look hastily away. "But I'm glad that stranger you were worried about didn't show up."

"Me too. Thanks again for walking me home. I felt a lot better. I mean, safer."

"Any time." Jimmy sounded hesitant. "Is there any place you need to go tomorrow?"

"Umm…no. There isn't, actually."

"Because if there is," Jimmy was rambling now, "I'd be happy to accompany you. I don't have anything scheduled, and –"

Cindy interrupted him. "Jimmy, really, I don't have plans to go anywhere." As Jimmy looked disappointed she added, "But if you don't have anything planned either, why don't you come over tomorrow afternoon and visit? We could, I don't know, listen to some music, or talk, or just hang out. Together."

"It's a date," Jimmy said quickly, looking pleased. "Well, not a date, really, but a social…visit…sort of…thing." He suddenly realized that he sounded just like his father. "Well, anyway, I'll be there. Here. Afternoon. Tomorrow. Together."

Cindy smiled, amused. "Right. Unless," she added mischievously, "it happens to rain."

"Rain?" Jimmy looked alarmed. "Is the forecast for rain? Maybe I can do something to change it. Let's see, if there's a cold front moving in I can…no, that's not right…maybe I can…" Jimmy was feeling flustered and was babbling now.

"Jimmy, I was just joking," Cindy reassured him. "It's not going to rain."

"Oh," Jimmy sighed with relief. "That's good. But just in case, if it does rain –"

Cindy stopped him. "Jimmy, go home," she said. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"Okay. Home. Right. Tomorrow. Well, good-bye." He waved and turned, heading across the street to his house looking back once or twice as he did so.

Cindy watched him go before she entered her house, smiling and shaking her head at the unusual turn of events. She seemed to have forgotten about Lou and the stranger that had so worried her all day and was already busy with plans for the next day. Is it too early to watch a movie about meaningful relationships with him? she wondered, climbing the stairs to her room. And should I serve the Purple Flurp in the cans or in iced glasses? Or maybe something like iced tea would be more appropriate…

Unnoticed by either Cindy or Jimmy, Lou had been clandestinely observing them and was now carefully studying both their houses. Enjoy it while you can, he thought menacingly. Tomorrow the game is over. As he moved down the street laughing noiselessly to himself only the stranger, unnoticed by anyone, saw him go.

End of Part 7