One in particular

I remember I couldn't see a thing except pure white light. I could hear a voice repeating to me "Past, present, future... only one you must choose" As quickly as it began the light disappeared and I found myself standing in a field surrounded by cheering parents and noisy children. I couldn't believe it, I still can't. It was the day I won my first trophy.

I felt someone touch my shoulder and I span to come face to face with one Dave Lister.

"What are you doing here?"

"Light surrounded you.... I tried to pull you out of it"

"Great so now were both stuck"

"Where are we?"

"My School"

"What?! How?!"

"How the hell should I know?!"

He looked around then looked back towards me.

"I don't think anyone can see us"

"Why?"

"Don't ya' think we stand out just a little bit?"

I looked around and waved at someone who was looking directly at me... he did nothing which either meant he couldn't see me or he was incredibly rude, I decided on the former.

"I think you're right"

"So... which one's you?"

"What?"

"Those children, which one's you?"

"Erm" I took a quick look around "The one by that group, the one standing just to the left, by myself"

"Ah ya, I see you, how old are you there?"

"Eight"

"Wow, who knew you were such a cute kid"

I didn't reply, they were lining my younger self and the others in my class up for the hundred-meter race. I couldn't do anything but watch. Our teacher, Mr. Macintosh shouted for them to go and they all ran, competing to see who would come first. It didn't take long for it to become clear who was going to win and as soon as it was over I waited for inevitable surprised voice behind me,. I didn't have to wait long.

"You came second?!"

"So?"

"How have you not bragged about that?"

"Lister its just a stupid race"

"Still, I can't believe you've never mentioned that"

"It's not important, shouldn't we be figuring out how we can get out of here?"

"I think we should follow little Rimmer over there"

"What good will that do?"

"Well Kryten said it's got something to do with memories, the best chance is to follow you"

"I've known you too long, that logic made sense"

He grinned and started to make his way to the younger version of myself. I wasn't sure I wanted him to see my past. I didn't know what he would think.

We followed Arnold as he got his trophy from Mrs. Good Enough.

"You actually have a trophy?"

"no"

"Well it looks pretty much like you do"

"I got rid of it"

"why?"

"It's just a stupid trophy"

"Ok, ok, so these your parents?"

"yes"

"And your brothers?"

"Yes, my parents came down on this weekend to see our sports day... we were to go out and win"

"No pressure or anything"

As we got close enough Dave became quiet and started watching what was going on.

My brothers were all showing my mother and father their many medals and trophies they had won this evening. My father smiled, the smile I have never seen him direct at me and told John, frank and Howard:

" Well done, I'll put these all on our trophy shelf when we get home, the Geldmens are coming over tomorrow, I'll make sure they see them"

After that John and Frank's class were being called back in and Howard was being called over by his friend Jamie. That left me. I remember being so proud when I received that award, I couldn't believe it, My first trophy. I was so pleased, I couldn't wait to show it to my father but as usual getting your hopes up was a bad Idea.

"Look father" Arnold shouted enthusiastically as he lifted the trophy up to show his father. My father took it, looked at it and said "Second place" and gave it strait back to the young me.

"I think your teacher is calling you" My mother stated.

Arnold looked down at the trophy he held in his small hands and said "Oh...yes" and ran to go join his group.

"Your fathers a git" I heard Dave say but I wasn't really paying attention, I was remembering what Arnold was going through right now. I remembered throwing the trophy in the bin, second place wasn't good enough - from then on I have always hated the word. This is of course why I had to be a second technician, just so I would get a constant reminder of what I am and always will be - Second.

One quick mention - of no importance to you but what the hell... Mrs Good enough is actually someone I met. I remember her because I had watched a Frasier episode where Frasier met Ms. Right and meeting Mrs. Good Enough just made me laugh.

Wasn't a good time to laugh, she was a customer at work and It was probably a bad idea to start laughing at her... :P

One thing I do remember about her she looked an awful lot like Will self!