Chapter 4

The future folks

The next day, Amelia woke up early. She got quite a shock when she realized that she had her arm over Jim. She got up slowly as to not wake the boy. She quickly put on some clothes and began preparations for breakfast. By the time she was finished, Jim came into the kitchen. He sat down on a chair at the table, said hello to Amelia, and then asked when breakfast would be ready. In answer, he got a plate with two slices of bread with peanut butter spread on them in front of him.

"Thanks, Captain," he said and started to eat.

"You are welcome, Mr. Hawkins," Amelia said and sat down to her breakfast as well.

"Um, about yesterday, Jim," she said.

"Yes? What about it?" Jim asked.

"Er, did I do anything, well, odd to you at all last night?" She looked on him with a concerned expression on her face.

"Hmm. Let´s see," Jim said, looking back to last night. "Well, you started to purr a few minutes after you were asleep. Then it was so cold, I began to freeze, and you---purely instinctually, I assure you---grabbed me and warmed me up. Then I guess I feel asleep."

Amelia closed her eyes, sighed, and said softly, "I was afraid it would be something like that."

"There, there, Captain," Jim said imitating Kitty Petro's voice. "It will be all right… just you wait and see."

"Don't start with me, Mr. Hawkins," Amelia said. "I don't need your sympathy. I can take care of myself quite well."

"Oh, really?" Jim said. "Must I remind you about yesterday?" he asked and began to tease the tip of Amelia's left ear. The look Amelia gave him showed that she was none too pleased with his comment.

"Hey, c'mon… calm down, Amelia," Jim said trying to cheer her up.

"I sincerely doubt you have any idea just how painful it is for a feline to be dragged about by their ear," Amelia said angrily.

"It can´t be all that bad," Jim said smiling because he thought the Captain was being a wimp. "Besides, Amelia, if you thought it was so painful, why didn't you just put your claws to her?"

"Because, Mr. Hawkins, Miss Petro is nearly twenty times stronger and faster than I am," Amelia said. "You do know the stories about Kitty Petro, don't you, Mr. Hawkins?" she said and got up from the table.

"You mean that it's true what they say about her then?" Jim asked.

"Don't be daft! Of course, it´s true," Amelia said. Then she went out into the living room and turned on the TV.

"JIM!" she yelled when she saw what was on the TV. Jim came running and watched the TV. It was showing Kitty Petro on the stage down by the statue of Amelia.

"Welcome," she said to the audience and continued. "Today, you will get visitors from three years into the future. Now… say hello to Amelia!"

Future Amelia landed, did a few somersaults and finally bowed to the cartoons who where applauding.

Kitty continued, "Jim Hawkins!" Jim landed and did a few tricks while floating in the air.

"Silver!" Kitty continued. Silver landed on Future Amelia's shoulders and with some help from her, he stood on his hands with Future Amelia standing on her own atop his boots.

But Kitty was not finished yet. "Sarah!" she said and soon Sarah was with her son and grabbed his head with her hand, then jumped and landed on the other side of Jim.

"Delbert!" Kitty continued. Delbert landed on the right side of Future Amelia and whispered something into her ear. Future Amelia nodded, and soon they had started a spirited Kung Fu match. Delbert was as strong and fast as his wife. After a quick turn, Delbert laid his wife out on the ground. She laughed and then bowed to Delbert, after he helped her up.

"Benjamin, Katherine, Jenny and Samantha!" Kitty then said. And soon, every one of the Dopplers' kids were at their parents' side. Amelia and Jim thought that this must be the rest of the remaining people, but Kitty still continued on.

"Arrow!" she said. Amelia gasped as she saw her old friend walk up to her future self and lift her up while she was laughing.

"And, last but not least, Victoria!" Kitty said. A feline Jim never had seen before appeared down on the stage. Amelia was in shock. It couldn't be!

"Who is that, Amelia?" Jim asked.

"My big sister," Amelia said slowly, her voice odd. "But she died when I was 15."