Chapter 1 – 2123
The Diffy's arrived in the year 2123, quite confused. The confusion was quickly wiped away as the family was approached by a short, stocky man, with wiry black hair and a thick bushy mustache. He was dressed in black slacks and a long sleeved blue shirt, and wore a badge: "Time Police".
"In accordance with U.S. Law #48151, "Thanks to the Diffy's", you have been returned to the year 2123, exactly 15 months, 3 days, 6 hours, 42 minutes, and 15 seconds after you departed the 22nd century. Section 62342 of said law mandates that 'All returning time travelers must return to the time equal to when they initially departed plus the duration of their time trip' You're bodies are all 15 months older now than when you left, so we've returned you 15 months later. Now, my people will fit your time machine with equipment to prevent its illegal use. Good day."
Phil had expected this much, and it didn't affect his plan.
It took the Diffy's a few days to settle back into their future home. On an early April morning, Phil and Pim were preparing for their first ever day of school in the future. Real school that is. Before their time trip, Phil and Pim had always attended school virtually. After seeing first hand the benefits of an education at a physical location, Barb and Lloyd decided to enroll their children at Pickford High.
The family was gathered in the kitchen for breakfast. In the background, the voice of U.S. President Benjamin Arnold could be heard coming from the family holovision, the futuristic successor to the TV.
"My fellow Americans, it is imperative that you are all aware of the new conditions that must be met if you wish to time travel. All time travel is regulated, and violators will be punished to the full extent of the law. Prospective time travelers must fill out the appropriate forms pleading their case, and await federal approval. Currently, requests for time travel of a recreational nature are being unilaterally denied. Many of the accepted requests have involved the pursuit of scientific research, although the National Time Travel Authority will consider any reason you give outside of recreation. My hope is that this situation will be temporary. We have very smart people doing research on time travel that will hopefully ensure its safety in the near future…" The president continued on, but it was time for Phil and Pim to get to school.
"Thanks Phil, now I'll never see my grandma again."
"Thanks Phil for ruining my sister's honeymoon."
"Thanks Phil for putting my parents out of job."
This is the reception Phil expected upon returning to the future.
"Phil! Hey Phil! Over here!"
At least someone was excited to see him. Phil turned toward the excited voice to see his good friend Curtis Jennings. It was Curtis that Phil had named his friend from the Stone Age after.
"Curtis! Good to see ya buddy! I forgot you went to Pickford." This was an easy thing to forget. Curtis's father, Bob Jennings, was one of the leading engineers on the virtual education project 20 years ago. So, it was ironic that he would send his son to a physical school. Ever since the virtual education project was completed, fervent debate took place over which was superior. Early studies showed that neither had a clear advantage over the other, so both managed to peacefully co-exist.
"Yeah! Long time no see man! Listen, I have somewhere to be, we'll catch up at lunch. But I've got an extra ticket to tonight's Dodger game. Koufax vs. Clemens. . Should be a classic. Oh, and Mickey is starting at third! You in?"
"Definitely." Phil forgot how much he missed baseball. It was the one game that had truly passed the test of time. It was basically the same game now that it was 100 years ago. Sure, umpires were completely replaced by invisible lasers and motion sensors, but the game was still played the same way. One thing Phil regretted about his stay in the 21st century is that he never got to see an old fashioned baseball game. He'd asked Keely to go a couple times, but she didn't seem interested. He decided not to push the issue. And now Curtis's brother Mickey had made it big time! Phil always knew he had it in him.
Morning classes flew by as Phil managed to zone out and ignore the insults that flew at him from every direction. Before meeting up with Curtis for lunch, Phil decided to take a detour. He wanted to see if it was still there. Sure enough, it was exactly where it ought to be; the tree Phil had used to eternalize his friendship with Keely by making a carving with his Wzard. Only the message on the tree wasn't exactly how Phil remembered it. "Friends Forever" had been scraped away, and "Keely and Phil" was now surrounded by a heart. Phil Diffy nearly cried. Despite having a plethora of futuristic technology at his disposal, it was Keely, a girl from the past, who had first managed to communicate with Phil.