Emma & Malcom Peabody
Chapter 8: A WABAC's lesson
Now that Mr. Peabody told his grandchildren that he knew everything about the WABAC, he decides to teach them how to use it properly...
Would he be able to do it without running any risk?
-Is there anything important we should know about the machine?-questioned Emma
-Well, there are some rules which you should have into consideration-answered Mr. Peabody
-Rules?-asked Malcom surprised.-Great! Even a time machine has rules so it can be boring...-
The genius dog smiled.-I don't think that a couple of rules would be able to make a time machine boring, Malcom-
-And what are they about? The rules are about some historical places we shouldn't go?-asked the blonde girl paying attention while her brother was protesting
-What? No, no... you can go anywhere... it can be dangerous of course, but it's as dangerous as the present actually...-thought Peabody out loud.-The rules aren't related to that, they are related to some things you can't do if you don't want to break time-space continuum or alter your present or, worse, stop existing-
-Is that even possible?-question the red-haired boy.-I mean, can I alter the past so Emma won't exist?-
Emma gasped and stared at him.
-Well, if she stops existing, you will do it too... you're twins, remember?-
-Oh, I forgot about that... how bad-
-Which are the rules?-asked Emma trying not to kill her twin
-Well, first of all: you can't travel to a time in which you already existed; second: try not to talk about the present; third: don't travel to a time in which any of your relatives existed if you don't want to alter your present. And fourth: DON'T TRAVEL TO A TIME IN WHICH YOU ALREADY EXISTED-he explained
-You have already said that-said the young girl
-Years don't come along, Emma-commented Malcom sarcastic
-The thing is that rule is REALLY important; please don't break it no matter what-
-Got it-said the twins at the same time
-And by the way: will you teach us how to use the WABAC?-asked Emma to her grandfather after expecting the WABAC's manual
-If you want to-the beagle said smiling
-Of course I want to!-she screamed happily.
The young girl really loved passing time beside him since she was four years old and decided who was a really good model to follow inside her family. After a lot of thinking, she decided that her father and her grandfather were the most interesting ones. Just think about it: two genius, inventors and discoverers! Moreover, she never understood her mother... She was an important lawyer, a beautiful and smart woman who is an amazing mother but... she was like the girls at her school: pretty girls who loved make-up, teen stars and fashion. Since she was really young, Emma decided that that just wasn't her style.
-Well...-Mr. Peabody looked at Malcom, who was standing a few meters away from them as if he didn't belong to that scene.-Would you like me to teach you, Malcom?-
The red-haired boy looked up. He looked at his grandfather and sister. Malcom has never really felt "inside" the scene and he preferred to stay away from them all over the last years, just because he never thought he'll belong to it. But now, for the first time, he wondered if he would like to be part of that scene...
-I don't see why not-he finally said a bit quietly.-I mean, perhaps it will be better if you teach us how to use it... right?-
The genius dog smiled. Malcom always seemed to be away from him or the rest of the family. And it was really nice to see that he was starting to have a bond with him and Emma. After all, they are a family.
-Alright... let's go to the WABAC floor-said the beagle walking out of the room
Emma and Malcom smiled at each other and followed him.
-Uh...-sighed Mr. Peabody going out of the elevator.-It's been a long time since I used the WABAC for last time-
-Really? How long?-asked Malcom on his right
-Well... like ten years-
-Why's that?-asked this time Emma on his left
-Because I used to use the WABAC with your father and... Most of the time, I must confess, with your mother... but using it alone it's a bit... I don't know, unnecessary-
-Unnecessary?-questioned the red-haired boy a bit surprised.-It's a TIME MACHINE!-he said pointing the red door, which was only a few centimeters away from them
The beagle made a little laugh.-The thing is, I built the WABAC with only one propose: teaching Sherman the history's lessons-
-You... only built it so our father will remember the dates and places? Did he have problems to remember them?-the young boy said almost laughing
-No, no... I didn't build it because of those lessons-
-I think he is talking about the many mistakes that humans have done through history-opined Emma
-Exactly, Emma-continued Mr. Peabody.-I built it to show Sherman how many mistakes people did... so, he won't make those mistakes once again-he explained.-As you see, Sherman inspired me to build the most amazing thing on my career-
-Only because of that?-asked Malcom confused.-How boring...-
-And... Why haven't you told anyone about this invention? You would have changed this generation and help to the historians, you have a time machine!-exclaimed the blonde girl
-Indeed, but you must know that a time machine for humans is a double-edged sword, no one have no predecessors after the invention once released will attract worldwide attention. Evil people would want to own it; only through his owns gratification-
Emma nodded her head as she listened to him. He had a point, and a really good one. A time machine would be a really big temptation, and in wrong hands... it can be able to do many horrible things.
-Do you understand now, Emma?-asked Peabody opening the red door and going on the platform
-Of course, grandfather-
-Yeah, I only heard "blah-blah, blah-blah"-said Malcom interrupting them.-And more "blah-blah". You two, smarties, must know that normal persons like me don't understand anything you say-
-He said that a time machine can be really dangerous if a lot of people know it exists... because they can use it in a wrong way and change our present-
-Ok... I'm understanding now-
The WABAC opened its door and Mr. Peabody got in, he sat on the chair he used to sit when he used to travel with Sherman. A bit of gloominess affected him all of a sudden. He has been a long time without Sherman, but he has never released how much he missed those trips!
He looked at his right, where his beautiful boy used to sit and saw how Malcom sat there instead of him.
The beagle smiled at his grandson trying to hold some melancholy's tears.
-These chairs are pretty comfortable!-screamed the young boy making it go round with a happy birthday smile on his face
-Careful, Malcom-said Peabody trying to calm him down
-Hey, grandpa, are you alright?-he said stopping his game
-Uh? Yeah, I'm excellent-he said focused on the machine.-Alright... how much do you know about it?-
Emma went closer to his grandfather.-We write the date and the place on the keyboard and then just press the red button-
-Very well... that's how you can travel, but that's not the only thing you can do with it-
The kids stared at him surprised but completely curious.
-What else can you do?-they asked at the same time, with the same note and almost with the same smile
The beagle smiled and wrote: 54 B.C., Ancient Rome.
-Ready for your first lesson?-he asked
-Where are we going, Mr. Peabody?-asked Malcom almost jumping from his chair of excitement
The white beagle stared a bit shocked at him when Malcom said those words. "Where are we going, Mr. Peabody?". He could even hear Sherman's voice even though Sherman and Malcom's voices weren't so similar. But then he remained that no matter how much he wanted it to happen, Sherman wasn't going to be a kid anymore.
He smiled and thought the answer a million of times, so he won't make the mistake he feared he will and said finally and really carefully:
-Not "where", Malcom, "when"-
Emma and Malcom smiled at each other before they were starting to time-travel.
-Ancient Rome, it was a beautiful time, wasn't it?-he asked
-Of course it was!-screamed Emma excited
-Why are those guys dressed up with dresses?-asked Malcom disgusted.-There were gays in the past too?-he asked making the "know-it-all-dog" laugh. He even missed those kinds of questions.
-Of course not, silly! Those aren't dresses, those are "togas"-explained his twin.-And answering your second question: yes, there were gays in every time of the civilization, and I think you're discriminating them in that way-
-I'm not discriminating them!-he said.-I'm just... saying a comment about them! Why people think that every comment about something is discrimination?-
-That's not true! You were talking about them as if being way is wrong-
-I just asked if there were gays in the past! Moreover, it's true, you say a comment about woman and you're male chauvinist! You say something about black person and you're racist! You say something about gay and you discriminate people!-
-Uh? Of course not!-she looked at Mr. Peabody, who was laughing.-Who do you think is right?-
The beagle smiled. He couldn't believe he even missed the Sherman and Penny's fights. Even though they were different in many ways... and he liked that. They were twins; it was a kind of relationship stronger because, no matter what, they would still be brother and sister.
-Well... Emma is right in the "gay fact", you said it like if being a gay is wrong, Malcom-
-See?-said Emma smiling while Malcom sighed
-But...-continued Mr. Peabody.-Malcom is right in the "discrimination fact", people is always exaggerated in every comments about any of those facts-
-Ha!-he screamed standing up from his chair.-See, nerd?-he said showing his tongue to her
-What a mature form of winning-opined Peabody sarcastic
-Wh-a-t?-asked Malcom still with his tongue out and making everyone burst into a laugh
Peabody stopped the WABAC behind a tree.
-First thing you must know-he pressed one of the bottoms.-If you press this, the WABAC will be invisible, and so no one would be able to find it. Moreover...-he pressed another bottom with the shape of a padlock.-If someone gets closer to the WABAC and doesn't write the correct password, it will never open-
-Pretty interesting... which is the password?-asked the blonde girl impressed
-"E-M-A-L-1-3-4"-
-Emal? What does it mean?-asked Malcom going to the WABAC's door
-Emma and Malcom, young man-he answered.-You know how to change your clothes, don't you?-
-Yep, we do-he said
-Alright then-
The three of them went below the tubes. These came down and in a few seconds they were all dressed as ancient Roman. They looked at their outfits.
Emma breathed noticing a white and pretty comfortable toga. The last time she dressed up, she had to wear a pretty uncomfortable dress for being running through the jungle trying to escape Christopher Columbus.
Malcom looked at his clothes and sighed noticing a white and pretty comfortable... toga!
-WHAT?-he screamed looking at it
-What's wrong, Malcom?-questioned his grandfather
-A toga? I don't wearing this "asexual dress"-
-Don't worry; it looks good on you-added Emma
-You think?-he asked looking up, but as he looked up, he only saw a flash from the Emma's cellphone.
-Of course, popular guy!-
-Emma! Delete that photo!-he reclaimed
-Never in a million years!-she said trying to escape from him and going out of the WABAC.-Come for me wearing your asexual dress!-
-Ugh! You're dead, nerd!-he screamed
He couldn't let his sister upload that photo to the internet, and even though there wasn't internet in those times, in the second in which they'll go back to the present, she will upload that photo to the social networks and ruin his life once again!
He was about to go out from the WABAC, but someone took him by the arm.
-If you don't want to wear a toga...-started Mr. Peabody.-There's another option... but it has some risks-
-Really? So, change me this dress!-
-But, I'm serious, Malcom, it has some risks-
-More dangerous than Emma with a photo of mine wearing a dress?-he asked
-What is most important: your popularity or your life?-
The red-haired boy thought it for a few seconds.
-You're right...-he muttered
The beagle smiled, he was happy to make him think things twice.
-Change me this dress now!-he ordered
Peabody raised his eyebrow and gave him a "really?" look, but, at the end, he changed Malcom's outfit.
After the tube came back to its position, the young boy closed his eyes for a second. He really didn't want to see his clothes... he has been an indigenous who didn't know how to say "hello" in any other language than English and then a Roman wearing that horrible kind of dress.
His thoughts were interrupted for something: he felt something falling on his head.
He opened his eyes and looked at his new clothes.
-OH, BOY!-he screamed when he realized he was dressed as a... warrior! A Roman warrior! He was even wearing an amazing helmet with red crest! He remembered when he was younger and he used to play dressed up as a (really fake) warrior against John! It was so amazing being dressed up as a real one now!
The white beagle tried not to dismay when he saw Malcom wearing the same clothes that Sherman wore when they traveled to Ancient Troy many, many, and I mean many, years ago.
-Do you like it?-asked his grandfather while the kid was only expecting his helmet and clothes.-If you don't like it I could change it and...-
-NO! Like it? I LOVE IT!-he screamed smiling
-Do you?-
-Sure thing! It's amazing! I love warriors! They are...-he looked at his helmet really proud.-Pretty fantastic!-he put his helmet on and walked out of the WABAC
Mr. Peabody quickly turned on the security and followed him.
-Wait a second!-he said taking Malcom by the arm
-What? I have to take my cellphone out of Emma and...-
-I haven't told you about the risks that wearing those clothes have... look, if you're careful, no one will notice it and with a few excuses and lies nothing would happen but if you don't do what I tell you, things can get worse-
-Oh, c'mon!-he exclaimed.-There's nothing wrong with wearing this stuff... I'd say my father is a warrior and he made these clothes for me, that's all-
-No, no, you can't be really away from me. So, please don't start running and do exactly what I tell you-
The kid sighed.-You're so exaggerated! And you're not my father, Mr. Peabody-
-This is dangerous, you're not going if you aren't going to do what I order-
-I'm wearing a helmet-he said pointing his helmet and starting to walk out
-YOU'RE NOT GOING!-ordered the dog starting to lose the places
-Oh, yes I am!-he answered ignoring him
-Sherman, stay there!-he exclaimed before he covered his mouth with his paw
Malcom stopped.-What have you said to me?-he asked turning around
To be continued...