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The Vagabond Chapter 2: Who, What, When, Where, Why and How
Hot water washed over me. I looked around. I was in a shower. Surprised, I turned the water off, pushed the blue curtains away and stepped out of the large tub. Warm steam clouded the air, but was gone within seconds. Neatly folded clothes were laying on the smooth marble counter next to the bathtub. On top of the pile of clothes was a note saying, “To replace your soiled clothes.” I threw on the the baby blue shirt and the black jeans that had been kindly laid out for me. I looked in the foggy mirror that decorated the the pale green wall. A good looking, clean shaven face stared back. My new face was good looking, in a plain, scrawny sort of way. I ran my fingers through my dark brown hair. I watched it fall around my neck and curl under my ears.
I searched through my fuzzy brain, trying to remember how I had ended up in such an expensive bathroom. I remember being led down a long street by the brunette and suddenly being hit with a wave of nausea. My ears were ringing and my eyes blinded with white lights. I couldn’t remember much after that. I shook my head, trying to focus. With a tired sigh I pushed open the bathroom door and stepped into a long hall lined with photographs, certificates and trophies. As I reached the end of the hallway I was greeted by a short middle aged man, a women with bomb shell blond hair and the brunette from earlier.
“How are you doing?” the women asked, laying a manicured hand on my damp shoulder. “Are you feeling better?” She reached up and felt my forehead.
“I'm feeling much better, thank you.” I said with a quick cough.
The brunette shifted her weight from one foot to the other. “Good! I thought you were going crazy! Talkin' about time travel and a new body! It was ridicules! I mean seriously! Time travel! Please!” the pretty brunette exclaimed, pursing her lips.
The middle aged man frowned at her. “Be nice,” he said softly. “This young gentleman is our guest.” The brunette rolled her eyes and sighed.
“I'm Owl Ross, by the way,” I said, grinning and putting out my hand.
“I'm Valerie-Grace Smith, and these are my parents, West and Catherine.” She gripped my hand and smiled. I studied her face. She had a thin pointed nose and high cheek bones. Her skin was creamy and flawless and her smile wide and sweet. As I shook her hand I realized something wasn't right.
“Where's my lab coat?” I asked, finally noticing that my beloved white coat was gone. I had been through so much with that coat! World War One, the moon landing, the discovery of Canada! And this one time I was mistaken as an Acadian in the seventeen hundreds and was shipped off to Louisiana. Met a guy named Stephan there. He was nice. Took me in and fed me fish. Who can say no to that?
“It's in the wash dear.” Catherine explained. I nodded and bit my bottom lip.
“We have to go to work, do you think you guys can take care of yourselves?” West asked, throwing on a black sports coat.
“Yeah, we'll be fine!” Valerie-Grace reassured him.
“Okay! We're off!” Catherine called, waving.
And they were gone like a flash. Valerie-Grace turned quickly to me and looked straight into my eyes. “Just who and what are you?” she demanded.
“Well, I'm human, if you haven’t already figured that out. My name is Owl Smith but most people call me crazy, weird or honey stay away from that man on the street. Does that answer your question?”
She shook her head unsatisfied. “Who are you really? I know you're human. That’s pretty obvious. You seem perfectly normal, but you act, I dunno, different. And you were talkin' about time travel! Time travel isn't real!”
“Of course it's not real!” I exclaimed. “Not in this year at least. Wait until the year twenty-twenty one.”
Valerie-Grace rolled her eyes. “I want to know who you are!”
I grinned wickedly. “You'd better brace yourself!”
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