Christmas Future Past

Christmas Future Past

The year was 2443 and the project was almost complete. It had been two hundred years since the Great War had destroyed much of the technology. John had worked on a time machine for the past twenty-five years and had finally completed what he believed would be a working model. The older computers he was using were not adequate to do the calculations necessary and much of his work had to be done manually. If he had the computers that were available in the 23rd century, the work could have been completed in a third of the time, but then if he had those computers, he would also still have the time machines of that era. A last ditch effort by superstitious zealots had systematically destroyed everything they could get their hand on that possessed the advanced technology of the day.

Critical technology had been lost, but at the same time, the war had enabled society to centralize much of the world so they could abandon the superstition and traditions holding back advancing technology. Now the world was slowly coming out of the technology vacuum and without the old trappings of maudlin traditions and superstitions the society was ready to soar.

Tonight, John would take the ultimate test of this reborn technology when he entered the time machine and powered it up to travel across time. The calculations seemed to be in order and he was confident of success. The technology he had recovered would be the cornerstone on which the technology of the future would be rebuilt.

Shortly after nightfall, having taken rest and nourishment, he entered the module, locked the hatch, and powered up the computer. As the hologramatic monitor came to life, he entered time coordinates of his destination. He would travel into the past five hundred years to 1943.

Anxiously, he pushed the start button firing the sequence of reactors that would propel him back in time. Immediately everything went black outside the module. A rough vibration started as he gained speed in the time warp. Brilliant colors flashed and exploded around the module and then everything became deathly silent without the slightest vibration. He was afraid the machine had malfunctioned and was ready to open the door lock when a flash of light occurred and a snowy field suddenly appeared in the window just before he crashed into it.

Neither he nor the module was hurt and he hid the time machine in some bushes. It was extremely cold and with only a thin shirt the cold was very apparent. Instinctively he felt for the heat bracelets on his arm and turned the dial to warm him, however nothing happened. It then occurred to him the power, which made the bracelets work had not been invented in this time, therefore they were useless. It was critical that he find civilization and a source of heat soon or he would freeze to death. He started walking in the direction of a glow in the distance.

He did not find the source of the glow, but a house. It was an older two-story house with smoke drifting out of the chimney and a faint glow that filled the windows of one room. It was bitter cold and quickly he went upon the porch of the house and knocked on the door. Shortly a man, barefooted, dressed in overalls and a long sleeve undershirt opened the door and inquired as to his business.

“Sir,” John said, “I have become lost and as you can see, I am not dressed for this weather.”

“Well, come on in the house and warm yourself by our fire, but how’d you get lost out here in just a thin shirt?”

Entering the house, he saw it was heated by fireplaces and lit with oil lamps. It gave the house a soft glow and felt warm and cozy with a homey atmosphere.

“I had thought to create a story that would seem plausible to you, but I have decided to be totally honest about myself. I doubt you will believe what I tell you, but I’m going to tell you anyway,” John said.

“Well, whether or not I believe you doesn’t matter,” said the man, “But I do want you to be honest with me.”

“My name is John Riker. I am not from this time. I live in the year 2443, five hundred years in the future, and I came here in a time machine. Two hundred years ago, we had a great war, much like your great war now, that destroyed most of our technology. We are rebuilding it and my travel in the time machine is part of the technology recovery.”

“My name is Horace Green, and what kind of technology are you talking about?”

“Unbelievable things for you. You do not have even a crude computer because they will not be invented until the late 1950’s. But we had computers so small they could be put in your blood stream and would travel to the diseased part of the body and take over the functions of the cells, directing the healing. We had computers that could think. We could create any body part bio-engineered for your body in seven days. We had time machines to travel back and forth in time. Here, look at these bracelets. They are to keep me warm. They do not work here because the source of power has not been invented in this time. It’s cold in my time now and this is how I stayed warm.”

“Well, you’re right about one thing,” said Horace, “It is unbelievable. If you are from the future, how is this war going to turn out?”

“If I remember my history correctly, the United States, Russia, Britain, France and China, known as the Allies, are going to win in 1945. Germany will surrender in May 1945 and after the United States drops the atomic bomb on Japan in August, they will surrender. After the war, the United States and Russia will become enemies as will America and China, which will become communist.”

“I don’t doubt that Russia will be our enemy. They ain’t trustworthy,” remarked Horace.

“Roosevelt will not complete his fourth term; Truman will finish his term and the war. After being elected for one term, Eisenhower will be elected president, followed by Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Carter and Ronald Reagan.”

“You mean that young actor feller?” said a disbelieving Horace. “Now that is the height of lunacy. An actor for president, what will he do take a curtain call every time he signs a bill?” and he slapped his knee as he laughed at his own joke

“Mr. Green, believe what you will, but mark it down. It will come true,” said John.

“Be that as it may, it’s Christmas Eve and enough of this foolishness. We must get the kids in bed for Santa.,” he said. “Momma, call the children and let’s read the poem.”

Soon, eight children from one year old to fourteen came into the room and gathered around as papa read the poem, The Night Before Christmas. When he had finished, momma said, “Now run jump in bed and cover up your head cause Santa Claus comes tonight!”

Each child first hugged and kissed momma, then papa and since John was standing next in line, they each hugged and kissed him, too.

“We’ll have to work quickly once they’re asleep,” papa said, “Cause they’ll be up in a few hours to see what they got.”

“Well, we don’t have to worry too much about the time, since we don’t have much for them. It’s wartime, papa,” said mother.

“We’ve given up all these silly myths and traditions in my time,” said John. “You know the one about the fat man in a red suit who makes toys for every child, and then travels all over the world to distributing them in one night.”

“So you don’t believe in all this falderal, do you?” said Horace.

“No, I don’t believe in lying to children. Makes them not trust you about other things.”

“We’re going to warp our children for life,” said Horace.

“Well, you’re lying when you tell something that’s untrue and then go through a charade to perpetuate it.” “Can any good come from a lie?” he surmised.

“Well, I don’t know, but you’re a very smart man,” Papa said.

“Thank you for the compliment,” he said, “I realize we’re more advanced than you.”

“Seems like some good, at least in your estimation came from that lie,” Horace said grinning. “And I guess some good comes when I tell Cletus Scaggs his new baby girl is beautiful, which she ain’t. And I hope some good comes when I tell my third boy how smart he is ‘cause he seems to do better in his school when I tell him.”

“Sir, I am aware there are certain, shall we say, little white lies, that do cause good, but this is not a little white lie. It’s a monumental prevarication that is bolstered by your actions and the community to perpetuate a myth that you get free gifts when you ask Santa for something. And if it doesn’t come, yet others seem to get whatever they asked for, doesn’t that cause hurt among those who did not get? What good does that do?

“I’m not as smart as you seem to be, but I do know a few things. One, our country has been in this war for two years and they’ve been hard years. We don’t have much, but whatever we can do to make Christmas with the story of the Christ child and Santa a reality, takes my children’s thoughts away from this war and the Spartan lifestyle we are forced to live. It gives them hope and distraction. And as far as lying about Santa, my three oldest children know there ain’t no Santa Claus, yet they still pretend to believe. Why? Because they know the joy Santa gives little children and they wouldn’t for the world disappoint their younger brothers and sisters. I don’t think they are warped because we lied to them. You know, children are smarter than you seem to give them credit. As they grow up, they understand there ain’t no Santa, but they will perpetuate the myth with their children because they want them to experience what they did. Now come on and be one of Santa’s elves tonight, because we have lots to do.”

John became a reluctant elf as he helped Horace get toys he had made and clothes Mrs. Greene had sewed for the children. John had never been Santa or one of Santa’s elves and soon found it was fun. Finally, Horace went out to an out building and brought back a crate of Apples and oranges plus a box of mixed nuts. Mrs. Greene got the fudge and other sweets she had been making and soon the whole area around the tree was covered with gifts, fruit and other good things to eat. Finally, they were ready for bed and since the kids used the other bedrooms, John, with blankets and quilts bedded down on the sofa in front of the fire.

It seemed like he was asleep only a few minutes when he was awaken by giggling children. Opening his eyes he asked, “Has Santa come yet?”

“Oh, yes,” said Jean, “And he brought me a new dollie!”

“Look at my truck,” shouted Ben, “It’s just like the one my dad had when he was a boy!”

It was still dark outside and John lay back occasionally, dozing while the children continued to enjoy Christmas morning. Soon, as the sun began to rise, Horace and his wife came into the room and gently chided the children for coming in so early and waking John.

“That’s OK, Horace,” he said, “It’s been fun watching the children as their eyes beamed and flashed while opening the presents.”

“Oh, look,” said Mrs. Greene, “There’s present no one has opened. Fetch it for me, will you Ben and let’s see whose it is.”

When Ben had given it to his mother, she looked at the name and said, “Why it says it’s for John Riker and it’s from Santa.”

“For me?” John said. “I didn’t expect to get a present since I’m just visiting.”

“Well, open it up, John,” said Horace, “It’s impolite to hold a present and not let others see what you got..”

When he had opened it he saw on top of tissue two apples and oranges and some nuts along with fudge and divinity candy. He felt a small tear form in the corner of his eye as he lifted the tissue and saw a sweater underneath with Santa on it. Lifting it up to his chest he saw that it fit him.

“I don’t know what to say,” he said.

“How about Merry Christmas,” responded Horace.

He stayed the day, enjoying the children and a fine Christmas dinner. Late that afternoon, he told Horace that he had enjoyed to time with his family, but he must return home.

“Where are you going and how, since you don’t have a vehicle?” asked Horace.

“Back to 2443 and I’ll go in my time machine,” he said.

“Well, I’m going with you cause I want to see this machine,” said Horace.

“You might become a believer, Horace,” John said.

“You mean like you did this morning?” he responded.

“Yes, just like me,” John said rubbing his warm Santa sweater.

He said his good byes to the children and Mrs. Greene and then he and Horace left, walking across the field in the direction of his machine. When they arrived and had it uncovered, Horace said, “Well, I’m beginning to become a believer, but I still gotta watch this thing take off.”

“It will, Horace, and I’m thinking I’d like to return next Christmas if it’s alright with you.”

“You’re welcome anytime. Merry Christmas and God’s speed, John Riker.”

When he had closed up the module, he punched in the coordinates for 2443 and home and pushed the start button.

Outside, Horace watched as it whirred and then disappeared before his eyes. He was still trying to rationalize all of this, but he knew it was real.

When he arrived home, he announced that John was gone, but that he planned to return next Christmas to visit. Then he went to the desk and taking out a writing tablet, sat down and began to write.

“What are you writing, Horace?” she asked.

“All those things John told us about the war and presidents. I’m going to be a psychic and predict a lot of things,” he said.