Chapter
11 ‘So Long And Thanks For All The Berries’ Page 43
Bright light flooded into the darkness, engulfing
them and the faint glow from the flashlight.
Tommy squinted, trying to see what was there and was completely shocked
by what he saw. It was his bedroom!
“Look!” he shouted.
Jason lowered his hand and couldn’t
believe his eyes. They were home at
last!
The boys walked dumbfounded into
Tommy’s room. All thoughts of never
getting home left their heads.
There was a noise out in the
hall. Jason quickly slammed the closet
door shut. Seconds later the bedroom
door opened and in walked their mother carrying a pile of clean laundry.
The boys stampeded her. Knocking the clothes from her arms.
“Mom!” They shouted as they hugged
her.
“We’re so glad to see you!” cried
Tommy.
Mrs. Barker had a rather surprised
look on her face.
“But you saw me only this morning,”
she told them. The boys exchanged
looks.
Mrs. Barker looked at her filthy and
ripe smelling sons.
“I’ve been looking for you two. Where have you been to get so dirty?” she
scolded.
Neither boy answered right
away. Then Tommy looked at his closet
and then at his mother.
“We were cleaning out my closet,” he
said laughing. His mother shook her
head then picked up the clothes and placed them on the bed.
“Well, it’s dinnertime in a few
hours,” she said. “And I don’t want
either of you showing up until you are completely clean. Understand?”
“Yes mom,” said Tommy and Jason.
Mrs. Barker shook her head again and
left the room.
Tommy closed the door behind
her.
“How can that be?” said Jason after
his mother was gone. “We’ve been away
for days. How come it’s only been hours
here?”
Tommy shook his head.
“I don't know,” he said. “I can’t explain it. Maybe it’s got something to do with the time
hole or something.”
“Well, I guess it doesn’t matter
now. We’re home,” said Jason. He looked down at his dirty clothes. “Right now I’m going to take a long soak in a
hot bath.” He gave his little brother a
shot in the arm. “See you later
squirt.” Then Jason and his battered
and bruised body left.
`When he was alone, Tommy went and
sat on his bed. After a couple of minutes
he took off his tattered backpack and emptied it out. He picked up his stained Dinosaur Encyclopedia and opened it.
The pages were filled with the faces
of extinct dinosaurs. This unique
experience had given him a new found respect of the ancient creatures. Were they stupid reptiles or intelligent
beings? Capable of making the same
mistakes as humans. Tommy had a pretty
good idea but no one would ever believe him.
He knew he would never look at these pictures the same way again.
Closing the book, he laid it on his bed next to his camera. He hadn’t even gotten any photos. Well, perhaps that was for the best. Ten year old Tommy Barker walked out of his
room, very glad to be home.
The End