Standing On Time

He appeared right in front of her.  He stood tall, dark, handsome and literally out of this world.  Their eyes met, they stared, visually accusing the other of trespassing into each others time zones.  Not a word was spoken. Clothing from another era, caught Jen’s attention.  They both stepped back and looked at one another.  In complete amazement, there was no recognition, because they had never seen each other before that moment.

By this time the others had seen each other and were caught in a bewilderment,  much like her own.  They were slowly walking toward one another to get a better view.  Eight young teens, wondering what was happening and what these people wanted.  How did they get there so fast?

This was a second occurrence for Nick, Wade and Jen.  The others were at a complete loss.  There was no sudden flash to follow and immediate disappearance.  They were there and it was not to be denied.

The moment continued into minutes and the minutes stretched into unforgettable memories.  The stares continued and fear tied their tongues.

All eight looked at one another.  Measuring the distance they stood apart, not only in feet, but in years.  It was obvious that something was wrong, that they stood in someone else’s moment in time.  The five teens dressed in blue jeans, boots, sandals, hats and surrounded by a car and a truck.  The cowboys were dressed in their boots, chaps, spurs, hats, jeans, and most of all, threatening guns. 

The teens saw the holstered guns and slowly stepped back.  The cowboys saw that the others were not armed and tried to ease the situation by offering the first words.

“Don’t be scared, we don’t know what’s going on neither.  You don’t make any funny moves and we won’t shot ya.”  Wade’s voice deeply resounded in his chest.  That thought never crossed Billy’s mind till now and he didn’t hesitate to shout, “oh, shit we’re going to die!”

Startled by the sudden outburst, Nick pulled his gun.  He pointed it at Billy’s head saying, “Now, what was that all about, you didn’t understand his directions?”

Billy fell to the ground shaking.  Thoughts of dying out on the range by a cowboy were passing through his head.  At the same time he shouted, “For Gods sakes, don’t pull the trigger!”  He never had a gun pointed at his head before and he wasn’t enjoying this feeling of fear.

Falling backwards as he tried to sit up, Billy realized the gun didn’t go off.  He was still alive.  What a relief.  However, no one was laughing and the matter at hand never lost its seriousness.

Nick realized that he was over reacting and holstered his gun immediately.  Wade place his hand over Nick’s holster and said, “I think it’s all right.  They are just as frightened as we are.”

Everyone relaxed just a little bit, as words began to run into their minds and the courage to ask questions rose into their throats. 

Jen was the first to ask the question, “So, who are you?”

Hewey began wit the informal introductions.  “I’m Hewey, this is Nick and that’s Wade.  Now, who are you, little lady?”

Jessica jumped into the conversation with, “I’m Jessica, this is Jen, over there sitting on the ground is Billy.  The other two guys are Matt and Tim.”

After looking at each other for a fairly long period of time, they began to reach out and shake hands.  It took awhile and a few questioning looks, but the gestures were returned.  The scene almost resembled the start of a football game.  Good firm grips and some forbidding “howdy’s” began the start of a very different day.

It was now the girls turn and they too reached out to shake hands.  The cowboys looked at each other, smiled and did the same.  The first touch of their hands was somewhat magical.  Nick and Jen knew when their eyes met that the smiles on their faces ran deep into their hearts.