Roadtrip

A mans journey back in time to fix a regret.

Road Trip
My name is Tom Woodson.My story is about a strange but wonderful thing that happened to me a while back.So
sit back,relax and enjoy the read.

I am like so many others,I work hard all year long,but when my vacation time comes.I sure look forward to it.I had decided this year
I would spend the whole 2 weeks just traveling back roads I had never seen.I love Vintage cars and had bought a cherry 57 Chevy
so I figured the road trip would be a great way to break it in.

The first week was pretty routine,but I did see some beautiful country and enjoyed every minute of it.You see,I
had a 57 Chevy when I was young so I imagined myself as 16 again as I travled the back roads.When you
are my age you grab every straw you can to return to youth:0).As I sat in my motel room,I noticed a road on the map that looked very interesting.
There were no towns anywhere,but many historic sites to be seen,so I decided what the heck,in the morning I would travel the 30 miles to see for myself.

The next morning,I was sitting in the motel cafe for coffee and breakfast.Out of no where a gentleman about my age was standing at my table and asked if he could join me.Although I thought it to be a bit strange,I really dont like to eat alone so I asked him to sit down.We talked for a while and I told him about my road oddesy to recapture my youth.I asked if he lived around close anywhere.He told me he had grown up in this area.I pulled my map out and showed him the road I planned to explore and asked him if he knew it.He looked at me with a blank stare on his face with a strange smile.

He finally answered and said yes I do know the road many from around here do.About 20 miles up this road is a right hand turn.You wont find it on your map or any other place.We call it Wish road.I asked,Wish road why is it named Wish road?He said,if you travel this road any wish you seek you will find.Needless to say,my immediate thought was this man must be crazy.I excused myself and went to the bathroom,when I returned he was gone.The waitress came to the table and brought my check I asked her why the coffee that my strange friend had was not on the check.

She told me I had been alone at the table,I said you mean you didn't see a man about my age sitting here drinking coffee?She said
No Sir as I told you,you were alone.I paid my check and went to sit in my car and make at least a little sense of things.Wish Road,people who are there but they are not,I admit this part of the country was new to me,maybe the folks from around here had a strange sense of humor and
I turned and looked behind me,nothing was there but darkness,no road,nothing.Knowing it was apparent I couldn't go back,I drove forward determined to see if a place such as Wish Road was real or legend.

I drove down the Hi Way and came to the road shown on my map,I turned left About 20 miles up an uneventful road,I came to a right hand turn,
this road didnt exist,but it was sure there.Apprehensive,scared,curious a bunch of different emotions and feelings all at once.I looked about 30 feet down the road,the Gentleman I had coffee with was beckoning me to come by waving his hand.I heard a voice in my head that said come,see.
He disappeared again as he had done earlier.

Freaked out,yes that would about sum up what I felt,I had never put any stock in the paranormal or ghosts,but I was sure
seeing someting I had no explanation for.I said to myself,Self get a hold to yourself and think this out for a while.I had an almost
full tank of gas and I can easily turn around and forget any of this ever happened.But,I have always loved a mystery and my
curiosity meter was at 100% now.It may be the worst decision I have ever made but I started driving down the road.I had gone about 10 miles I guess,nothing out of the ordinary just trees on both sides,I was beginning to think this was all a daydream,so I stopped
and started to turn around,all of a sudden a light blue mist covered the road in front of me.

I turned and looked behind me,nothing was there but darkness,no road,nothing.Knowing it was apparent I couldn't go back,I drove forward as
I entered the mist,I had the strangest feeling I had been here before,but that was not possible,I had never been here before.I began to exit the mist,the sky was bright Blue with white clouds,bright Sun,I looked in the rear view mirror and road was behind me.I saw a road sign that said Youngsville 2 miles.I thought,there are not suppose to be any towns on a road that does not exist.I drove on and soon a town came into view.

End Chapter One

Road trip Chapter 2
I was still trying to understand what had happened as I approached the town,maybe the Twilight Zone stories
I had seen as a youth were true after all,but no,cant be.I had always approached things in a logical way,but there
was no logic or answers I could muster.I was only sure of one thing where ever I was I could not go back.As I drove down Main Street
I had a haunting feeling of Dejavu.As if I had indeed been here before,but why?

Youngsville was a clean,pristine town.It stretched out many miles in all directions.There was only one thing missing,no people.No cars,no animals,nothing.How is it possible for this pretty town, in the middle of no where, to be void of all life?The questions were many the answers none,at least none I could figure.Was I directed here to simply die?If not from starvation or thirst,maybe from being alone.My military training kicked into high gear,I knew I had to recon what was here and find a source of food and water to survive until I could find answers.

I parked and started walking,checking all the shops.I went into a clothes store,the store was stocked with new clothing from the 50s and 60s.
Easy enough to recognize as I had grown up in this era.Poodle skirts,Rah Rahs,leather jackets and jeans,everything a teen would need to be cool.Clothing for men and women in era style,problem was no teens or men or women to wear them.At least I had a change of clothes available if I needed them.I went into a Drug Store next door,the shelves were stocked with anti biotics of the 50s and 60s.I took a few bottles that I recognized and put it in my first aid kit in the car.

As welcomed as a change of clothes and drugs if I needed them were,my next quest was priority,food and water.I went farther up the street and found a Diner,I figured clothes and drugs were left by someone for some reason why not food.I walked in,it was straight out of the 50s,nickel jukebox,table games I remembered as a kid,soda fountain,it was as if this town was left behind in the 50s as the world moved on.
I crossed my fingers and turned on the faucet,sure enough cool water came out.I went into the kitchen,the freezer was stocked with food,enough to last at least a month.So I cooked a couple of burgers and fries and a root beer float and sat down to give Thanks for my good fortune.The power was on,I had food and water and shelter,but the same old nagging question kept coming back,why was I here.Again with no answers,I found some nickels in the cash drawer and played songs of my youth while I ate.

It was apparent I was not meant to die here,whereever here is,It seems someone or something went to a lot of trouble to see I
could find what I needed,but who or why?It was getting dark,so I decided to hunker down in the Diner for the night and start again
tomorrow to try to find answers.Then,out of the corner of my eye,I noticed a figure of what looked to be a man across the street,I ran out
to find him.

End Chapter 2

It could not have taken more than a few seconds for me to get across the street,but whoever or whatever I had seen had vanished.
Seems I would be used to things being there but not being there,but it only served to fray my nerves even more.As I headed back to the Diner
I saw flashes of people and cars in the town,but then again nothing was there,just one more thing to try to make sense of in a place
where nothing made sense at all.

I had a restless nights sleep to say the least,so the next morning I got in my car to see if anything I could find would shed any light
on my oddity.I saw gas stations with names I recalled as a kid,Pure,Exxon,Shell the prices were about the same as my younger days
twenty five cents a gallon.I saw record shops with Vinyl in the window,no CDs,burger joints in 50s style,Department stores with names I had seen as a child in the town I grew up in in the 50s.I drove through a few neighborhoods outside of town,all the homes were 50s and early 60s style,parks, playgrounds.Beautiful,clean neighborhoods,but who were they for.Not a soul could be seen.

For a second I could have sworn I heard the laughter of children playing coming from the park.Needless to say,I chalked it up to
imagination,I found it easier to cope with my situation if I convinced myself most of it was not real.As I continued to drive,I turned on my radio
I heard music from the 50s and 60s,my Rock and Roll.I recognized the DJs voice as a favorite of mine way back when.I knew the DJ had passed many years ago,so I figured it was a re run.Strange,how could my radio be picking up a station that no longer was in business?The news came on and the announcer said"Now for the news in Youngsville,July 15.1961.We welcome our new comer to town and we
hope you enjoy your stay here".

Then my radio cut out,all I could find was static.I pulled over and stopped.OK,now weird had reached a whole new level,it was 1961 here,not 2016,But,in a way that made sense,as everything I had seen was 50s and 60s,nothing from the time I had left.Somehow I knew the new comer was me.
Strange thoughts filled my head,was this a ghost town,maybe the blue mist was a portal to another time,and a worse case had I died?
I pinched myself and it hurt,so for the time being I ruled out that I was dead.It was crystal clear,someone knew I was here and they knew why,I had to find out.I often had thoughts of retiring in a town from the 50s,but I knew no such thing existed,just wishful thinking.Yet,here I
was in a town seeming to be frozen in time,the 50s and 60s.I thought that maybe the next place I should try to find would be a news paper office.
Not even sure there would be one I hurried back to town.

I drove down Main Street and lo and behold there it was the Youngsville Herald office.The building was empty on the inside,no sign of a news paper office ever being there.I noticed on the table by the window,a single news paper.I picked it up and began to read.It was dated July 15,1961.
I knew the paper was meant for me as everything else in this town.A strange thing happed when I looked out the window on the second floor.
I saw the streets full of people,cars going up and down Main Street,much like the flashes I had seen the night before.The town was alive with
activity.My first thought was,I dont know how,but now I will find out what this place was and maybe why I was here.I hurried back down the stairs opened the door,and nothing no people,no cars,no life.Just a dead empty town again.

My emotions by now were like a roller coaster,it was taking every thing I had to cope now.It was then I remembered what the newspaper had said.................

End Chapter 3

As I had picked the one page newspaper up,there was one small paragraph printed on it.It said your questions will be answered tomorrow.
It was freaky that whoever was here knew what I was going to do before I did.I stood outside the news paper office a while hoping to see life again,but to no avail.As I headed back toward the Diner a bright blue beam of light hit me.I tried to run but I could not move.I am not at
all sure how long this lasted,but I watched my entire life play out like watching a movie in my head.The light left as quickly as it came.If
it had done any harm I could not tell it,every thing seemed to be fine.I had a slight headache but that is all.You would think this would have scared me but with all I had seen since I have been here,to me it is the norm.

I headed back to the Diner for food and a couple of aspirins.It was getting dark again,so I called it a night,at least tomorrow may bring answers I desperately wanted to find.The next morning,I was sitting at the counter eating my breakfast and drinking my coffee.I heard the door open and turned around,it was the gentleman I had coffee with at the cafe earlier,the one who had told me about this place.He walked over and sat down next to me.He said,I see you found Youngsville,it was good to hear another voice even though I felt that whoever he was,he was not human,at least in the sense as I understand human to be.

I replied,Yes I found it or it found me,my time here so far has been a bit less than pleasant.Empty buildings void of life,neighborhoods with no people,I see and hear people and voices that are not there,if you brought me here there has to be a reason,all I want to know is,what is that reason?Is what I have gone through so far some kind of test just to see how far you can push me until I crack?Why have you waited to make contact with me?He smiled and looked at me and said,we bring very few people here and yes in a way you have been tested.We have watched you since you have been here.You have done well dealing with an unknown.We made sure to provide you with what you needed.

Although so far, what you have seen and endured was not exactly what we had in mind for you,as we were not sure of what your
deepest desire or wish was,we now know.I thought to myself,that explains the light they were reading my mind.He went on to say
we have not made ourself known to you because we had to be sure you could handle the rest of what you will see.By this time my mind was running a hundred miles an hour,who is we?What is the rest of what I will see?He said,you have a choice,we can send you back to where
you came from with no memory of any of this,or you can choose to stay.We know what you really desire and if you stay,the rest of your
journey will be a more pleasant one,the choice is yours.

I will give you time to make your choice,I will return later this afternoon for your decision.I watched him just disappear into nothing from the stool.
He made it clear,the choice was mine,to stay or go.I was not at all sure of what I was dealing with,but one thing sure,it was nothing I have ever
seen before.I spent the next few hours pondering over what I should do.I could walk away with no memory of anything that has happened
or I could stay and see how this all plays out.He kept talking about my desire and wish,how can he know but I don't?I have learned,they know more about me than I know about myself.

OK,decision time,I am almost 69 years old,my kids are out and doing well,My wife of 40 years had went home 3 years ago,I loved
her and missed her more than life itself,but I was alone now.After my road trip I was going to retire anyway.My youth was gone and I really had nothing
to look forward to anymore.As strange as this adventure was,it had managed to revive a part of me I thought was long gone.I mean,how
many have a chance like this and he did say it would get better.I decided to stick it out and see where it ended.

The door opened again and he was back.He asked if I had decided.I told him I wanted to finish what had started.He smiled again,and said I thought you would,are you ready to learn what lies ahead,I said yes.He put his hand out and said take my hand,I took his hand and all of a sudden we were not in the Diner any longer.

End Chapter 4

In what seemed to be about half a heartbeat,We were standing in a great hall.Directly in front of me were 6 men.They were sitting behind what looked to be a Judges bench.All had long white hair and beards,they were dressed in white robes.I asked my new friend who they were,he replied they are the Care Takers.I thought I had been confused before,but now even more so.Care Takers?Care Takers of what?I had seen enough in my time here to know I was dealing with something far above my understanding.

Maybe my choice was the wrong one,maybe I should have left when I had the chance,but like they say curiosity killed the cat,I had come this far so might as well finish the ride,I really had nothing to lose.If they meant me any harm they were sure capable of doing it, but they had not.Other than the fact that I was in a place I did not understand,I had been provided with all I needed to survive.I noticed my 6 hosts were talking among themselves in a language I did not understand,then the one seated slightly higher than the rest began to speak.

Our messenger,the one standing next to you, has told us of you,that you have something you did not finish when you could.Also of your desire for youth once more.What we offer, you can accomplish both.From time to time we allow others to come here,to help them to resolve things from the past that was never finished.We send our messengers out to find such people.We have seen your life,we know that you are a good man with an unfortunate situation.Only people like you are ever allowed to come here.We know your one wish was ,that the night Donna died,by the time you got to her at the Hospital,she had passed away.You never had the chance to tell her you loved her one last time.
We cannot bring the dead back to life,only one power can do that,but we can manipulate time and send you back in time.

All you see and do will be real,and is happening in a different time.You will see her again,and be able to tell her what you have longed to tell her for the past 3 years.As he talked my mind flashed back to that night.I was working late,as I often did,and I got a call from my neighbor.She said she had seen an ambulance at my house and Donna had been taken to the Hospital.She had a major Heart Attack.I ran out of the office and started toward the Hospital,it was a 30 minute drive,but I had made it in 20 driving like a wild man.I went into the ER and our Doctor was standing in the lobby waiting for me.He said Tom I am so sorry,we did all we could the damage was massive.She did go peacefully home.
I asked could I see her and he showed me where she was.I went in and my loving wife of 40 years was on the bed.I knew she was gone and I sat down beside her,took her hand and said.I only wish I could have come in time to tell you I love you one last time.

I had a regret and you live with a regret,but now a wish is possible and with a wish it can come true.Guess I did have a wish after all.My thoughts were interrupted by the mans voice.He said,we are sorry for your bad experience over the past 2 days,but until we knew your memories,we only tried to put you in a place you would recognize and be comfortable in.We kept adjusting time but could only guess.Now we know.If you choose to go back all will be as you remember it.That explained the beam,they were reading my memories and why the people and cars and voices came and went.It all began to make some sense now,and I say some.He said we will send you back to your 16th year,you will only have 36 hours to spend here and then you must go back.I wanted to ask where here was and how they could do these things,but somehow it really didn't matter to me now.He asked are you ready to go back.I said yes I am.

The blue beam hit me again,but the feeling was different this time.I was being rejuvenated,my aches and pains of old age were gone.I felt like a kid again.I stood up and faced a mirror I was 16 once more.I have 36 hours to get an awful lot done I took the hand of the messenger and was once again in front of the Diner.

End Chapter 5

I could not believe what I was seeing,looks like they found the exact spot in time of my youth.Things had changed again,it was the town I grew up in.The streets and sidewalks were full of life,I recognized so many people.It was a typical Saturday morning in Woodview.Youngsville was the name of a novel I read as a teen,maybe this is the name they choose to use before they knew more about me.It really did not matter they had it right now.This was more than I could have ever hoped for,to be re living my youth, if for only a short time.I decided to go in the Diner and it was just as it should be,so many I grew up with was there,music playing on the jukebox,kids dancing.It was terrific!!

I made it a point to talk with them all,I knew I would never get another chance with some of them.It was surreal talking with the ones,that in my time,had passed away.I sat down on a stool at the counter,the soda jerk turned around,it was Woody,he owned the Diner.He said what will it be Tom?I said how about a burger,fries and chocolate shake,he said coming up.He asked me where Donna was,she was usually with me,I told him I was looking for her.Everyone in town knew we were an item:0).Woody too had passed away,but for now all were alive,so I did not question how I just enjoyed seeing them all once more.

When Woody brought my order,I said Thank You Woody,it is so great to see you again.He looked at me a bit puzzled,as he knew I was in there often when I was young,he smiled and said great to see you to.Guess he thought I had lost my crackers:0)Woody made great burgers and every bite I took brought back good memories.I happened to look at the Auto Parts calendar on the wall,it was July 1965.Seems they had missed the time to,again it did not matter,but it made sense as I did not get a license to drive drive until 1964.The place and timeline were spot on now.I wanted to find Donna so I walked up to the register to pay,I took my billfold out and noticed I had a paper license,like the 60s,my money was even period correct,I thought to myself,when they get it right they don't miss a thing and smiled.I paid Woody and told everyone Good Bye(maybe for the last time) and walked outside.

Standing by my car was Doug Wilson,my best friend.We grew up next door to each other.He was still alive in my time and we were still best friends,the things I could tell him,but I knew better.He said,where you been? I been looking for you.Donna is waiting for you down at Doug's.
His father,Doug Sr,owned the best Drive Inn in town,it was where we all hung out.He said you know you were suppose to meet her there at 10,she is freaking out.I told him,I just got tied up and had a late start to the day.Sure couldn't tell him the real reason.He said come on man lets head that way.

I got in my 57,Doug got in his car and we headed for the end of town and Doug's.When we got there it was Rocking,50s and 60s music coming out of the speakers,waitresses on roller skates bringing teen goodies to the cars,a Blast from the Past,I wish I had never had to leave.I realized something I guess I always knew,this was the greatest time of my life,if they all only knew.On the patio was so many more of my High School friends,we had played football and baseball together,hung out together,partied together.My youth was once again before me.I parked and got out,walked over to the patio and there she was Donna.She ran up to me and hugged me and asked where you been,I have been waiting.I said I am sorry but I am here now,that is all that matters.I hugged her and kissed her,so good to feel her in my arms again.She was young,and beautiful,she had on my letter sweater and was wearing my senior ring.We ate and danced for most of the day,we talked with friends,and just enjoyed each other as we always did.It was getting late I asked Donna if she wanted to cruiz around for a while,she said lets go.

We told everyone we would see them later and left.

End Chapter 6

As we drove around town,I had the radio on,Donna next to me,seeing sites it had been many years since I had seen.I knew every second that clicked off on my watch was taking me closer to having to leave.I didnt want to leave,not ever.But,I knew the choice was not mine.All I had been through was worth it to have this once more.Donna said,I have to be home soon,lets go to Lookout Point for a while.I pointed the 57 in that direction and headed that way.Lookout Point was the place in our town where all the teens went to be alone for a while.When we got there there were quite a few others already there,just doing what Saturday night was meant for.Doug and Susie was parked next to us.The windows were fogged up so needless to say we did not bother them:0).

I cut the motor off and pulled Donna as close to me as I could.I hugged her and kissed her,knowing this will be the last time I would ever have the chance.I wanted so much to tell her what I knew,but I had been warned by them not to.I was not sure what the consequences would be if I did,but the risk of losing this moment kept me quite.We talked about our plans,and someday getting married.We were both going to college and planned to marry as soon as we finished.She was always the practical one.I knew,of course,she was right,we both got good jobs and was able to raise our family being financially set.If she had listened to me and we married out of High School no telling how different things might have been.I said jokeingly, You wanna fog the windows up:0)She said yes,but if I dont get home Daddy will come looking for me,it is past my curfew time.

As we drove home,she told me that she was going to her Grandmas house with her parents tomorrow and she would be home Sunday afternoon.She said she would call when she got back.When I got to her house the poarch light was on and her Daddy was on the poarch.He yelled,cutting it close tonight aint you,I said yes sir and I am sorry,he just laughed.Donna turned to me and kissed me and said I love you,I said I,and that was all I got out when her Daddy yelled and said come on girl.She said got to go and got out,we waved at each other and I drove on.
I drove a few miles and pulled over to think.Trying to take in everything that had happened Today boggled my mind.It dawned on me that once again I didnt tell her I loved her.I looked at my watch and figured I had about 12 hours to finish my journey.

Nothing else I could do now,but to hope they got my home right and it was there,if not I will spend the night in the car.I drove to my old neighborhood and there it was,home.As I pulled up,Doug was pulling up also.We both got out,He said see you tomorrow my man,I said see you.As I approached the front door,it was a bit spooky going back to a place and time I had not seen in many years.I had great parents,Dad was a Police Officer Mom a nurse.You could see the love they had for each other and the love they showed me.I opened the door and walked in,Dad was in his easy chair Mom was in the kitchen,my Dad said running late tonight aint you Killer and laughed,let me guess Donna kept you out right?I said thats about it Pop and laughed.Mom stuck her head around the door and said you hungry?Supper is still warm,we waited but went ahead and ate.My Dad died in the line of duty,a thief shot him,Mom didnt live long after,I will always believe she just grieved her self to death.To see them again,well words cant describe what I felt.

Mom was a fantastic cook and it looked like she had all my favorites fixed tonight.I ate till I thought I would explode,I said it has been a long day,think I will shower and call it a day.Before I went into my room,I told Mom I loved her,she said I love you Honey,I said I love you Dad,he said I love you Son.I went into my room and to my surprise.................

End Chapter 7

To my surprise,my room was exactly the same as I remember,my car collection,my trophys I had won in school,my posters all in trhe same place,a place I spent many happy days in.I laid down on my bed and thought what a wonderful day I had spent back in time.Seeing old friends,the lpve of my life, my Mother and Father,what a Blessing a scary and confusing beginning had turned out to be.I had only planned to spend a few hours sleeping and then geting up to enjoy what time I had left here.I was very tired and with good reason I suppose,so II shut my eyes and drifted off.When I woke up I heard my Mother in the hall,I opened the door and asked what time it was,my Mother said it was 12 o clock sleepy head.You must have been tired you never sleep this late.

I had about 5 hours or as near as I could figure left.I could only hope Donna did not go or would be home in time to see her one more time.I called her,no answer,my only hope now was she would get home soon.I put my clothes on,ate breakfast and told Mom I would be back later.I hugged her and kissed her on the cheek and told her I loved her.I knew this would be the last time I could.My Dad was at work,so I asked Mom to tell him I love him,she said you are acting as though you will never see us again and laughed.I just told her,well you never know do you?

I got in my car and drove straight to Donnas house,The car was gone,no one was there.I now had about 2 hours left,I drove around town,I saw my High School and the football field,so many memories.I drove down Main Street,most everything was closed because it was Sunday.Not many out on the streets.I looked at my watch,my time was about gone.I had to try Donna one more time.On the way to her house something began to happen,my knees started to hurt again and I just felt different.I said no,not now just a little longer please.I got to Donna's house,they still were not home.I had to tell her I love You once more.I looked in my glove box and found an envelope,paper and a pen I knew I did not put there.I wrote Donna on the envelope,and wrote I love You so much on the paper,I sealed it and put it in the mailbox.

I looked in the mirror and saw an Old man,I knew I had to leave,as I drove out of town I passed Donna and her parents,she looked at me so strangely as if she knew it was me.I was about 10 miles out of town and saw the Blue Mist again.I stopped for a second,but knowing I could never return drove on as I left the mist,I was on the main road to head back home.I passed the cafe where I had met my messenger,he was standing waving,I waved back and yelled Thank You!!!I looked back,he was gone,nothing new huh:0)I had alot o ftime to think on my way home,I knew there were no answers as to who had granted this wonderful wish to me,but for lack of a better word I will call them Angels.I thought about Donna and realized I still had not told her I love her,was my trip a failure?At least I saw her again.

For days after I got home,I replayed the events over and over in my head.I was retired now,with time on my hands.The house seemed so lonely now.I had a box under my bed with small things I had given Donna over the years,maybe I would feel better going through them again.It always seemed to help.So I got the box out,I found my senior ring,still had tape on it when she had worn it,her charm bracelet and her Senior ring.Many things that meant so much to us both.As I started to close the box,I lifted a flap and an envelope fell out.It was yellowed with age and I had never seen it before.I turned it over,it said Donna on it,I opened it,it was the letter I had left in the mailbox for her.But how??Then it dawned on me,I did not put the envelope,paper and pen in the glove box,they did.They knew how it would end.

All of a sudden,I heard a voice in my head as clear as a bell,Tom,I am always with you,I know you love me and I love you.I will be here for you when it is time.I guess she knows now,my time was not a failue after all.I felt a comfort in the house I had not felt in 3 years.She is always here with me.Quite an adventure,Thanks for coming along with me.Hope you enjoyed.

End Chapter 8-End Road Trip