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TIME SAVER © (PART 2)
TIME SAVER © (PART 2)
Initially there were occasions when the watch irritated Cameron. It sometimes nagged him about things that needed to be done, or things that he’d forgotten. But within a few months, Cameron soon came to appreciate the assistance that Albert offered.
Although Cameron’s relationships with Jennifer and his daughter Tegan had always been good, they blossomed even further. With Albert’s prompting, he was rarely late home. He was reminded to buy gifts for special occasions like birthdays and anniversaries, or for no reason at all. The watch also gave good suggestions for presents that he knew would really please the two girls. Albert always remembered things like recitals or other school events that Tegan was involved with.
Each evening, before retiring to bed, Cameron faithfully wound the watch and placed him gently back into his velvet lined case and put him in the cupboard.
On the way to work each morning, the two often chatted about the events that were happening in Cameron’s life and about his family relationships. When asked, Albert offered helpful advice in many areas of his life and the two formed a close friendship.
They didn’t always agree on everything, and sometimes the two would get into heated discussions about certain topics. But they respected each other’s opinions enough to not let it impede their regard for one another.
“Aren’t you lonely at times with no family or friends of your own?” Cameron asked him one time.
“You are my friends and family, and I am never lonely” Albert responded, “It gives me such pleasure to see you happy and growing as individuals.”
“Have you ever met another watch like yourself?” Cameron asked.
“I may not see everything, but I certainly get to hear many things. In my life, I have learned a lot and it’s been a privilege to be worn by the owners that I have had.”
“But I’m nobody special or important,” Cameron replied modestly.
“Of course you’re special and important,” the watch said, “Fame is completely irrelevant. It’s the person who wears me that counts, not their status in the world.”
With a smile Cameron replied, “You always know just the right words to make me feel good.”
*****************
Several years passed, and Cameron gained a small promotion at work. This was largely due to Albert’s assistance and Cameron’s improved work levels. Special projects were always submitted at the right time. In addition there was an increase in personal interaction with his colleagues because he was able to remember things like people’s birthdays, and the names of their family members.
A few weeks before Tegan’s fourteenth birthday, Cameron had been out of town at a conference. It was 11.30pm on a Thursday night when he drove down Beech Street to return his house.
“It’ll be so good to get home,” he said out loud to Albert, “I’m so tired.”
As he rounded the corner, he saw two fire brigade engines at his home. Several firemen were attempting to douse the flames consuming the dwelling.
The heat and the noise were incredible. He slammed on the brakes, opened the door and ran to the first fireman he could find.
“Where is my wife and daughter?” he shouted.
“Is this your house?” the fireman asked.
“Yes, yes! Where is my wife and daughter?” he yelled.
“Just a moment Sir,” the fireman replied before speaking into his walky-talky.
Looking up, Cameron saw the house was almost fully engulfed in flames. The fear and the pain he felt almost overwhelmed him. He wanted to rush inside. He wanted to scream at the top of his lungs. He wanted someone to help him, to bring his family safely to him. Tears were sliding down his face, when the Fire-Chief came to him.
“I’m sorry Sir,” the Chief said, gripping him by the shoulders, “There was nothing we could do. By the time we got here, the fire was well underway and house was too unsafe to enter. We tried entering the upper floor windows with the ladders, but the flames drove my men back. I’m sorry Sir, but we couldn’t save them.”
“No! No!” he screamed, “No! They’re around here somewhere! Jennifer! Tegan!”
He began to push at the hands holding him back, “I’ve got to get in there!” he said, “They need me.”
“Sir! Sir! There’s nothing more you can do for them,” the Fire-Chief insisted.
Cameron’s mind refused to accept what he was hearing. A part of him kept saying, “This is all a bad dream. You’ll wake up soon!”
He could not seem to tear his gaze from the house, which was crumbling in the intensity of the fire.
“Have you seen them?” he asked one of the neighbours who came to stand beside him, “Do you know where they are?”
“Cameron, there was nothing the firemen could do,” his neighbour Thomas said, putting his hand on his shoulder, “They’re gone Cameron.”
An ambulance attendant came to him, and helped him back to the ambulance.
“Is there anything we can get you Sir,” he asked, “Are you hurt?”
“No, I’m fine,” Cameron replied, his vision still mesmerised by the flames, “Just tell me where Jennifer and Tegan are.”
Shaking his head, the attendant said, “Just stay right here for a minute Sir, I’ll be right back.” He dashed over to help a fireman overcome by smoke inhalation.
“Cameron, you can still save them you know,” someone said to him.
“What do you mean save them?” he asked, “They’re just lost. They’ll be here in a minute.”
“No Cameron,” the voice insisted, “Both Jennifer and Tegan died in the fire.”
Comprehension slowly dawned in Cameron’s mind, and a raw, guttural scream was torn from his throat. “No! No!” he sobbed, “Oh God no! They can’t be dead! No!”
“If you want to save them, you can Cameron, but you can’t waste any time,” the voice insisted.
Looking down at his watch, Albert looked up him with an earnest expression. “I can help you save them,” he said.
“What do you mean?” Cameron asked, wiping the tears from his face.
“Somehow, I know that if you overwind me until my internal mechanisms break, I can move time back for you. It will only be a small window of perhaps twenty minutes,” Albert said, “But that should be enough time for you to warn them.”
“How do you know?” Cameron asked.
“I just KNOW,” Albert replied, “Don’t waste time arguing, Cameron. Just do it! Wind me and wind me and wind me until I can’t be wound any further.”
Without hesitation, Cameron, took off the watch, and began to wind the tiny wheel on its side. At first nothing happened, so Cameron wound it more. The scene around him began to coalesce until it looked like a painting that had smeared in the rain. Still, Cameron continued to wind the watch until at last he felt a small click, and he could wind it no further.
There was a violent rumbling and shaking and Cameron was flung through the air, like a feather tossed about in the wind. Abruptly he felt his body land with a thump and he was back in his car, returning home, twenty minutes earlier. Although momentarily startled, he looked around and realised that he was about fifteen kilometers from home. Immediately he stopped the car at the side of the road, pulled out his mobile phone and called home.
The phone rang once, twice. The phone continued to ring again and again, and Cameron wondered whether it was already too late. “Pick up the phone. Pick up the phone!” he chanted. Absently he shoved Albert into his shirt pocket.
He was undecided whether to stay on the line or if he should phone a neighbour or the fire brigade. “What if I make the wrong choice and they still die,” he thought. He felt like he wanted to vomit.
Then a sweet, familiar voice came onto the line.
“Hello.”
“Jennifer!” Cameron exclaimed, then he began to sob, “Don’t ask me to explain how I know, but grab Tegan and get out of the house now. There’s a fire.”
“What?” Jennifer asked in a groggy voice.
“Just do what I tell you, please Jennifer,” Cameron demanded, “Get out of the house now! Don’t wait!”
“Ok! Ok!” said Jennifer.
“I’ll be there in about fifteen minutes,” Cameron said firmly, “Go now! RUN!”
Once the call was disconnected, he made another call to the fire brigade, then pulled his car back onto the road.
The drive home seemed agonisingly slow. Desperately he prayed that his family were safe.
It was 11.28pm on a Thursday night when he drove down Beech Street to his house. As he rounded the corner, he saw two fire brigade engines at his home. Several firemen were attempting to douse the flames consuming the dwelling.
The heat and the noise were incredible. He slammed on the brakes, opened the door and ran to the first fireman he could find.
“Where is my wife and daughter?” he shouted.
“Is this your house?” the fireman asked.
“Yes, yes! Where is my wife and daughter?” he yelled.
“Just a moment Sir,” the fireman replied before speaking into his walky-talky.
Looking up, Cameron saw the house was almost fully engulfed in flames. The fear and the pain he felt almost overwhelmed him. He wanted to scream at the top of his lungs. He wanted someone to help him, to bring his family safely to him. Tears were sliding down his face, when the Fire-Chief came to him.
“Sir, if you’ll just follow me,” the Chief said to him, taking him by the arm.
He led Cameron to the ambulance waiting nearby. “Your family is safe here Sir,” he said.
Looking towards the vehicle, Cameron saw Jennifer and Tegan sitting in the back. There was soot in their hair and on their faces, but otherwise, they appeared well.
“Thank you,” Cameron said. He ran to the ambulance and pulled his wife and daughter into a close embrace. The three wept, and Cameron felt incredible elation and gratitude at the second chance that had been given to him.
“Thank you God,” he said out loud.
“Yes, thank you God,” both Jennifer and Tegan agreed.
“But how did you know? How could you possibly know about the fire?” Jennifer asked, snuggling her head against her husband’s chest.
“My watch told me,” Cameron said, feeling a little silly.
“What do you mean, your watch told you?” Tegan asked.
“Well, I know this is going to sound really crazy,” he replied, “But we have conversations all the time.”
“Whatever you say Dad,” Tegan said in a disbelieving tone.
“It’s true,” he insisted.
“Well, however you did it, thank you,” Jennifer said. She kissed Cameron on the mouth, “And thank you watch.”
Reaching into his pocket, Cameron pulled out the watch and said, “Thank you Albert. You’ll never know how grateful I am to you for saving my family.”
There was no response from the timepiece.
“It’s ok Albert,” Cameron said with a smile, “I’ve told Jennifer and Tegan about you.”
Albert remained obstinately silent.
Looking down at his friend, Cameron noticed that the eyes on the face of the sun were closed. They had never been shut before.It was a moment or two before he understood that his friend had given his own life, so that Cameron could save his family.
Cameron wept.
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