Time Camp Episode 1: Family Time Read Online Free Page A

choose to include your family, which we sincerely hope you consider, the way in which you introduce it will affect your kids’ reactions. Laura in particular will be skeptical, but they can all be won over if you are honest and you tell the truth.”
     
    “I guess you know more about us than we thought, but we trust your advice. Thanks!”, said Liz. Lana turned and walked off, and the Watson parents entered their InterTime hotel room.
     
    The suite was clean, well furnished, and decorated in a clean, white décor. The closets had had robes to fit the two weary travelers, and a bin marked “to launder”. They got the idea, and changed into the robes and put their clothes in the bin and closed it. It beeped and seconds later, their clothes emerged clean and folded. It was clear that in this place, you didn’t have to wait for anything.
     
    They discovered the same applied to room service. A simple card with a pencil was used to indicate their selections, and seconds after they put it in the slot, the doorbell rang and an attendant with a cart delivered their dinner to a table, piping hot and delicious.
     
    After the meal and a shower, they talked over the day’s strange events and eventually fell into a deep sleep.
     
    Many hours later, they awoke to gentle lighting. They repeated the room service trick and enjoyed a great breakfast. Upon exiting the suite, they were met outside by Brad, in the same clothes as the day before.
     
    Chapter 11: The Inauguration
     
    “Why didn’t you change?” asked Tom. Brad chuckled, “It’s only been 5 minutes for me. I sent your suite back far enough into yesterday that you’d come out right now.”
     
    “This will take some getting used to,” joked Tom. He and Liz were both in much better spirits, and considerably more relaxed than the evening before. “So where, I mean when are we going on this Observational trip with you?”
     
    Brad said, “Actually, both where and when. We will be attending Barack Obama’s inauguration speech on January 20, 2009. It’s enough to prove to you that we can travel in time, but not so far that you’ll have temporal shock.”
     
    “What the heck is temporal shock?” asked Tom.
     
    “Well, it’s like jet lag or cultural shock if you travel to a foreign country, but it’s a lot worse. It’s dangerous because it makes you tired and sloppy, and more likely to be discovered as a non-native. And if you get caught out of time, especially by the authorities, it can make it very difficult for everyone involved,” Brad said.
     
    “OK, we put our life your hands. How do you know we weren’t there already? I voted Democrat you know”, asked Liz, with a grin.
     
    Brad chuckled, “We checked you out pretty thoroughly. We sent back a few field agents to follow you over the week before and during the inauguration. You were in Erie, Corry and Niagara Falls, but nowhere near DC. The question we have for you is, were any of your friends in DC that week? It would be a bit strange if you were to run into them.”
     
    Liz replied, “We didn’t hear from anyone who was there, but what if they were?”
     
    Brad said, “We’ll try to lie low. And we’ll try hard to blend into the huge crowd that was on the mall that day. And speaking of blending in - Liz, your blouse is too new. We’ll have to change it out – that pattern won’t be released until fall 2010. Tom, you’re fine.”
     
    Tom was a bit ruffled. “You mean my clothes are too old? I guess I’m behind the times! Well, at least we’ll get to hear the President’s first attempt at the Oath of Office. As I recall, he and the justice messed it up during the official ceremony.”
     
    Brad cautioned, “Yes, this is very important. You know that something will be out of the ordinary at this event. You must not mention it in public, though. It may set into action a course of events that could be bad for lots of people, including us!”
     
    “Duly noted. We’ll keep our