Out Of Space And Time

Agnes Settles In

The younger children woke up from their naps, and met Agnes. They liked her, and the feeling was mutual.

She also met Tara's husband, Marty, and their oldest son, Marty Jr., nicknamed MJ. The family loved her accent and the way she said their names; Tah-ra, Mistah Steele, and Bah-stin.

After dinner, which she enjoyed immensely, Agnes was shown to her new room.

Two of the children decided they'd share a room so that Agnes could have her own room.

She was shown how to use an indoor toilet, and also how to shower.

“This is ever so much nicer, and more comfortable than the Necessary House we had at my parents' house!", she said to Tara, which made Tara chuckle.

"For 'tis too true, they did not have padded seats like this one does. Plus, 'twas outdoors!

"No more going out to the 'Necessary House' in the cold Massachusetts Winters!", she said, following that thought up with an extended "BRRRRR!", a quick shake and some feet stamping as she pretended to shake off the cold and snow to warm herself up, and flashing a broad smile. Tara smiled as well.

Tara taught her how to shave her armpits and legs, something ladies in her time didn't do.

She gave Agnes a nightgown until they could get to the megamart the next day to buy her some clothes. Agnes told her that she could make her own clothes as long as she had material. Tara said they'd buy some for her.

Tara told her they'd scan her for her measurements, then have her search for the type of clothing she wanted, and they'd have the replicators make them. Tara then also explained what replicators were.

Agnes was amazed by everything she saw. The family told her about their home planet and themselves. She was quite intrigued. They asked her about things during her time.

”No way. No way could we do that!“, the family said to her after finding out about 18th century life.

They had nothing but respect for her and others who lived during her time.

They thought they themselves were quite rough-and-tumble, but realized they were nothing like Agnes and her fellow Terrans were back then.

”And yet you're so dainty, Agnes. One would never think, just by looking at you, that you could do all those things back then.“, Marty told her.

Tara tried convincing Agnes to call her by her given name. Agnes tried valiantly to honor her wish, but her ingrained manners made such casual familiarity difficult for her.

She promised Tara that she would work on it, though.

The next morning, she woke up. Looking around her room, Agnes suddenly had a feeling of dread and ran downstairs. Her hair was down, had soft rags in it to form curls, and was utterly unkempt.

She was barefoot, clad only in her nightgown, and wasn't wearing a robe. She was a sight to behold!

”WHOA!“, exclaimed Marty as he saw her.

She ran over to the window and called out,

”Hamilton? Hamilton dearest, I am here! I did not leave you! I did not forget you were coming to me today! Please, Hamilton! Where are you?

“I am right here! Your Agnes, your sunshine, is right here! Hamilton? Where are you, Dearest?

”Where are you my love? Hamilton?“

Suddenly realizing she was dressed only in a nightgown in front of Marty, she exclaimed,

”Pray forgive me, Mr. Steele! Pray do forgive me for my appalling indecency!“, then quickly ran back upstairs to her room. Agnes sat on her bed, remembering where she was, with tears in her eyes.

”You can be appallingly indecent with me anytime! You can even wear less than that!“, Marty said to Tara, smiling lasciviously then giving her a deeply passionate kiss as he patted her derriere.

”DOWN BOY! I'd better go and see if she's ok.“, she replied, giving him a kiss, then whispering something risque in his ear and patting his bottom.

Tara knocked softly on Agnes' door.

”Come in.“, Agnes said.

”Agnes? Are you alright?“, Tara asked.

”He really is gone. Everybody is truly gone, Mrs. Steele. My Hamilton, my love, is gone! My family, friends, everyone I love, is gone. Indeed, I shall never be Mrs. Hamilton Berkshire! 'Tis not a dream!“, Agnes said softly, bursting into tears.

”I'm so very sorry, Agnes. I truly wish there was something I could do or say that would comfort you.“, Tara told her. She went over to Agnes and gave her a consoling hug, which Agnes reciprocated.

Sobs racked Agnes' body as grief overtook her. She lay on her bed clutching her pillow, inconsolable.

Mrs. Tepesch came in the room to help console her. All she could do was stroke Agnes' hair and tell her how sorry she was for her loss.

After sobbing for about 30 minutes, she finally started settling down.

”Mrs. Steele, Mrs. Tepesch, pray forgive me. I did not mean for you to see me like that.“, she said, embarrassed at her loss of emotional control.

”Agnes, there's absolutely nothing to apologize for! We'd have done the exact same thing, and alot sooner, if we were in your situation.

“Now Dear, let's go wash your face with some nice cool water and get you all freshened up.

“Then we'll go to the facility and get you all set up with your stipend. We'll get you scanned, and clothes made in any style you like.

”After that, we'll go to the megamart for things you need. It'll give you a chance to see what things are like here.“, Mrs. Tepesch said, smiling at her.

Agnes thanked her and Tara, then washed up and put on the dress she'd been wearing the day before, her only clothes.

She then walked downstairs to the kitchen. The family was having donuts for breakfast.

Although unused to them, Agnes thoroughly enjoyed them.

”Good morrow, Mr. Steele.", she said to Marty, curtsying deeply.

“Good morning, Agnes.”, he replied, still trying to get the sight of her with rags in her hair out of his mind. “WOW! I thought Tara's hair was crazy out-of-control in the morning!”, he thought to himself, smiling ever-so-slightly.

”Are you excited about our trip in the pod today, Agnes?", Tara asked.

"Yes, indeed I am, although I confess I am abit nervous about being in the air.", she replied.

"There's absolutely nothing to worry about. It's perfectly safe.", Marty said.

Agnes put her straw bonnet on over her cap and collected her purse.

Everyone then boarded the transport pod. Marty was the pilot, with MJ serving as copilot.

Marty said, "Okay everybody. Here we go.", as he slowly piloted the shuttle up into the air.

Agnes screamed loudly, pulling her legs up to her chest and putting her head between her knees to try to roll herself up into a ball.

"PRAY TURN AROUND, MR. STEELE! I HAVE CHANGED MY MIND! I SHALL RIDE YOUR HORSE INTO TOWN INSTEAD!", she screamed.

Everyone smiled, knowing she'd settle down...eventually.

"It's too late to change your mind. And besides, we don't own a horse!”, Marty said.

Fifteen minutes later, they arrived at the facility. Once at her office, Mrs. Tepesch started the paperwork for Agnes' job as her assistant, including her stipend information and money card.

Tara started ordering clothes for her.

“What kind of clothes would you like to wear?

"The replicators can make anything you want. I just need your measurements plus some descriptions of what you want.", she said.

Agnes replied, "If possible, I should like to wear clothes from my time, such as I am wearing now."

Tara turned on the large-screen, then looked up 1755 fashions on it. "See anything there you'd like?", she asked.

Amazed, Agnes said, "Yes, Mrs.... I mean, Tara. That dress and petticoat are just beautiful, and exceeding agreeable! Pray, do they have shifts, bonnets and stays as well?"

Tara took Agnes' measurements by scanning her with a handheld measuring device, then scanned diagrams and pictures of the items Agnes had asked about.

When they clicked on the section for stays, an early form of corsets, Tara said, "Those look extremely uncomfortable."

Agnes smiled.

”They are actually quite comfortable. I am wearing one now. They help with posture as well as their original purpose.

"If it were possible for me to acquire some material, preferably muslin, I could make my shifts, caps and petticoats.

“I have everything I need to make them in my sewing basket, but I do require muslin."

Tara did more scanning of the images on the large-screen. "I can get enough of all of those to get you started", she said.

Mrs. Tepesch said, "Let's go to the megamart, and when we come back your stipend account information, money card, and clothes will be ready."

"Thank you so much.", Agnes replied.

Tara said, "Ok I've started the order for your clothes. They'll be ready in about three hours.”

The ladies then went to the megamart. Tara bought Agnes underpants, attire ladies didn't wear in 1755. Next they went to the makeup department, where Tara bought herself and Agnes quite abit of makeup. Mrs. Tepesch bought herself some moisturizer and eyeliner. They bought nail polish as well.

They went to the fabric and notions department afterwards. Agnes found several fabric designs that she liked. She also chose several yards of different material, plus lace.

They discovered that Agnes LOVED color, especially bright colors. Despite being descended from Puritans, she was most definitely NOT a Puritan!

After paying their bill, they went an antique shop.

"Here we are. 'Boston Tea Party Antiques'. It's a strange name, but a great shop!" Tara said. She held the door open as they walked into the shop.

"Tis beautiful!", Agnes exclaimed.

"Excuse me Miss.", Tara said to the clerk. "Where can we find items from the mid-to-late 1700's?"

"Over there in the back room to the right, Ma'am", she replied.

"Thank you.", Tara said.

Agnes followed her, then said, "Pray, am I indeed seeing what I am seeing?"

Tara smiled broadly and said, "Yes, you are. These are all items, for sale, from your century and earlier. Look around and see if there's anything you'd like. It's the Federation Directorate's treat. Mom and I cleared it with the Head of the Directorate. Buy what you want."

Agnes went into the room, her eyes opened wide, recognizing everything there.

"Look, Mrs....I mean...Tara! A butter churn! I used one just like this every other day! Oh! 'Tis a large cooking pot for over the fireplace! Clothes and...oh look! Bonnets!", she exclaimed as she went through the room.

Tara and her mother were thrilled to see Agnes enjoying seeing things from her time, things that had no meaning to either of them, and of which they had little to no understanding.

"Tara!", Agnes said, squeezing her arm, "they have material! 'Tis like a millinery in that corner! Muslin, lace, ribbons...baskets upon baskets of it!

"I have found so many things here, Tara. Are you sure I can purchase whatever I should like?"

Tara smiled. "Yes. Anything you'd like. I told you we'd help you adjust as best we could. Maybe having things from your time might help you feel more comfortable here."

Agnes replied, "Thank you ever so much! I should like those baskets with the millinery, as well as the butter churn, two or three cooking pots and, if possible, a few bonnets, dresses, a pair of shoes and some stays.

"Is that agreeable to you, Tara? The baskets contain many of the items I require in order to make caps and shifts.

”The butter churn I shall use to make butter to keep grocery expenses down. I could contribute to the household by making butter for everyone, if 'tis agreeable to you. Indeed, the pots are well-seasoned and shall produce very fine meals!

“I can use them to contribute to the household by helping you cook meals, if 'tis agreeable to you as well.

“I assure you I shall not waste anything the Directorate pays for."

"Absolutely you can have those!", Tara said. "Do you need anything for your hair?"

Agnes thought for a moment. "A nice decorative comb would be nice, especially for any formal occasions that should arise.”

She picked out a few combs and was trying to decide which one to get when Tara said, "Get them all."

"Truly?", Agnes asked.

"Yes. Get them all.", she replied.

"Thank you ever so kindly. I am truly overwhelmed. I wish I could put into words how much all this means to me but I...", she said, her voice trailing off, tears of gratitude welling in her eyes.

Tara said, "It's alright. Your reactions tell us everything you're feeling.”

Mrs. Tepesch quietly told the cashier that Agnes had time-traveled and was actually from 1755.

The cashier said she would give her a huge discount and would throw in some extra little surprises a lady from her time would appreciate. Mrs. Tepesch thanked her.

Agnes looked in Tara's direction and saw a wooden rocking chair, complete with cushions for the back and seat. Walking over to it, she sat in the chair, closed her eyes, and was instantly transported in her mind to her parents' house.

"Mother had a chair just like this one", she said. "She rocked all of us in it when we were babies and toddlers. She would sing lullabies and read us the Bible, fairy tales, as well as Shakespeare and other poets."

She then softly sang 2 lullabies her mother had sung. Mrs. Tepesch immediately started recording her on video as a historical document.

”Agnes, I'd like to get you that rocking chair. Go ahead and get that.“, Mrs. Tepesch said when Agnes had finished singing.

”Indeed I would love it, Ma'am, but 'tis a luxury, not a necessity.“, Agnes replied.

”Get it anyway. We aren't that far from the pod. We'll put it in there and bring it home.

“You can put it in the Gathering Room or keep it in your room, whichever you prefer. It'll be like being back home in 1755 for you, just like you were when you were singing.”, Mrs. Tepesch replied.

“And thanks so much for offering to help cook, and for the idea about making us butter. We've never had homemade butter.”, Tara said.

“Thank you ever so much! I could hear my mother singing. You're so very welcome, Tara. Indeed, I am only too glad to pull my weight around the house!”, Agnes replied, deep gratitude in her eyes.

On their way to pay, they passed old books, including ancient classic literature. Tara told her to pick out some books she'd like to read.

She found several books by William Shakespeare,(“His Sonnets are my favorite, and were my mother's as well.“, Agnes told them.),Jane Austen, Victor Hugo, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Louisa May Alcott, a King James Bible, and others.

The Sonnets were in a very small, thinly-bound book, the same size book her mother had. Her eyes filled with tears when reading the inscription on the inside cover.

”Agnes? What's wrong dear?“, Mrs. Tepesch asked. Agnes kissed the book, then showed them the inscription as tears...happy yet bittersweet tears...spilled from her eyes.

Of all the ancient books Agnes could have found, she found the one her father had given to her mother on their wedding day... the actual book her mother had read to her and her siblings all those centuries ago!

Tara told her to get it and the other books since they were literary classics, and she'd understand alot of what was written in the books.

”Tis been a pleasure perusing your establishment, Miss.", Agnes said to the cashier, curtsying deeply, after regaining her composure.

The clerk curtsied in return saying, "It's been my honor, joy and a privilege to serve you, Ma'am! I look forward to you returning."

"Thank you ever so kindly. I shall most definitely return!", Agnes replied.

She then collected the bags with her clothes and bonnets before leaving. She put her mother's book in her purse.

Tara arranged to have the other books, rocking chair, butter churn, books, basket of material, plus pots and pans, delivered to the facility. The cashier said they would be there within the hour.

They stopped for lunch at the Green Dragon Tavern, a tavern that opened in 1654, and was still in business all those centuries later. It was advertised as the oldest tavern in New Boston continually in operation.

Shockingly, Agnes remembered the place from when she and her family had traveled to Boston to visit her oldest brother in 1750! They'd actually eaten there! Tara couldn't believe her ears!

When they returned to the facility, her stipend account information, money card, and clothes were ready.

Agnes inspected the clothes and was very impressed.

“Thank you so much! This blue dress and petticoat are perfect, and this yellow dress and petticoat as well! This bonnet is gorgeous!”, she exclaimed, putting on the new bonnet and looking in the mirror.

“Tomorrow you'll start work as my assistant, Agnes. Mainly, I'll have you dictate some stories about your century so we can know a little more about you and how you lived.

”We need it for our historical record. That's going to be your job for a few days. After that, we'll talk about other things.

Now, dear, it's time you learn how to use a large-screen, and get your work stream links set up as well.”, Mrs. Tepesch said, smiling.

She turned on the large-screen that Agnes would be using and programmed it for her, setting up her stream links.

“You'll need to go to the financial building at the facility here and set up your PIN, so that you can get notifications about your account and make sure your money card works. Tara, will you take Agnes there?”

Agnes put the card in her purse. After putting her bonnet on, Agnes was ready to go.

After arriving at the financial section of the facility, they went inside and spoke to a representative. The lady checked Agnes' money card and said that it was active and working, and had a balance of 750 credits.

Agnes would have to set a security code, the PIN Mrs. Tepesch had mentioned, and she told Agnes she'd help her do that.

"Do you have personal stream links or small-screen you can receive notifications from us?"

Agnes thought for a moment.

"Indeed, I have stream links as part of my employment, but I do not know what a small-screen is. My room also does have a large-screen, however, as does the Gathering Room. Is that the same thing?"

"You certainly can get notifications on a large-screen using your work links, but you'd have more privacy on a small-screen and personal stream links.", the lady said.

Handing her a printout, she told Agnes,

"Here's the information about how to get notifications from us. It also has all your account information. I'm sure Tara will be more than willing to help you set things up for you on your large-screen."

Agnes curtsied deeply to the lady. "Thank you ever so kindly, Ma'am! You have been exceeding helpful!"

After leaving, they went to a local store for a few more groceries. Agnes saw a cake she told Tara she'd like to buy for the family as a thank you gift. Tara guided her as she used her money card for the first time.