The Time Capsule

Chapter 7

Devin drove the Mustang up the freshly plowed driveway that led to the two-story house which belonged to Malcolm Daniels and his family. There were seven other cars parked in the driveway, and the boys recognized four of them as belonging to the Daniels family. Devin parked, and they headed to the door. Sawyer knocked, and Scott Daniels, Malcolm’s father, opened the door.

“Boys, glad you finally made it. We saved food for you.”

“Thank you!” Devin and Sawyer said, in unison.

As they entered the house, Scott said, “Was it the weather? You didn’t get stuck, did you? What’s that smell?”

The pair entered the crowded dining room and their five best friends, who they hadn’t seen in months, greeted them with loud shouts and waves.

“Glad you finally made it.”

“Devin, I thought you could drive in the snow. What happened? You’re almost an hour late.”

“Dev, what happened to your hair?”

The lighthearted comments came from many of the boys until the smell Malcolm’s father noticed hit the others.

“Dang, guys. You smell like a burning dumpster,” Malcolm said. “What happened?”

The group became quiet. The boys realized there was more to this than just simple tardiness, and they wanted to hear the story.

Devin had been thinking about what to tell them and decided to leave most of the details out to not make a big deal of the situation. He hoped Sawyer would know to go along.

“Back on 34th Street, about a mile south of the elementary school, there was a house fire. We tried to help the lady before the fire department got there. We ended up in a bunch of smoke, and it’s all in our clothes and hair.”

“Wow, was anyone hurt?” Scott said.

Sawyer answered, destroying Devin’s attempt to keep the excitement from the story. “No. And only because Devin here ran into the burning house and rescued a little girl! He lost his hair, and it’s a miracle he wasn’t burned.” He gave Devin a conspiratorial smile.

Devin shook his head. “It wasn’t a big thing. Anyone would’ve done the same thing.”

“Sure sounds like a big thing to me,” Tony Jiffers said, and the others all agreed.

“Sounds like you’re a hero,” said Don Swain.

“Guys, it wasn’t a big deal,” Devin said as he gave Sawyer a glare that told the other boy to let the story drop.

“Devin, sorry man, but you stink real bad,” Malcolm said. “You and I were always about the same size. Let’s go upstairs. You shower and I’ll dig out some clothes you can borrow.”

“Sounds great. There just better still be some food here when I get back.”

As they headed upstairs, Devin said, “Where’s Tracie today?”

Tracie was Malcolm’s sister. She was two years younger than the other boys but still hung out with them.

“She had her wisdom teeth out yesterday. She’s in a bunch of pain and refused to take the pain meds. After being up all night and miserable, Mom made her take the pills a few hours ago. She’s finally asleep.”

They went into Malcolm’s room and he found a t-shirt and a pair of jeans.

“I can give you some socks and underwear, too, if you want. I won’t want them back.”

“Thanks, but I’ll make do with what I have. Can I get a bag to put these old clothes in?”

Devin went to take a shower and Malcolm found him an old plastic bag from the grocery store.

He scrubbed his body several times and then washed the mangled remains of his hair, twice. While showering, he thought of the implications of the morning’s events. He now had an ability he could do something positive with.

He’d considered going into some kind of ministry to help people. God had given him this gift, and there might be an opportunity to use it to serve.

Devin stepped from the shower and dried with a towel that Malcolm had given him, and re-dressed. He exited the bathroom, carrying the bag with his old clothes. While starting down the hall, he stopped at the closed door to Tracie’s room. After pausing for a second, he quietly opened the door. Entered the room and approached the sleeping figure in the bed. The curtains were closed, but there was still enough light to see the bruising and swelling that remained from the removal of the impacted wisdom teeth. He reached down and touched the exposed forearm of his friend. He felt as if something left him, but was immediately replaced. The swelling was shrinking away, and the bruising faded.

Devin turned quickly and left the room. He was concerned someone would find him in her bedroom and misunderstand his reason for being here. After descending the stairs, he was met by Malcolm’s mom, who held up a pair of electric hair clippers.

“Hi, Devin. I hear you had some excitement this morning.”

“Yeah, it’s been a crazy day, and I haven’t even had breakfast.”

He heard a door opening upstairs.

“You go eat, and then I’ll get the mess on your head a little more presentable.”

“Thanks. That sounds good.”

Devin continued to the kitchen and heard a cheerful female voice from upstairs call out, “Hey, Mom! Guess what!”