Moral Compass To Be, or Not To Be

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

The phone rang in Virginia Beach. It was Brent on the other end. “Marc, is that you?”

“Yes, it’s me, Marc,” he replied, “You called back sooner than I thought.”

“Yes, actually, I received a call from my uncle.” Marc perked up because he was waiting for some sort of sign for a long time. “He told me to tell you he will call sometime next week; he gave a date. And he said to tell you the word Boomerang.”

Marc was startled to hear this word from Brent on the phone. Marc thought to himself, Boomerang, I wonder if he means I need to call him. He gave me a signal of calling him. Maybe that what that means!

“Okay Brent, Thank You for sending the information.”

“My uncle is a mysterious person, isn’t he?”

“Can you say that again? A mysterious person?” Marc agreed on both phrases.

The two parties held back information for the second time from each other like two lions who happened to be friends but can’t speak. “Talk to you soon Marc,” said Brent.

“Ok, Tell the Twins I said Hello and that bodyguard of yours too,” the phone hung up, and Marc sat down with thoughts swirling in his mind Is it the right time to build this spaceship?

He opened the blueprints from the manila envelope and looked at them thinking they were purely fascinating, as what was drawn on the plastic slate could take them to other worlds.

As Marc was sitting, Sundara walked in to see how he was doing. “How is my Reporter doing today?” asked Sundara.

“I’m fine honey. How’s our daughter?”

“She’s fine. She will be home from school soon. It’s their first day back to school from Christmas break.”

“Honey, I have to go to the office to and see what’s happening around the paper. Since we had a Christmas and New Year’s, I’m sure a lot of the journalists are flowing in and out, working like Trojans,” said Marc.

She left the room, and he was sitting thinking about how she became his wife and had their daughter Laura, his mind wandered. After college, in California their senior year they had their commencement speech, his mind flew into overdrive. I can’t go to the east coast without marrying this young lady.

He had to think quick because in about two weeks before they would have to go their separate ways, and her separate way was another world. A long way from earth acting on his feet and making the right decision saved Marc. He thought of a plan. He asked her on a date to the ocean, and then, on the dune’s hills of Pismo Beach.

He had planned well in advance. For two days straight, he wrote in the ocean sand with sticks. Each letter about 6 feet tall. He made sure it was far enough from the ocean water to not get washed away, what he had written. Then, the day finally came, when he dressed for the date and picked her up and went to the oceanfront to ask Sundara this life changing question.

She gave him a curious look, “Is everything okay?” He told her that everything was fine and that he wanted to have a date with her before they left the west coast. When they reached the ocean, she said that she loved the beach. They walked to the dune, the air was breezy, and the smell of the shells and the salty ocean water was more impacting today.

He told her to close her eyes before they went downhill off the sand dunes and she did. As they were walking, his heart was pounding in his chest, I said to myself, “Marc Dazet, this is going to be scary but also exciting, so you must do this. You have spent hours writing each letter in the sand.” He thought to himself.

He then, told her to open her eyes, and she looked and stared for, what seemed to be a long time, absorbing the words, and he said to her out loud, “Will You Marry Me, Sundara?” When she heard this, her ears took another shape.

She was dumb folded. Marc ran down the hill and walked to each letter. And said out loud “Will” and then went to the next word “You” “Marry me Sundara?” He walked to each word to make sure she saw this important sentence. Sundara stood in a shock, and it took her a while to realize the whole situation. Because where she came from, this did not happen.

And then out of a sudden, she ran down the hill after him with joy and said gleefully, “Yes Marc! Yesses!!! I will Marry you.” Both of them were so happy on the beach, with the words. “It was great... I did not know if this would work,” Marc thought. She said out loud, “What do we do next?” He froze and did not want to think about what steps to take next. He was just so happy that she had said yes before she went back to her galaxy.

Snapping back to the present times in Virginia Beach, he had to get ready, to drive out to Norfolk, Virginia. Laura was back from school, she walked in and said hi and gave him a high five. “So how was the first day of school, was it okay?” His daughter Laura spoke with exactment, everyone seemed at ease today and kind of wanted to come back to a school, Dad.

“Yes, that’s how it is when you’re back to school after a break everyone wants to show their new Christmas clothes and gifts. Marc replied She smiled and understood. She too had new gifts that she wanted to show her friends, a new Apple watch and a cool outfit that her mom had bought. Marc was proud of his daughter adjustment to American schools in Virginia. He hugged Laura to say goodbye and grabbed his keys to leave the condo.

He walked towards his Jeep Cherokee and set out for Brambleton Ave in Norfolk. It was the end of winter in Virginia Beach, and it was less crowded with tourist. Having less traffic for a change was good. He arrived at the newspaper office in no time. He wandered by to Amelia office to say hi, she said, “Hey Marc, how were your holidays?” He told her they were fine as everyone needed the break.

After, catching up with his managing editor Amelia, Marc went over to his desk and sat there swiveling in his chair, thinking about new stories. His mind was stuck on a past story with Brent, and this seemed to consume his mind. But he still had to work here. Amelia called him on the phone, “Marc, look, I might have a story for you. You know, there are these bike trails, here in the Hampton’s Roads area, for the whole state, could you find out more about what’s happening and write a story about this?” Marc agreed.

“I am an outdoor person it would be neat to find out more about this case,” he thought. Before he started his research, he wanted to call Dr. Brooks, who had told him that he could call him any time of a day or a month or year. He walked outside a little away from the newspaper building and took out his cell to call. He had to think and remember how he said to make a call, “I have put today’s date, present day, month and year. So, I should dial 01 17 2019.

It rang for about two minutes. And the formula voice replied, “Hello Marc, is this you?” And again, with Time travel he didn’t know Brent’s uncle’s present location and didn’t recognize the noise in the background. Something felt new. He stood still gripping the phone. “Marc, I’m glad you called. My nephew said you wanted to talk me, and did you get my word Boomerang?” He thought to himself how did he know.

“Yes, I got it…”

“Marc, a lot is going on... I will explain to you what I can on the phone, and we must meet in Hampton, Virginia. I have given you a paper. There will be new people entering your life who are helpers for this mission of building the spaceship. Marc perked up. “I know them. They’ll be getting to know you. I will tell you their names, one of them is Joe Lewis, not the famous boxer but a normal person and the other name is Tobias and the W.S. They’re going to help with the project happen, and Brent is also going to be a big help and me too.

I wanted you to know their name beforehand. On the right time, these people will enter into your life so don’t be alarmed when they do. Tobias is a time traveler like me, a gifted one. Joe Lewis and his partner bulldog will support you with transportation demands. Rest I will inform you later...I have to run now. Look, call me in a week and a half, I will be at the Langley Research Center, and then we talk more.”

Marc stared at the phone and tuned in to the sounds of the environment he would probably never hear again in his life. “Okay Marc, see you in a week and a half,” said Dr. Brooks.

“Okay Dr. Brooks,” the call ended. Marc went back to his desk thinking who the new people in my life would be like. He was excited and cautious at the same time. Walking back to his desk his mind went into overdrive. He sat at his desk taking in the phone conversation from Dr. Brooks. Who’s the W.S.? he thought. He picks up the phone, “Let me call Sundara and talk to her,” the phone rang, and she picks up. “Marc, you’re okay?”

“Yes dear.” He answered.

“How are you doing?” She knew he had a lot on his mind. And she also knew, he wanted to tell her more about the new information that he had received. Moreover, she was aware of the details before he spoke. Marc spoke in code. He said there would be some new people entering their life. She went silent and wondered who these new people would be? Would they come to motive and help or hurt us?

“They’re here to help us, Sundara. I will tell you more when I’m back home. I had to call to hear your voice and see how were you doing. Its Ok do not be nervous.” He said in an affirming voice. “I should get back to work now, see you later honey, stay safe.”

Both hung up from the phone. Marc sighed and typed in regional bike trails in Google, and there were the number and information of the director for Hampton Roads Planning. He called the number to find out more about the bike trails but received a voice mail. He spoke. “Hello, my name Marc Dazet, from the Virginia Pilot Newspaper, I wanted to speak to a representative about the regional bike trails in planning. Could you call me back 757-446-9001? Thank You.” Then he hung up.

He went back to the website to get more information about the regional trails. It intrigued him, the planning. It took his mind off the major events in his life. The online story mentioned many regional trails, but his focus was on one called the Birthplace of America Trail. It seemed very catchy, but it was not built yet. The name and this trail, Marc wanted to know more about the project.

He wrote in his notepad, regional trail system, from Hampton Roads to Richmond. Great name, he thought to himself. Then he closed his notebook. On his first day back, he analyzed, “It was a short day with a lot going on.” And now, it was time for him to head back to Virginia Beach…