“Stepping Back”Murray and I ran down the pathway at the University and over to Strawberry Hill. When we reached the bench it had started to drizzle. The eerie mist seemed like a suitable effect for my time traveling experiment. I tied Murray to the bench. As much as I wanted him to join me on my journey, I decided that at least during this first trip, he would have to stay in the 21st century. I gave him an extra tight hug and sat down.
“Tote thee,” I said.
Nothing happened. I said it again.
“Tote thee.”
The mist turned to rain. Three’s a charm, I thought. I looked up at the leaves winking at me from the tree tops and said, “I want to return to the time when Michaelangelo walked this earth. Tote thee.”
I reached into my coat pocket and pulled out the Horace Walpole key. It felt hot in
