Life on Another Planet Ch. 32-34

The graduation ceremonies were mercifully short thanks to the speakers being few and their remarks brief. Jesse held his diploma with pride, knowing he had accomplished the first step in his goal. It hadn't been easy, but he had graduated in the top twenty percent of his class. Considering the difficult start to his post-secondary education, he was very pleased that he had caught up and passed many of the other students with his results. He had continued to work at Norwood Books and his schedule had added six months to his schooling. He'd already informed Warren Tilden of his marks and received his congratulations as well. Warren would be joining them for lunch at the Stanley Park restaurant.

"Now that you have your certificate from Pacific Technical Institute, where next?" Grant asked.

"I've been accepted into the Electrical Engineering School at UBC. Ever since they've limited the number of foreign students in the science programs, more spaces have opened up for us locals," Jesse grinned.

"I'm sure your grades at PTI were a big factor in their decision," Eve said.

"You studied very hard, Jesse," Kirsten said with an affectionate smile. "I too am very proud of you."

"Folks, our reservation at the restaurant is for noon, so I suggest we get on our way," Grant said.

That got the group moving toward the parking lot. Kirsten was riding with Jesse and Eve. The drive to the restaurant was almost a half hour, so their timing was nearly perfect. They were led to their table without delay and seated with an open chair for Warren between Jesse and Eve. He arrived not long afterwards.

"Hello, everyone," he said with a smile, kissing Eve on the cheek and shaking Jesse's hand.

"I'm sorry I couldn't make it to the ceremony, but I got caught up on a long distance call with Gregor. Your father had a lot to talk about," Warren grinned.

"It's all your fault, Warren," Eve said taking his hand in hers. "You got him started on this new project and now he won't leave it alone until it's done."

"Guilty as charged," Warren grinned.

The exchange between the two produced knowing smiles in Jesse and Kirsten. With the exit of Kent in Eve's life, her relationship with Warren came completely unexpectedly. Gregor had taken an interest in Jesse's education and when he was introduced to Warren as a neighbour and senior member of Laser Technologies, the two men immediately began to discuss their mutual interests. That brought Eve into the picture and she and Warren seemed to hit it off almost immediately. A year-and-a-half later, they were very close, and Jesse wondered if Warren wasn't the man Eve had been searching for.

Kent had slipped out of the picture when he took a job with a mining company in northern BC and the Yukon. He was ferrying geologists to and from various exploration sites and was seldom back in Vancouver except in the winter months. That was the move that finally ended their relationship. Eve was not interested in a part-time partner. Warren was a surprise to both Eve and Jesse. That old cliché about sparks flying seemed to apply when the two first met. Warren had come up to the apartment to help Jesse on a project for his class work. That led to Eve's introduction to the man Jesse had been talking about for the past several weeks.

Eve and Warren appeared to have some interests in common, and when Gregor and Sabina arrived for their summer vacation, Warren was introduced. Within minutes the two men were conversing in a common language: Computers. Gregor could imagine some applications that Laser could create, and delayed their trip to Whistler to take a tour and meet with the principals of Laser. From that came a proposal to see what possibilities for a joint venture might develop.

In the meantime, Warren appeared to be visiting the Mikeska apartment on a more frequent basis until he worked up the courage to ask Eve out. She kidded him about how long it took him to get to that stage, but agreed. That was the start, and Jesse could see that this relationship was different than the one she had with Kent.

Mica, of course, was a little put out that his future helicopter rides had disappeared, but Warren managed to win him over with a computer program which featured a 3D component that Mica could keep and learn to use on his computer. As bright as kids were when it came to computer programs, it didn't take long for Mica and his friend Tony to figure out just how to use the program to invent things for themselves. As Eve pointed out, it was a lot less expensive than Lego and just as creative. Of course, a new more powerful desktop computer with a larger flat screen was required. So much for being less expensive.

Sunday, August 16, 2015 10:30am

Eve had scheduled one of their infrequent therapy sessions that morning.

"Jesse, it's been four years since you arrived in this century," Eve began. "Have you reconciled yourself to what appears to be your future?"

"If you mean have I accepted that this crazy back and forth is a part of my life now ... maybe forever? I don't know if I can give you an honest answer to that. The ordinary guy doesn't have to hide his life from his friends. He doesn't wake up every morning wondering which life he will live that day. He doesn't have to remember the things he normally should automatically remember and pretend he knew them all along. Is that what you're asking?"

"Yes," she answered unequivocally. "That's exactly what I'm asking. Can you handle it? Because, Jesse, the life you will probably have to live will be just like you're describing."

He nodded, a sorrowful look on his face.

"There's no point in pretending that somehow, someway, your life will return to something normal ... back in your original time line," Eve said quietly. "That may happen off and on, but who's to say either existence will become permanent. You don't have a choice but to accept how your life will be. It's unpredictable, I know, but that's the reality of it."

Jesse was silent, staring at the floor, saying nothing. Her blunt statement was something he had slowly come to accept as the likely outcome of this cruel trick that had been played on him. He looked at what it all meant. There was his sister, Roberta: Kirsten, of course: and Grant: his friends at baseball: and others as well. But ... if he never went back, then he would lose his parents, grandparents, and his then-friends. If he was continually switching back and forth ... well ... the upside was that he'd be able to keep everyone.

He looked up at Eve and shook his head. "There is no solution to this ... is there?"

"No, I don't think so," she agreed quietly. "But whatever becomes of your life, know that in either life you have friends and people who care about you. You will have a good life in either existence. No one else can say that. You've heard the phrase 'best of both worlds' ... well ... you'll know exactly what that means.

Her smile heartened Jesse somewhat. After all, he would have most of the things that he cared about ... the people he cared about ... an experience no one else would share. Yeah ... when he thought about it, he really could have the "best of both worlds." After all, what choice did he have?

He thanked her, rose and moved to the front door. "I've got to see a lady about the future," he grinned.

He stepped across the hall and knocked on the Gustafson's door. A few seconds later, Kirsten answered.

"Hi ... care to go for a walk?" he asked.

"Yes ... that would be nice," she smiled. "I will get my shoes and be right with you."

"Okay, I'll let Eve know and I'll be right back."

Less than a minute later, Jesse returned to the hallway and awaited Kirsten. Seconds later she reappeared and they moved together toward the elevator.

"Where shall we go?" Kirsten asked.

"How about the beach. It's only a few minutes walk," Jesse suggested.

"Hah, you just want to see all the pretty ladies in their swim suits," she teased.

"Now why would I want to bother watching them when I have you beside me? None of them can compare with you," he said with a grin.

"You always say nice things to me. I like that," she said, turning to him and kissing him passionately.

The elevator doors opened revealing a couple waiting to enter and Kirsten blushed in embarrassment as she broke from Jesse's embrace. The older woman smiled at her knowingly, but said nothing. They exited on the lobby floor and quickly headed for the sidewalk and their destination.

"Don't be embarrassed, Kirsten. You're allowed to show affection to someone you care for."

"I am not used to it, Jesse. I know others do that, but how I feel about you is private."

"I'm okay with that. I understand. But I'm so proud that you're my girlfriend that I want everyone to know how I feel about you."

"I thought I was your lover?" she teased, having recovered her composure.

"Now that is private," he said, kissing the back of her hand as the strolled down the sidewalk.

They found an unoccupied bench facing out over English Bay and sat, enjoying the warm sunshine.

"I wanted to talk to you about me ... who I am ... and what happened to me," Jesse began.

"You've told me what happened to you," she said with a questioning look. "I don't need to know any more."

"Knowing that about me ... well, I was wondering ... how do you really feel about me?"

She smiled and leaned over and kissed him passionately.

"There," she said in a sultry voice. "That is how I feel about you."

"Kirsten, when I finish school and get my degree, I will ask you to marry me. Will you say yes?"

She smiled and wrapped her arms around Jesse and kissed him even more passionately than before. "Does that answer your question?" she said.

"Yeah. Now that you've said yes, I think we should go look for a ring so that everyone knows our plan."

Kirsten laughed. "That is a very good idea. I cannot wait to show all my friends I am engaged."

"And I can't wait to put it on your finger," Jesse said. "We could probably find one of the stores open today. At least we could look and see what you like."

"Oh, Jesse. This is very exciting. Can we go now?"

Jesse laughed. "Yes, my love, we can go now."

~*~

So that's the story of Jesse Peterson and his encounter with a world he never expected he would see. There was no explanation for the reason he skipped fifty years into the future. But Eve was there to rescue him, it was Grant who gave him a job, and then there were the ladies: Sue, Joanna, Candice, and of course, Kirsten. It would easy to say he was a victim of bad luck, but really ... if you think about it ... how bad was it? Jesse would probably argue with you that it worked out better than expected. He really did have the best of both worlds.

The End

Again, My thanks for ErikThread, DaveT, and my Scottish dialect coach, GordonJ, for their help and patience. This story was previously posted on another site.