Back in Time
(4/28/09)

The blond haired scientist rushes into the store like laboratory calling ahead of him, "Tracey! Tracey!" Leaving the back area and turning left toward the left, he aims for the dairy section and the testing area. Lab coat flowing behind like a cape, the badge sized device in the scientist's hand gets closer to the former produce section.

Upon arriving, the graying inventor slides to a stop in front of the two men, one of which he recognizes. "Sir! Errrrrr, Uncle Ben and whoever you are," greeting his boss and the brown haired man with him, "Have you seen Tracey?" In his excitement, Doc salutes with the badge hand and realizes his mistake. He trades the device to his other hand and offers it to shake.

The gray haired boss, in his own world, misses the outstretched appendage. The stranger clasps hands in greeting. Uncle Ben answers him, "Yeah, I had a hankering for taquitos and Eddo here wanted some, too, so I sent her to go get some. What do you want her for?"

Doc shows the badge. "I just invented a time machine, and I need to send someone back in time to test it."

Surprised, the gray haired business man shouts, "Great Scott!" The inventor raises an eyebrow at his boss, but the man continues, "Doc, what time is it set for?"

"January 1, 1873. I figured it would be deep in the Wild West then."

Uncle Ben thinks about it. "Cowboys and Mexicans. Then we could get our own taquitos. Doc, we'll test your machine for you. Right, Eddo?"

"Uhhh sure," the new guy agrees.

Doc shuffles and looks around. "Ok, I was only expecting one person, but I suppose two will be fine. Here, Uncle Ben, put this on. And … Eddo … I'll go get one for you."

The man in the lab coat rushes off. He returns shortly with another device which he hands to the brown haired man. "Now these also have a clothes change option –"

"Great! Thanks Doc. Ok, Eddo Let's press the button." Uncle Ben and Eddo reach for the devices on their chests.

"Wait! You don't --" The men wearing the devices disappear.

---

Sand. And Cactus. Uncle Ben looks around. What immediately catches his eye is that he is wearing a straw cowboy hat with his suit. Next to him, Eddo has a leather hat and matching vest over the top of his usual gear.

In the distance is a small town. The air around them warms. "Maybe we should head to some shelter before it gets any hotter," suggests Eddo.

"I agree." They head into town. As they do, people scurry away from them into their buildings. "I wonder what is going on."

Clink. CLink. CLInk. Footsteps draw closer. CLINk. CLINK. CLINK! A shadow stands opposite them. The deep voice calls out to them. "I see I have a challenger. I'll have you know. I'm the fastest cowboy here. No man is faster than me."

Uncle Ben tips his cowboy hat to shade his eyes. Eddo adjusts his gun belt. "We accept your challenge."

"Alright, then," says the shadow, "Draw!"

The opponents glare at each other until Eddo hands the boss a paper and pencil. They both start scribbling. Uncle Ben finishes first and flips out a stick figure with a cowboy hat and gun belt. Eddo finishes just after with a colored pencil drawing of the same but looks much better.

BANG! BANG!

The two artists twist and turn in pain. The shadow man laughs. "Now you'll see why I'm the fastest cowboy here."

Bodies shift and change. Weight builds under Uncle Ben's shirt. He squirms and his hat falls off. Gray locks spill over his shoulders. His clothes start to become tight. Finally the pains subside and they stand up. They look carefully at each other. In their places stand two cow girls.

The desert starts to disappear, and they find themselves back in the lab. The devices explode. Doc looks at them, "Confound it! And those were all I had." Doc heads back to his work station leaving the two women to fend for themselves.

Uncle Ben gestures to the back of the former store, "After you." The two former men head back to get better fitting clothes.