Maybe

I look at the shovel in my hand, then at the airtight box, then at the ground. I sigh and heft the shovel up. I bring it down, and it hits the ground with a dull, muffled thump. I scoop out the dry soil and put it on the ground. I do it again and again until there is a hole, three feet deep, and 1 foot wide. I put my head in my hands. My shoulders shake as I silently sob. Would I have buried this time capsule if the gangs hadn't taken over? If the government hadn't collapsed?

I slowly stop crying as I go over to the airtight box, and open it one last time. First is the letter. I have memorized it by heart, so I don't open it, just in case I get it dirty. It says

If you are reading this, it means you have found my time capsule. Maybe the gangs don't rule. Maybe there is a new government. Or maybe you are scavenging for something. Maybe this age of horror will last longer then it should. But I hope the contents of this box help you, or others. Do your best to stay away from the gangs. Do not become a gang member. I wish you a very good life.

Eloise Friedman

Next is a lunch box full of food. I saved it from my measly rations. Next is a map I created myself. Below is a pair of binoculars. Under the binoculars lies 5 books. The first is a journal full of pressed flowers. The second is my autobiography. The rest are Fiction. Finally, underneath it, all is a wood carving I made myself. It is a tiny bird with a flower crown, surrounded by horrible creatures. But the bird is oblivious of the creatures, and looks straight forward, tweeting a neverending melody.

I put it all back, and carefully lower the box into the hole. I then scoop the dirt back into the hole, covering the box. I stomp on the soil, to get it to look like the rest of the yard, then go inside. And I feel a heavy weight lifted off my shoulders.

***

Riley McYonder examined the note. It was from one of the 3 time capsules dug up, fresh from The Age of Horror. Then, Riley looked back at the wood carving. It was beautiful. She wondered who Eloise Friedman was. She would probably never find out, but that didn't stop her from researching everything she could about her..

"Come on Riley, we have to get home, " said her sister, Samantha.

"Ok," said Riley reluctantly.

. . .

When Riley got home, she immediately went to the family computer and searched for "Friedman". This time, she got an answer. It was a blog post by Cathrine Friedman. She commented on the blog post, saying "Do you know Eloise Friedman?"

Almost immediately, Cathrine responded. "She was my grandmother"

"She is famous, you could become famous too"

"No thanks"

"Ok" "Do you want to be friends?"

"Sure"

Riley logged off the computer, overwhelmed by the new information. Eloise Friedman had a granddaughter. Eloise's granddaughter had just become my friend. All of a sudden, Riley laughed. This was what she had been waiting for. Her one wish had finally become true.

Suddenly, Riley had an idea. Riley raced to the backyard and dug a hole in the corner. I put a box full of stuff in the hole. I cover up the hole and race back to the computer.

"I just made a time capsule, you should too."

"you have good ideas, but I already did it while you were logged off. I searched for my grandmother and found out more about her. Thanks for telling me about my grandmother. It was really helpful. Thank you."

"Your welcome, but I think you would have found out too, just later."

"What did you put in your time capsule?"

"Oreos, chocolate, graham crackers, dried mango, dried apples, 2 pieces of artwork that I made, my old sketchbook, and a few souvenirs from around the world. What about you?"

"My favorite food, my favorite stuffed animal, a picture of me, and a picture of my family."

"Cool."

"So. . . What do you want to talk about now?"

"I don't know"

"Me too. Well, I have to go, bye."

"Bye"

. . .

Cathrine closes her laptop. Wow, she thinks. I am the granddaughter of a famous person. She lays down on her bed. Wow. That is all she could think.

She had known about the time capsule, but she hadn't known that grandma was the owner of it.

***

Someone bangs on the door. My eyes widen.

"Go to the hideout!" I whisper shout to Isabela.

"Ok, mommy."

She runs downstairs. The door is thrown of it's hinges and 3 burly men stand in the doorway.

"You are under arrest," the biggest man says, "for rebelling against the gangs."

The other two grab me from behind. I spin around, but they put a cloth on my nose and mouth. Chlorofom is my last thought before everything fades to black.

. . .

When I wake up there is a gag on my mouth, and a sack on my head. A cold voice pierces my thoughts. "So we meet again. . .Eloise."

My back stiffens "You."

"Yes, me, but we are here about you. Stop rebelling and I will leave you alone," he says lazily.

"Never," I tell him. "You are the scum of the earth, I will never bow down to you."

But I am not telling you to bow down, I am telling you to stop spitting, and you can still stand."

I stay silent.

"So the old silence treatment." He chuckles. "At least drink some water." He holds up a glass.

"It is poisoned."

"Exactly!" He then raises a shot. "Pick your poison, but in this case, it is actually poison."

My hand darts out, and grabs the water. I drink in a quick gulp. There is instant pain. I collapse to the floor. He smiles.

"Until we meet again."