Man Out of Time

George looked for all the world like a fish out of water as he skulked around the crowd gathered at the Independence Hall in Philadelphia that hot day in July as the grim men filed from the building and crowded around the podium at the head of the stairs. Like all “Gentlemen” of the era, most had on white powdered wigs that beshoke the seriousness of the business at hand this historic day. As the tall man at the podium stood and stared out over the crowd, he had a determined look on his face that said he would not back down from the major commitment he had made that day before God and man.

George knew that the risk taken by these men here today was something that would be treasured and celebrated down through the years because in doing what they did today, they put not only their property at risk, but their very lives! George, being a man from a much later time period, could only imagine what it was like to be these men gathered here today. They took the ultimate leap for a people, breaking away from tyranny and cruelty, and placing their name on the document that was the instrument of decree of freedom. Freedom from rule from a King that did not even live here in the colonies but ruled from the throne in England. He sent his armies to do his bidding, forcing the colonists to pay unfair and always higher taxes and to bow down to Royal proclamations that have no mercy for the downtrodden.

George was a visitor, you see, from another time, another dimension if you will. George chose to come back to the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4th, 1776. Impossible, you say? Well, yes, until recently when in 2134 a world renown scientist discovered the Carillion Effecrt which allowed the twisted tethers of time to be harnessed, retwisted into a new direction and then that allowed the handler to choose the thread needed to get to the point in time they wanted to go to. This could be done when related to the past only. Since the future was still up for grabs, you could not travel into the future because the threads had not settled into their permanent settle points. However, given enough time and experience with the handling of the threads of the past time we are sure there will come a time when that problem will be worked out and then who knows where this would end?

As the man gathered himself and his notes he had made for the announcement, George maneuvered himself so the he was at the front of the crowd directly in front of the stairs. George had a purpose in mind, he was going to make his mark on history in a way that no one had ever anticipated.

The man at the podium started his oratory.

“I think that most if not all of you know me and at least most of the people gathered here around me,” He said.

“Today, we have taken the final step in breaking away from the unfair treatment from King George,” he said grimly.

The crowd cheered wildly, slapping each other on the back and pulling long pulls on their mugs of drink in their hands. The man at the podium motioned for quiet so he could continue.

“Of course, we also know that this move has the result of having to face King George’s army in a war that we must win or we die. We that signed this document declaring our independence are doubly at risk. I am sure he would show us no mercy whatsoever if we fall into their hands. We all must be prepared to bear arms against the King’s army. So now, neighbors and friends as we send this declaration to the King, go home and prepare, prepare to defend your home and family. To defend your freedom, freedom to live your lives and raise your family and keep your earnings to support them without sending a goodly portion to a ruler that does nothing to help us in our lives here.”

Finishing his speech, the man turned to the others gathered and asked if anyone wanted to add anything. Apparently, no one did so the man turned back to the podium and said,

“As we go through this time of trial, this war, we must remember that we have to be victorious or we will never have peace in our homes. Our vision of our new country is that there should be a fair and equal justice system. All this will be spelled out in a constitution with rights for all. We should all look and pray for the day that we will live in our country, our home! God Bless The United Colonies of the West!” The man walked away from the podium and with his entourage went back into the Independence Hall.

George, being a stranger in the area was given a cautious eye by most people around him. There were spies for the King everywhere these days. George tried to present himself as a harmless visitor to the area and that he agreed with the goings on that he witnessed.

Looking up at the old clock tower he was very aware that time was ticking away. His jump time, the time that he would have to return to his own time was fast approaching.

George started up the stairs to the Hall taking them quickly since time was of the essence. When he approached the door, he was challenged by a guard. George put a smile on his face and said, “I would like to go and congratulate the representatives for the job they are doing on our behalf. Today is an historic day and I would like to make sure they know that we colonists appreciate their efforts.”

The guard gave him the once over and seeing no weapons or any harm in George, stood aside and let George pass.

George opened the door and proceeded into the Hall, noting that the tall man that was at the podium and made the speech was up at the front desk pouring over papers and having a serious discussion with some of his constituents.

Walking purposefully toward the front, the people around him paid little attention to him since they were in discussions of their own. George approached the front desk and sweeping his hat off his head, affected a deep bow to the men around the desk and specifically the tall man in the center. He said, “Gentlemen, I would like to congratulate you on your progress on cutting ties with Mother England and the King. I think that King George will be absolutely livid when that document arrives and is put before him.”

George smiled, bowed again, then waited for a moment, then asked an important question.

“Sirs, is the name that you used outside what you decided to call your new country? The United Colonies of the West?”

The tall man then said, “Yes, that is the name we settled on, sir.”

“Well, far be it from me to question your wisdom, however, may I make a suggestion?” He asked.

“Certainly sir,” the tall man said. “We are always open to input from our people.”

George paused a moment then slowly said, “Perhaps it might be more appropriate, if all goes well with the war, that colonies may someday become states, members of a union which would be much more binding and appropriate for unity for a new country. Also, since this new land was named after Amerigo Vespucci, why not call it the United States of America?”

Thomas Jefferson, who was the tall man, placed his hand on his chin, looking around at his fellow representatives, looked up at George and said, “Sir, you have given me much to think about, and I thank you for your suggestion. I will put it before the assembly this afternoon and we will vote on it. A rather good suggestion it was indeed.”

George again did a deep bow sweeping his hat across his body in salute then turned and walked out of the hall. Looking up at the clock tower, George now knew time was nearly here to jump back to his own time. He felt satisfaction at his bold move to guide the Continental Congress on July 4th, 1776, to the correct name for the new country. George had been stunned when he had been in another timeline and read in a history book about Congress naming the US the United Colonies. Preposterous, this should never be. George arranged to take steps to make sure that did not happen. Ergo, we have the United States of America, not United Colonies of the West.

As George turned the corner of the Hall building, he saw the portal open for his return to his time. He felt great; he even smiled a little wondering how King George III would like it if he knew his descendent had a hand in shaping the Declaration of Independence? Still smiling, he stepped through and was gone