Time Travelling Pen Pals

Jacob never noticed the cupboard when he first moved into the building. Why should he? It was no different to any other cupboard, any other wardrobe, nook or cranny (and there were many of them) scattered throughout the house. There were many strange things about the old house he had just moved into, in the suburbs of Melbourne. Such as the oil painting in the living room, or the oddly shaped hole in the wall behind the painting. There was a window that shut on its own and a loose floorboard the creaked unnaturally loud when he stood on it. And so, an ordinary looking polished wooden cupboard, for a while, managed to escape his attention. But it wouldn’t for long.

He had been riding the train home from work a few weeks after he’d first moved into the place. He was in a new city, starting a new job, in a new home. His new boss had suggested he write a list of goals, things that he wanted to accomplish in his career. Jacob thought it was self-motivational placebo nonsense, but for the sake of fitting in, he decided he’d flatter his boss by at least trying.

Jacob Williams.

-         Reach level 4 pay-scale (maybe within the next three years).

-         Submit my portfolio (4 years).

-         Become a manager (5 – 6 years).

Three lines was all it took to make him give up, he threw his pen down and stuffed the piece of paper in his bag. When he got home he put his embarrassing list into an empty cupboard in the kitchen, hoping never to have to look at it again (except to burn it when he got the chance). But in the same way the wind changes directions in a sudden moment; so Jacob’s thoughts and feelings twisted and turned and the next day he decided to take a look at the notes he had made. But they were gone. In their place was an old piece of paper with one sentence scribbled on it.

Who are you. How did you get into my house?

Jacob’s jaw dropped. He read the note once, twice, three times. He searched the cupboard again and again but there was no sign of the old notes he’d made. He decided someone must have snuck into his house in the middle of the night. Were they expecting a reply. He’d show them.

You’re in my house! And you must be so stupid to ask a question like that. My name was literally written in the top left corner. Get lost.

Jacob put the note in the cupboard knowing that it would be the first place the thieves went to if they broke in again. Jacob waited up most of the night, but there was no sign of anyone at the door or any of the windows. At 3am he decided they weren’t coming that night and resolved to call the police the next day and have an alarm installed. But when he went to remove his silly note from the cupboard, he found to his surprise that his original note had disappeared, and instead had been replaced by a new, oddly coloured piece of paper.

The nerve you have. I’ve lived in this house since 1903; you shall not get the best of me you sneaky rascals. When I catch you, I’ll drag you to your parent’s house by the scruff of your collar.

Jacob almost didn’t believe what he was reading. He had been up all night, and had not seen anybody come in or leave and so his curiosity was peaked. He placed another note in the cupboard.

1903? That would make you over 123 years old. It’s 2023 you looney tune.

Jacob was so tired that he took the next day off work. He woke up at 11am to find another note waiting for him.

2023. You’re crazy. I don’t know how you got back in, but if you’re going to make such a stupid claim then I’d obviously expect you to prove it.

Jacob couldn’t believe what he was going to write. Did he actually believe this letter was from the past?

What date is it. I can tell you all the major events that will happen in the next twenty years, as well as the horses who will win their races and the horse who will win the Melbourne cup.

From Jacob.

He got a reply that afternoon.

It’s the Nineteenth of May, 1908.

Josephine.

He took the rest of the week off work, which definitely took a toll on his reputation as a hard worker, and spent the better part of the next day searching through old archives of newspapers at the public library. He searched for five hours before he found what he needed, and he wondered if it was worth sacrificing his career over something so silly.

 Well Josephine, I hate to tell you this, but things aren’t looking too good for you. There’s going to be a major war 1914 and another one in 1939. You’ll probably be okay though; because you live so far south. Anyway your horses are: 21/03/1908 ‘Happy Go Lucky’ for first place. And the winner of the Melbourne Cup this year will be ‘Lord Nolan’. Now, time for you to prove to me that you are who you say you are. Take half your winnings and put it under the loose floorboard in your house. Looking forward to finding your money.

Kind regards,

Jacob.

Jacob put the letter in the cupboard, shut it and immediately tore up the loose floorboard in his living room. To his surprise he did find a small pile of bills. But they were papery, and old, and were of a kind that looked as though they had been out of circulation for years. To make matters worse, they weren’t even Australian dollars, they were pounds. And when he counted them, they only added up to be twenty pounds.

He opened the cupboard to find a new letter.

Well, Jacob. You did it. You got me a few nice wins. Can’t believe your horses actually pulled through. I left some money under the floorboard like you asked. Can I get the names of a few more winners?

Those wars don’t sound too nice at all. Where are they going to happen? What countries will be involved? And what will it be like?

Josephine Scott.

Jacob hastily scribbled a new letter.

Josephine,

Twenty pounds. That’s all you could spare me. I guess to you that’s a lot of money but for me it’s worth next to nothing. And Australia isn’t even in pounds anymore. I’m risking my job to get stuff done for you. At least let it pay off for me! If I get you the names of some other horses; you’ve got to leave me a diamond ring somewhere. That won’t depreciate so fast. No, make it pink diamond. Or black diamond.

As for the war, I’m sorry to say; it will be pretty harsh. It will be mostly a European war but Australia will have some involvement (especially in the second one). I’m not too well versed in history. But don’t worry – you’re a girl so you won’t get drafted. Your husband or your children might though. Good luck with it.

Jacob Edwards.

The next morning Jacob woke to find a new letter in the cupboard.

Dear Jacob,

Don’t be so ungrateful. Make do with it.

I don’t have a husband and I don’t have children. As for the diamonds you want, well, how about you get me those names first and then I’ll see what I can do.

Josephine.

Jacob knew where to find the newspapers in the archives that contained the names of the winning horses for 1908 because he’d been there only the day before, so it didn’t take him as long to find the section he needed to be in when he returned. Jacob flicked through the pages of the newspaper eagerly trying to find the sports section. However, before he could find the page he wanted to see, an interesting headline caught his eye. ‘Will Her Luck Ever Run Out?’ Jacob stopped suddenly and began reading the article. 

Josephine Scott is undoubtedly the luckiest person alive. She bet all of her savings at the races three times over on three consistent winners. Is there a streak of luck in the air for Josephine, or have these races been rigged? If someone has been tampering with the races and Josephine has some connection, this could mean trouble for her.

Jacob put down the article without finishing it. When he got home, he began writing his next letter almost before his front door closed behind him.

Josephine,

I saw you in the newspaper today, they think you might be rigging the races. Here are your names, 05/04: ‘Cinnamon Cherry’. 10/04: ‘Bouncing Jack’. Leave the diamond in the hole in the wall behind the painting.

Jacob.

The reply came soon afterward.

Jacob,

You’re supposed to be from the future. How are you reading the newspapers? There’s no hole in any walls in this place and certainly no painting. I’ll have you know that I’m being quite careful, many people have won much more than me. The newspapers just like to exaggerate.

Josephine.

Jacob quickly replied.

Josephine,

Are you stupid? It was a newspaper I found from years ago. The library keeps copies in their archives. I don’t care if there are other people who have won more than you. Be discreet about this. Please.

I’m sorry to hear you have no family. Maybe you’ll meet someone someday. You never know. Be social. Get out. You’re rich now – you can afford to do stuff.

Stay safe.

Jacob.

P.S.

Bury the ring in a box in the backyard. Plant a tree behind it. Don’t bury it too deep.

Jacob shut the cupboard with a loud thud.

Josephine’s reply didn’t come for a few days which, needless to say, left Jacob in great anticipation. He was back at work – he really didn’t want to risk losing his job before he was sure Josephine would leave him something of value that would make up for it. But he was extremely distracted and it reflected in his work. He probably wouldn’t lose his job, but the way he was going he’d find it hard to climb the corporate ladder.

Josephine’s letter was waiting for him when he got home from work that day.

Dear Jacob,

Your names came through again. I’ve won a great fortune. I suppose I owe you something. I bought the diamond and buried it in a box and planted a tree over it like you said.

Now that I’m completely convinced that you are indeed from the future, I’d really like to hear a bit more about it? What kind of machines do you have? What do you do for fun? What are the trends?

Josephine,

P.S.

I met someone with your last name. He really peaked my interest.

Jacob didn’t write back. Instead he raced down to the nearest bunnings to buy a large shovel and a saw, and then raced even faster back. There was a large tree in his backyard, that he’d seen when he first moved into the place – and he was hoping that had been the same one that Josephine had planted when she’d been alive.

Jacob spent the rest of the afternoon digging, cutting through roots, and chiseling rock. He almost lost hope that the diamonds were actually there. But at last, when the sun was setting, his shovel head hit something hard and hollow. Jacob managed to haul up a small box that could easily fit inside a backpack. When he opened it, he found three glimmering pink diamonds. He couldn’t believe it. Jacob ran back inside and began writing a letter back to Josephine.

Josephine,

Got the diamonds. Thanks. I can’t sell them right away, because I’m not careless like you, but this should really see me through for the rest of my life if I invest the money properly.

The future is more advanced than you think. It’s hard to describe properly. We have devices that allow us to communicate over long distances, screens that allow us to see places on the other side of the world, and well…machines that act on their own accord. We call them A.I.

In regard to this Edwards person, it may not be wise to meddle with people that we each have some connection with. It could be dangerous….

Jacob dropped his pen without finishing the letter. His mouth dropped. A thought had just occurred to him. No. It couldn’t be. Edwards. There were a lot of Edwards around. He looked at the clock. It was 9pm. His father would still be awake. Jacob dialled his father’s number on his phone without thinking twice.

Ring. Ring. Ring. Ring.

“Jacob? How are you?”

“I’m good dad. I just… umm…there’s something I really need to ask you.”

“Umm…okay…sure, go ahead.”

“Do you remember much about your grandmother?”

“No. Not particularly. Why are you suddenly interested?”

“I’m…umm…I’m putting together one of those things on ancestry.com. You know – those family trees. Anyway, do you remember her name? Or where she lived? Or where she’s buried?”

“My grandmother left my grandfather before I was born. I never met her. I know her name was Josie, and she was quite rich. Left us quite an inheritance. But that’s really all I know about her. My father might know more. Why don’t you call him?”

“I will. Thanks so much dad. Love you. Bye.”

Jacob hung up the phone with such haste that his father didn’t even get a chance to reply. He dialed his grandfather’s home phone.

“Hello?” his grandfather answered.

“Hi. Grandpa. It’s me. Jacob.”

“Jacob! How are you. I haven’t heard from you since…well…last Christmas!”

“I’m good grandpa. Listen, I’m putting together one of those family trees, and, well, I was wondering if you could tell me something, anything about your mother?”

“My mother…I didn’t know her very well. She left when I was ten. Didn’t really hear from her again until her lawyer contacted us with her will. And then we buried her and that was that. Josephine Edwards was her name and - ”

“Do you know where she’s buried,” Jacob cut him off.

 “Yes. Of course. She’s buried in the Wangaratta cemetery. But that was so long ago.”

“Can you show me? If I come down tomorrow – to Wangaratta, can you show me where she’s buried?”

“You’re going to come down tomorrow? Don’t you have work.”

“I have a flex day.”

“You’re going to come all this way just to see a gravestone? How will it help with your family tree research?”

“I’m interested in the gravestone – but I’d also love to spend some time with you and grandma.”

“Oh, that’s nice. Yes we’d love that. You know you’re welcome anytime.”

“Thanks. I’ll come down tomorrow.”

Jacob hung up the phone and scrunched up the letter he’d been writing. Instead he started a new one.

Dear Josephine,

Don’t put your next letter in this cupboard. Instead seal it in an envelope and pay a lawyer to write your will. Leave specific instructions to be buried with that letter. If you do that I’ll have the letter before too long.

Yours sincerely,

Jacob.

Jacob didn’t even call in sick for work the next day. He didn’t even let his boss know he wasn’t coming in. Instead he drove all the way from Melbourne to Wangaratta where his grandparents were waiting for him. Jacob made small talk with them and after lunch he asked his grandfather if he could take him to Josephine Edward’s grave.

The tombstone didn’t look any different from any of the other tombstones in the graveyard. Old, decayed and withered.

Josephine Edwards,

1885 – 1965. R.I.P

 Mother of three children.

Henry, Sally and Geoffery.

They didn’t stay for long. Jacob left some flowers. His grandfather stared at the grave profoundly. And then they left. But Jacob returned that night, under the full moon, with a shovel and a pair of gloves. He dug. Deeper, and deeper until his shovel scraped the wood of her coffin. He managed to pry the lid open, and was hit with the musty smell of dust and decay. In the coffin he found a few things. A mangled skeleton inside a dusty dress. Three diamond rings and an old envelope. Jacob ripped open the envelope eagerly.

Jacob,

What you’re asking me to do seems odd; but I’ll do it anyway. I’m starting to become quite fond of you. Did you manage to get the diamonds?

Mr. Edwards asked me to go on a walk with him, I think he’s interested in me romantically. You didn’t tell me what the future was like. I’m actually very curious.

I’ve been thinking a little bit about what you wrote in your last letter. Maybe I was a little too rambunctious at the races – and I’ve decided to keep a low profile.

Looking forward to hearing from you,

Josephine.

Jacob returned to his home a day later. He picked up his pen and began his last letter to Josephine.

Josephine,

I received your reply but not in a way that I would have liked. I can’t write to you anymore. And please get rid of the other letters that I wrote. Thanks.

Jacob.

Jacob thrust the letter into the cupboard and slammed it shut. Then he splashed a can of fuel over the kitchen bench. He lit a match and threw it onto fuel which caught fire with a loud woosh. The flames licked up over the kitchen bench and over the cupboards. Jacob walked out the front door of his home and called the fire department. He was sure that by the time they got there the cupboard would be nothing but ash and nobody would ever send letters to the past again.