A Kiss Before I Go

Simon DeCensus was making some final adjustments on the Circlotron before testing it out. It was risky. If there was a malfunction, there was no surefire way to rescue him, but the thrill of being the first man to travel in a circular time spectrum was all the motivation he needed.   

“What do you think, sir?” Abe Gonnull asked as he watched Simon, his boss, run through the checklist. One of the lead technicians of the Circlotron Company, Abe was a crackerjack specialist who had worked with the time travel program since its inception.  

“I think it will be a go in five minutes.” Simon trembled with emotion. Could he top the well-known words of past explorers like Neil Armstrong announcing to the world, “One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind?” He was just a boy then sitting in front of the television to the blurry black and white images of Neil Armstrong as he left the Apollo craft. Now he was standing on the verge of another remarkable periphery of human accomplishment.  

For several weeks, reporters and news people had camped out at the front gate anticipating what would most likely was about to happen. There was a feeling of electricity in the air. That was the best way to describe it. Electricity.  

There had been a lot of castoff material that had been sent back into the time just to see if it was possible and, in every test, there had been verification of a successful transfer of these random objects being sent back or forward into time. It boggled his mind that the one unconquered constant was about to be conquered. Albert Einstein had forecasted that time travel would not be possible considering the rest of the variables that included mass and energy, but with calculating each of the variables on these supercomputers, Simon DeCensus believed they were about to break through the unbreakable boundary.   

“Better suit up, Simon.” Max Gorman stood in the control tower with his arms folded across his chest. Max was in charge of the entire operation by Circlatron. He had been one of the initial engineers who stuck with it even when the funding was pulled and the company had to rely on private investors. Scraping every nickel together, Max managed to get what was needed without any shortcuts or cutting corners. Simon had been recruited from Stanford which was the USB port for Silicon Valley for brilliant electrical engineers like Simon DeCensus.  

Simon emerged from the dressing room with his time travel suit on. Made of reflective material to keep the radiation from penetrating through his body, Simon slid his hands into his gloves and acknowledged that he was ready.

As he stood there in the control room, Max could not count the number of long hours spent on sleepless nights calculating and recalculating the research data to make sure everything had been reviewed and rereviewed. Max Gorman was meticulous in making sure nothing had been left to chance. In a few minutes, he would be sending a man back in time on the maiden expedition. He had considered launching into the future, but the calculations were still murky as there was some doubt if they were ready to go forward in time. Taking no chances, Max decided to go back in time. The display read, October 19, 1955. In researching the history, there was nothing of note that happened on that day. It was a safe landing for all intensive purposes.

“Starting the energy generators.” He glanced over at Abe Gonnull at the control desk. Abe nodded and gave a thumbs up as he flicked the switch. Immediately the generator began to hum like baritone and bass voices of a choir.  

“We got generators cycling near maximum speed.” Abe reported into his headset.

“How are you, Simon?” Max asked as the room began to vibrate at a steady speed.

Simon gave his thumbs up.  

“We are reaching launch speed.” Abe checked his monitor.

“God help us all.” Max wiped his brow with his handkerchief. 

“Maximum speed accomplished.” Abe could barely hear his own voice over the rumbling. Just as the shaking intensified, Abe and Max looked up as the module vanished.

“I think it’s done.” Abe Gonnull was frozen at the console.

“Simon? Simon, can you hear me.” Max asked, but all he heard in his headphones was static. Reflexively, he removed them from his ears. “I hope he’s alright.” 

“Me too.” Abe was standing next to Max looking at the blank screen that was supposed to show the image of Simon’s module.

The module landed very hard with a jaw jolting impact that rattled Simon. He climbed out of the module. It was dark except for the streetlights that gave off a fuzzy luminous light through foggy dampness. From what he could gather, it seemed as if his craft was on a bridge across a river. He could hear water rushing underneath.

It was then he saw a young woman getting ready to step over the rail. She appeared to have been crying. Wearing a mid-leg skirt and white button up blouse, she appeared out of the fog like an angel. Suddenly she put her leg over the rail.

“Wait!” He shouted as he ran toward her. She looked at him, completely startled. Her mouth was the shape of an O. “Don’t!” 

“I have no reason…” She managed to say as he reached and grabbed her around the waist. With a hardy yank, he pulled her to the sidewalk. “What are you doing?” 

“Saving your life.” He got to his feet and grabbed her hand to pull her to her feet. 

“What made you think I wanted to be saved?” She said angrily. 

“Why?” He asked her. She stood beneath the muffled streetlight once again assuming the appearance of an angel in the ghostly fog. 

“My fiancé ended our relationship.” She began to sob.

“So? There are other men, you know.” He hugged her because he hated to see her cry.

“Yeah.” She sniffed, “I’m pregnant.” 

“Oh, I see.” He shook his head.

“Now do you see why I was out there on the Brooklyn Bridge ready to end it all.” She sat down on the curb and wiped her tears with her handkerchief. 

“This is not the answer.” He sat next to her.

“Seemed like the only option I have.” She bowed her head as a vehicle went whizzing by them splashing rainwater on both of them. 

“There are other options if you look.” Simon shook his head.

“Who are you?” She asked, “And why are you dressed up in that strange outfit?”

“I am a test pilot.” He answered quickly.

“And I’m the Queen of England.” She chuckled. “Are you some alien from another planet? I saw a double feature where an alien abducted earth people.” 

“No, no. I am from this planet, I assure you.” 

“Are you from Yonkers?” She snapped the gum she was chewing.

“No, I’m afraid not.” He smiled at her.

“You seem alright.” She wiped her tears, “Whacha name?”

“Simon DeCensus.” He answered.

“Well, I’m Cindy Crankston.” She snapped her gum again.

“Good to meet you.” He held out his hand. She looked at it as if it had been dragged from the river. Simon withdrew his hand.

“So where are you from?” Her voice was suddenly shrill.  

“Not around here.” He began to unbutton his time travel suit. “Don’t worry, I am dressed under this thing.” 

“Wasn’t worried, really.” 

“Any luck?” Max asked Abe.

“No, nothing.” Abe kept flicking toggle switches on his console.

“This is not good.” Max shook his head.

“We should have known communication would be tricky.” Abe put his headphones back over his ears. 

“The satellite was in position, right?”

“According to our calculations.” Abe shrugged.

“So, what’s the problem?”

“If I knew, I’d have it fixed.” Abe sighed.

“Of course you would, sorry. It’s just after all this anticipation; I figured we had it all mapped out.” Max ran his hand through his thinning gray hair.

“There are contingencies that are out of our control.” Abe tried to calm the butterflies that were fluttering in his stomach.

“We have to keep trying.” Max affirmed.

“Where do you suppose he is?” 

“We had him set for October 19, 1955. I don’t remember if we set the location.” Max fumed, “Shit, we forgot to set the location.”

“Just an oversight, sir.” 

“Yeah, but I went over the checklist. I should have caught it.” Max slapped his forehead with his open hand. 

“We will keep trying, sir.” Abe said as he turned up some of the buttons on the console. It would be a long night, he thought.

“So, ya see, I never graduated high school.” She put her well-chewed bubble gum on a signpost after they got across the bridge. “I went to beauty school cause my mom is a hairdresser. How about you?”

“I got my doctorate-”

“Oooo, a doctor.” She pretended to swoon.

“Not the kind that treats sick people.” He chuckled as he ran his hand over the back of his neck. “I am a scientist.”

“Do you shoot rockets into the sky?” Her blue eyes twinkled as she asked.

“No, not quite.” He held out his hands.

“There’s this burger joint a few blocks away. I was wondering if you’d take me there like a date.” She blushed, “Ya see, I’m dead broke.” 

“I think that will be fine.” He shrugged.

“That’ll make ‘em talk seeing me come in with this good look-in’ doctor.” She gushed.

“If it will keep you off that bridge.” He sighed.

“Promise. No bridge.” She shook her head. “I remember when Todd Meuller took me to the prom. It was the first time I ate at Wimpy’s. It was so romantic.” 

A couple of cars whizzed by on the street.

“Holy cow, that was a ‘55 Chevy.” Simon marveled.

“Yeah, brand new, right off the lot.” Cindy rolled her eyes. Puts her hand on a streetlight and does a couple of circles holding on. “My mom tells me to start actin’ my age.” 

“How old are you, if you don’t mind me asking?” 

“I am twenty-four, twenty-five in a couple months.” She stops and smiles at him, “How old are you?” 

“Thirty-one.” Simon nods.

“Oooo, an older man? And a scientist, too?” She puts her finger on his reddened cheek. “My fiancé, Mark, is a bastard.” 

“How come?” 

“He left me for another girl.” She sighs. “I know you don’t know me, but do I strike you as the kind of girl who gets left behind?”

“How so?” 

“You know, I am there until the guys find something better.” She frowns.

“I don’t know you that well.” Simon shakes his head.

“What about you? Are you married? On account you’re kinda old?” She tilts her head.

“Not married.” He shakes his head, “Came close once, but it just didn’t work out.” 

“How come?” 

“I always put my work first.” He chuckles.

“Booorrriiing.” She pretends to yawn. “Being in love beats everything.” 

“You may be right. Well, that’s what my married friends tell me.” He bows his head.

“We’re here.” She takes his hand and together they walk into Wimpy’s. The smell of deep-fried grease immediately greets Simon when they walk in.  

“Oh, I am hungry just smelling those burgers on the grill.” She closes her eyes and runs her tongue along her top lip.  

Under the artificial light, Simon notices her pretty face even with the overapplied makeup and eyeliner.  

“Let’s sit here.” She directs Simon to a table near the large front window. Simon glances out the window as the fog has thickened and the rain-soaked streets glisten under the hazy streetlights. He had always dreamed about coming to New York City growing up on the west coast and now that he was here, he was somewhat disappointed that his expectations far exceeded the reality just outside the window. Still, he knew that this was a past reflection of the city he had always dreamed of visiting.

A waitress on roller skates came to their table.

“I want a burger with plenty of pickles and a boatload of French fries with a big thick shake.” Cindy told the roller-skated waitress who nodded as she wrote down the order on her pad. “What do you want?”

“Just a coke.” He smiled.

‘That it for you?” She scowled. “Be right out.”

“Why didn’t you get a burger?” Cindy asked, “They are the best.” 

“Not hungry.” Simon shook his head.

“Your loss.” Cindy gave him a dubious glance.

“Any luck?” Max asked Abe.

“No sir, but I think I can find the channel.” 

“Keep trying. He has to know where to be so we can bring him back.” Max sighed.

“What if we can’t?” Abe asked.

“I don’t even want to consider it at this time.” Max collapsed into an empty chair. 

“You wanna try a bite of mine?” Cindy held out her half-eaten burger.

“No thank you.” He smiled. The slap of nearly raw hamburger meat had no appeal to Simon since he had been pushing a vegetarian diet. 

“How is your Coke?” She asked sarcastically.

“Tastes just like the ones in-” He stopped himself.

“In what?” she asked.

“Back home.” 

“Cokes taste the same everywhere you go, ya know.” She giggled. When he looked at her finishing her meal, he saw a halo surround her head.  

“Sugar free-”

“What’s that?”

“Cokes that don’t have sugar in them.” He tapped his fingers on the table.

“Yuck and double yuck. Who’d ever drink a Coke without sugar? Gross.” She grimaced. “I wanna thank you for buying me dinner.”

“No problem.” Simon nodded.

“My parents kicked me out when they found out I was pregnant.” She ate another French fry.

“I’m sorry.”

“Why are you sorry? You had nothing to do with it.” She paused as she frowned, “I also wanna thank you for stoppin’ me from jumpin’ tonight.” She put her hand on his. Simon felt the warmth of her hand surge through his. The weather made him cold, but her touch seemed to revive him.  

His life to this point seemed empty even though he had his career. Tonight, he had accomplished everything he had worked for, but this victory did not seem as fulfilling as he had imagined it would be. Just like his desire to visit the city, only to find it wasn’t everything he thought it would be.

But Cindy was real to him. There was nothing about her that disappointed him. Her hand over his promised to make this journey into the past a much better outcome than he expected.

“Simon DeCensus. Calling Simon DeCensus.” Abe kept speaking into his microphone as Max sat at his desk, his hands folded as if in prayer.

“So where are you going to spend the night?” He asked Cindy when they left Wimpy’s.  

“I could spend the night at your place if you have a couch for me to sleep on.” She held his hand.

“I don’t have a place here.” His vision dropped to his boots.

“S’okay.” She sniffed. The air was cold and damp like it had been since he arrived, “I can find the park and a bench. This jacket is pretty warm.” 

“I can’t have you do that.”

“What are you gonna do about it?” Her face turned cold and hard.

Simon stood there with a helpless expression on his face.

“I’m the kinda girl people leave behind. I am always being left behind.”

“What if I walk you home?” 

“Are you deaf or something? I told you my parents threw me out.” Her face melted into a deep soul crushing sadness. 

“Simon DeCensus.” His earpiece vibrated.

He pulled up his microphone, “Yes, yes, this is DeCensus. Abe?”

“Roger that. We need to get you home.” Abe spoke directly in his ear.

“How?”

“We are zeroing in on your module.” Max’s voice cut in.

“I will catch a cab. When?”

“As soon as you’re ready.” Abe sounded excited.

“Can I bring someone with me?” He glanced at Cindy.

“Negatory. No one can be in the module.” Max snapped.

Dejection spilled over his whole face. As soon as Cindy saw his expression, she knew what the answer was.

“Give me ten minutes and I’ll be ready to come back.” Simon sighed as he spoke into the microphone. He turned to Cindy, “What can I say?”

“You really are a spaceman, aren’t you?” She reached over and stroked his cheek, “But we weren’t meant to be. I am the girl everyone leaves. It s’okay. I have my brother who lives a few blocks away. He’ll always take his little sis in when she needs a couch to sleep on.” 

“How about a kiss before I go?” He asks

“That would be fine.” She nodded. He reached out and drew her face to his and they kissed as he embraced her.

“If I have the chance I will return.” He smiled. 

“You’d be on your way. I’ll be fine.” She assured him as he ran his hands over her ruddy cheeks.  

“I will return, I promise.” He waved as he hailed a taxi.

“Bye my spaceman.” She waved to him as the taxi pulled away.

He paid the driver. He got out of the taxi and climbed into his module as the driver’s jaw dropped. There was a flash of light. The module was gone.

“Welcome back.” Max greeted Simon. “Did everything go according to plan.” 

“You could say that.” He smiled, “I was wondering if I could go back on the next voyage.” 

“I can’t guarantee.” Max shook his head, “We will do the best we can.”