Ahead of his Time by Adrian Cousins (children's books read aloud .txt) 📕

my mum, and I want her to be happy. I know I won’t now be born, and I’m struggling to get my head around the fact she isn’t now my mum … well, y’know what I mean.”

I nodded. “Bloody confusing, this time-travel malarky ain’t it?”

“You’re not wrong. Anyway, when we’ve dealt with Paul Colney, I thought I might go travelling … see the world. Caroline and I married quite young and, if I’m honest, I always regretted not going travelling. There’s a big world out there.”

“Good idea … God knows how we get you a passport, though.”

“We’ll work it out. No offence, but I don’t miss working for you at Waddington Steel, and this place ain’t my idea of paradise.”

“No offence taken. To be honest, I don’t miss working with me at Waddington Steel either!”

Martin stood up and took the empty coffee cup which I’d handed to him. “Yes, I’m sure you’re right,” he chuckled. “Well, I have a door hinge in classroom eighteen to fix, and I expect you have a class of juvenile delinquents to teach, so best we get on.”

This had been a crazy two weeks since Martin landed. Today’s short conversation had surprised me as he seemed to have moved on and developed a maturity that I hadn’t witnessed before. Time travel appeared to have improved both of us.

Nipping along to my next class, I thought of quite a few old acquaintances who could also benefit from the character development that time travel appeared to provide. Still, I very much doubted they would have the opportunity. Or would they? Hell, I had no idea. The world, for all I knew, could be full of people like us.

I perused the idea of starting a time-travellers group on Facebook but would have to wait a good twenty-five years or so for that. Perhaps Friends Reunited, that was a bit earlier? No, the only option was a newspaper advertisement. However, I thought it would attract all sorts of nutters, and I had no desire to complicate my life any further. I certainly didn’t want to receive a million letters from God knows how many weirdos out there who thought they were time-travellers – unlike me and Martin, who were the real deal.

45

Blind Date

“Right mate, I won't be long.” I hopped out of my old Cortina and flung the door closed. The super poor part of our plan was my walk into the Broxworth, but there was no other way to get to Jess. With my previously used disguise, which had served me well last year, I wrapped the scarf around my face and stuck on my trilby hat. Head down, I trudged my way into the estate, keeping an eye out for who was about and praying to some higher being that I could get in and out without incident. If Jess was out, then the whole plan had turned to shit and, it would be back to square one – but time was now running out.

The estate appeared quiet, which was probably a combination of it being around tea-time and the biting wind which ripped through the concrete alleyways. Trotting up to flat 120, I gave the door a quick tap and pushed the letterbox flap.

“Jess … Jess, it’s your dad. Are you there?” I could see the kitchen light on and hear the radio – first hurdle accomplished – she was at home.

Still crouching and peering through the letterbox, I spotted her come out of the kitchen. Jess faced the front door whilst she appeared to wipe her hands down her jeans.

“Jess, it’s Dad.” She rushed to open the door. I sprung through the opening like an Olympic sprinter pushing out of the blocks, keen to get inside without being spotted.

“Dad, what the hell are you doing here?”

“Thought I’d come up and see if you’d like to come over to ours for tea. Y’know, meet Jenny and the kids.”

“D’you realise how dangerous it is coming up here? I said on Monday Paul must now know it was you who killed David.”

“Yes, I know. But I had no other way of contacting you.”

“But it’s so risky! Hell, what will he do to me if he knows you’re my father?”

“Alright. Yes, yes, I know, I'm sorry. So, shall we go?” Now unsure what else to say, so I just grinned.

Jess frowned, and I could almost see the questions running through her mind. “Okay, yes, that’ll be nice.”

“Great! Err … shall we go?”

Jess grabbed her coat from the hook in the hall. “Give me a minute, and I’ll be ready,” she said over her shoulder, as she disappeared back into the kitchen.

“Okay.”

“Not that we know each other very well, but there’s something you’re not telling me,” Jess shouted from the kitchen as she silenced the radio. “Dad?” Jess now stood in the hall, pulling her coat on and flicking her hair over her collar.

“No, not at all. Just thought it would be nice for you to meet Jenny and the kids. We … err … we’re eating at a friend’s house as we are living with him at the moment. He’s nice though; you’ll like him.”

Jess stopped adjusting her hair and narrowed her eyes. “Dad, this isn’t a blind date you’re setting me up with, is it?”

“Ha, Christ no! Don is in his eighties, so unless you’re in to old boys, it’s not a blind date.” Although I thought of Martin and sure enough, my newly acquired daughter was right up his street.

“Phew, you had me worried then.”

“I have a friend waiting in his car to take us up to Don’s. He’s a nice bloke.”

Jess was ready and stood looking up at me, her eyes narrowed. “So, he’s the blind date then?”

“No, no. He’s just a mate giving us a lift. I thought it would be sensible not to bring my car up here as you-know-who knows what I drive. Last thing I need is Paul spotting my car.”

“No, definitely not. I don’t think you’re welcome around