THE two boys started to get an eyeful of parts of the city being that this was their first trip to Ancient Rome. In fact, they never even visited modern Rome or the Rome of the 19th century from whence they came from. When they arrived at Caesar’s house and went in, Jules and Verne marveled at the interior of the house.
Before entering, Marty guided the car into the back yard and landed it. Then, he removed them from his eyes and tucked them inside his tunic.
Meanwhile, inside the house the two boys were looking around the house that their hostess owned.
“Awesome.” said Jules to Calpurnia, “You must be a rich lady, miss.”
“My late husband was rich.” said Calpurnia.
“Hey, ma’am.” said Jules, “I’m sorry about your husband but where I come from, he was killed a long time ago.”
“Thank you.” said Calpurnia.
Marty came in.
Turning to a male servant, Calpurnia said “Jandicius, prepare the room for our guests.”
“Yes, my lady.” said the man called Jandicius.
Marty looked at Jandicius. He looks familier.he said to himself, Oh shit! That must be one of Jim Jandick’s ancestors. He saw him bow and go into another room.
Calpurnia approached him saying, looking around, “Alright Marty, let me show you where you could hide that chariot.”
“Good idea.” said Marty.
She took him out to the back dismissing all servants and guards present there. Once they were by themselves, Calpurnia showed Marty the empty and yet to be used barn. It was big enough to fit the Delorean in. Marty went back to the spot where the DeLorean was parked and got in.
He was about to turn the ignition when Calpurnia spoke up.
“Marty!”
“Yeah?” asked Marty.
“I vaguely recall that these chariots make a some noise when mobile.”
“Oh geez, that’s right! Okay, I’ll wheel it in.”
He got in to unlock the brake. Then turning to Calpurnia, he said “You’d better help me.”
Realizing that she’s the only one resident in this era that knows about time travel, she complied.
McFlius, Lorrainia and the other servants watched from inside as they saw Calpurnia and Charlton Heston acting very strange. It looked like they were pretending to move something in when it looked to all the world that there was nothing but thin air between them.
“What do you think they’re doing?” asked Lorrainia.
“I don’t know.” said McFlius, “It look like some ritual.”
“Or a dance.” said Lorraina.
They stood a distance similar to the distance between their mistress and Heston and copied the “dance step”.
Marty finally put the brakes on and turned off the cloaking device. And with he and Calpurnia closing the gull-winged doors, they left the barn and closed the door.
“You know it’s kind and generous to have us here.” said Marty.
“The pleasure is mine.” said Calpurnia, “Besides, I would like to know more about your friend and his family.”
“Family.” said Marty, “Hey Calpurnia, I don’t want to pry and as far as I’m concerned, this happened a long time ago, but how was your first night alone without your husband?”
Calpurnia paused. Then, she said “I’m used it.”
“You are?” exclaimed Marty, “Already?”
“Well, there are times when I’m left alone while he’s out on one his campaigns.” said Calpurnia. Then, there was sadness in her eyes when she said “The last month together were the most happiest in our marriage. He had came home from Spain after fighting the sons of his late rival Pompey. We wanted to start a family. We hadn’t had luck since we got first got married. I’m wondering what would’ve happened if he survived yesterday. I guess I’ll never know.”
She started to cry and reached into her stole to produce a hanker-chief to dry her eyes as she sat down on the bench.
“Oh, Marty.” she said, “What am I going to do?”
“Calpurnia.” said Marty, “I wish I could help you, but Doc told me never to interact with anyone in the past. Geez, I disregarded that several times.”
He still remembered that one interference with history that nearly resulted in the breakup between him and Jennifer.
So he sat next to her, put his arms around her and comforted her.
“Everything’s gonna be alright.” he said.
“I hope so.” said Calpurnia, “I just hope so.” Marty got up and gave Calpurnia his hand. She took it and was helped up. “Thank you.” she said.
“You’re welcome.” said Marty.
As they came into the house, both Marty and Calpurnia caught McFlius and Lorrainia doing a strange dance.
“What is this?” demanded Calpurnia
“Oh I’m sorry.” said McFlius, “But you see, me and Lorrainia saw you and Charlton Heston do this strange dance and…”
“You saw us?” exclaimed Calpurnia, “You’re not supposed to look.”
“Sorry, mistress.” said Lorrainia.
Calpurnia was about to say something else when she noticed Marty laughing. “Humor, Charlton?” she asked.
“Yeah.” said Marty, “They were watching us.”
Calpurnia felt life laughing too. So she turned to McFlius and Lorrainia and said “That’s alright. Think none of it.” Then, she said “It’s getting late and I haven’t had lunch yet. Please tell the cooks to prepare it. And our three guest will attend.”
“Yes ma’am.” said Lorrainia as she and McFlius bowed to her and left.
Left alone with Calpurnia, Marty said “Whew! That was close.”
“What was, Marty?” asked Calpurnia.
“I thought you would have them executed for watching us put away the DeLorean.” said Marty.
Calpurnia laughed. “How would you exist if I did that to your ancestors before they could conceive?” she asked
“Thanks, Calpurnia.” said Marty.
“You’re welcome.” she said.
Lunch was unlike any lunch that either Marty or the boys had.
“You call this lunch?” complained Jules.
“What’s wrong, Jules?” asked Calpurnia.
“No crackers.” was the response.
Turning to Marty, Calpurnia asked “What are crackers?”
“It’s one of those flat thingies with salt on them.” said Marty, “In my century, when one eats soup, they have crackers alongside them.”
“I see.” said Calpurnia, “Marty, are you sure I shouldn’t learn more about your century?”
“I’m positive.” said Marty.
Turning to the boys, Calpurnia asked “Jules, Verne. About your names. Where did you get them from?”
“From one of dad’s favorite authors.” said Verne.
“But he doesn’t exist yet.” said Jules.
“Vern Jules?” asked Calpurnia.
“No.” said Jules, “Jules Verne.”
“I see.” said Calpurnia, “And what did he write, I mean, what will he write?”
“20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.” said Jules.
“He does?” laughed Calpurnia, “Ah, he writes about Neptune.”
“No.” said Jules, “He writes about Captain Nemo and the Nautilus.”
“Nautilus?” asked Calpurnia, “What’s that?”
“A submarine.” said Jules.
“What’s a submarine?” asked Calpurnia.
Then, Marty intervened. “Okay, boys.” he said, “That’s enough. We don’t want Calpurnia to start finding out too much about the future. She’s already seen enough of it to last her a lifetime.”
Jules looked at Marty ready to mutter a protest when Calpurnia intervene saying “Quite right. It’s not my era. My era is right now. As far as I’m concerned, yours hasn’t happened yet. And as far as Jules Verne is concerned, I give anything to read his stories.”
After they finished their soup, the servants brought in cantaloupes for fruit. The seeds made Marty remember his trip to 1885 when he had supper with his great-great grandparents when he found himself spitting out bones onto his plate.
After lunch, Calpurnia and the time travelers went into the den to recline on couches. Jules and Verne felt silly doing this. Marty didn’t mind and Calpurnia was used to it.
The servants brought in a bowl of grapes for their mistress and her guests to eat.
“Anyone care for a drink?” asked Calpurnia.
“I’m fine.” said Marty, “And the boys are to young to have any drink.”
“Why’s that?” asked Calpurnia.
“Because the only drink that’s here besides water is wine.” said Marty, “And where I come from, serving Jules and Verne a drink is considered contributing to a delinquency of a minor.”
“That’s alright.” said Jules, “We’ll settle for a Shirley Temple.”
“Shirley Temple?” asked Calpurnia.
Marty looked at Calpurnia and said “You haven’t heard of it yet, or her?”
“And this Shirley Temple?” asked Calpurnia.
“Is a non-alcoholic drink named after an actress turned politician and ambassador.” explained Marty.
“What is an actress?” asked Calpurnia.
“It’s a female actor.” said Marty.
“A female who acts?” said Calpurnia, “Marty, the more I hear those new words from you, the more I want to know about your century. In my time, the stage and politics are for men.”
“Well it’s too bad you can’t.” said Marty, “Remember when I left you yesterday saying that Doc told me one time that no one should know too much about the future?”
“Yes I do.” said Calpurnia, “Sorry about that, Marty.”
“It’s okay, Calpurnia.” said Marty.
Then, looking at the boys, Calpurnia said “Jules, Verne. I’ve got a treat for you. You two are going to take a tour of Rome. Lorrainia, McFlius.”
The two servants entered with McFlius asking “You called, ma’am?”
“Will you take our two young guests on a tour of the city?” asked Calpurnia, “Me and Charlton would like to be alone.”
“Yes, ma’am.” said McFlius as he and Lorrainia went with the boys on the tour.
Once alone, Calpurnia asked “Marty, how’s Doctor Brown?”
“He’s fine.” said Marty, “Recently, he invented a drink that improved arm strength.”
“He did?” asked Calpurnia, “Trying to improve the human condition I see.”
“Yeah.” said Marty, “You could say that.”
“And his wife?” asked Calpurnia.
“You mean Clara?” asked Marty, “She’s doing fine. She’s teaching at a local elementary school. It was the same one where I first met Jennifer.”
“Jennifer.” repeated Calpurnia, “The girl you’re helping. I gather you love her very much.”
“I do.” said Marty, “But there was one time when things didn’t go fine for us.”
At that, Marty started to tell her all how that break-up occurred.