To the Moon
Act I:
Inside the brick house, surrounded by greenery, flowers, and sparkling ponds were two children playing the piano in harmony. Outside their home, ocean waves hummed along with the melody, and the skies were turning into cotton candy pink with splashes of orange and warm yellow. A quarter of a mile away, a faint but sudden screeching noise could be heard if the ears of the household were not entranced by the dancing piano keys.
“Where were you looking, Neil?!” Dr. Rosalene stepped outside of the car, steaming with whirls of smoke.must
“Well excuse me for heroically evading that squirrel coming out of nowhere!” Dr. Watts said, as he made his way out from the driver’s door.
“Actually you hit the tree, and you still managed to run over the squirrel.”
He examined the aftermath of his driving. “Well I guess the boss is going to kill me. Let’s just say it was for a puppy. He likes puppies right?”
“I think he’s more of a cat person,” she said.
“Why does the world have to be so complicated? Fine, whatever furball he fancies. Crisis averted.”
“Good, go write that on your report later.”
The two walked through the gardens and ponds, leaving behind the broken down car and dead animal remnants. They carried their equipment with them up to the front steps of the brick house. Warm tones of the sky appeared as the sun was setting. They stepped inside.
Dr. Watts straightened out his white lab coat. “Nightshifts, love em or hate em?”
“You know the answer, you stupid owl.” Eva twisted the door handle and pushed her way inside. A woman walked over to greet them.
“Hi. We’re from Sigmund Corp.,” said Eva.
“I’m Lily, Johnny’s caretaker.”
“You must be here for Johnny.”
“I supposed this ‘Johnny’ is our man?” whispered Dr. Watts.
“He’s upstairs right now with his medical doctor. Come with me.”
They grabbed their equipment case and headed to the bedroom, pausing at the sight of the old, white haired man lying in bed.
“He’s unresponsive at this point, but by the looks of things, he’s still consciously hanging on,” the medical doctor reported. “It’s hard to say how long you’ll have, but I would hurry.” Dr. Rosalene began to set up their machine.
“So you two can grant him any wish, right?” Lily asked.
“To try, at least,” replied Dr. Rosalene.
“But we always succeed, because we’re awesome,” Dr. Watts said.
“So, what’s the wish?” Dr. Rosalene asked.
“The moon,” said Lily.
“The moon?”
“The moon… He wants to go to the moon.”
“The geezers just keep on getting crazier, huh?” said Dr. Watts.
“So, can you do it?” Lily asked.
“It depends.”
“She meant to say yes.”
“Why don’t you tell us about our client here?” Dr. Rosalene asked.
“That… I don’t really know much. Johnny’s an odd man. Through the last two years that I’ve worked here, he rarely spoke. He worked as a craftsman for most of his life, and his wife passed away two years ago. I don’t really know many details,” said Lily.
“I would have known more if I were his paper boy,” Dr. Watts muttered.
“Shush. Just do your thing,” Dr. Rosalene gave him a push.
While Dr. Rosaline configured the machine, Dr. Watts roamed around the house searching for memory links. In the corner of the room were two paintings: one of a lighthouse, and another of a woman holding a yellow and blue animal of some sort. What kind of an odd pairing of art is that? Neil shrugged and walked away. He headed down the stairs, and asked the children for a tour around the house. They made their way to the basement’s ‘funny room’, filled with hundreds of folded paper rabbits.
“Told you it was weird! There’s more inside the lighthouse!” said the kids. “But first, give us the candy you promised.”
When they headed to the cliff by the riverside, Dr. Watts saw a plaque in cursive font that said “In memory of River E. Wyles” that stood next to the lighthouse.
“Was she John’s wife?” he asked.
“Dunno,” replied the boy, as they made their way inside the lighthouse. After getting to the room upstairs, Dr. Watts found more paper rabbits. All of them white, except for one blue and yellow colored rabbit.
“Hey, this wasn’t here last week!”
Sarah said, “Oh ya, Johnny must’ve come here before he fell ill again.”
An hour later, Dr. Watts returned to the brick house, and made his way back to the upstairs bedroom to meet Dr. Rosalene. They put their electrical helmets on after helping John with his, and initiated the project.
“Setting to the last accessible memory of Johnny’s,” said Dr. Watts.
“Disable speech for all except Johnny,” said Dr. Rosalene.
“Done. Let’s get ‘em.”
They were outside, surrounded by the sound of waves by the lighthouse. John’s hair was ashy white, and Lily stood next to him. John glanced at the familiar night view. Smoke flew out of the chimney. Water dangled next to the trees and flowers. The children were playing piano.
“Johnny?” said Dr. Rosalene, as she walked towards him.
“Oh, what a pleasant surprise,” Johnny responded. “We don’t get many visitors around here.”
“My name is Dr. Eva Rosalene, and this is Dr. Neil Watts. Are you familiar with the Sigmund Agency of Life Generation?”
“Oh, are you two from the agency? How convenient. I was just thinking about calling you. Lily, get us some tea please. …Lily?”
“Actually, you’ve already called us,” Dr. Watts stepped in.
Lily vanished. John jumped.
“We’re here to fulfill our contract from the relative future,” said Dr. Rosalene. Johnny, who was taken aback, nearly fell off the edge of the cliff.
“Careful there. If you slip off the cliff, we’re gonna have to reload this memory.”
“Watch it Neil. Show some respect.”
“Eh, it’s just a program, y’know.”
“I know,” she said. “But this is his last accessible memory and we need cooperation.”
“You are here to take me to the moon, aren’t you?” asked Johnny.
“Yes, John,” she said.
“I suppose I had a good run.” He turned around and faced the water momentarily. “Not good enough, it seems,” said Dr. Watts.
Johnny’s eyes lit up. “So can you do it? Can you take me to the moon?”
”We can’t, but you might be able to,” she answered.
“Why do you want to go there?” asked Dr. Watts
“I don’t know.”
Dr. Rosalene put her hand on Johnny’s back. “It’s fine, you can tell us,” she reassured him. “It’s essential for helping us to get you to go there.”
“Do you want money? Fame? You’ve got to have a motive,” said Dr. Watts.
“I’m sorry, but I really don’t know. I just… do.”
Dr. Watts checked his watch and said, “Nevertheless, Johnny, here’s what we will do. We need to get to your childhood, but it is too distant to do so in one memory hop. Thus, we will need to traverse through your memories with gradual backward loops, which you’ve given us the permission to do in the relative future.”
Dr. Rosalene nodded. “Once we lay down the waypoints in your childhood memories for direct access, we will return here. That’s when you’ll need to help us influence the childhood you to become an astronaut. The point is, you’ll need to have more to say than just ‘I don’t know.’ To get started, we need an item of importance to you. A memento will help us get started. Do you have anything?”
Johnny handed over a yellow and blue rabbit.
“That’ll do.”
The memento transported them to the house, with grey haired Johnny playing the piano, his house filled with paper rabbits.
“Turn off visibility. It’d be messy to be seen,” said Dr. Rosalene.
“Jeez, I forgot to ask him about all these rabbits. This is creeping me out. We probably should have checked his record for psychopathy first,” said Dr. Watts.
John slammed the piano keys abruptly.
“Point proven,” said Dr. Watts. He looked at the one colored rabbit. “Aren’t you special in your two colors while all your other friends are plain white.” He picked it up for a better look. “What’s that? You think you’re really creepy? Why yes, I agree!”
After going room upon room for items linked with memories, an umbrella memento was formed. They fed their items into the activated machine, and were transported outside of the house, into the rain.
“Its finished, River. Like you, I’ll be able to watch over her every day. She won’t be alone anymore. I might never understand why, but I stayed true to your wish. I’m sure Anya is grateful to you, too. But when I’m gone, who is going to watch over us?”
John jumped at the sight of Dr. Rosalene. “Who are you?” he asked.
“My name’s Eva. Just passing by. Was she your wife?”
“Yes. Her name was River.”
“That’s a special name.”
“It didn’t need to happen.”
“Hm?”
“She… She didn’t need to do it. But she… You wouldn’t understand. I don’t even understand.”
Dr. Watts and Dr. Rosalene headed inside the lighthouse, and activated a platypus memento that brought them back inside the house. A woman was lying in bed, and John was standing beside her.
“Just enough. After we pay for your operation, we’ll have just enough left for it… So don’t worry,” he said.
“White lie. That’s what you call it, right?” she said.
“No, I’m sure we can jus—“
“Stop it. I don’t like it when you lie. I calculated our finances. I know how it’s like. Why do you try to convince me against my will?
“We need the money for your medical bills, River! I understand Anya means a lot to you, but this… This is just too much. I mean, she… She isn’t even…”
“Do you know what makes me happy, Johnny? Do you? Well, I do. I just… hope you can help me with it.”
“River…”
“When the papers for my treatments get here, I will not sign them. What you do with the money is up to you. But if you would grant my wish, I want you to use it to finish building that house. And then for every day that you live there, I want you to watch over her. Visit her. Speak to her. Comfort her. I don’t want her to be alone anymore.”
“And what about you?” John asked.
"Happy. I’ll be happy.” She paused. “Johnny?”
“Yes?” he answered.
“I made this. Tell me what it is.”
“What?” Johnny asked. He stared at the folded origami.
“Just tell me what it is,” she said, staring intently at him.
“It’s a rabbit, like all the others you made.”
“What else?”
“Um, it’s made of paper.”
“What else?”
“Its body is yellow, and the rest is blue.”
“Good. What else?”
“Look, River,” he said, placing it on the floor. “I wrote you a song. It’s for you.”
“Okay.”
“Well… Would you like to hear it?”
“Yes. You didn’t have to bring the piano in here for this. I can hear you just fine with the door open.”
John walked over to the piano. “It’s called ‘For River’.”
“Why so cliché?”
“It’s… just a placeholder.”
He played while River sat in bed listening. The melody consisted of two keys repeating over and over again, like water droplets dancing back and forth in the same spots.
Meanwhile, Dr. Watts and Dr. Rosalene sat by the side, watching the memories.
“Who is this ‘Anya’ they were talking about? If she’s so important, shouldn’t we have seen her in his late memories?” asked Dr. Rosalene.
“I guess he didn’t keep that promise after all,” he responded.
“Unless…” she started. “Never mind. Hey, that’s the same song the kids were playing earlier, huh?”
“I guess he taught them. Y’know what, I’m too manly for this. I’m heading on. I already got my memory links.”
“Go on ahead. I’ll catch up with you,”
Dr. Rosaline examined the room for more mementos, and found a glass of pickled olives. Someone must really like these. She collected the memory encounters and fed each memory link into the machine. She traversed to a slightly earlier memory of two white haired men moving a piano.
“I’m telling you, there’s just no way.” Nicolas wiped the sweat off his forehead with a handkerchief.
“What if we take it apart?” John asked eagerly.
“Look at us, John. We aren’t exactly at the ripe age of piano moving,” Nicolas responded. “You know what, if this means that much to you, I’ll pay for the professionals to do this. I can’t help saving that house for you, so this is the least I can do.”
After collecting these memories, Dr. Rosalene prepared the next memento. Once activated, she entered a moment by the water and the sound of crashing waves. The stars glowed brightly at this time of the night, and before her stood Dr. Watts.
“Finally,” he said. They walked down a bit, to see a hammer, and the building of a house in progress.
“Heh. Look what we have here,” said Dr. Rosalene.
“I bet they saw this cliff, and thought it was not dangerous enough without people living on it,” said Dr. Watts. They walked around the platform and saw Johnny sitting down with hands on his face.
“Nick called and said I should come,” said Isabelle. “I brought you pickled olives. They’re your favorite, right?” She placed the jar down. “I heard about River… Will she be okay?”
“Her illness was just diagnosed in its late stage. Fortunately, it’s treatable. But the medical bills… We can’t afford to finish building this house, Isabelle. We can barely afford to pay for her treatment. I’m just relieved that she’ll be okay, but… You don’t know how much this place means to her. She’s going to be heartbroken.”
“I’d help, but Ted and I have been barely getting by since the market crashed,” said Isabelle. “What are you doing to do now?”
“I’m going to tell her that we can make it. I’m going to tell her that we can afford everything. I don’t want her to do anything crazy.”
“You shouldn’t lie to her.”
“You don’t understand, Is. If she found out, I’m not sure which she’d choose.”
“So what? If she chooses not to save herself for the sake of this place, then so be it. It’s what she really wants. I really hate when you neurotypicals think you know what’s best for others.”
“I hate when you call me that, Izzy. Do you think this is all about her? What about me? After all those years, am I not allowed to be selfish even once? I don’t want to be alone, Is. I’m not going to let her die”
“That’s arrogant.”
‘”I don’t care.”
“Where are you going?”
“I’m going to bring something from the cliff to bring back to her. It’ll at least give her some comfort.”
“That doesn’t make what you’re doing any less wrong,” said Isabelle. “Nick wanted me to give you this. He said it’s called ‘everything’s alright’.”
“It isn’t.” John walked away.
Eva and Neil followed after him, and explored around for more mementos. They activated a memento of the olive jar. Soon they were watching a memory at the dinner table, the olive jar placed down in front of John.
“So you guys are really going for it, huh?” said Nicolas.
“Yep! The construction’s starting in just a few months. It’s a bit of a squeeze; we had to split the payment. But with financing, we’ll make do,” said John.
Isabelle wiped her lips with a napkin. “How wonderful, having your dream house built at such a beautiful site.
“You had your wedding at that lighthouse near there all those years ago, didn’t you?” Nicolas asked.
“That’s not all that’s special about it,” said John, looking admirably at River beside him. “We have history with that place.”
“Well, it’s good to have some good news at a get-together for once! Cheers and congratulations, ya two!” said Nick, raising his glass.
“Hey, cheers,” said John, clinking their cups together.
“Be right back, I’m gonna get some fresh air,” Isabelle said, and walked away.
River got up from her seat and said, “Me too.” Her green, bubbly eyes peered into the distance.
“Well buddy, it’s sure been a while,” Nicolas said.
“Hasn’t it? Who knew how hard it is to get across a few cities nowadays,” John replied.
“That River, still so quiet, huh?”
“Eh, she’s actually been talkative at home, and with Isabelle. I guess she’s just not used to you.”
“Hahah, so I’m the bad guy here, huh? Oh hey, did you tell River about that thing from back then?
“I did.”
“How did she take it?”
“For the most part, she took it well. But something bugs me. Ever since the incident, she’s been making these strange rabbits out of paper.”
“Origami rabbits?”
“Yes. Lots of them.”
“Hah, I used to fold origami animals for my daughter all the time. What’s wrong with that?”
“I don’t think it’s the same thing. She’s been doing nothing but making the same rabbits, day in and day out. Our house is literally filled with them now.”
“Didn’t Isabelle say that something like that is a common trait with River’s condition?”
‘Yes, but something doesn’t feel right this time. When I ask her about it, she never answers. Instead, she gets this distant look in her eyes. It’s like she wants something from me. And the strange this is… I feel like there’s something I owe her, too.”
Dr. Watts and Dr. Rosalene sat by the side table watching the scene take place.
“Wait, so even he himself never knew what was up with those rabbits?” Dr. Watts asked.
“Forget about the stupid rabbits, we’ve got bigger problems. It’s a confined memento, and there are no mementos anywhere,” Dr. Rosalene responded.
“We can probably draw one out for him,” he said.
Dr. Watts drew out a bar, interacted with the bartender to get jar of olives, and walked up to John.
“Are those olives? Are you also a fan?” John asked.
“Indeed I am! Mind if I join you?”
“Sure, why don’t you grab a seat? We’ll down a bottle together.”
“Oh… yeah, that sounds just swell.”
[Eva, disable taste simulation NOW!!!]
[Oh Neil, I don’t think I feel like it]
[I’m so gonna get you back for this.]
Time lapsed by, and John opened another bottle of olives.
“And that’s how we got our first toaster ohoho!” John said with excitement.
Time lapsed by some more.
John, in a great and talkative mood, said, “I actually have it right here.”
“May I see it?” Dr. Watts asked.
“Sure, why not.”
Dr. Watts said, “AND FREEZE. Finally.”
“How were the olives, Neil?” Dr. Rosalene asked.
“Oh, shut your mouth.”
Dr. Watts threw the memento of a signed letter into the memory detector. They were taken to the lighthouse. At the very top of the lighthouse, where Eva thought it would be fun to push Neil off for an exciting skydive. River was much younger and appeared sad.
“Why would they abandon her like this?” She stared sadly at the signed note at the door of lighthouse.
“I suppose she’s just no longer needed,” said John.
River turned around to look at John. “No longer needed?”
“By ships I mean. You know how it is, now that everything has GPS and all that.”
River turned her back to him again.
“Look, River,” he said. “This place means a lot to me too, and I’ve been thinking… In our current state, things have been pretty stable. If we save well, in a few years, we could afford to build a house on top of here.” River turned around, and they were face to face. “It’s gonna be a bit of a squeeze, but—“
River jumped. “We’d be able to see her from the window!! In the morning, at night, we’d always be nearby! And… and we could walk here anytime! She’ll never be alone again, John!! I’ll be able to watch over her everyday!”
“Yeah, we will,” said John. River hugged him closely and sweetly, her eyes shut and happy.
“Good for them,” said Dr. Rosalene.
“You’re kidding, right?,” said Dr. Watts. “We already saw the ending. It’s like watching a trainwreck.”
“The ending isn’t any more important than any of the moments leading to it. Over here, they are happy. Let’s move on.” She stepped away from scene of them hugging.
“Wait a sec,” said Dr. Watts. “They were referring to the lighthouse as ‘Anya’ weren’t they?”
“I suppose so,” she replied.
“Then, that River… she declined treatment for the sake of a lighthouse? Isn’t that a bit extreme?”
“I’ve seen stranger things in the course of the job. It’s none of our business anyway. She’s not our client,” said Dr. Rosalene.
They walked around the forest, collecting data, and then the memento was detected: a paper rabbit. Its activation took them to a room. John looked much younger already.
“River?” he asked.
Walking around, Dr. Watts and Dr. Rosalene detected new boxes of plain paper.
“Uh oh, I already see where this one’s going,” said Dr. Watts.
At the study room, River was occupied, folding rabbits.
“You went out for a haircut this early in the morning?” River kept folding. “What are ya making there?” he asked.
River squeezed her eyes shut, opened them again, and resumed folding. “Rabbits. Did you see the rabbit I left for you?” she asked, turning her attention to him.
“Yeah,” he said.
“Tell me about that rabbit.” She stopped folding to watch John.
“Huh?” John asked, puzzled.
“Describe the rabbit.” She stared at him with her bubbly green eyes.
“Erm, it was yellow.”
“What else?”
“A bit puffy.”
“And?”
John turned to face the side momentarily. “Well… it’s just a paper rabbit. I don’t know how else to describe it.”
River shut her eyes in pain and returned back to folding.
“You’re acting strange River. Is something wrong? …River?”
Dr. Watts looked to Dr. Rosalene. “I don’t know about you, but I’m getting some inverse déjà vu,”
“I think I know of her condition, but this is rather odd even for that –“
“You think she’s…?”
“Do you?” asked Dr. Rosalene.
“Perhaps, who knows? But like you said, she’s not our client. Let’s just get what we’re paid for over with.” They found a bucket of red hair in the study room and activated a memento of a platypus.
They entered an empty space outside.
“This is where the house was built, right?” asked Dr. Rosalene.
“The house that never should’ve been. I mean really, what’s it about unusually high and dangerous places that attract people?” Neil responded.
It was nighttime, the lighthouse was brightly lit, and when they walked up close to it, River and John were standing there. River looked sad. They were younger.
“Is that why you approached me back then?” River asked.
“Yeah,” John said.
“What about now?”
“I suppose it’s just a part of it. Look, it was a long time ago. It’s… not too relevant now, but Izzy said I should tell you the truth. I shouldn’t have tainted our first meeting like that,” said John.
River walked to the edge of the cliff.
“River! Are you insane? Get away from there!”
“I think this memory isn’t too far from the last,” said Dr. Rosalene.
“Why did she cut her hair anyway? I like long hair,” said Dr. Neil.
They prepared their next memento, a bag. After activated, they entered a 3 people scene. The bag was lying behind John at the dinner table. Though, this time it did not look like dinnertime.
“Everyone with it is different, John. Just because she and I share the syndrome, doesn’t mean we share the same head,” said Isabelle.
“But you must be able to help somehow… Everything was okay at first, but now, she’s even more aloof than before. Even when we’re in the same room, she’s never really… there. It’s starting to take a toll on me. I just don’t know how to take it anymore.”
“Well, I can’t speak for her, but many of us do long for connections. Though, being able to articulate it is a different story. Just because she struggles to express it, it doesn’t mean she doesn’t feel anything. She’s still there, right? Sometimes you just have to have faith that she cares.”
“That’s pretty difficult to do, day in and day out,” said John.
“Wait, but why do you seem so normal, Izzy?” asked Nicolas. “I mean, don’t you have the same condition?”
“For one, I was diagnosed when I was still young. With effort, it’s not impossible to acquire a guise of social norms systematically. But you know what? I both envy and pity River. Me… I’m an actress, because I’ve been doing it all my life. Not only on-stage, but off-stage. At all times. I’ve gotten good at it, because acting is the only option I have. It’s the only way for me to be ‘normal’. But River… She never did that. She remained an outcast and refused to learn to step against it. … I don’t know if it was by choice or by limit, whether bravery or cowardice. There are days when I just can’t stand faking it anymore. And then, I realize that it’s too late. The Isabelle that people know of is all an act, and the real me has long become a stranger. I think in the end… I just envy her.”
At the adjacent table, Dr. Watts and Dr. Rosalene sat invisibly.
“Huh, I’ve never met a woman with it before,” said Dr. Watts.
“Then technically, you still haven’t met one. This isn’t part of our business,” said Dr. Rosalene. “Let’s move.” Together, they walked off to the study room and in the library section, River stood reading the book in her hands.
John walked over to River’s side. “Anything new today?” he asked.
“No.”
“What’re you rereading there?”
“The Emperor’s New Clothes. I loved this when I was young,” said River.
“Still do, huh?” John asked.
River turned to look at him with her big green eyes. “Of course,” she said, turning her attention back to the bookshelf. “Just… for different reasons.”
John turned toward River briefly, then looked back at the shelf. “When I was a kid, I loved the Animorphs series.”
“I know,” said River. “Your mother gave you a book from it as a wedding present.”
“Heh, yeah, that was one odd wedding present. I guess I was pretty obsessed with it when I was a kid,” said John.
River turned to look at him again. “Why haven’t you read them since?”
John faced her too. “Hm?”
“I saw them. They’re collecting dust in the garage.”
“Well… I just grew out of them, I guess.” He faced the shelf again. “I mean, they’re children’s books.”
River blinked twice. “What’s wrong with reading children’s books?”
John looked at her, and she was facing the books again.
“They’re comforting,” River said.
“I suppose so,” said John, facing the shelf again.
River looked inside the book she was holding and faced John. “I think I’m going to get this one.”
The Animorphs book helped activate the next memory. Dr. Watts and Dr. Rosalene entered a park with picnic tables. People were leaving.
“Aw, everyone’s leaving already? But I just got here!” said Dr. Watts.
“Seems to happen to you a lot at parties,” said Dr. Rosalene.
“Oh, go save your childish jabs for the insecure.”
They explored and found a jar of pickles on the table.
“I see le fromage, but where’s the mouse?”
“That’s the corniest remark you’ve made all night.”
“Don’t you mean… cheesiest remark?”
“Wow.”
They walked up ahead to the lighthouse. River and Johnny sat on the grass outside of the lighthouse. They were much younger already. River’s red hair was tied in a bun, and she stared out at the open space, sitting at the side of the lighthouse. John sat in the front of the lighthouse right in front of the door.
“Do you feel any different?” Johnny tilted his head towards River, who looked back. “Now that we got the rings on, I mean.”
River turned her face back towards the ocean. “No. Why, do you?”
“Actually… Yeah, I do.”
“What’s it like?”
“It’s just… different. Just the responsibilities I suppose.”
“Responsibilities… Do you like the name ‘Anya’?” River and John looked at each other. “Would you like to name her ‘Anya’?” River’s heart raced at the excitement of naming the lighthouse Anya.
John stared at the grass he was planted on. “I understand.” He turned to the side. “Yeah, Anya’s a good name for her.” Then his face lit up. “Hey, come with me!” Hand in hand, they went up the stairs of the lighthouse.
“This can’t be a good idea. I’ll probably trip and fall,” she said.
“Don’t worry, just follow my steps,” he said.
Dr. Rosalene and Dr. Watts watched from outside. The two lovers’ shadows contrasted against the bright yellow light inside. Outside, the sky was dark blue. The stars glowed, and their shadows swayed back and forth.
“Ow! I think you stepped on my toes!”
“Sorry,” said River.
“C’mon. Let’s try again.”
The sun wheeled by, and the sky turned pink, orange, and yellow. In front of the lighthouse, River and John stood before one another.
“To promise to love and comfort, to honor and to keep in sickness and in health, for as long as you shall live?”
“I do,” said John.
“And do you take this man, standing before you, to be your lawfully wedded husband? To promise to love and comfort, to honor and to keep in sickness and in health, for as long as you shall live?”
River blinked. “Yes.”
“By the power invested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife.”
River and John faced the usher, who said, “Ladies and gentlemen… I present you Mr. and Mrs. Wyles.”
“Ack, the wedding,” said Dr. Neil.
“Uh, yeah what did you think that was?” replied Dr. Rosaline.
“I’m just bad at weddings, that’s all. Fluids tend to escape from my eyes.”
“I didn’t know you were that sentimental.”
“Oh, did I say my eyes? I meant my mouth,” said Dr. Watts. “And by fluids, I meant both fluids and solids.”
“That’s a lovely image, thanks Neil. Come, let’s find a way to get out of here.”
At the park table, there was cake in the center. Several family and friends scattered around the tables.
“I better go see how your aunt is doing,” John’s mother said.
“Alright, ma. Tell her thanks for coming,” said John.
“I will. I’m so proud of you, Joey.”
“Joey?” Nicolas asked.
“Oh, that’s my grandpa’s name. He passed away before I was born. Ma calls me by it as a nickname.”
“How come you never told me about it?”
“Cause I’d rather you call me John.”
Dr. Rosaline and Dr. Watts walked out of the picnic area and to the side of the road.
“It can’t be helped, River. I’m sure they didn’t mean to. …C’mon, we’re late.”
Dr. Watts asked, “Wait, is that a… rabbit? Think this is the source of all those folded paper ones?”
“Why would she obsess over some roadkill? Not to mention so many years later…” Dr. Rosaline replied.
“Don’t ask me; you are the woman here.”
The memento items were collected – they were prepared to active the rabbit memento.
Dr. Watts quickly added, “You know it’s a fantastic wedding when the memento’s road kill. Hey… maybe she saw it as a metaphor for the terrible marriage! So years later, she began folding the rabbits because she was reminded of how rotten I was! Or y’know something equally pretentious.”
“Cool story, Neil.”
The memento activated, and they entered the doctor’s office.
“Is the diagnose certain?” John asked.
“Yes,” said Doctor Lee. “We’ve reached a consensus on the results. Unfortunately, like many cases of pervasive developmental disorders, this is a rather late diagnosis. Had you known when you were a child, Ms., it could’ve saved you a lot of trouble.”
“Do you have any books on it?” River asked.
“This one is by Tony Attwood, he’s one of the specialists on the subject. You can borrow it, just don’t elope with it.”
“Thanks, doc,” said John.
River sat down on the bench holding her books.
“Now… are you two a couple?” Dr. Lee asked.
“Unmarried without any legal affiliation,” River replied.
“Yes, I see. I could set you up with a counselor or something,” he said. “Is there anything unsettling n the relationship?”
“No,” River said.
“And you, sir?”
“No, it’s fine.”
“Nonetheless, sir, you should also give the book a read. It’ll help you understand her condition,” said Dr. Lee.
“I’d… rather not.”
“Why is that?” asked the doctor. “Well… it’s your call. In the meantime, there is a thing called equine therapy that might help her. A ranch just north of here offers it; I can contact them for you.”
Dr. Watts looked at the platypus toy next to River. “Can’t believe this piece has been here for all this time.”
“Looks like someone took good care of it.”
“She’s still got pretty bad taste in animals, though.”
The memento of the clock at the doctor’s office, led them to another memory in the movie theatre.
“Psst, look over there!” said Dr. Rosalene.
“I know! I can’t believe he once paid to see this crap in theatre!”
“No, you idiot. Look, we leaped!” She stared teenager Johnny.
“Holy overcooked macaroni, the kid’s in the theatre all by himself! What a loser!”
“You go to the theatre by yourself all the time,” said Dr. Rosaline.
“That’s different,” said Dr. Watts. “No one’s competent enough to match my taste.”
Johnny got up from his seat, and the seat lifted up automatically. He walked out of the theatre and sat by the floor by himself.
“Getting stood up? Now that’s a Kodak moment,” said Dr. Watts.
“You relate so well with your kin, I see,” said Dr. Rosalene.
Moments later, the sound of footsteps came out from the movie theatre. A young, red-haired girl in a frilly skirt stepped out holding a soft platypus plushy. She stood in front of Johnny.
“River? You were in there this whole time??” John said. “I waited for you at the lobby. I thought you didn’t come!”
“Why did you leave?” asked River. “I thought we were watching the movie together.”
“Huh?” Johnny asked. “I’m the one who should ask that!”
“What do you mean?” We were watching the movie together, and then you left.”
“We weren’t watching it together… I didn’t even know where you were!” he said. “If you saw me in there, why didn’t you come and find me?”
“What difference does it make? We were watching the same movie in the same room.”
John burst out laughing. “Hahahhaah!”
“What’s wrong?” River asked.
“You’re so weird,” he said.
“Do you not want to watch the movie together anymore?”
“Of course I do!” he jumped up. “Come, let’s head back in before it ends!”
They walked inside the movie theatre and sat next to each other. The platypus got a seat of its own.
“Y’know, I think this platypus is growing on me. Mostly just for convenience, but hey,” said Dr. Watts. The platypus memento brought them to John’s high school. River sat by the stairs with her toy. She was reading a book.
John stood a few feet away from her. “Cmon dude, grow some balls!” said Nick.
“Erm,” Dr. Watts interrupted.
"It’s not that…” said Johnny. “Look, maybe this wasn’t such a good idea.”
“Oh sheesh, what could possibly happen?” said Nick. “Just think about it! Worst case scenario: She says no.”
“What if she says yes, but really means no?” John asked.
“Psh, quit worrying.”
“And what if she throws an encyclopedia in my face?! I don’t even have a helmet! I’m not prepared for this.”
“Dude, quit worrying. Just straighten your spine and quit being a little wuss.”
“YEAH!! YOU TELL HIM!” Dr. Watts exclaimed.
“Everything’ll be alright. Just turn around.”
“Okay… okay…” said Johnny.
Nick pushed him over.
“Hey, hey, what’re you!”
Johnny was standing right in front of River by the steps.
“A-ahem. Hello,” he said. Her eyes moved from left to right, and then at him.
“Eh… Hello?” he said again. “Can you hear me?”
“Yes.”
“Then why didn’t you-- …nevermind.” Johnny stepped back then proceeded forward again. “Um, that’s a cool platypus you got there.” River stared at him. “What’re you reading?”
“A book.”
“About platypus?”
“No.”
“Oh. I er, I think that’s great. Hey, do you want—“
“Lighthouses.”
“Huh?”
“There are exactly sixteen second-order Fresnal lens lighthouses in the country left. Nine of them are coastal, and one of them was modified from a historic kerosene lamp lighthouse.”
“Oh, is that what you’re reading about?” said Johnny. “Um, say… you wanna go catch a movie together sometime?”
River put her book down momentarily. Her eyes moved back and forth. “I don’t know,” she said.
“That’s okay, I’ll give you time to consider it.”
“I can’t,” said River.
“Why?” John asked.
“There’s no date or time,” she said.
“Oh, um, how about this Saturday at eight?”
River put her book down again to think.
“Well?”
“Yes.”
Johnny jumped. “Oh great! I guess we’ll work out the details later?”
Nick made fun of the awkward encounter. The time lapse went backwards into an earlier memory at the lunch table.
“Yeah, she’s unique, but she’s uniquely boring! I mean, just look at her!” Nick turned to look at River sitting alone at a table with her lunch tray and platypus toy.
“She just sits there by herself all day, with that deformed duck toy.”
“That’s not a deformed duck. That’s a platypus.”
“What the heck’s a platypus? Anyway, she’s just so… off, y’know? It’s like she’s from a totally different planet or something.”
“I know! Isn’t that cool?” said Johnny.
“Uh, if you’re into aliens and that sort of stuff, I guess.”
“Look, Nick. The point is that I know what I need. And she’s the one who has it.”
“People are unique in their own ways, John.”
“Yeah… That’s what grandmas tell you.”
“Sometimes I wanna slap our clients in the face,” said Dr. Rosalene.
“It’s high school,” said Dr. Watts. “Everyone’s a bastard.”
“Wait, so is this what he told her at the cliff?!”
“I suppose so. She then went cuckoo and began to make those creepy rabbits, right?”
“Because he confessed this from who knows how long ago?”
“I guess she’s pretty good at holding a grudge.”
“I’m not buying it. Something feels missing.”
“Then go get a hat, Sherlock,” said Doctor Watts.
“I’m envious that this kid was still there to help him move pianos when their hair grew white. I wish I was still in contact with my childhood friends.”
“I just love how every time we see this thing we’re guaranteed a free memory link,” said Dr. Watts, picking up the platypus.
They entered John’s childhood home. His mother was cooking stew in a pot.
“I’m going to school now, ma.”
“Have a nice day, Joey. My baby boy… growing up so fast.”
“Ack, what if he were a girl? Would she still nickname him after his grandpa?” Dr. Rosalene wondered.
“It wouldn’t be that bad actually, since it ends in ‘ey’,” said Dr. Watts.
“Ugh, not again,” he said to the bottle of picked… cucumbers. “HOLY CRAP, my mind’s totally blown!!”
“You’re pretty easily impressed,” said Dr. Rosalene.
They walked inside Johnny’s bedroom and spotted a soccer ball memento.
“Ack, it smell like road kill again. Where are we? Eva?! What the heck is that?”
“That’s his next memory.” They had entered white space. It was snowing. The sky was dark. They were floating.
“Yeah, but why is it going Laputa on us?”
“I don’t know, it’s just not linking the memories together for construction. There must be a malfunction within the machine’s ADG.”
“Again?! I thought the last fix was foolproof for another half a year!” said Dr. Watts.
“Look, don’t worry, we’ve already gotten the teenage years saved. We might still be able to do this,” said Dr. Rosalene. They zapped out.
ACT II:
“Don’t disturb them,” The doctor said to Lily. “These devices induce them to their dream states. And they might not wake easily, but they need the concentration.”
Dr. Rosalene and Dr. Watts arrived outside to white haired John.
“And that’s all this old fool knows, heh. Sorry can’t be much much help.”
“Then that’ll be enough,” said Dr. Rosalene.
“Aye, all that’s left to do is linking your registered desire to go to the moon to your early memories. Then we’ll pull the switch, and viola! You’ll be on the moon in no time,” said Dr. Watts.
“I have a question,” said John. “If you could make Lily disappear, that means you can alter this world. Then… can you not simply make things happen, and fulfill my wish here and now?”
“That would work, if this were your one true set of memories,” said Dr. Watts.
“What do you mean? What is this then? What am I?”
“This is just a copy… A canvas for us to work with, if you will. As for you… You are merely an algorithm traced from Johnny. Enough to reflect his likeness, but far from complete. All we can do is to prepare this canvas in a logically consistent way. And then, when we transfer your registered desire to your childhood, the machine will generate your new life, one where the desire dictates your behavior. The result of that, would then be written to the real John. So you see, even if we satisfy you, you are merely a ‘read only’ program. I mean we could reset you over and over again, and –“
“That’s enough,” said Dr. Rosalene.
“Oh, don’t be so sensitive. He’s not real, you know.”
“If you truly believed that, why did you even care to explain? I’m just trying to save time. Let’s go.”
Dr. Rosalene disappeared off.
“Doctor. Is that what I truly am?” asked John.
Dr. Watts disappeared.
“Ah, all our night’s work,” said Dr. Watts. He stared at the puzzle pieces in the sky. They were standing platforms that looked like giant poker chips.
Dr. Rosalene gasped. “What the heck, Neil! At least give me a warning first.” Neil’s body had turned to vapor.
“What can I say? I like being a head.”
“I would ask if that was a pun but I’m afraid you’d say yes,” said Dr. Rosalene. She turned into a floating head. “Let’s do this fast. I feel silly enough in this form as it is. All we need to do is to pass his desire from the latest memory to the earliest.”
The two flew in the sky as determined floating heads. There were a series of four square platforms between Johnny at a different life stage. They had to line up two matching mementos (that lie on the squares) on the edges to transfer the registered desire. They also were required to go down the line, and if the match was made, the lights turned neon to show the nodes have been attached successfully.
“Ding! That’s about all of the ones we can work successfully with,” said Dr. Watts after making links with the soccer ball, clock, platypus, and books.
“Ready to pull the switch?” asked Dr. Rosalene.
“You know me. Always ready.”
They pulled the trigger, and the lights flashed.
“Alright, let’s go check our what souvenirs he brought back from the moon!”
They revisited his old memories.
John and River sat by the grass in their adulthood, with rings in their hands.
“Huh, I guess this part is still the same,” said Dr. Rosalene.
“Let’s check somewhere else,” said Dr. Watts.
“Sheesh, the same thing here as well?” Dr. Rosalene watched River fold rabbits in the study room while John stood there.
“Usually there’s at least some change,” said Dr. Watts.
“Something isn’t right. These memories… They feel more than just having happened again. They are exactly the same.”
“That’s impossible. The desire was transferred, was it not?”
“It was.” Dr. Rosalene teleported out.
Johnny was sitting outside of his unfinished house.
“Okay, this isn’t right. How could everything be the same?!” Rosalene questioned. “Let’s confirm it. We need his last accessible memory. She teleported out to eh sky and flew to John’s oldest state all the way to the right.
“This is the same setting as his real last accessible memory.”
“I’m not too crazy about where this is going,” said Dr. Watts.
They arrived outside of the brick house. This time the memory was in black and white. They walked over to the cliff where John and Lily stood.
“Johnny?” Dr. Rosalene called.
“What a pleasant surprise. We don’t get many visitors around here.”
“Déjà vu, again,” said Dr. Watts.
“My name is Dr. Eva Rosalene, and this is Dr. Neil Watts. Are you familiar with the Sigmund Agency of Life Generation?”
“Oh, are you two from the agency? How convenient, I’ve just been thinking of calling you. Lily get us some tea please. …Lily?”
“Freeze him too,” said Dr. Rosalene.
“Well?” Dr. Watts asked.
“Wait here, I’ll go send the desire signal again,” said Dr. Rosalene. “See if there are any changes.” She zapped off, and came back. “It transferred successfully for sure. Any changes?”
“Not even a hair,” said Dr. Watts.
“How could this be? Even if his desire doesn’t work alone, why is there no change at all?”
“Perhaps… perhaps it just needs some provoking to activate. For his early memories?” said Dr. Watts.
“The earliest we can get to! Let’s go.”
They teleported to the movies, where John and River stood face to face outside the theatre.
“John’s desire to go to the moon might need some stimulation to be brought up, huh? Well then.” Dr. Rosalene changed the movie screening to ‘To the Moon’.
“What the! This wasn’t what they said was playing. Oh well, do you mind, River?” Johnny turned to her.
“No. I like this one.”
John jumped up with his arms in the air. “Alright, let’s go then!”
Dr. Rosalene smiled at her work. Hopefully that’s enough for an ignition! Wait, but where did Neil go? She went inside the theatre and spotted John and River sitting together with the platypus.
“To the MoOoOon, darling!!” a theatrical man said.
“OoOooh, Henry!!!” a woman cooed back.
Dr. Rosaline exhaled. Dear lord, I’m way too tired to be constructing movies.
She zapped out to check if anything had changed with John. She arrived at the most recent memory. Johnny’s hair was white, and it was all the same. Dr. Rosaline sighed. She’d have to try igniting it somewhere else then. This was getting ridiculous!
She teleported to Johnny’s high school memory, where River sat on the stairs. Perhaps something here could work.
“What’re you guys doing? It’s totally starting soon!” A classmate tapped Johnny’s shoulder. Nicolas and John walked away.
Dr. Rosalene did not recall that happening. Something must have changed! She followed the students into the gym class. Wait a minute, this isn’t a real change. This is…
“Listen everybody! May I have your attention!” Dr. Watts had his arms up. “As you know, I am a representative sent from NASA in all its glory. And I’m here to tell you all about it!” He looked to guy sitting at the piano, and said, “HIT IT TIMMY!!”
Timmy banged the piano.
“Wow, that was terrible,” said Dr. Watts. “But I digress!”
Dr. Rosalene threw her palm into her face.
“Anyways,” said Dr. Watts. “I know that many of you are wondering – What chances do I have of doing something as awesome as adventuring on another realm?! To inhale the sweetness of Venus, to swim counter-clockwise through the rings of Saturn… Or perhaps, just chillin’ at the backside of the MOON?! Well here at NASA, we believe that with enough will, everyone has the potential!” Dr. Watts jumped off stage. “It could be you! Or you! Or perhaps YOU!” His arms were open wide, in front of John and Nick.
“But I don’t want to go to the moon,” said Johnny.
“Then you’re in luc—“ Dr. Watts paused. “Wait what? Why not?”
“Why should I? I’m happy here on earth as it is,” John replied.
“Well don’t you wanna go there even a little bit?”
“No. Why?”
“Well, as an official NASA recruiter, I shall go over some facts about the moon! To start off, the moon is 4.5 billion years old,” Dr. Watts talks for the next hour. “And did you know that its surface is about as big as Africa?” The school bell rings. “NASA welcomes all of you!”
“Are you going to see if that worked?” Dr. Rosaline asked afterwards.
“Yes. Be right back,” said Dr. Neil Watts. “Back.”
“Report,” she demanded.
“Utter failure,” he replied
“Deuce,” she said.
“I’m sure there are still other things that can be done.”
The two traveled back to old memories, without invisibility.
“We can’t afford to finish building the house, Isabelle.”
“But can you afford the Lunar-trip lottery?” Neil asked. “If you sell this house, you sure can!”
Then they transported to the next memory at the doctor’s office.
“Is the diagnosis certain?” Johnny asked.
“Yes—“
“Did you know that NASA has excellent health-care plans? It’s true! For both you and your spouse!” said Dr. Watts.
Next up, they went revisited John and River’s wedding.
“Oh look, a wedding,” said Dr. Rosalene. “Good for you. But here’s a riddle: Guess where you should go for the honeymoon?”
This isn’t working. Dr. Rosalene and Dr. Watts were too exhausted from their all-nighter, and without any coffee either. They unplugged their electric helmets, and ceased the project to take a break.
It doesn’t make sense. Why did the machine have no effect? Johnny’s registered wish to go to the moon was successfully transferred, yet… There wasn’t even a trail of him wanting to go to the moon after the transfer. Unless, a secondary condition for the desire was changed during the process. Only then, would the same desire produce two different outcomes at two different points in time. There’s no denying that River played an important role through it all. If there is anything that would’ve caused the core change, she would be the top suspect. But of all things, what exactly caused it? River… Just what exactly did you do?
Ah… the sun was rising. The ocean breeze felt nice. The kids were playing the same piano song from inside. Dr. Rosalene stared at the sunrise, so perfectly lit by the lighthouse. We don’t have much time left. I wonder if Neil came up with anything. She went inside the house, and saw the piano song titled, “For River.” The children were still playing. What kind of a song is this? It’s just two notes repeated over and over.
Upstairs, Eva overheard the doctor say that there wasn’t much time left. She went downstairs to the kitchen to see Neil finishing off a phone call, and sipping from a mug.
“Hey, you got that coffee after all.” Eva said.
“Hm, it seems like our little Johnny here has some hidden records from the old days.”
“Hidden records?”
“Hidden medical records, to be exact.” Dr. Watts peered at her through the crack in his glasses. “Apparently, during his youth, he was administered a large dose of enhanced beta blockers. And what luck! They tend to have this little side effect on a curious thing called memories.”
Dr. Rosalene walked around, deep in thought. “Beta blockers… Johnny didn’t have a heart condition, did he?”
“Apparently not. Which leads one to wonder, if the ‘side effects’ were intended to be merely just that to begin with. And in such a large amount… Its impact on his memories at the time of administration must’ve been significant.”
“You think that’s what kept us out of his earliest memories?”
“Well it’s not the machine, I’ll tell you that.”
“So what now?” Eva asked.
“I was just given the reconfiguration frequencies; that should get us past the blockers.” Dr. Watts said, crossing his arms. “And once we’re in his childhood, it might finally be early enough to transfer his desire for it to work.”
“Then what’re we waiting for?” Dr. Rosalene asked.
“But one thing…” Dr. Watts said.
“Of course, there’s always that one thing.”
“In order to activate the new frequencies, we’ll need a trigger.”
“A trigger?” she asked.
“Something that exists strongly in the bridging inaccessible memory. And we’ll need to give it to John for him to stimulate his memory internally,” he said.
“But what do we know of that? We’ve only gotten a glimpse of his childhood. And even if find a childhood photo or something, John’s unconscious.”
“Yeah… back to square one.” Dr. Watts said. “This is such a pain in the arse. I need some fresh air.” He barged out. Seconds later, he came barging back inside. “IT SMELLS. The road kill, Eva. It smells!!”
“I know, it’s your fault for running over it,” she responded.
“What’s going on? The children are still sleeping,” Lily said, walking over.
“Wait a minute,” said Dr. Rosalene.
“That last memory, the one we were stuck at—“ said Dr. Watts.
“It was the same smell!” Eva chimed in, waving her arms around.
“What are you two talking about?” Lily asked.
Dr. Watts responded, “The olfactory receptors are directly linked to the brain’s limbic system, Lily! Don’t you see what this means?!”
“I’m-- …What?”
“He means that smell is arguably the most effective sense for memory recall. We can use it as a stimulant to bridge his childhood memories!” Dr. Rosalene answered.
“And the best part...” said Dr. Watts. “Even though Johnny is unconscious, he’s still susceptible! Alright this is good. This is great. Now you just need to go fetch a piece of road kill.”
“Yes, I’ll just—Wait, why do I have to?” asked Dr. Rosalene. “You’re the one who ran over it!”
“Exactly. I’ve already done my part.”
“Oh you miserable bastard.”
“If it helps, I have a pair of gloves you can borrow,” Lily said. “They aren’t really disposable gloves, but that’ll probably change after this.”
Dr. Rosalene put on her blue gloves and walked past the ponds, trees, and scenic nature spots. She reached the black car, and picked up the dead squirrel beside it. The kinds of things her job got her into!
After getting back to the bedroom inside the brick house, Dr. Rosalene told the doctor, “When we get to that exact point, I will send the signal. When I do, I want you to release the valve for about three seconds.”
“Certainly,” the doctor replied. “You should know this might be your last chance, you two. Good luck.”
Their helmets were on, the lights were activated, and they were back at the childhood kitchen of little Johnny’s home.
Act III:
While Johnny’s mother was cooking stew, he was in his room with the soccer ball. Dr. Watts and Dr. Rosalene picked it up to teleport to the next place. They landed in white space.
“To think that this little thing’s causing so much trouble… I just want to kick it to outer space,” said Dr. Watts.
“I suppose all we can do now is send the signal and hope.”
“Well, ready?”
“Something’s happening… Quick, send it again!”
Green and red lights flashed.
The heart monitor’s lines went up and down sporadically.
“Doctor, something’s wrong!”
“What? Take over for me, Lily. His condition has been de-stabilized. Intake levels must be reconfigured.”
Pink flashes discolored the background. Now everything was pink.
“W-what’s going on?” Dr. Watts asked.
“It’s been de-stabilized. Get out!” Dr. Rosalene urged him.
“W-what?”
“Get out of his memory. Now. If the system doesn’t re-stabilize soon, the shock might permanently damage whoever’s in here.”
“What about you?” Dr. Watts asked. “Ohh, quit trying to be the hero!”
The two bickered.
The doctor checked the monitor.
“I think we’re okay for now,” he said.
The screen turned back to white. The sky and clouds appeared. Dr. Rosalene and Dr. Watts floated in space.
“Quick, catch that soccer ball! We need to use the memento!” she exclaimed.
“Wow, I can’t believe that worked,” he said.
“So we actually made it.” Dr. Rosalene explored the outside of Johnny’s childhood house. The neighborhood was peaceful, and Johnny sat on a swing.
“Neil, did you notice something strange in his room earlier?”
Dr. Watts laughed at one copy of Johnny in front of them, following an invisible ball around in circles. “Hah, it looks like the ball is moving around on its own, and he’s just chasing it. And look at how many of him there are! It’s like a zoo!”
“Mm-hm,” said Dr. Rosalene.
They see the road kill. “All thanks to this little fella’s sacrifice.”
“I hope.”
Standing on the front porch, Johnny’s mother was chatting with a friend.
“Oh geez, look at the time. I better go to the store before it closes,” said his mother.
“Oh, take care, Martha! Say hello to the boys for me!”
“I will, see you around!”
Dr. Watts looked ahead. “Well this is the road. And you were saying?”
“Nevermind, maybe I was wrong. I mean, this place is so peaceful. The only thing that exists in this memory that could do such a thing would be-… Shit, duh.. We need to get back. Now.” Dr. Rosalene started heading back.
Johnny’s mother got into the car and backed out a little too quickly, hitting the little boy who was kicking the soccer ball a little too absentmindedly. He quickly fell to the ground. Martha quickly got out of the car and collapsed to the pavement next to her child.
“I’m surprised that he survived,” said Neil.
“Actually, he didn’t.” Eva frowned.
“Er, what?” he said.
“Didn’t you see it in his room, Neil? Johnny slept on a bunk bed.”
“JOEY!!!” a voice cried out.
Little Johnny ran to his twin brother, with tears running down his eyes.
“Joey?? Can you hear me? Joey??” Johnny stared at his mother. “Why did you hit Joey, ma??! Why did you hit him?! Joey?? Wake up Joey!!! WAKE UP!!”
“…Joey,” said Dr. Watts.
“Even though they were young… To lose a twin brother… not to mention how their mother must feel.” Dr. Rosalene shook her head.
“At least Johnny had the beta-blockers erase the memories. Not like he remembers it much.”
“Fuzzily unlinked, not erased. Somewhere in there, the aftermath of those memories probably lingered,” said Dr. Rosalene.
After this encounter, they received the note: Joey. They traveled into Johnny and Joey’s room.
“Seems like this wasn’t the only memory unlinked,” said Dr. Rosalene, staring at the curtained window, neat desk, twin bed, soccer ball, and toy train on the hardwood floor. The rain outside sounded soothing, and the green plants were calming.
Joey was lying on the bottom bunk bed, reading a book. “Dude, you should totally give this series a try. I mean really, it’s just wicked awesome! I’ve already plowed through three books straight!”
John was sitting at his desk. He turned his head to look at his brother. “What’s it called?”
“Animorphs,” Joey said, smiling with his eyes and mouth. “It’s about this group of kids turning into animals to fight mind controlling slugs!”
“Meh,” said John, turning his back to Joey. “I don’t like that weird alien stuff.”
“Why not?” Joey asked. “It’s great! Instead of going to boring school, they get to turn into tigers and maul big bad aliens. They’re all like ‘rawr rawr! RAWR RAWR RAWR!!!’” His eyes lit up, and his smile grew bigger. “And then they pick up lasers! And it’s all like ‘pew pew! PEW PEW PEW PEW’!!!!” He turned and smiled at his brother.
“Stop that,” said John.
“Heehee.” Joey persisted. “Just watch, Johnny. One day, I’m gonna be a famous writer. I’ll write the coolest novel on the block, and every kid will get my book for free. I’ll make us rich, and buy both you and ma really big houses.”
“How would you get rich if you give away the books for free?”
“Free for the kids… the parents’ll still have to pay, of course!”
“Yeah, Im sure the parents will be thrilled to give you the money,” said Johnny.
“What, you’re still mad about the other day? Aw, c’mon, I called first dibs on the train fair and square!” said Joey. “What happened to your prize anyway?”
“I gave it away.”
“To a hobo?”
“Look, it’s not just about that day! You know ma always favoured you.”
“Hey, that’s not true!”
“Remember last Christmas? And last Easter, and the time we went fishing, and-…”
“Okay, okay, you now what, you can have my train if you want!” said Joey.
“Really?” Johnny’s eyes lit up.
“Yup! I mean hey, by your reasoning, she’ll just get me another one, right? And besides you’re like a part of me. What’s mine is yours!” Joey smiled and headed for the door. “Let’s go confuse the neighbors!”
“Wait… in the rain?” Johnny asked.
“Yes in the rain! C’mon!”
Dr. Rosalene and Dr. Watts received the memory link and teleported to the next memory. They arrived at a carnival, and stood in front of a fruit stand with colorful assortments of fruits of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple.
“Fruits, fresh fruits!” said the guy at the stand. “Apples, oranges, and tomatoes! We got em all!”
“Wait, tomatoes aren’t fruits,” said Dr. Watts.
“Erm, yeah they are. They are the ovaries of the plant and contain seeds. That’s what a fruit is,” Eva responded.
“But c’mon. Tomatoes? We never ever refer to them as fruits!”
Eva and Neil walked over to the next stand filled with toys.
“But I don’t want this stupid toy! I want the train!!” Johnny said at the prize stand.
“That’s the only train left… Do you want to exchange your prize for a teddy bear instead?”
“No, I just want the train.”
“Now now, John, don’t make a scene. Joey won it fair and square, didn’t he?”
“But I won too! He just went first.”
“Heehee, it’s okay. I’ll let you play with it too!” said Joey.
“See how nice your brother is, Johnny?”
“Okay you dumplings, don’t block the stand, now!” said the prize stand guy.
John, Joey, and their mother sat down by a table with a jar of olives sitting next to their plates full of carnival food.
“They’re just so sour and icky!” Johnny said, rejecting the olives from his brother.
“Sour and awesome is what you mean!” said Joey.
Johnny refused to try, and ran off to explore the carnival atmosphere. He ran into a deserted spot upon a hill. He sat on a log and watched the view of the night sky. The world looked so big as he gazed upon the stars.
“It’s a shame,” said Dr. Rosalene. “All these wonderful lost memories.”
Thud thud!
“Who’s here?!” Dr. Watts jumped.
Stepping up the hill appeared River, a red haired little girl.
Johnny smiled at the sight of the cute stranger. “Hello!” he said.
She began to walk away.
“Wait, don’t go! I’m Johnny… What’s your name?”
River tilted her head. “You’re at my spot.”
“Your spot?” John said, with a puzzled expression. “Oh! I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to hog this place all to myself! Um, you wanna join me?”
River’s back was still turned away. “Are you here to watch the stars?”
“Are you?” he asked.
She turned around, and he smiled as she sat down next to him. They stared at the stars.
“Just look at ‘em,” he said. “Did you know there were so many lights in the sky?”
“Yes.”
“Oh… Uh, I did too.” He looked at her. “You said this was your spot, right?”
“Only during the carnival,” she said.
“Not a fan of the crowds?” he asked. “Me neither… Y’know, you still haven’t told me your name yet.”
“I’m not telling you. Everyone makes fun of it in school.”
“Why?” John asked.
“They say it makes them want to go to the washroom.”
“Uh… okay then. Well, it can’t be worse than ‘John’. I mean, everywhere in the world, nearly everyone’s name is John!”
“Even in India?” River asked.
“Probably!” he replied.
“What’s wrong with that?” she asked.
“Hm?”
“What’s wrong with having a name that everyone has?”
“Well… It’s boring, I guess. I mean, if everyone has it, then what’s the point?”
“I wouldn’t mind. Just for once to have the same name everyone else has. It’s like those lights in the sky. They all look the same from here, but that doesn’t make them any less pretty.”
“Eh, I suppose,” he said. “What do you think those stars up there are anyways?”
“My dad said they’re giant burning spheres of gas.”
“Oh… I bet he’s just making it up.”
“Why would he lie to me?” River asked.
“Because, y’know, that’s what grown-ups do. They make things up. Santa, Easter Bunny, kangaroos, stuff like that.”
“Have you ever made an Easter Bunny out of stars?”
“Like a constellation?” Johnny asked.
“Yes.”
“Um, of other things… Never tried a rabbit though.”
“Do you want to make one?” she asked.
“Yeah, we’ll make the bestest constellation ever! Let’s see who makes one out first!” said Johnny. “Okay, we’ll start in three. Three…”
“I see it,” she said.
“Where?”
“In the sky.”
“Um, but where in the sky?” he asked.
“Think big,” she said.
“Eh…”
“Bigger than all the others.”
“I don’t know,” he said. “Wait a minute… wait a minute!! I SEE IT!!!”
“Tell me what you see.”
Johnny pointed to the stars lit up around the moon. “There, right?” he pointed. “There’s the two ears and head!”
“What else?” she asked.
“And there… They’re its two feet!”
“Yes. What else?”
“And… and the moon!! The moon is its big round belly!!” he smiled. “So, what do you think they really are?” he asked. “The stars, I mean.”
River stared at him. “I… I’ve never told anyone, but… I’ve always thought they were lighthouses. Billions of lighthouses, stuck at the far end of the sky.”
“Wow, it must be so lively up there.”
“But it isn’t,” she said. John looked at her while she explained, “They can see all the other lighthouses out there, and they want to talk to them. But they can’t, because they’re all too far apart to hear what the others are saying. All they can do… is shine their light from afar. So that’s what they do. They shine their lights at the other lighthouses, and at me.”
“Why you?” he asked.
“Because one day, I’m going to befriend one of them,” she answered. “That bag… what’s in it?”
“Oh, it’s the prize I won from whac-a-mole! Did you get to play that game?”
“I tried… but I’m too clumsy,” she said. “What did you get from it?”
“I got a… thing. I don’t really know what it is.” He opened the bag. “It’s some kind of a weird duck… beaver thing.” He held the stuffed animal out in front of her.
“May I see it?” she asked, as he handed it over. She hugged it. “It looks so strange... I wish I could win one myself.”
Footsteps echoed from below the hill. “JOHNNY??!”
Johnny jumped. “Eek, that’s ma calling!”
River handed the platypus to him. “Here,” she said.
“You know what…” he said. “Keep it, it’s yours.”
River held the platypus close to her. “Mine?” she asked.
“Yeah, I can always get another. I don’t like to brag, but I’m totally the best at that game!”
“Will you be here next year?” she asked.
“Yup. Will you?”
“Yes.”
“Same place, same time? John asked.
“Yes,” River replied.
Johnny began to hop away.
River followed after and stared at him, while hugging the platypus. “What if you forget… or get lost?” she questioned.
“Then we can always regroup on the moon, silly!” he exclaimed. “Right on the rabbit’s tummy!” He looked at her.
“JOHNNY!!”
“Coming!” he called back. “Oh yeah, I forgot my hacky sack in my bag. You said you’re clumsy, right? Maybe it’ll help!” he said, while running down the hill. She sat back down on the log, hugging the platypus tightly in her arms, while staring into the blue sky and bright stars.
“If they ever get lost?” Dr. Watts asked. “Wait, does that mean—“
“Don’t tell me you didn’t see that coming,” Dr. Rosalene said.
“And here I thought this was gonna be an inspirational childhood dream story… I should’ve known that some girl would come along and turn it into a cheesefest.”
“I suppose now we know what we must to do send him to the moon.”
“Wait, you aren’t actually going to do it… are you?” Dr. Watts asked.
“It’s our job, Neil. It’s what we’re contracted to do.”
“Damn it, Eva. Wait!”
Dr. Rosalene vanishes away, and so does he.
They appeared at the high school.
“Neil,” said Dr. Rosalene.
“I know what you are planning to do,” he said.
“I know that you know,” she said.
“Yeah?” he said. “Well I know that you know that I kn—“
“Look, our contract is to send him to the moon. And the only way for that to happen is if Johnny is motivated to do so,” she explained.
“But if that means removing River, then what’s the point? The reason why he even wants to go to the moon in the first place is because she died!”
“I know, but we are legally bound by the contract to specifically”
“#@%& the contract! I didn’t take this job to make him miserable, Eva. I don’t know about you, but I signed up to help the freakin’ geezers die happy,” he said.
“Me too,” she said. “And I like this job. But if we directly go against our legal obligations, we’d be in for court hearings.”
“We’ll appeal,” he said. “We know that Johnny’d be happier to not go to the moon.”
“Johnny would be happier with a lot of alternate life tangents, Neil. We are not here to play God… Our job is to give him what he signed up for.”
“Well, we happen to know what he wants better than he does!”
“Look,” said Dr. Rosalene. “I’m only risking River because I believe in her, and”
“What do you mean ‘risk’?!” Dr. Watts exclaimed. “You’re removing her!”
“And besides, I’ll make up for it,” she said.
“Make up for it how?!”
RED FLASHES.
“We’re running out of time,” said Dr. Rosalene. “Just trust me.”
Says the one who pushed him out of the %*@#ing lighthouse!
She boosted away.
Dr. Watts went after her. The lights flickered off. “Did you just?” Neil roamed around blindly. “Abusing your powers doesn’t disable my controls entirely, Eva!” He flipped on his emergency flashlights, and crashed into sharp objects in the hallway.
“Booby traps? Really Eva?”
“Just trying to buy time,” she replied.
Dr. Watts wasn’t ready to give up the fight. After darting past flying objects and defeating zombie Evas, which he called ‘Zombievas’, he reached the end of the hallway. When he found Eva, she zapped a hole through the wall. The starry galaxy showed through the wall, and she escaped into the portal. Dr. Watts followed after. Together, they entered John’s memories. They were inside the high school. In one of the rooms, contained the memory of River in the study room, folding her paper rabbits.
“What else?” River asked, watching John’s reaction closely. She wished he wouldn’t give up on her attempts to make him understand, to make him remember. Did he really not remember how they first met? How could you forget something like that? She stared off into the distance, and then focused again on making more rabbits. Maybe he will remember, eventually.
The study room began to vanish into space. Dr. Watts was appalled. Now the whole construct was messed up. He entered into another classroom. It was raining inside, and John was carrying an umbrella outside the lighthouse.
“It’s finished, River. She won’t be alone anymore,” said grey haired John. High school John stood next to him.
“I just… I just don’t wanna be another typical kid in a sea of typical people, Nick.” A few feet down, John and River were lying on the grass outside the lighthouse.
“What is it like?” River asked.
“Just the responsibilities, I suppose.”
In another room, Dr. Neil found a paper rabbit by a door. The piano was playing. John was playing it for River. Beside that memory, he and River’s shadows danced to the rhythm of the song.
The memories piled on top of each other.
River sat by the stairs in high school, during their first meeting that Johnny could remember, juxtaposed against their first encounter by hill where they stargazed.
“Hello! Wait, don’t go! I’m Johnny. What’s your name?” -- “Look, it was a long time ago.” -- “There’s no date or time, Johnny.”
I’m getting dizzy... Watts wiped the sweat from his brow.
The phone rang. He picked up.
“Neil? It’s done,” she said.
“Why don’t you come out now?” he asked.
Dr. Eva Rosalene zapped back. Together, they watched River move away from the high school memories.
“What did you do to her?” Neil asked.
“Relax, she’s merely going elsewhere,” said Eva. “I’m asking you to trust me.”
She created a doorway. “There’s one last thing I need to do,” she said, teleporting away. Dr. Watts watched in disappointment, as John talked to the book on the stairs. There was no River. Sorry kid, it’s already started. He went through the portal.
“Saving him doesn’t justify it,” Dr. Watts said when he reunited with Dr. Rosalene.
“He can always find another ‘River’, Neil. But he’ll only have one brother,” she replied. “C’mon, we’re in the way.”
The movie theatre memories played again. John, River, and the platypus sat together while the movie played. The scene vanished away.
River hugged John when he decided they’d take care of Anya. And then the memory vanished.
The memories vanished like vapor.
Some new memories appeared.
“And you Johnny?” A teacher asked. “What do you want to be when you grow up?”
“An ASTRONAUT!” Johnny replied.
Johnny returned to his childhood bedroom, and Joey sat in bed with his arms behind his head. Behind their bed was a NASA poster. And everyday, Johnny would check the mailbox. He’d check it every day, until one day, he heard back from NASA.
Johnny entered NASA in his adulthood. The shiny metallic building, the floating bonsai trees, the smell of fresh coffee in his private office, were like a dream to him.
“We made it, huh?” Dr. Watts smiled at Dr. Rosalene.
“You sound surprised. Whatever happened to ‘we always succeed cause we’re so awesome’?”
Dr. Watts looked at the prizewinning novel on John’s desk: To the Moon, “The story about a lameduck’s attempt to become an astronaut” – A Novel by Joey Wyles.
“I can’t believe this crap actually sold,” said Neil.
“This isn’t the real world, Neil,” said Eva.
They took the elevator around the different floors.
“This is the mission control center,” someone was telling Johnny in the computer filled room. “There’s not much going on right now, but you’ll see it live one day.”
“Woah!” Neil and Eva stared in awe at the view of the shuttle from the window.
“And this is the break room,” the person continued to show Johnny around. “Here’s David; he’s a mission specialist.”
“Nice to meet you,” said John.
“At least he got to NASA,” said Dr. Rosalene.
“You think he made it in the end?” Dr. Watts asked.
“Even if he did, it’d take more than just a few years to become an astronaut,” she replied.
“Let’s hurry and find the last link then. I’d hate the miss the finale,” said Neil.
Thump thump, thump thump, thump thump.
“What’s going on? Are we out of time?” he asked.
“I… I don’t know,” said Dr. Rosalene.
A bubbly eyed, red haired woman walked in. Her hair was tied back, and she was in a green dress.
“Ah, and here’s our other new recruit,” the guy continued. “River, right? Good to have you on board.”
River walked over to John.
“Hello, I’m John,” he smiled at her.
“Whew,” Dr. Rosalene smiled.
“What the Eva! I thought you deleted her!”
“No, I said I moved her. What she does with her life here is still up to ‘her’.”
“But this new world… it’s based on public data and Johnny’s own beliefs. And since River’s data as an individual is not recorded in the public domain—“
“It all comes from Johnny,” Dr. Watts said. “But even then, that merely increases the odds. How were you sure that it’d work?”
“I wasn’t,” Dr. Rosalene admitted.
“It could’ve gone very badly, y’know?”
“You were never one to take risks, Neil,” she replied. “Let’s just say I won this round. We still have the two spare helmets right? I think Johnny would appreciate the company.”
Piano music filled everyone’s ears. Neil and Eva walked over to watch what was going on. River heard the playing. People were talking. “He wrote it himself apparently,” one person said. “Rather repetitive if you ask me, though,” another said.
River was entranced by the sound, and sat next to the pianist for the full musical experience.
“What’s it called?” she asked.
“To the Moon,” Johnny answered.
“I like that name,” said River.
The elevator opened. “Oh there you are! You two should get some rest. Tomorrow’s the big day!”
During the send off day, everyone watched the sunrise together by the bridge, waiting for the big take off.
“Did you think that they would make it?” Isabelle asked Nick.
“Hah, did you?” he asked her.
“No. The way she is, I didn’t think she would succeed. But I… I guess I was wrong,” she replied. “I’m happy for them.”
“Y’know, that’s my brother in that shuttle,” Joey said to the person next to him.
“Wow!”
“Yep, I once wrote a book about this too. With a less optimistic ending, heh. I might have to change that after all.”
“You know, there were quite a few times last night when I thought we lost Johnny,” the doctor said. “I think he consciously held on to wait for you two.”
“He’s rather patient then,” responded Dr. Watts.
“Your colleague’s waiting for you,” the doctor said, staring above at the platform where Eva was sitting.
Neil watched her from above. “Well this is it,” she said. “All we’ve worked for. Ready to initiate it?” she asked. “Come up here.”
“Uh, why?” he asked.
“Why not,” she said. He joins her.
The five-person shuttle initiated, and took off into the sky. The computers inside the NASA building lit up. Eva and Neil watched the shuttle fly up. Neil grabbed Eva’s hand, and their fingers interlocked.
Memories of the lighthouse flash back. The memories reappear in bursts. The two piano keys repeat.
Beep beep. Beep beep. Beep beep.
River reaches her hand over, staring at John, waiting for him to hold her hand back. He does. They stare at the view of the moon through the glass.
Beep-- the sound of a heart, stopping.