Writings for Got

House Martel/week 3/prompt 3/story/time travel

A house is just a house unless it has a library. Della knew that her grandfather had a library and when he left his home to her, she was ecstatic about finding new books to read. However she had no idea just how big the library really was. It was a fore bidden room for guests. A man's place was in the library and women belonged in the parlor. Della was now alone and had nobody to tell her where she should be and what not to do with her time. Some would consider her an old maid, but she was comfortable with the name. She loved to read and write so dusting off the cob webs from leather bound books was never a burden but a pleasure. Reading in her home tongue was easy and most of the books on the shelves were just that.

Climbing the ladder to get to the higher shelves, Della miss guided her balance that led to an accident. Pages of torn books lay around her as she gasped for air from the fall. She felt silly to say the least and brushed herself off to pick up her mess. Among the cluttered floor she found an envelope stamped with a crest. Unopened, yellowed from time.

Intrigued was an understatement as Della found herself a comfy chair, she wiped away the hue of silver dust from the lantern that would provide her light. Putting on her glasses which were so thick from her poor eye sight, she settled in.

Dear Mr. Townsend

As you know this library has enough space to hold all the reading material one could desire. When you bought this house we didn't tell you a few things. This house was built from a man who says he has travelled in time. Now we thought it to be disturbing to tell you and would ruin our chances of selling this place. However we could not just leave without a word. We placed this note here in hopes that one day you would find it and discover for yourself if these be a fable or not.

With the letter were drawings of the house. Every corner, door way, panel, stairways and ever room with a window. The lettering was smudged from mildew and not the easiest to read but it was clear that what she was looking for was circled in red ink. Behind the book shelves furthest in the room was a binding called, “In Due Time”. But that was all it said.

Della followed the instructions while pushing her heavy framed glasses on her nose. Her brow sweating due to the house being locked up for so long. The binding wasn't hard to see once she knew what she was looking for and it looked like an ordinary book. However when she tried to pull it from the shelf a panel of shelving opened up and sent her for a spin. With a stabbing headache and now blind without her glasses, Della stumbled around in the dark to retrieve her thick poorly made eye wear. She was no longer in the library, or not the one she started off in but another room filled with books. While trying to figure out where she was a light went on. A very bright light. Coming from the ceiling of all places. Della couldn't figure out what in the world had just happened.

“Excuse me miss? How did you get in here?”

Della tried to smooth out her dress and wipe the strands of hair that came lose from her tight bun. She knew this person was speaking English yet she had no idea how to speak it herself.

So she shrugged and walked right by the woman. Not knowing exactly where she was going she followed the well lit hallway that led her into a very noisy, very lit room. Filled with so many books she couldn't begin to know where to count. So many people and men sitting with women, children laughing and some crying. The smell of coffee lingered in the air taking over her sense of smelling anything else. The woman that she left behind was scurrying after her.

“Excuse me! I was talking to you! You don't work here and you certainly didn't walk by me to get down there. That is a restricted room.”

Della was too busy absorbing everything around her and ignoring the strange looks that people were giving her. Whispers among the crowd reached her ears, “Look at her, she looks like she is from the 19th century. Those thick glasses and that gown, oh and look at her boots.”

While they were placing judgement Della was doing the same. Sizing up the little that women were wearing and with such openness. She was appalled. There was no way this could be real. Feeling a bit overwhelmed she left the building and into the streets. She wasn't prepared for what she had seen. The traffic, people walking by with strange things to their ears and talking. Tall buildings that didn't seem as though they should be standing at all. So many people and so many streets, she had no idea what she had gotten herself into.

She was lost and she knew it. It was time to sit and absorb everything from the moment she arrived to this strange land. She found a park bench under a tree and sat straight keeping her eyes everywhere. A woman approached her looking unsure of what she was seeing.

“Excuse me miss. I am not sure if you are lost or homeless, but you look like you could use a bit of change. Maybe get yourself something to eat?” She pointed across the street directing Della where she should go. “That place over there has a great steak sandwich. I hope this helps. Can I get your name?”

Della's eyes looked up sheepishly and shy, “Della.”

“Oh so you have a name. Wonderful! So Della what leaves you here in the streets without a home?”

Della couldn't say anything else but her name. She tried to speak but the woman looked at her so strangely she was sure she didn't understand a word. The woman opened Della's hand and put money in it and closed it. “Bless you. I hope things do get better Della.” Then just like that she walked away.

Of course Della knew what money was but this was different than anything she had ever seen. She watched others form a line in front of this place where she would eat so she followed suit. The trickest part was crossing the road. So many vehicles and not one would stop and let her by.

“Lady! What are you nuts? This is a highway. Use the crosswalk!” Horns started to go off and people yelling at her until she made her way to the other side.

The food was disgraceful and Della was wishing for a pot of stew from her own stove. This rubbish in between bread wasn't fit to eat. Before she could go any further she decided to go back to where she started. Walking by dressing stores, and catching a glimpse in the window, she saw her own reflection and realized just how silly she looked. This wasn't a place for her. She kept her head down and tried not to cause a fuss but the crowds pointed and laughed and some looked sad for her. Reaching the public library again, Della walked in making sure that same woman wasn't around. She dove into some books and as she was reading she realized the dates.

Oh my word! 2016! What in the Sam hill has happened to me? What on earth am I going to do? Everything was going fuzzy. A short time after she was waking up in a hospital bed.

“Mam do you remember anything? Are you alone? Is there someone we can call?”

“Della.” Is all she could say and pointed to herself.

“Yes Della we know your name sweetie but where are you from?”

She wasn't talking so they gave her paper and pencil. Della was shaking but wrote, 1910 New York city.

“You are in New York City Della. We found you in the Townsend Historical Library.”

Della gasped when she heard her Uncle's name. Unable to put the two together she started to cry.

“There there, no crying now. Wipe your tears. What seems to be the problem?”

Della's voice was cracking and the words that she thought would never come out, poured out. “My name is Della Townsend and my Uncle owns that library. I live in 1910, this is not 1910.”

The doctor laughed and patted her on the shoulder, “No dear it isn't. It is 2016 and I hardly doubt your Uncle is “the” Mr. Townsend.”

He then looked at the nurse and whispered orders to tranquilize Della. “Poor soul, has lost her mind. Her clothes however are strange, even her glasses and hair are all so strange.”

Della waited for the doctor to leave the room before she ducked out the nearest entrance. She ran out of the hospital and into the unknown streets. It was hours before she found a place to put her head to rest, in the park with other homeless people. Her broken heart had left her exhausted.

Dazed and confused, Della woke up and came to realize that this is the very thing that the letter was referring to. She had fallen into a port hole bringing her to the future. She had to get back to the library. Knowing she didn't want to draw attention she unwrapped her hair letting it fall on her shoulders. She stole a woman's jacket from a sleeping homeless woman while in her sleep, but left her with her over coat. Once she found a hat that she pulled closer down her face covering her glasses she asked directions to the library.

There had to be a way in there without entering the front main doors. Around the back was a small window of opportunity. Della struggled fitting her skirt in the small frame and fell into a heap of boxes. The smell of old books and dust had her rubbing her nose and sneezing. Without light she would have to find her way into the hall.

Some things were familiar and as she walked further she realized this was an original hallway in her Uncle's mansion. She knew now where to go and without stumbling she found the door that would take her home. Opening the door she fell what seemed to be an endless fall bringing her to what should have been the end of her. Rubbing her head she sat up and couldn't believe she was back in the house of Uncle Townsend. It was crazy and she knew it was but she couldn't waist a moment. Writing everything down without missing a memory she documented what she had seen in 2016. She had to go back, but this time she would be more careful. Changing her look and finding mens apparel in the upper bedroom, Della now looked like a boy. Confident now she entered the door again.. waking up in a closet that belonged to someone named “Donald Trump.”
She listened carefully as this man went on a rampage about building a wall.

I swear this generation is half nuts.

word count/1905