Chapter 1: Awakening from the Dream

Monica jolts awake, her surroundings spinning around her. After a moment, she sits up and throws off the blanket, still reeling from a vivid dream. It felt like she had traveled into the future, but it was a bizarre version of it. Shaking off the remnants of the dream, she prepares for school.

It's 2015, and the airwaves are dominated by Miley Cyrus's "Wrecking Ball" and Pharrell's "Blurred Lines." Life seems straightforward for the 15-year-old Monica, who is eager to pursue a veterinary career. However, a confrontation with her mother about attending a dance leads her to seek solace in nature.

With her German Shepherd mix, Wolf, on a leash, she heads to Thatcher’s Park, known for its scenic views and hiking trails. Once a site for adventurous explorers scaling ladders, it now features maintained paths and ranger oversight. Feeling secure with her pepper spray and loyal dog, Monica recalls an old Dutch tale her grandmother used to share, though she can't quite remember the details.

As she greets Chris, the park ranger, and walks along the path, she senses a storm brewing, a lesson instilled by her grandmother about paying attention to nature's signs. Wolf joyfully explores the path as Monica relishes her freedom from parental constraints and societal pressures. The autumn leaves dance in the air, and she feels a sense of possession over the mountain, as if she’s the last person on Earth.

As they climb higher, Monica notices Wolf becoming increasingly uneasy. He is typically fearless, yet he halts in front of a group of individuals dressed in clothing reminiscent of the 1800s.

The eldest woman, adorned with a colorful scarf and beaded bracelets, waves her over. Monica, despite her initial apprehension, approaches the group, noting Wolf’s low growl as a warning.

“Hello, dearie, enjoying the lovely weather?” the elderly woman, seemingly in her sixties, asks. “Yes, it’s lovely. Winter is approaching,” Monica replies, her instincts still alert.

“Come, sit by the fire,” the woman invites.

Monica hesitates, knowing that camping is prohibited in the park, but the atmosphere feels strangely welcoming. She takes a seat across from the woman, who introduces herself as Alida, alongside two children, Seth and Rose.

“Hi, I’m Monica, and this is Wolf,” she says, as her dog remains on high alert.

Everyone exchanges smiles, but Monica remains aware of the oddity of the situation.

“Would you like some hot tea?” Alida offers.

Monica glances at the kettle over the fire—an image straight from a movie—and, having forgotten her water bottle, decides to accept. She cautiously sniffs the tea before taking a sip; it is warm and soothing, like a comforting English breakfast with hints of lavender.

“So, what brings you here today?” Alida inquires. “Just out for a walk before the storm. Wolf needed exercise, and my mom has been particularly annoying lately.”

“Ah, mothers! I had one myself, a nagging battleaxe who kept me in line,” Alida reminisces.

Monica chuckles, sipping her tea, and feels as if she’s stepped into a surreal story, akin to "Alice in Wonderland."

As Alida limps to her makeshift tent, Monica begins to wonder about this peculiar group. Perhaps they are runaways or maybe Alida is a kidnapper? Despite her concerns, the children seem calm, indicating a different dynamic.

Alida offers Monica a chair, and as she leans back, a wave of relaxation washes over her. Rose proposes a card game, introducing a game called Klaverjas, which Monica has never encountered.

As the children explain the rules, Monica's eyelids grow heavy. Alida’s kind invitation for a short nap starts to sound appealing.

Before long, both Monica and Wolf drift off to sleep.

When Monica finally awakens, the fire is reduced to ash, and Wolf is missing. The sky, now adorned with stars, feels eerily different. Memories of her father's lessons in astronomy flood back, but something feels amiss, especially without Wolf by her side.

She brushes herself off and gathers her backpack, feeling strangely revitalized despite the warm October night. When she attempts to use her phone, she realizes there's no signal—likely due to her mom forgetting to pay the bill again.

As she descends the trail, she notices the path seems wilder than she remembers. Calling for Wolf, she quickens her pace down the mountain, pondering the effects of the tea she consumed.

Approaching the parking lot, her old Hyundai Sonata comes into view, but Chris is nowhere to be found. Deciding to reconcile with her mother, she drives down the mountain, taking note of the closed businesses, including her favorite Dairy Queen.

“What happened here?” she wonders aloud as she notices the streets are unusually deserted, adorned with political signs.

“WTF? The Apprentice guy?” she exclaims, her confusion deepening.

Arriving home, she finds the house dark and her mother absent. A “FORECLOSURE/ FOR SALE” sign in the yard sends her heart racing.

“Mom, what’s going on?” she cries, panic rising as she notices a lockbox on the door.

Searching for Mrs. Danza, her neighbor who knows everything, Monica rushes to her house.

“Where’s Mrs. Danza? I need her help!” she pleads, edging closer to hysteria.

The woman looks puzzled, “My mom passed in 2020. Are you alright, Monica?”

At that moment, reality crashes down on Monica.

“2020?! It’s 2015!” she gasps, her mind racing as she grasps a newspaper handed to her, desperately seeking the date.

October 23, 2025.

And just like that, everything fades to black.

PART 2 COMING SOON

Chapter 2: The Strange Encounter

In this live reading of Washington Irving's classic tale, "Rip Van Winkle," experience the timeless story of a man who wakes after a long slumber to find his world drastically changed.

This retelling of "Rip Van Winkle" by John Patience, narrated by Will Sarris, offers a modern twist on the beloved story of transformation and the passage of time.