Orange-red flames pierced the night sky, mightier
than the building they were consuming. Townspeople
stood afar, as fire fighters directed their streams
at surrounding buildings, attempting to protect them
from the shooting sparks.
"It's a shame," the mayor said, "Roxieland was the
heart and soul of the community. These men worked
here all their lives, and we pray they make it through."
Ambulance attendants carefully secured the last
of the dazed employees in the rescue vehicles.
"Mayor," shouted the paramedic, "It's the same
with all of them, can't remember a thing. "
A man named Rayne pushed through the crowd,
shouting excitedly,
"But the formula, ask them! Ask them! Don't they
remember the parts entrusted to them?"
The townspeople gasped, torn with concern over
the workers as well as the loss of the secret formula,
entrusted to families since 1876. The trust had
not been broken for more than seven decades.
If only the safe still held that secret formula
as it did in the year of Roxie's creation.
"Flimsy replica," Rayne thought, " would
be blown up anyway,"
Rayne rushed from ambulance to ambulance,
seeing the workers, the late- night crew escaping
with the first alarm, not injured but dazed.
"No one remembers! There will be no more Roxie!
There will be riots in the street," he exclaimed!
In a flash, Rayne whirled and headed across the street
for Doc's lab, a solution forming in his head.
He pounded on the door until the white haired Doc,
who had dozed off in his lab, flung it open.
" Son, is it now?" he asked, suddenly wide awake.
"It's now Doc, now or never, if we ever want
to have our Roxie again."
"Son, you know the risks. Is it worth it?"
queried Doc.
"Is there life without Roxie? But, it's gone,
all blown up, the guys all in shock, no memories,
all the Roxie guys." said Rayne as he opened
a locker and took out a worn canvas bag, Levis
and boots, all 1876 appropriate.
He answered himself, "All I've got is you and Roxie, Doc.
There may be no life without Roxie. And what does life
have for you if you never get to test your theory?"
"You're right son.. Here, let me check your bag,"
said Doc, taking it into the power center, muttering
to himself, "foolish tradition, one copy of life's
elixir. Some day, there will be world wide access
to information for everyone. I can see it."
Rayne took a last look at his new, stripped of chrome,
basic model, shining yellow ‘55 Chevy. But it did not
hold his heart and soul as did Roxie. He reached into
the small Frigidaire, popped the cap and downed
a bottle of the addictive Roxie. Almost as an after-
thought, he took out his wallet, pulled out a small
photo and tossed it on the front seat.
"You could still be riding with me, babe. But you walked
your way, leaving me behind. And now, I'm leaving you,"
Rayne said, feeling a new-found exhilaration. Past memories
seemed to vanish as he pulled on his boots, standing tall.
All geared up, Rayne stepped into the power chamber,
as Doc raised the power level. "Son," said Doc.
"I know, I know," said Rayne tensely, but you've tested,
you've set dates and re-set dates. Set 1876."
Rayne, stunned and breathless,, opened his eyes,
finding himself in the dark of a hardware store.
Shakily he made his way to the original wood-framed
Roxieland building across the street, raised the
rear window and entered, passing rows and rows of
bottled Roxie, One touch of Doc's sensor and the
safe opened revealing the handwritten formula.
Opening his bag to secure the paper he found
a note from Doc.
"Son, we gambled, but you have your wish, plenty
of Roxie, a sack of gold coins in the side compartment,
and perhaps the woman of your dreams. I may join
you some day, for what I didn't tell you is
THERE IS NO WAY BACK ."
A bottle cap hits the floor. And another. And another...
Honorable mention
Adding your comment:
is it catchy?
